Just picked up a marginally "grody" GB81 with strings that must be 25 years old. It looks to have maple back and sides - I just wiped all the gook off it and she's a nice guitar. 4/32 at the Low E, but I think I can get it a smidge lower with a truss rod adjustment, but it's not too high, and there is room I think to adjust the saddle down a pinch. Looks to be a Gibson J45 copy. I assume it's all laminate, but the top may be solid - I'll have to confirm that, as it's now in my office (I don't have my mirror to look inside yet). Great neck. Easy to play. Nice woody tone, even w/the old, rust-coloured strings! She's not too heavy, either. I wonder what she'd sound like if I removed the adjustable saddle set up and made it a conventional saddle? CDN$60.00. I have just joined the El Degas family, officially!
Anyone have any El Degas catalogues? I am not sure this is MIJ, or MIK - no indication on the label. I do see a stamp on the neck block inside - 20.1.76 - does this mean the guitar may have been made on 20 January, 1976? To me, it seems a logical guess! Any info on these GB-series El Degas acoustics would be appreciated - I've been going thru the site the past 24 hours. Great stuff here!
El Degas GB81
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Everton FC
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2020 12:12 pm
- Location: Calgary, Alberta
El Degas GB81
1976(?) El Degas GB81
Re: El Degas GB81
I haven't heard of stamps like that on the neck block but it's getting me to grab a mirror and head down into the music studio for a look right now!
(edit: both of my acoustic ED's have stamps on the neck block but neither have any resemblance to a date, unless one of them was manufactured during the WWI era! So, I'm not sure if your stamp is coincidentally looking like a 1976 date or not.)
I'm not sure on the country of manufacture. The sound hole label occasionally says the country of manufacture, but not always.
Acoustics are not included in either catalog I have access to, sadly.
(edit: both of my acoustic ED's have stamps on the neck block but neither have any resemblance to a date, unless one of them was manufactured during the WWI era! So, I'm not sure if your stamp is coincidentally looking like a 1976 date or not.)
I'm not sure on the country of manufacture. The sound hole label occasionally says the country of manufacture, but not always.
Acoustics are not included in either catalog I have access to, sadly.
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
(13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)
El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42
(13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)-
Everton FC
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2020 12:12 pm
- Location: Calgary, Alberta
Re: El Degas GB81
The one GB81 posted in this site had a Made in Japan sticker on the top back part of the headstock - so my guess is Japan, especially if my date-stamp hypothesis proves accurate! Seems the truss rod cover would simply date it into the 70s - Yamaha didn't start using the interior truss rod at the neck block until the early 80s. I'd say most of the MIJ acoustics fromt he 70s had the truss rod cover on the headstock, versus "inside".
Let me know if you see the date-stamp on the neck block inside the guitar. Mine is quite clear, optically. Could be a clue!
Let me know if you see the date-stamp on the neck block inside the guitar. Mine is quite clear, optically. Could be a clue!
1976(?) El Degas GB81
Re: El Degas GB81
Both of my ED acoustics have stamps, but neither resemble a date. See my reply above for more.
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 (13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)
El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42
(13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)-
Everton FC
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2020 12:12 pm
- Location: Calgary, Alberta
Re: El Degas GB81
On my copy of a Gibby Super Jumbo: 129015
On my copy of a Martin dreadnaught: 829094 then 18 under that
The only commonality between my two is the "290" but that may be just coincidence. I have never seen a consistent serial numbering or marking system that seems to mean anything to anyone now.
On my copy of a Martin dreadnaught: 829094 then 18 under that
The only commonality between my two is the "290" but that may be just coincidence. I have never seen a consistent serial numbering or marking system that seems to mean anything to anyone now.
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 (13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)
El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42
(13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)-
Barry
- Posts: 1038
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:31 pm
- Location: St. Catharines, Ontario Canada
- Contact:
Re: El Degas GB81
Some pix would be nice eh? We love guitar porn here!
Inked or stamped internal numbers regularly show up on virtually all MIJ guitars and I'll wager those made everywhere else too.
You'll find them inside pickup routings and neck pockets on electric guitars as well as on neck heels and even on the bracing on acoustics. Mostly these are either manufacturers inventory parts numbers or finish and assembly codes. Nothing to do with serial numbers.
Those are applied after assembly, either on the head stock, a neck plate or an inside label.
And yes, if you can afford it, get rid of that adjustable saddle! It's a major tone and volume sucker.
The difference between it and a proper bone or Tusq saddle is like night and day. You won't regret it.
Inked or stamped internal numbers regularly show up on virtually all MIJ guitars and I'll wager those made everywhere else too.
You'll find them inside pickup routings and neck pockets on electric guitars as well as on neck heels and even on the bracing on acoustics. Mostly these are either manufacturers inventory parts numbers or finish and assembly codes. Nothing to do with serial numbers.
Those are applied after assembly, either on the head stock, a neck plate or an inside label.
And yes, if you can afford it, get rid of that adjustable saddle! It's a major tone and volume sucker.
The difference between it and a proper bone or Tusq saddle is like night and day. You won't regret it.
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Everton FC
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2020 12:12 pm
- Location: Calgary, Alberta
Re: El Degas GB81
Being the GB81 is all laminate (spruce top, and I think maple back-and-sides), I don't think I'll be spending any more then the strings I just put on (D'Addario XT's 12/53). I might invest in a bone saddle replacement (adjustable) from Philadelphia Luthier Tools & Supplies. That might be the extent of the upgrades on this one. It did clean up nice, though.
Glad I found this site, though!
Glad I found this site, though!
1976(?) El Degas GB81
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Everton FC
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2020 12:12 pm
- Location: Calgary, Alberta
Re: El Degas GB81
Restrung the GB81. I'll try and post a photo. The maple back/sides are quite nice. The sound is growing on me! I saw this topic below and may try this saddle solution, versus the adjustable - though as I browse this site, many like the adjustable saddle.
http://eldegas.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1802
I am beginning to believe I discovered a guitar that will continue to grow on me, and impress me with it's tone, playability, and sound. The topic above had a specific Tusq saddle that fit in the GB81 saddle-slot in the bridge, once the adjustable mechanism was removed. Adding a Tusq nut would complete the repairs. Action at Low E 4/32, but plenty of bow in the neck to use the truss rod to get that down a smidge. It does not need a neck rest - straight edge from the fretboard to the bridge misses clearance by, maybe, 1/2 mm. Interesting guitar. They were made to look like a Gibson. I wonder if it will sound more like a Gibson, as time travels? (D'Addario XT 12/53s are making the guitar sound nice).
http://eldegas.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1802
I am beginning to believe I discovered a guitar that will continue to grow on me, and impress me with it's tone, playability, and sound. The topic above had a specific Tusq saddle that fit in the GB81 saddle-slot in the bridge, once the adjustable mechanism was removed. Adding a Tusq nut would complete the repairs. Action at Low E 4/32, but plenty of bow in the neck to use the truss rod to get that down a smidge. It does not need a neck rest - straight edge from the fretboard to the bridge misses clearance by, maybe, 1/2 mm. Interesting guitar. They were made to look like a Gibson. I wonder if it will sound more like a Gibson, as time travels? (D'Addario XT 12/53s are making the guitar sound nice).
1976(?) El Degas GB81
Re: El Degas GB81
In my experience, you'll be amazed at how much better the sound and tone will be after ditching the adjustable bridge. They are serious tone-sucks.
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 (13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)
El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42
(13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)-
Everton FC
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2020 12:12 pm
- Location: Calgary, Alberta
Re: El Degas GB81
I think I'm going to do it! I'll keep you posted.
It's an amazing surprise, this guitar - especially for $CDN$60.00. Cleaned up real nice. I've heard of El Degas before. Now I've adopted one!
It's an amazing surprise, this guitar - especially for $CDN$60.00. Cleaned up real nice. I've heard of El Degas before. Now I've adopted one!
1976(?) El Degas GB81