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[Conniegirl]

I signed in earlier and wrote this beautiful post about my El Degas only for it to disappear completely. Sigh.

I think its an MT -1? can't tell as it is smudged.... Serial no. 4100035 it has large inlaid abalone pieces on the frets and inlaid abalone & bone trims. Its, rosewood and mahogany. I looks and sounds amazing. If anyone knows more about it I would love to hear it. I know its abalone because i grew up in an area where we ate abalone like chocolate and the shells delighted me as a child.

In May 1975, my dad bought me my second guitar, for my 10th birthday. I had been playing an Classical Yamaha my mom had bought me for my 8th birthday. I never had any formal lessons. A friend of my parents taught me some chords and I played by ear. I had endless people to play with in those days. There are old photos of me playing, I was so tiny i could barely get my arms over it and my feet were way off the floor. I played it continuously. My dad figured since I showed such promise I could do even better with an acoustic. We lived in a very remote area, a logging camp in the Queen Charlotte Islands (aka Haida Gwai) and he had to go to Vanouver to see a dentist, and he picked it up there. As a result it wasnt returnable. My mom peaked that he would spend that much on a 10yr old and without consulting her first. But there were no phones where we lived .. just radio and it gave him so much joy to give this to me...I have never seen one quite like it. I loved it immediately. I never picked up the Yamaha again. He paid $700. with the case which was quite a bit of money in those days. Sadly it became the beginning of my parents impending divorce. Anyways when you live in a remote area like that, where it rains all the time, there was not much else to do but play and jam with the guys in the bunkhouse. I have fond memories of that.

Long story short, when my mom left my Dad, I was 12, the oldest of 4kids, I was not allowed to take my guitar(s) as no one else could take their "toys" only a knapsack on our backs, we flew off. I was separated from it for many years. Now living in civilization and going to public school, I discovered new interests, tv, movies, sports, friends. When it was returned to me, what once was the centre of my being held no more interest for me but I was still very attached to it as it was a gift from my dad that reminded me of happier times. My mom remarried and her new husband who had 3 guitars, gibsons 6, martin 6 & 12 became attached to it. At 16, my dad moved to civilization and I moved in with him but again my mom would not allow me to have my guitar or anything else for that matter. Over principal, I continued to fight for it. My step dad offered a trade only - my El Degas for his Martin. I would not go for it. Finally at age 20, they gave in, returned it to me without the case. I have looked at it and dusted it for over 25yrs now. It has been played and enjoyed by others, including my step dad when he and my mom visit. Strings changed. About a month ago my dad became very ill. I was walking by my guitar, nobody was home and I began to play. Until my finger tips were numb and black. It was like riding a bike. I found music on the computer and began jamming with my ipod. Then I was quickly out of tune. Frantic, I went to a music store and bought a Korg digital tuner. Wow. you gotta love technology. Instantly tuned. I have learned 7 or so new songs - my husband is absolutely amazed at how well I can play. I feel closer to my dad and I am so happy to be playing again.

It sounds wonderful and it is going to have its 36th birthday in a couple of weeks. Thats my story.

[charles]

That's an amazing story, thank you so much for sharing. It's quite exceptional how objects such as your first guitar can become such an important part of one's life and carry all of the sentiment, nostalgia, and emotion that were present throughout its time with you.

I hope you continue to play and enjoy that guitar for years to come!

[Conniegirl]

Hi Charles -

Is there anything you know from your experience with El Degas Guitars that you can share with me? I will try to post a photo. Only the MT - 1 is legible but there is another number after that - it is smudged...i cant tell what it is. Of course the serial number is perfect but I've read that means nothing... I have perused many photos and other than the body shape I cannot find a guitar with the same detailing. Even the detail on the back of my guitar although similar is a little different with 2 types of darker wood and then a blonder checkerboard wood making the V lines. My tuners are gold. any guesses?
thanks! Conniegirl

[charles]

The MT- models are copies of Martin acoustics. From what myself and others have found, we cannot really discern the exact Martin models each one is emulating - I would assume that either the Martin models you can find info on nowadays are different now from what Martin made back then, or they were mixing and matching Martin-like traits in each MT- model and they are more of a 'general' Martin copy. All I know is that I really like the 70s MIJ MT-'s and they often have abalone and excellent sound/projection. I was actually going to sell my MT- and changed my mind when I was tuning and playing it to get ready for sale!

The back wood on these usually looks like Koa to me (the dark wood), but I'm not sure what it is for sure. Tops are usually spruce.

The tuners are likely whatever MIJ tuner there was back then, possibly from Gotoh.

[Conniegirl]

Hey Charles, thanks for the information. They are somewhat of an enigma aren't they? Were many made? I've only ever seen mine in real life... a few photos of others on the web. They do sound incredible. Have you had yours long? I know that anyone who has ever played mine has been totally taken with it and doesn't want to stop playing it, many have borrowed it and on more than one occasion tried to trade me theirs for it. Some great guitars too but its way to personal to part with. I so happy to play it once again. I don't think it will be leaving my fingers again. I am sure you made a good decision there keeping yours!. Sounds like you may have many other toys to play as well.

I was in Spain last summer on my honeymoon for a month. It was awesome but our best find was long after dinner, in the wee hours, my husband and I would wander off to these cave bars over the waterfront on the island of Menorca for our final cocktail....right...turns out they regularly had open mike night and jam sessions. Man the Spanish can play, dance and sing. Such fantastic acoustics in those open caves. Very inspiring as well. I will never forget that and hope I they are still playing there when we return next year. Who know I may not just be dancing next time i might be jammin too.

I also wanted to ask....I have a couple really minor scuffs on mine, nothing serious and considering its travels over the years and the fact it has not had its case for so long but there was one on the face of it about an inch from the bottom of it that concerned me and I had inquired at Long & McQuade here in Vancouver BC to have it restored so it was perfect again. Another guitar guy I know that has played it said I was crazy to let anyone touch it, he said it is part of what makes a guitar sound great and give it character. Is this true? If not, perhaps you can recommend a good restorer?

Gotta get ready for Hockey Night in Canada, have guests arriving soon. Go Canucks Go! Cheers!

Conniegirl

[charles]

There seem to have been a pretty decent number of El Degas guitars made, as these (mostly) low-cost guitars (although the higher-end ones like yours did cost upwards of $500 or more as you mentioned) seemed to have sold pretty well back in the day. I cannot even begin to try to guess at a total number made/sold. I assume many of them stay within their owner's possession/collection.

Personally I would also leave the scratches/scuffs - unless it affects playability, I usually attribute them to an instrument's continued character. If the damage was structural and compromised the stability, sound, or playability I would then recommend a professional fix. Not sure who to recommend if you do decide to have it repaired - you would want to find a reputable luthier and ask to see samples of other repairs they have completed. I'm in Calgary so I can recommend a couple of guys here but not sure about other cities...

[Barry]

Thanks for that wonderful story!

It's remarkable how strongly attached we get to our instruments, more so at an early age it seems, and that's a terrific legacy. I still have emotional attachments to both my Gibson and my El Degas, in spite of the fact that I have 23 other guitars! As for trying to identify yours and others like it we really need pictures please! My suspicions are that many of these were made at the famous Matsumoku plant in Japan in the 70's. That's based on their superb quality, circumstantial evidence, plus a gut feeling. Nothing more I'm afraid.

I have been building a new Westone (Matsumoku built) web site for our forum members. One section showcases some acoustics from the 70's. Unfortunately we have pictures only, no other info, but you may see something familiar there. Scroll down the page for the acoustic listing.
http://www.westoneguitars.net/guitars/

You'll see some basic models but there are also top end models too like the MW-40 and W-1819, with abalone inlays and Jacaranda woods. If you do find a match please let us know as this would give us some confirmation.