Greco Les Paul Model History - Part 1 

Jolana Diamant.

Vintage...go for a EG900 or Super Reals 850 and above if your looking at that price range.

Man if its a 700 it should deff have a serial number. However some in teh early 90s didnt have serial numbers. So you could be there? Only other place for dates maybe on the pots or the pickups...

I'm interested in how it worked out for you if you purchased it?

jimmyjames thanks sir. Appreciate the cool feedback.

I can agree with that but the public will still refer to them as Grecos. The factories Fuji and Matsu still were isolating them to a singular brand Greco.

Thanks for interesting video! In the 90s I noticed the headstock on some of the giitars change away from the edgy diamond logo to a logo who looked like a flowery torch kind of thing. Also very nice looking. And many of you are right - they play like crazy!

Check out my latest video if you havent seen it by now...pretty much a starters buying guide!

The Early Gnecos are typically going to be boltons. So i wouldn't dig into one for much more than $250ish USD. Unless you are in love with the looks. They were just still figuring out the construction and materials in those early 73s if thats the year you're looking at. Ive seen one set neck go for alot from that time so those ones would be pretty special.

@@TheYetti1 beautiful video! Hi I'm looking for a Greco 78' with Gibson pickups and so. Is it a good deal for about 200$? It looks well preserved. Thank you.

I would assume the nobs fit just fine...cant comment specifically on the pick guards but cant imagine why not.

EG300 no way.... should be under $500USD at the very most.

I do not sorry sir!

Sounds much like mine man, deff dated to 1978. What color or finish do you have? Check out the next video that will be up soon it has some things to look out for to gage the specs, interms of Eg500-700.

Havent played them but i would say the U1000s or U2000s that are in these 70s grecos fit the times extremely well. Ive always said the guitar in this video is 1000% bridge pickup bleeds metallica

Phewww pretty spendy once you get into the Eg1200s. Shouldn't see one for less than $1000-1200USD

3k and up

450s initially i would have said avoid becuase typically the Bolt on necks and more hollow top. But i acquired one a while back and really love the sound out of it.

Rob Hanson interesting. I found a really beautiful one in the finish I love, and it’s a set neck but it’s chambered and I hear they’re pretty cheaply made. Which is what I’m trying to avoid now, I’ve owned enough cheap ones ha

@@mattmurray517 whats the year its made? it Might not be as cheap as you think if the neck is set?

Rob Hanson set neck 1978. Sold now though lol

There is always chances where Greco did some crazy stuff and mixed things up. That was more common in the 90s tho. Deff sounds interesting...Let me know when you get more details. From your description im getting conflicting specs: In 1975 you wouldn't typically get a diamond on the headstock, or Set neck. Ive seen 1976 Set Necks which are super sought after 1975 would be even more amazing... Also EG550s weren't a thing till Early/Mid 90s. Were you able to verify the Serial number? Is it black and gold hardware? Id suspect your looking at an EG500 from possibly the 80s But let me know when you know more!

@@TheYetti1 thanks Rob, no serial and has the burst finish on the back which seems to indicate 70s model. Hopefully it will arrive next week and I can do a closer inspection. Cheers 😊

@@andrewrobinson2040 Very Cool! My mistake Eg550s were obviously a thing in the 70s. With the Set neck you will deff have a Eg650 or better. You scored a deal with it being mis labeled hopefully. Whats the color burst? Does it have a belly carve in the back?

Aight hold up So Block inlays, Burst finish on back as well...is the neck bursted?? Set Neck, No Serial, Diamond headstock. Most Deff either a EG600 or Eg1000! Were getting closer, ill get you there...The Only thing that will be the final test is the pickups If original U1000 = EG600 if U3000 Congratz sir thats an EG1000 which they didnt make very many of those!! Excited for you...let me know when you get eyes on!

@@TheYetti1 ok I received the guitar and had a chance to investigate. The pickups both have 24803 on the back, so I'm guessing 1974 U1000s? That might date the guitar as a 74 rather than a 75. Gold hardware looks original. Taking another look at the catalogs for 74, I reckon it's a 74 550R. No mention of a bolt on neck in the catalog, should I assume the 74 550 was a set neck and if so I think that's my match. After a cleanup and some new strings it plays nice, early breakup through my vibroclone probably due to the alnico 8. I'm pretty happy with it for my first foray into greco.

I would imagine sometime in the 90s is when things really started to change. Probably took forever to get traction.

1977, Norlin sued Elgar, the company behind Ibanez. No other manufacturer was named in the lawsuit, but they all got the message.

What are you referring to in terms of the "KJ" the serial number? Please Clarify.

@@TheYetti1 it is engraved in the trustrod cover.

@@jimsonbas-ong234 interesting..ive seen them online but not sure the meaning. Might not be to difficult to find a reason online?

It is difficult to find a same guitar as this. It would be easier if it had serials on it. Though it might be a rare guitar hehe. Anyway thanks. Have more good contents on your channel.

kimseniorb I have an Ibanez from that era. The wood is different from an American Les Paul, and it gives it a different character. So these kind of look alikes have their own sounds. They are not bad, just different. I have a short video of mine on my channel.

thats understandable. I just don't get it why they couldn't make them solidbody.

Yeah deff doesn't effect the sound negatively at all. i just picked up one in fact...stay tuned

59 Models i would put in a similar category of the Super Reals in a way. But they follow the same pricing practice as all the other models EG-59-50 a bit more affordable Like EG-500. EG59-90 EG900 much better top higher quality etc.

@@TheYetti1 there is an EG59-70 on reverb right now .. asking 1200.00 for it. :(

@@cawfeedawg Yeah 59-70 is probably going to have a pretty killer top. Those will ask a bit higher price i would say $900-$1000 would be more like it tho.

The exact reason i make these vids! thanks for the kind words and support sir!

Only in name not in guitar.

Orville by Gibson might argue that a little. They're the most expensive of the not named Gibson, EPI guitars. If I could afford one, I'd own one.

Bill Thornton Orville by Gibson and Orville are the same guitars built by Fiji Gen company. And they can be had for less than a 1000 euro. That would include shipping and taxes etc. But we'll worth it for such great guitars ☺

@@malcolmhardwick4258 for myself to purchase a Orville guitar. It would set me back $ 1,000 to $1,500. Then add another $200 for shipping. And hope there's no fees going thru customs. So for myself here in Michigan,USA. I could spend 2k for a Orville. I believe that's why not many are here in the U.S.. For that kind of money I can buy a real Gibson. BUT, some say a quality Orville is as good or better than a Gibson. I've never held one, I don't know.

Bill Thornton I've played two Orvilles. Don't see them here in Europe. One was a Les paul standard and a les paul jr in a guitar shop in Berlin. And the other was in a guitar shop here in Amsterdam. They were both excellent guitars. On par with a Gibson. And with long neck tenons etc. I would feel as good holding one of these as a real Gibson. I have a Greco super real 850 from 1980. Was for sale in a guitar shop in London. Got it for a good price.☺ Beautiful guitar in every way except the massive weight of it. Every guitar I have got from overseas has required me to pay taxes. Not always consistent with the guitars value. But yeah can be 20 per cent the totally paid Inc the shipping charge. They even tax the amount you paid on the shipping because you would not have paid tax on the shipping in where you got the guitar from. Product value store on eBay has good deals on old Japanese guitars. Some that don't make sound etc hat can be got cheap and fixed cheap. Also a Japanese store called Ishibashi go to u-box they are a great shop to buy from. Gonna go have a look on there site now. And remember these guitars are only going up bin value. Getting more expensive grab email while you can. Sorry for huge message ☺