Anyone know where this one was made?

[motive]

I bought this off Kijiji the other day. Not bad, but not great either. It needs new machine heads and a setup. I think I may sell it in the near future. The sticker had been removed and replaced with a Dean Markley guitar string sticker, so I have no idea of the country of origin or the model number - perhaps a GB 23?

If it was a Japanese model the headstock shape would probably be more "Gibson like," would it not? Maybe Korean or Romanian?

[charles]

Looks like a later MIK model, GB-twenty-something. (Gibson Hummingbird copy)

[Barry]

Yeah, almost certainly MIK.
I remember seeing the ad for this one since I've been looking for an MIJ eD 'Hummingbird' for sometime to compliment my 'Dove' model.
As you say Motive, the 70's MIJ version would likely have the "open book/moustache" headstock design and probably finished in black. The bridge would also have been the adjustable type with the large slot head screws on either end.

Looks pretty nice though, construction appears to be of good materials. Does it not sound good or something? I can't see anything visibly wrong with the machine heads, have you checked to make sure that they are snug and tight? That's a simple adjustment. As for the Dean Markley sticker you could try to loosen it with a gentle heat application from a hair dryer. Short bursts only! Don't dry out the wood too much. That should allow you to carefully lift it off. With any luck the original label is still underneath. I would not use any kind of chemical stripper which would also ruin the original.

As soon as possible I'd re-hydrate the interior of the guitar. You can use a commercially available product or simply place a small dampened sponge in an open plastic container inside, cover the sound hole, and leave it overnight.

[charles]

If the machine heads on that MIK Hummingbird copy are anything like the ones on my MIK Dove copy, I'd replace them asap They are really terrible.

The Dean Markley label is a mystery - what would possess someone to put that in there is beyond me.

[motive]

Yeah, I think I will throw some machine heads on it. It has a problem with the 13th fret - the low E string is dead on the 12th fret. I have never done any fret work before, and I don't think it's worth it to take it in, so I will probably sell it. What do you guys think it's worth, about $150?

I already have an MT 10 that blows this one away, although it doesn't look as "cool."

By the way, I found a vantage acoustic on the Net that appears to have almost the exact same headstock as this Degas. Maybe they were made in the same factory with different names stamped on them. Who knows.

As for the sticker: what a pain. It's staying where it is for now.

[charles]

Yeah, I think I will throw some machine heads on it. It has a problem with the 13th fret - the low E string is dead on the 12th fret. I have never done any fret work before, and I don't think it's worth it to take it in, so I will probably sell it. What do you guys think it's worth, about $150?

The MIK acoustics seem to go anywhere from $50-200 depending on condition. $150 is probably a decent starting point.

I already have an MT 10 that blows this one away, although it doesn't look as "cool."

The Gibby copies do look awesome, but the Martin copies have a great sound all their own.

By the way, I found a vantage acoustic on the Net that appears to have almost the exact same headstock as this Degas. Maybe they were made in the same factory with different names stamped on them. Who knows.

I'd say it's very likely. Back in those days there were a lot of white label brands being produced by a handful of different manufacturers.

As for the sticker: what a pain. It's staying where it is for now.

Yeah, I'd just leave it.

[motive]

Well, I ended up selling the guitar for $100, the same I paid for it. It was not a great guitar. Actually, it was kind of a piece of junk when it came down to the bottom line. It's really quite a hit-and-miss game with the El Degas brand.

[charles]

I certainly prefer the MIJ acoustic models over the MIK's... just seemed to be a better overall build quality.

Glad you at least got out what you paid in.

[motive]

I should mention the guy who bought it was quite happy with the purchase. He knew his way around the neck of a guitar, so I didn't rip him off or anything. Maybe he will be able to set it up and make it play great - who knows. But I don't think it will ever sound that great.

[charles]

Reminds me of when I had a junky Tiesco electric, I could not make it do a damn thing and it was much worse than the seller I got it from had described. I took it to a luthier to give his two cents, and while he said that yes it was a POS, he ripped out some old Lennon riffs on it (Cold Turkey if I recall correctly) and my mouth fell open. Sometimes the right set of hands can make even a crap guitar sing.

This in no way is to imply that your hands are not up to the task on the El Degas!!

Even if it did not play too well, $100 is probably a fair price.