(SOLD) Greco SV-800 Super View Wine Red 1979
Greco SV-800 Super View, wine red, made in Japan 1979. What a gorgeous guitar! Greco's Super View series was a slimmed-down, updated take on the classic Gibson ES models, made for a couple of years in the late 70s. The body is about 5cm smaller across the top than an ES-335 but shares a similar 42mm depth. The smaller size means a lighter weight, which paired with a super agreeable slim C shaped neck makes this a very comfortable player indeed. It's well balanced standing up, or sits perfectly on the lap and makes an ideal couch guitar. This was made many decades before Gibson launched their ES-339, but it is a similar shape. There were two models in the catalog: the more basic SV-600 and the more deluxe SV-800. This is the 800, so it gets some nice extras: gold hardware, split hex inlays, fancy inlaid headstock and a fancier set of Maxon PU-2 pickups. The aged gold hardware against the wine red finish looks unreal, it's somehow both super luxe and understated at the same time. Sound wise, there's a lot to like. It's loud and lively unplugged, which is always a good sign. The pickups deliver the goods too: it's thick and warm through the midrange, with a weighty assured bass and a sweet chirpy clarity on the top end. It's great clean, with a brimming clarity and eloquent dynamic response, but also well balanced and expansive when paired with a dirty amp. This is such a rewarding guitar, someone is going to be very happy indeed.
Model: Greco SV-800 Super View
Made: Japan, Fujigen Gakki plant, 1979
Serial: H796734
Finish: wine red, gloss poly
Body: laminate flamed sycamore top/back/sides, semi-hollow with centre block. 390mm across, 42mm deep
Neck: maple, three-piece, rosewood fretboard, 24.75" scale, 12" radius, slim C shape
Weight: 3.670kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Maxon PU-2 PAF-style humbucker x2
Accessories: vintage matching hard case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has minor dimples on the end and back near the volute, as well as some scuffs on the front around the posts. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor rub wear on the back only, the binding around the fretboard has yellowed but is in good shape. . The back has some scuffs in the middle of the body, elbow area, back edge and bottom corner, as well as dimples on the bottom horn. The sides have some dimples and a 1cm chip in the lacquer on the top horn, scuffs in the elbow area, near the jack and on the bottom horn. The binding has a fair few hairline cracks around the body, but it's not chipping off or crumbling. The front has scuffs along the back edge, around the tailpiece and elbow area and bridge pickup and some play wear on the guard and horns. The gold hardware has some corrosion.
Overall: very good condition (7.5/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 11/49 Moonshiners strings.
Fret life: 7/10, recently levelled and polished, some height gone but playing well