El Degas Arch Top  Reviews

El Degas Arch Top submitted 2/6/2006 Submitter Carlton Larsen (see all reviews from this person) Where Purchased The Pick and Fiddle Year Purchased 1988 Price Paid 250 (Canadian Dollars) historic exchange rates / currency converter Sound This is an arch top with a very light all aluminum body. The tone ring is cast into the body as part of the shell. The arch top takes what would be a very mediocre banjo and makes it an extremely loud one. Tone is very bright, and very loud but not all that subtle. Even up by the neck the sound is snappy and cuts through. I need to play real soft to make it quiet. I would like a flat-top for a rounder and mellower tone, and a bit of subtlety. On the other hand, it sure cuts through a stage full of instruments when it needs to! People compliment me on the sound of this banjo though I am looking forward to upgrading to something with a range of tone. Sound Rating 6 Setup It was set up well, and the owner of the shop (Mike Nitzel) taught me how to change and fine tune it. I put on a reproduction waverly style tailpiece and a compensated bridge which helped with the tuning. The neck was very straight and true. Mike taught me how to install the geared fifth string peg and how to spike the neck. It is a cheap banjo, but it is highly functional. Unfortunately, the Pick and Fiddle does not exist any more. If it did, I would be looking for my next banjo there. Thanks Mike, wherever you are. Setup Rating 10 Appearance The resonator is a nice mahogany unit, well finished on the outside but a bit rough on the inside. Definitelly a cheapo, but the inlay on the neck is well done and the headstock, which has the El Degas name done in mother of pearl, is tasteful. Rather nice for a beginner instrument. Inside the pot though is butt ugly. Definitely a case for a frosted head. A clear head would be seriously ugly. The wood is very nice too, with lovely grain on the neck and visible through the finish. Appearance Rating 7 Reliability It is my only banjo, dead reliable and a solid performer. I do use it on stage and it is easy to mike and stays in tune well. The tuners are accurate and solid and the finish is a good deep chrome showing no wear even after all these years. Only the replaced tailpiece is showing some finish discoloring. Reliability Rating 10 Customer Service No problems, but I don't think El Degas exists any more. Customer Service not rated Components The tailpiece was junk and it needed replacing right away. The Waverly type woke it up a lot. The hardware and rim clamps and everything works well. Components Rating 9 Overall Comments This is a very good first banjo. It has lasted very well. It is a good choice for someone who needs a good loud beast that will not strain the back. It is easy to carry and easy to play. If you can find one used, pick it up and set it up and get it into the hands of a beginner. I like the power of this banjo. It has gotten me this far and I am looking forward to taking the next step on to something sweeter and more versitile. I may just hang on to this one though for travelling. I could even pull the resonator off and use it for clawhammer. I don't think I could easily part with it, and I think it will stay in the family. Overall Rating 8