El Degas Masterclone Reviews

El Degas Masterclone submitted 6/6/2008 Submitter Jaunskots (see all reviews from this person) Where Purchased Private sale, Toronto Year Purchased 1990 Price Paid 300 (CDN $) (bought USED) historic exchange rates / currency converter Sound Bought used from a newspaper ad. Dunno the model number; it isn't marked (no serial no either). This is a typical Japanese flathead clone with a tone ring of some mysterious copper alloy (i.e., brass or bronze) weighing 2 lb 4 oz, multiply mostly maple rim, tube-and-plate flange, and pretty heavy resonator. A lot like a 1970s RB-250. My son just gave it back to me after many years, and I'm still fooling with setup. I like it better than a used Gold Tone BG-250F I tried a while back and a modern gold-plated Fender import I tried the other night. It beats the Samick ones I've tried lately as well. Good response to a light touch, nice sound up to about the 15th fret, where it starts to get a little harsh. I'm still working on getting it working a little better way up the neck. See setup. Lots of volume if you dig in.Reasonable tone suitable for Bluegrass, especially Scruggs style. Sound Rating 8 Setup I think this banjo was made in the 1970s. By 1990 the previous owner had tweaked the truss rod, so I had to undo that. His fooling with the coordinator rods had put the rim out of round and done bad things to the action--way too low. I've been bringing the rim back into round gradually, shimmed the heel (temporarily at least) and the action is now tolerable. Once it is round again and the tone ring can be fit up, I have hopes of undoing all of the problems. the instrument is now very playable in any case--pretty good for more than 30 years. I'm still working on the sound way up the neck. As they came from the factory, the El Degas banjos were set up pretty well, BTW, so the rating only reflects the previous owner. Setup Rating 3 Appearance Inlay and hardware are like a 1970s RB-250 -- uncomfortably so for Gibson, as I recall. Lacquer, purfling, finish were pretty good. The resonator is pretty clunky, though, especially on the inside. All in all pretty good for the money, both what i paid and what it cost new. Appearance Rating 8 Reliability It has held up so far--about 35 years at a guess. Someday I'll have to replace some frets, and maybe one tuner (maybe an excuse to acquire a set of Keith tuners). No complaints at all. Love that two-piece flange--no pot metal for me. I'd take it anywhere I was strong enough to carry it, heavy beast that it is, without fear of anything letting me down. Reliability Rating 9 Customer Service No experience. Customer Service not rated Components They seem ok so far--and they would have failed by now. Components Rating 8 Overall Comments It's a great banjo for $300! I'd guess it's about on a par with the Ibanez clones, if a little less fancy in appearance. If it were stolen I'd have to spend a lot more money to replace it. Overall Rating 8

El Degas Masterclone submitted 4/17/2005 Submitter howlinsage (see all reviews from this person) Where Purchased Nelson B.C. Year Purchased 2003 Price Paid 900 (canadian) (bought USED) historic exchange rates / currency converter Sound When I got this banjo, it had been in its case for about 30 years. The sound was muted and dull.A years worth of tinkering,using info gained on banjo hangout forum,has brought this banjo to a high level. Recently my instructor at a workshop played it and was blown away, louder and rounder tone than his Stelling .He used the term " killer" Sound Rating 9 Setup Recut neck, modified the multiply rim to the tone bell system, Potter tailpeice,heavy head and Elite Z -bridge. I had a luthier install a nut and dress the frets Setup Rating 9 Appearance This banjo looks identical to an Iida model 239.Top of the line gold plated masterclone Appearance Rating 9 Reliability solid,well built Reliability Rating 9 Customer Service n/a Customer Service not rated Components The trapdoor tailpeice is a joke. Tuners are decent . Gold plating is thin and wearing off Components Rating 7 Overall Comments My first banjo started out with great looks and poor tone, now its got both.I've learned a lot about setup and my compulsion to fine tune it has not stopped.These Japanese banjo's are capable instruments. el Degas was a Canadian importer of Japanese instruments from entry level to pro quality Overall Rating 9