Page 1 of 1

El Degas EL 980 - Neckthru Greco copy

Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 5:37 pm
by grb
Well let's see if I can get some pictures working. I believe this is a 1970's era El Degas EL 980 model neck-thru I picked up at Value Village in fall 2014. I finally got around to cleaning it up and putting some strings on it. Just wondering what the stamp in the pic-up cavity means ... if anything. Appears all original, natural wear and tear with OHSC. Nice resonant guitar. Certainly a keeper.

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

Re: El Degas EL 980 - Neckthru Greco copy

Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 5:46 pm
by charles
I split your post out from sambonee's thread and into its own topic so it'll get more visibility.

Nice guitar 8)

Re: El Degas EL 980 - Neckthru Greco copy

Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 5:48 pm
by grb
Thanks charles .... and also for the pic uploading help! :)

Re: El Degas EL 980 - Neckthru Greco copy

Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 6:00 pm
by charles
It was worth the wait - I love these neckthru's.

If I had to guess about the mark in the pickup cavity, I'd guess that it was a QA stamp - but it is a total shot in the dark!
My neckthru Greco copy also has one but it's a bit too light for me to make out the numbers.

Re: El Degas EL 980 - Neckthru Greco copy

Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 6:42 pm
by sambonee
Mine is one of my favorites of all. Although I'm not into humbuckers as much as I ws before, I'm glad I spent the big bucks on motor city PAF style hand built pickups. They're currently at about $140 usd each but man oh man are they worth it. Also it's at the cottage so less time to play it. I wish it had a trem. Not because it needs one but because I'm using one more often these days. M

I've been playing my GOII Greco a lot more ever since I got it.

Now you need to find the matching bass. They're had for $4-600 depending.

Re: El Degas EL 980 - Neckthru Greco copy

Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 12:18 pm
by grb
I picked up this EL ... ? off kijiji Hamilton today, which I believe is the middle model between the EL 680 and EL980. Anyone have any thoughts on the actual number? It's an extremely clean instrument and very well set-up by the previous owner. Only upgrades appear to be the Schallers and control knobs, which he installed and unfortunately didn't keep. Came with no case and was $265. More than I wanted to pay .... but oh well ... (I can dollar cost average with the EL 980 I picked up at Value Village last year). Now I can make a double-neck .. :)
Image
ImageImageImageImage

Re: El Degas EL 980 - Neckthru Greco copy

Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 12:22 pm
by grb
The "fraternal" twins enjoying a moment in the backyard.
ImageImage

Re: El Degas EL 980 - Neckthru Greco copy

Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 12:30 pm
by charles
Congrats on the twins! I'm not sure how the nomenctature went for the model numbers on that one. I've never paid too much mind to model numbers on the electrics, personally - I just call them by what they are replicating :oops:

Re: El Degas EL 980 - Neckthru Greco copy

Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 12:50 pm
by sambonee
Now you need to buy my bolt on matching bass.

It's just been set up. I'll see if I can find photos.

Pm me if you're interested.

Image

Re: El Degas EL 980 - Neckthru Greco copy

Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 1:01 pm
by charles
Sean, where on earth did you find those neon bass strings?! :shock: I don't know whether I like them or not, but they sure got my attention.

Re: El Degas EL 980 - Neckthru Greco copy

Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 1:03 pm
by sambonee
They're DR. Last super long, have great tone and look funky. I really like them.

Re: El Degas EL 980 - Neckthru Greco copy

Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 1:05 pm
by sambonee
Another note is that the bolt on is probably like my se neck of that model guitar. The two tone stain is only that, a stain. It's deceiving.

The neck thru is evidently different wood.

Re: El Degas EL 980 - Neckthru Greco copy

Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 5:07 pm
by grb
Yes...quite the strings on that bass!

Too bad I'm overstocked in the bass dept.....and also that I'm terrible with only 4 strings.....i could have made a triple neck... :)

I would imagine the wood "stripes" on my bolt-on are " painted" . but well done at any rate.
I recently saw a red one of this greco style with the bolt-on neck posted at a shop in BC for $300. Headstock had only el degas on It and was also red. There was no back pic and it sold last week. Would this be a "base" model or refinish? Anyone have any thoughts on this and if colours were available?

Re: El Degas EL 980 - Neckthru Greco copy

Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 5:24 pm
by charles
I think the red ones are bolt ons as far as I have seen. I don't recall seeing any other solid colors, but I could be mistaken.