El Degas (Ibanez) Les Paul Copy - Pleasant Surprise

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 19 Aug 2007 7:50 pm

I picked this guitar up at a local music store yesterday for $200 taxes in, with form-fitting OHSC. It is an early 80's El Degas Les Paul copy. El Degas was, apparently, the name Ibanez used on the knock-offs they sold in Canada during this time. And what a knock-off it is. I used this for a whole gig last night, and it was awesome. It came with stock Dimarzios, so the pickups weren't an issue. (The whole guitar is stock.) The tuners are great quality, the neck feels good, and the guitar itself is a tidy ten pounds. For all intents and purposes, it does what a real Les Paul can do. It really growls through my Deluxe Reissue. I played 3 real Les Pauls in this store yesterday before picking this one up as an afterthought. This guitar beat all three, hands down, at one-tenth the price. I have a feeling it was made to compete, and boy did they do a good job. The nicest thing of all about this guitar is that the gold hardware is all tarnished, which gives it a really nice vintage look. These guitars are worth way more than their price tag, in my opinion.

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 19 Aug 2007 9:43 pm

Does it have a set in or bolt on neck? From what I remember, the last Japanese-made El Degas Les Paul copies had set in necks and were close copies of Gibsons.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 20 Aug 2007 7:17 am

Yes. Leslie, it has a set neck. It's incredibly close to the real thing. And I'm not one to play junk on stage in front of discerning audiences. It takes a lot for me to leave my customized Tele on the sidelines for a night.

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 20 Aug 2007 2:39 pm

It was probably made in the early 1980s. By then the Japanese Les Paul copies were much closer to the real thing than the junk that was made in the 1970s. I had a mid-1970s El Degas Les Paul copy that had a bolt on neck, a plywood body that was partly hollow, and single coil pickups that were disguised as humbuckers. It was worst electric guitar I ever owned.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 20 Aug 2007 3:34 pm

Yes, Leslie, I've seen a few earlier examples that were junk, especially with the bolt-on neck. I wouldn't touch one of those guitars. Actually, I wouldn't have gone near this one if it hadn't impressed me so much with its authentic feel, looks and sound.