$100, El Dégas Stratocaster Electric Guitar

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SoulSurgeon
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Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:25 pm
Location: Barrie Ontario Canada

$100, El Dégas Stratocaster Electric Guitar

Post by SoulSurgeon »

This guitar is near me...I might grab it tomorrow. Cheap. MIJ?

Recommend I buy it...for $100?

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-guitar/barrie/el ... nFlag=true
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charles
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Re: $100, El Dégas Stratocaster Electric Guitar

Post by charles »

Do not hesitate for a moment - go get that guitar in your hands! If it feels and sounds ok, that is a great price.

If I was in Ontario it would already be mine - it ticks all the boxes on my El Degas Strat-copy wish list.
I started ElDegas.com many years ago to help celebrate and inform about El Degas instruments. It all started with a used Ric 4000 bass copy I bought in circa 2000.

El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42 :shock: (13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)
SoulSurgeon
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Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:25 pm
Location: Barrie Ontario Canada

Re: $100, El Dégas Stratocaster Electric Guitar

Post by SoulSurgeon »

Ok, I told the guy I would take it. Getting it picked up tomorrow, hopefully.

I assume one of the "tick" boxes Charles would be MIJ for you?
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charles
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Re: $100, El Dégas Stratocaster Electric Guitar

Post by charles »

MIJ
6-screw trem
trem bar in-tact
looks to be in good condition

I'd say you have a real potential winner there.
I started ElDegas.com many years ago to help celebrate and inform about El Degas instruments. It all started with a used Ric 4000 bass copy I bought in circa 2000.

El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42 :shock: (13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)
SoulSurgeon
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Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:25 pm
Location: Barrie Ontario Canada

Re: $100, El Dégas Stratocaster Electric Guitar

Post by SoulSurgeon »

So, I got the guitar. 17 year old kid says his grandfather was the original owner and it was passed on to him.

Body is in very good shape..a few dings, nothing major. The bridge was well lifted up indicating to me that it had been a while since this guitar had a setup. I took the back plate off and the screws came off like they had never been off before. Very stiff...screws had no stripping whatsoever. I loosed up the tension springs and this relaxed the bridge to normal. The strings were not uniform. B string was black and other strings seemed off-gauge. I dropped it off at the shop to get a setup. I'll get it back in a couple of days.

I can't wait to play it.

I did plug it in for a bit...it's a very loud guitar. 3 position selector...like Gibson I suppose. Rhythm, Blend, and Treble. The neck is a lot fatter than most Stats I have played but not uncomfortable. It's also a very heavy piece of wood. I don't know what the body is made out of but is a very dense wood.

6 screw trem system seems to work well. Charles you prefer this right?

More details and pics to come once I get the guitar back.

Cheers,
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charles
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Re: $100, El Dégas Stratocaster Electric Guitar

Post by charles »

SoulSurgeon wrote:6 screw trem system seems to work well. Charles you prefer this right?
I am not very knowledgeable on Strat-style guitars at all, but my understanding is that the 6-screw trems can sometimes be a bit more stable (though I may or may not be going off of internet-opinion so take this with a grain of salt) - but yes, I do prefer a 6-screw over a 4-screw.
I started ElDegas.com many years ago to help celebrate and inform about El Degas instruments. It all started with a used Ric 4000 bass copy I bought in circa 2000.

El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42 :shock: (13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)
SoulSurgeon
Posts: 100
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:25 pm
Location: Barrie Ontario Canada

Re: $100, El Dégas Stratocaster Electric Guitar

Post by SoulSurgeon »

I just got it back today...nicely set up.

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charles
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Re: $100, El Dégas Stratocaster Electric Guitar

Post by charles »

Nice!
I started ElDegas.com many years ago to help celebrate and inform about El Degas instruments. It all started with a used Ric 4000 bass copy I bought in circa 2000.

El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42 :shock: (13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)
SoulSurgeon
Posts: 100
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:25 pm
Location: Barrie Ontario Canada

Re: $100, El Dégas Stratocaster Electric Guitar

Post by SoulSurgeon »

So here is my review it.

The neck is slightly convex...like a violin. I'm, not used to that and I have to compensate because my fingers aren't convex.

Each switch position co-relates to the a pick-up.

IE. Pos 1 is neck pick-up. Round yet bright tubular sound. SRV esque.
Pos 2 is Middle pick-up. Sort of dry...goof for rhythm guitar.
Pos 3 is bridge pick-up. VERY bright and trebly...too much so...have to dial down the town cause it hurts my ears lol.

Here's how it sounds...https://soundcloud.com/soulsurgeon/el-7 ... strat-demo
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Barry
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Re: $100, El Dégas Stratocaster Electric Guitar

Post by Barry »

Congrats Soul.
She looks good but I'm disappointed to hear she only has a 3 way switch.

That's rather limiting on a strat style guitar and might indicate a more inexpensive build. And if the pickups are sounding a bit underwhelming , they can easily be changed for something more balanced.

I'd consider replacing the switch with a 5 way which will give you a better variety of sounds and of course that classic Strat "quack" in posiition 2 and 4.
(It'a simple mod.)

Meantime have fun!
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