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Meranti
Username: Meranti

Registered: 07-2001
Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 7:52 am:   

I would like to share a picture of some Greco Les Pauls that I have collected recently and they are really interesting as they are in a way related to Ibanez and came from the same factory.

Greco Les Pauls

From left to right:
EG-420 Pre-Serial Numbered Bolt-on neck,
Unknown Model A78xxxx set neck Model,
EG-600 B78xxxx set neck triple pickup, and
EG-500 "0 xxxx" set neck (probably an '80 model).

Does anyone know anything more about Greco models they can share as information is scarce and only catalogues are on Japanese websites.

I have a question here. Did Ibanez ever made any set neck Les Paul copies with solid timbers (as opposed to plywood tops)? The EG-500 above is made of solid timbers and is from the Super Power series.


Regards,

Meranti
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike

Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 4:35 pm:   

I've owned on Burny Super Grade, set neck Les Paul, from all I've studied probably very comparable to your EG500 (I gave it to an 11 year old girl, she'll one day be a good guitarist). But now I hang out at the Tokai Registry forums and you can read up on Greco's there in the OTHER category, or do a search with the model number.

http://www.tokaiforum.com/search.php?mode=results

Another good site is Harmony Central - look for their guitar reviews and locate the make and then once there the model number. Reviews written by OWNERS of the guitars...

\image {p03020029}
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike

Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 4:38 pm:   

Link for Harmony Central's Greco reviews:

http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Greco/


p0300029
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike

Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 7:59 pm:   

Orange Guitar's site has some info also, though many of my TokaiRegistry brothers challenge the validity of some of the claims.

http://www.orangeguitar.com/aboutgreco.htm
Tubescorcher
Username: Tubescorcher

Registered: 03-2004
Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 8:25 pm:   

Here is a shot at my mint collection reissue. This thing really rocks.
Greco got it right with their Les Pauls!!!!!
Greco 59
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike

Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 8:37 pm:   

Depending on the model of guitar some of the Tokai, Greco and Burny guitars embarrass the hell out of the G-brand company. I have a 2001 Tokai LS200 on hold that is amazing !!! Closet thing the G-brand guys make is the Historic series. If you do your research you can really land a swell guitar.
Meranti
Username: Meranti

Registered: 07-2001
Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 10:49 pm:   

Thanks for the info and the pics. Both of the pics look great and I wish I had one with a flame top like Tubescorcher's. There is a dealer here who has a Custom (bolt-on) with a flame top (so he claims) but we cannot agree on a price.

One thing I notice is that there seem to be more setneck Grecos than there are Ibanez.

The Orange Guitar site is based in Singapore and the prices they ask for is pretty steep. They claim that early Grecos (pre 67) were made at the Matsumoko factory? That is news to me.

Last night I finally put a set of strings on the EG500 and after re-soldering the pup selector switch (a cable was loose), the guitar was a joy to play and the tone was really nice.

I have never tried a Burny but also have a Tokai Love Rock. This guitar is very loud and the strings ring and I have done comparisons to the real thing. It holds it own anytime.


Regards,

Meranti
Johns
Username: Johns

Registered: 02-2001
Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 8:48 am:   

Here's a pretty nice looking Greco LP. What do you guys think?

http://www.qksrv.net/click-1802666-10381315?loc=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI .dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D7406864517
Harry
Username: Harry

Registered: 03-2001
Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 12:45 pm:   

Pity it has "just" a plain top....
Good looking, though.
Would like to see this baby with flames...not meaning to set it on fire..

Harry
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike

Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 7:25 pm:   

Speaking of on fire tops, here's a shot of my most recent aquisition. A 2001 Tokai LS200, solid top, medium neck tendon, single piece body - it's got oil filled caps, a lightweight aluminum tailpiece and smokes... Real sweet - sort of a in between 58-59 neck shape.


http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/bigmikeinca/ls200b.jpg
Sixvsix
Username: Sixvsix

Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 9:29 pm:   

The early Tokais are undoubtedly the best. If you want a 'burst' replica that is. Especially the 'Les Paul Reborn'. Yes, it does say Les Paul on the headstock. If you find an LS100, LS150 or the elusive LS200 from 1978 through to 1980 then grab one. They are killer.

I've had a couple of lower model Greco's that were nice but the EG-1000 or the EG-1200 I believe are the ones to go for.

Had a very nice and extremely accurate Burny "Rockin Roll' model Les Paul TV yellow Special (single cut). My friend Ray has a 57' original and even the scratchplate shape and holes line up perfectly.

six
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim

Registered: 04-2001
Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 6:50 pm:   

Hey Big, that is one gorgeous LS100 you got there! Next time we get together, we can do a head-to-head sound check with my Gibby Goldtop...and pizza, of course.

Tim

R7 Goldtop
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike

Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 2:17 pm:   

Hey Tim,
I'm off on weekends at the moment so YEAH we should get together, this time I'll bring the Talbo, the LS200 and the Super 400... I'd love to hear you on the Super 400 accompaning your wife on vocal.

Be well my friend
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim

Registered: 04-2001
Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 3:58 pm:   

Super 400...Mmmmmm!
I'll give you a call for a weekend meet.

Back to the original thread here...What kind of pickups do the Greco and Tokai LP models use?

Are they close to their copied U.S. maker's or closer to Ibanez' Super 58's?
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike

Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 4:52 pm:   

Pretty close to the US makers... The model numbers reflect the price in 100k Yen. And a lot of the newer models (quote unquote) reflect the change in the value of the currency. My LS200 for instance is a dead on LP copy, nitro finish, medium neck tendon and pretty sweet pickups. Only difference from a standard LP Standard is the LS200 for some reason has an ebony fb.... Now the newer model (quote, unquote), the LS380 has a Brazilian rosewood board and some brand of botique pickups... And they use slightly nicer (read that wider flame) tops. My LS200 will keep me pretty satisfied (considering I'm really a hollowbody guy.
Smakutus
Username: Smakutus

Registered: 01-2006
Posted on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 1:13 pm:   

I just got this 1981 yesterday:

http://i12.ebayimg.com/04/i/06/ec/49/84_12.JPG

Outt of the 4 or 5 Gibson LP's I have owned in the past 20 years this is by far the best playing and sounding of them all.

Now I need a Greco LP case for it.. Anyone have an extra or know where I could find one?

Thanks,
Jeff
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960

Registered: 03-2004
Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 10:23 am:   

Here is one on ebay. There is a little twisted truth in the description about FujiGen but its a decent guitar.
http://www.qksrv.net/click-1802666-10381315?loc=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI .dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D230015900426
Sixvsix
Username: Sixvsix

Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 9:42 pm:   

Bigmike,

Re the LS200 fingerboard. They probably use ebony as it's a lot darker than the Indonesian rosewood that is around these days. Therefore, looks more like and original dark or, gone dark with age rosewood board like a real 50's Burst.

six

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