El Degas Les Paul-Maple Neck

[Degaslore]

Thanks Charles for helping me get re-acquainted with this site. Today`s score has me very pleased. Apparently a 1972 {seller claim}. Love the maple neck and fingerboard. How rare are these? Overall very good-excellent condition. Excellent pick-ups and electronics. Made in Japan on neck plate. $200 cash brought her home. Now lets see if I remember how to post an image or two?

[charles]

I don't see these come up all that often any more, but I don't have my ear to the ground as much as I used to (I used to do at least a weekly check on all the Canadian classified sites for El Degas instruments but don't do it nearly as often any more).

$200 is a very good price. Nice score.

The all Maple construction is really neat and should give you a very unique tone - likely to have a lot of brightness and high overtones but your mileage may vary. Enjoy it!

[Barry]

Yeah, nice one! They look to me like the "negative" version of the LP eh? Interesting.

These all Maple constructions are a bit unusual for an LP and as Charles says, likely to be a bit on the bright side when compared with the more standard Mahogany builds. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it might not give you the expected LP "bluesy growl". If it also comes with the DiMarzio SD's hold on to your hat!!

[charles]

Looks like the standard who-knows-who-brand PAFs on this guitar. They usually suit the LP copies well; and good thing, too - as Barry said, Super Distortions would blow your hair back (and not necessarily in a good way).

[Degaslore]

The seller stated in his advertisement that the pick-ups are Maxons and they do sound great. Really good tonal variations when fiddling with the selector switch. Besides the wonderful maple neck which was the selling point for me yesterday, I am also very impressed with the performance of knobs, selector switch, and input here. No "snap, crackle, bang, hiss etc." that I`ve encountered with so many guitars over the years. Especially considering the age of this El Degas. Maybe it`s been serviced recently?

Curious as to what the "30" represents stamped into the neck plate above Made in Japan? The black block inlays on the fingerboard are a bit shoddy upon close inspection. Imperfections on the edges and looking somewhat haphazard? But they feel excellent. Very happy with this score. Thanks guys for your insights !!

[charles]

No clue on that stamped "30". Usually there is nothing other than the "Made In Japan" stamp on these.

The inlays are likely plastic, but don't let that get in the way of enjoying the guitar! If it plays well, it certainly is a great score.

Again, enjoy!!

[Degaslore]

The El Degas gold-top I had and have since parted with {why???} lacked the Made in Japan on the neck plate so my maple acquisition is that much sweeter !! She plays and sounds excellent and at the risk of sounding superficial, I place a lot of emphasise on my girl`s looks and Maple Mandy looks sweet. This gentleman certainly prefers blondes !!

When skies are not so sunny and I have a moment, I`ll do a side-by side comparison with Maple Mandy and my late model Chinese Epiphone Les Paul Standard. Two different beasts for sure, but I`d like to hear and map out the differences in tone you guys describe? My El Degas may render the Epiphone rather redundant and create some future investment capital? Thanks again guys !!!

[Barry]

...My El Degas may render the Epiphone rather redundant and create some future investment capital? Thanks again guys !!!

I would think so. The main disappointment with the Epi's is the electronics. If you still have the original 'buckers in it they are likely a tad muddy and boomy. It's a simple thing to upgrade them to something more interesting. I recently put a set of humbucker sized P90's in my Epi Studio. Really great sounding plus you have a bit of variety.

[Degaslore]

I got out the measuring tape. The body on my El Degas is a full 1/4" thinner than that of my Epiphone. Is this what is referred to as a "pancake" body as I`ve seen mentioned somewhere in these posts? A term I don`t think of heard in reference to Les Pauls?

Happy with this purchase. Yet to do a side by side tonal comparison. Still doing the visual thing. $200 well spent. Drove for just shy of an hour to acquire this guitar and gave my friend a few bucks for gas. He is an older gentleman with no knowledge whatsoever about guitars. My buddy was concerned about the authenticity of my El Degas when I told him my price and about the rarity of these, especially the maple necks. Even after my explaining about how these guitars flooded the market back in the day and were priced for the working man, he remained concerned. In a funny sort of twisted irony, I think to myself, this is when us El Degas lovers will at last be able to shout out loud what we`ve known all along. These are truly remarkable instruments when there are folks who question whether or not it`s a real El Degas or not? Lets keep an eye open for those El Degas clones !!

[Barry]

From the pictures you posted I cannot see any "pancake" construction, it appears to be solid wood.
A pancake would be quite obvious, consisting of a top and a bottom glued together. You'd see a continuous seam around the outside.
Given the density/weight of Maple I don't think you'd really want more thickness!

Lets keep an eye open for those El Degas clones !!

[Degaslore]

Okay Barry...my boo-boo. I had thought "pancake" was a reference to thickness? You`re right. Definitely solid construction. Any thicker would be very heavy.