Is This An Authentic El Degas?

[russman]

Greetings,

I am looking for some help with an El Degas i just picked up and this forum looks the place to come! I just got this hollowbody in the mail, i saw it being sold in the classifieds and couldn't resist. Owner says he originally picked it up on craigslist several months ago. It plays greatand sounds nice through my amp but i have a feeling something isn't quite right…

My concerns:

The instrument is in surprisingly good shape for a guitar that is supposed to be older than i am

My concerns: The body is really shiny with not a lot of scratches i would have thought a 30-40 year old guitar would have.

The 'El Degas' logo on the headstock is on top of the gloss finish in gold paint. is the logo on the headstock usually under the gloss? . It is also missing the 'El' which seems to have been scratched off (you can see the outline of where it once was). is it possible this could have been a restoration job on an original ?

Apart from the name on the headstock, is there anywhere i can check to see if this is authentic (name and serial number inside the body anywhere perhaps)?

I've posted a bunch of pictures below - hopefully this helps out for anyone wanting to throw in their 2 cents.

Let me know what you think.

Cheers!

[charles]

It's original - no idea why someone would fake an El Degas . This particular model itself is a copy - that of a Gibson ES-345.

It was common for some models to have the logo applied as a gold foil transfer on the headstock. The logo looks original, I'd imagine the "El" can be scratched off pretty easily on the gold foil logos. Or perhaps a previous owner did not like the ring of "El Degas" for some reason?

I'd expect the previous owner probably polished the body, or because these were often purchased as a beginner's instrument it may not have seen much play.

The tuners were replaced at some point, you can see the original screw holes.

[russman]

It's original - no idea why someone would fake an El Degas . This particular model itself is a copy - that of a Gibson ES-345.

It was common for some models to have the logo applied as a gold foil transfer on the headstock. The logo looks original, I'd imagine the "El" can be scratched off pretty easily on the gold foil logos. Or perhaps a previous owner did not like the ring of "El Degas" for some reason?

I'd expect the previous owner probably polished the body, or because these were often purchased as a beginner's instrument it may not have seen much play.

The tuners were replaced at some point, you can see the original screw holes.

THANK YOU!!! im just so surprised at how unscratched and new this looks. any idea of the time period and is there anyway to tell? there doesnt seem to be any thing at all marked inside the body as far as i can see.

cheers!

[charles]

I would say that yours is likely an early El Degas - late 60's to early 70's.
The Japanese manufacturers did the rounded end to the fretboard and the "steel reinforced neck" neckplate very early on.

Enjoy it!

[russman]

I would say that yours is likely an early El Degas - late 60's to early 70's.
The Japanese manufacturers did the rounded end to the fretboard and the "steel reinforced neck" neckplate very early on.

Enjoy it!

Thats great - Thanks again Charles! i really appreciate it. you should for sure be one of experts on Pawn Stars or something!

Have a great weekend.

[charles]

Ha ha ha, I highly doubt that knowledge of an obscure brand such as El Degas makes me an expert on anything
I mostly rely on second hand information from people much more knowledgable than myself.

[Barry]

I'm late catching up to this post, and may I just say WOW!

You definitely have an MIJ ES345 copy there. You can even see where the original gold on black "Made in Japan" sticker was on the back of the headstock.
As Charles said, the machine heads have been upgraded to a Grover style; the originals were likely Kluson type which can be problematic if not maintained properly. So consider that a bonus.
By the way, check carefully, this is very likely to be a stereo output too. If you are only getting out put from one pickup with a standard mono cable, that will confirm it. In that case simply get yourself a stereo cable. It will work just fine in a mono amp. Problem solved.

That is one gorgeous guitar. Enjoy!

[laristotle]

That is a beaut. The offset holes suggest 'ping' tuners.
Here's mine. It's a project I recently picked up.


And a shot of the variatone.


The whole process can be viewed here, if you're interested.
http://www.guitarscanada.com/guitar-bui ... ation.html
The 'steel reinforced neck' plate is strange considering
there's a truss rod(?)

[charles]

I've always assumed that by "steel reinforced" they meant "this neck has a truss rod in it"

[laristotle]

From my understanding (I could be wrong) 'steel reinforced' is a squarish 'rod'
that is non-adjustable that stabilizes the neck, as apposed to a (adjustable)
truss rod. I have a '66 harmony 'rocket' labeled as such and it has no truss rod.
This is where I made my assumption.

[Barry]

I think that's correct. "Steel Reinforced Neck" was a big deal back in the day, hence the advertising on the plate.
It is also generally seen on early guitars made by the famous Japanese maker Matsumoku and is one of the things collectors look for when trying to ID the manufacturer.

This is a good 'un!

BTW is yours a stereo output?

[charles]

From my understanding (I could be wrong) 'steel reinforced' is a squarish 'rod'
that is non-adjustable that stabilizes the neck, as apposed to a (adjustable)
truss rod. I have a '66 harmony 'rocket' labeled as such and it has no truss rod.
This is where I made my assumption.

Learn something every day.

[laristotle]

BTW is yours a stereo output?

No it isn't.

[charles]

The only El Degas I've ever seen with stereo output (that I know of, at least) is my Ric 4000 bass copy, which copied the Ric-o-sound output. I have always just used the standard mono output, though.

[Frenchy]

Hummm... nice and minty....