(SOLD) Greco EG1000R Cherry Sunburst 1976
Greco EG1000R, cherry sunburst, made in Japan 1976. If you know, you know. By the mid 1970s, Greco were producing extremely accurate interpretations of Gibson and Fender models, built with an eye for detail and consistency that their Stateside counterparts could only dream of. The model number on these pertained to the amount of JPY it would sell for, so the set-neck LPs started with the EG450, which sold for ¥45000 in 1976. This one, being an EG1000, sold for ¥100000 back in the day. ¥100000 is around $1200aud on today's exchange rate, but adjusting for inflation over the decades (using the RBA calculator) puts the equivalent new price closer to $8000aud. All that to say: this was a very high end offering in 1976. Being a deluxe model, you get a couple of key differences: ebony board, nitro finish, high end U-3000 pickups and... really high grade timber. The board feels awesome and the nitro has yellowed and mellowed and looks awesome, but the real magic is in the really, really good pieces of wood. The mahogany on the back has a gorgeous tight, detailed grain and the book-matched plain maple top looks superb. It resonates like a bell, even to the lightest touch, even unplugged. The pickups are great too. The neck pickup is clear and piano-like, with a gorgeous rich fundamental note and a shimmering top end. The bridge pickup is mile-wide and breathy, with exceptional note separation and more complexity than a dinner date with Neil deGrasse Tyson. It really is a superb sounding instrument, there's a fullness and piquancy to it you don't get on a lesser guitar. This is the first example of this model we've ever scored in five plus years of specialised dealings of Japanese guitars, so if you've been waiting for one, here's your shot. Bang bang.
Model: Greco EG1000R
Made: Japan, Fujigen plant, 1976 (serial L765539)
Finish: cherry sunburst, gloss nitro topcoat
Body: mahogany, 2-piece sandwich style, plain maple top, not chambered
Neck: 3-piece maple, ebony board, 24.75" scale, 12" radius
Weight: 4.580kg
Mods: pickup covers removed, original pickups reinstalled, re-wried with Alpha deluxe pots and orange drop capacitors, WIlkinson kidney bean tuners installed, knobs replaced
Pickup: Maxon U-3000 humbucker x2
Case: padded gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some minor chips on the end, scuffs on the edges, dimples on the back, peeling of the lacquer over the diamond inlay and scuffs on the front. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. The back has a couple of chips in the clear coat in the middle of the body, near the switch cavity and along the back and bottom edges, as well as widespread widespread light scuffs and dimples and discolouring of the lacquer. The sides have minor dimples around the whole body, as well as a couple of dents in the elbow area. The front has some chips on the back edge, some dimples around the knobs and behind the bridge and elbow area, some minor chips in the lacquer where the top edge of the board joins with the body and some play wear on the guard and horns. Overall: good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. The frets are a little low in height, but appear to have been recently dressed and levelled, 7/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 10/52 Moonshiners strings.