Greco EG700B Black 1976
Greco EG700, black, made in Japan 1975-6. This has a lot of attitude, it's very fun. Greco started making Gibson-style models in the early 70s, and by 1975 or so, they were getting very good at it. This one references the LP Standard, so you get a sturdy pancake style body capped with solid maple, paired with a set maple neck with a lovely dark rosewood board. The woodwork is very good, so this has plenty of natural sustain and unplugged volume. The neck is on the slim side, but not as skinny as some other 70s Grecos we've had: it's a comfy quick C, not so different from a Gibson 'Slim 60s' shape. The pickups are awesome: this is bright, wide and open, with a gorgeous shimmering top end and a breathy, harmonically complex midrange. It cleans up beautifully, always a good sign on an LP, and delivers an eloquent creamy smoothness into a dirty amp. The finish shows some scars from previous lives: text etched in the back, small dents and marks around the place, scuffs and fading... it's lived, laughed and loved before and is ready for another adventure. There's something about a well-played black LP that treads the line between classy and nasty, it's very cool. If you're after an absolute monster of an LP for about what you'd likely pay for one of President Xi's finest Epiphones, this one is itching to get out there and play some more tunes.
Model: Greco EG700B
Made: Japan, 1976, Fujigen Gakki factory
Serial: none
Finish: black, gloss poly
Body: mahogany, maple fretboard
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard, 24.75" scale, 12" radius, slim 60s shape
Weight: 4.590kg
Mods: pickup covers removed
Pickups: Maxon U-2000 humbucker x2
Accessories: basic non-original hard case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has a couple of minor chips and scuffs on the end, scuffs on both edges and the front, and some scuffs, scratches, a chip and a little etching on the back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and scuffs only. The back has widespread scuffs, dimples and surface scratches, as well as some text and symbols etched into the finish as per the pics. The sides have a couple of chips near the neck join, a dent and some scuffs on the top horn, dimples scuffs and some small chips in the elbow area, scratches and dimples along the back edge, a chip and some dents and scuffs near the jack and scuffs on the bottom horn. The front has dimples and scuffs in the elbow area, back edge and near the knobs, minor chips around the bridge and near the jack and some dimples and play wear on the horns. The guard is missing.
Overall: good condition (6.5/10)
Playing condition notes: action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/52 Moonshiners strings.
Fret Life: 8/10, minor wear only