Greco guitars: Difference between revisions
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Greco first started around 1963 and production began in earnest around 1966/1967 with Telecaster like models. |
Greco first started around 1963 and production began in earnest around 1966/1967 with Telecaster like models. |
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Kanda Shokai at first used the Greco brand name for the solid body models and used the Canda brand name for their Acoustic models. |
Kanda Shokai at first used the Greco brand name for the solid body models and used the Canda brand name for their Acoustic models. |
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In the 1970's they made Gibson like models with |
In the early 1970's they made Gibson like models with bolt on necks which were very similar to the Ibanez Gibson like models at that time and by the mid 1970's most Greco Gibson like models were being made with set necks. |
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Starting in late 1979 they introduced the Super Real Series which were very high standard replicas of Gibson and Fender models. |
Starting in late 1979 they introduced the Super Real Series which were very high standard replicas of Gibson and Fender models. |
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In 1981/1982 the Mint Collection was introduced which continued the high standard of the Super Real Series. |
In 1981/1982 the Mint Collection was introduced which continued the high standard of the Super Real Series. |
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The Mint Collection Series had an open O letter in their Greco logo (an O letter with the top cut off) and the Super Real Series had the usual O letter in their Greco logo. |
The Mint Collection Series had an open O letter in their Greco logo (an O letter with the top cut off) and the Super Real Series had the usual O letter in their Greco logo. |
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The Super Real EGF (flametop) and EG Series high end models featured nitrocellulose lacquer finishes and fret edge binding. |
The Super Real EGF (flametop) and EG Series high end models featured nitrocellulose lacquer finishes and fret edge binding. |
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Long tenon neck joints and |
Long tenon neck joints and long tenon neck joints with dowel reinforcements were used. |
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The |
The long tenon neck joints with dowel reinforcements were very similar to the Gibson long tenon neck joints that were used in the early 1970's before Gibson switched to a short tenon neck joint. |
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Both the Greco long tenon with dowel reinforcements and the Gibson long tenon that was used in the early 1970's extend to the beginning of the pickup cavity whereas a standard long tenon extends past the beginning of the pickup cavity and a Gibson short tenon does not extend to the pickup cavity at all and is not visible at all in the pickup cavity. |
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Some of the lower end models used chambered (not solid) body designs up to the early 1980's. |
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Also the Greco long tenon (with dowel reinforcements) was wider (and sometimes looked off centre) than the Gibson long tenon that was used in the early 1970's and the Gibson tenon didn't use dowel reinforcements. |
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The Greco long tenon neck joint with dowel reinforcements was a very strong neck joint. |
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Some models featured chambered (not solid) body designs up to the early 1980's which weigh less than a regular solid body and also have a slight semi acoustic quality. |
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Some of the current Gibson models also use chambered bodies such as the Gibson Les Paul Supreme. |
Some of the current Gibson models also use chambered bodies such as the Gibson Les Paul Supreme. |
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The EGF-1800 (flametop), EGF-1200 (flametop) and EG-1000C (custom) models from the 1980 and 1981 catalogues featured "Dry Z" pickups (Gibson PAF like pickups) which have an excellent reputation. |
The EGF-1800 (flametop), EGF-1200 (flametop) and EG-1000C (custom) models from the 1980 and 1981 catalogues featured "Dry Z" pickups (Gibson PAF like pickups) which have an excellent reputation. |
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The Mint Collection Series features vary with price with some of the high end models such as the EG58-120 model having the same features as the Super Real high end models. |
The Mint Collection Series features vary with price with some of the high end models such as the EG58-120 model having the same features as the Super Real high end models. |
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Most of the Mint Collection Series |
Most of the Mint Collection Series had long tenon neck joints but some had medium long tenon neck joints. |
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Depending on the original selling price (which is in the model number, EG58-120 = 120,000 Yen) models can feature "Dry", DiMarzio or Seymour Duncan pickups. |
Depending on the original selling price (which is in the model number, EG58-120 = 120,000 Yen) models can feature "Dry", DiMarzio or Seymour Duncan pickups. |
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There are also some Super Sound, Super Power and Rock Spirits Gibson replica models made between 1979 and 1992/1993 as well. |
There are also some Super Sound, Super Power and Rock Spirits Gibson replica models made between 1979 and 1992/1993 as well. |
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== Sources == |
== Sources == |
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Greco Journal. |
Greco Journal Japan. |
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http://homepage3.nifty.com/greco/ |
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Greco Catalogues. |
Greco Catalogues. |
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Revision as of 15:50, 25 April 2007
The Greco brand of guitars are a range of guitars manufactured for the Japanese market only and produced by Kanda Shokai.
Kanda Shokai is a musical instrument wholesaler in Japan mostly known for being part of Fender Japan.
History
Greco first started around 1963 and production began in earnest around 1966/1967 with Telecaster like models. Kanda Shokai at first used the Greco brand name for the solid body models and used the Canda brand name for their Acoustic models. In the early 1970's they made Gibson like models with bolt on necks which were very similar to the Ibanez Gibson like models at that time and by the mid 1970's most Greco Gibson like models were being made with set necks. Starting in late 1979 they introduced the Super Real Series which were very high standard replicas of Gibson and Fender models. In 1981/1982 the Mint Collection was introduced which continued the high standard of the Super Real Series. Also in 1981/1982 Kanda Skokai and Yamano Gakki become part of Fender Japan and Kanda Shokai stopped producing the Greco Fender replica models. Since the end of the Mint Collection in 1991/1992 Kanda Shokai have produced various models using the Greco brand name such as the Mirage Series (which are like Ibanez Iceman's), various Gibson copies (not using Gibsons open book headstock design after 1992/1993 for export reasons), Violin basses (VB), Zemaitis models and various other models as well. Very early Greco models were made by Matsumoku and from around the mid 1970's up until the late 1980's/early 1990's they were made by FujiGen Gakki and also by Dyna Gakki around the late 1980's/early 1990's. Dyna Gakki currently make the Greco Japanese models. Ace Frehley used Greco Les Paul replicas when KISS (KISS (band)) was on tour in Japan.
Electric guitars
Greco has produced a lot of different models over the years and this is a listing of some of the most common models.
Gibson like models
EGF Les Paul Flametop models.
EG Les Paul models.
EGC Les Paul Custom models.
EJR Les Paul Junior models.
EGS Les Paul Special models.
SS SG models.
FV Flying V models.
EX Explorer models.
TB Thunderbird Bass models.
MM or MG Melody Maker models.
SA ES-335/ES-334 models.
FA ES-175 models.
L L-5 models.
Fender like models
SE Stratocaster models.
TL Telecaster models.
JM Jazzmaster models.
JG Jaguar models.
JB Jazz Bass models.
PB Precision Bass models.
Other Models
M Iceman Ibanez models. Also other Ibanez models such as the Korina 58 Flying V and Modern as well.
BM Brian May models.
RG Rickenbacker models.
RB Rickenbacker Bass models.
VB Violin bass models.
RJ Gretsch models.
WF Gretsch models.
AP Crystal see through guitar models.
GO "Neck Through" guitar models. The Greco/Roland G-808 guitar synth is very similar to the GO1000 model.
MR and MX Ibanez Artist like models.
BG Boogie Fender like models.
A Greco Timeline.
1967: Telecaster like Grecos models start.
1969: VB (Beatles Violin Bass) models start.
1970: EG Gibson like models start with the EG-360 with mostly set neck models from 1977.
1973: SE Fender like models start and the SE-800 models are produced from 1977 to 1981/1982. The SE models end in 1981/1982 when Kanda Skokai and Yamano Gakki become part of Fender Japan.
1976: MR models start and MX models start in 1979. They end in 1981/1982.
1978: M Mirage (Ibanez Iceman) models start.
1978: GO and GOB (bass) models start. They end in 1981/1982.
1979: The Super Real Series models start in late 1979. They end in 1981/1982.
1979: GOII models start. They end in 1981/1982.
1980: GOIII models start. They end in 1981/1982.
1981/1982: The Mint Collection Series models start. They end in 1991/1992.
1987/1988: A limited number of Super Real Semi Acoustics are reissued.
1990's onwards: Various models are produced.
1992/1993: Headstock changes from a Gibson open book style to a Ibanez like style for export reasons.
Characteristics
The Greco Fender replicas from the late 1970's and early 1980's are very much like the early Fender Japan models. As Greco have produced countless models over the years this section concentrates just on the Super Real and Mint Collection Gibson replicas. Most of the Greco models included the original selling price in Japanese Yen in the model number (EGF-1800 = 180,000 Yen). The Mint Collection Series had an open O letter in their Greco logo (an O letter with the top cut off) and the Super Real Series had the usual O letter in their Greco logo. The Super Real EGF (flametop) and EG Series high end models featured nitrocellulose lacquer finishes and fret edge binding. Long tenon neck joints and long tenon neck joints with dowel reinforcements were used. The long tenon neck joints with dowel reinforcements were very similar to the Gibson long tenon neck joints that were used in the early 1970's before Gibson switched to a short tenon neck joint. Both the Greco long tenon with dowel reinforcements and the Gibson long tenon that was used in the early 1970's extend to the beginning of the pickup cavity whereas a standard long tenon extends past the beginning of the pickup cavity and a Gibson short tenon does not extend to the pickup cavity at all and is not visible at all in the pickup cavity. Also the Greco long tenon (with dowel reinforcements) was wider (and sometimes looked off centre) than the Gibson long tenon that was used in the early 1970's and the Gibson tenon didn't use dowel reinforcements. The Greco long tenon neck joint with dowel reinforcements was a very strong neck joint. Some models featured chambered (not solid) body designs up to the early 1980's which weigh less than a regular solid body and also have a slight semi acoustic quality. Some of the current Gibson models also use chambered bodies such as the Gibson Les Paul Supreme. The EGF-1800 (flametop), EGF-1200 (flametop) and EG-1000C (custom) models from the 1980 and 1981 catalogues featured "Dry Z" pickups (Gibson PAF like pickups) which have an excellent reputation. Depending on the original selling price (which is in the model number, EGF-1200 = 120,000 Yen) models can feature DiMarzio or Greco PAF pickups.
The Mint Collection Series features vary with price with some of the high end models such as the EG58-120 model having the same features as the Super Real high end models. Most of the Mint Collection Series had long tenon neck joints but some had medium long tenon neck joints. Depending on the original selling price (which is in the model number, EG58-120 = 120,000 Yen) models can feature "Dry", DiMarzio or Seymour Duncan pickups. There are also some Super Sound, Super Power and Rock Spirits Gibson replica models made between 1979 and 1992/1993 as well.
Serial Numbers
Greco Gibson replicas started using serial numbers around 1975 and pre 1975 models had a Greco logo that looked like Gneco.
Greco mostly use 2 serial number formats but have used other formats as well.
The first format is M YYPPPP where M = production month (A=January B=February ... K=November L=December) YY = year (79=1979) and PPPP = production number.
The second format is Y PPPP where Y = year (9=1979 0=1980 or 1990) and PPPP = production number.
Some Greco Gibson replicas from the late 1980's/early 1990's had no serial number. In the late 1980's/early 1990's Greco's main guitar manufacturer (FujiGen) was concentrating on making bolt on neck (Fender like) guitars for Fender Japan and Ibanez and avoiding a lot of set neck (Gibson like) guitar production. While Greco still had some guitars made by FujiGen in the late 1980's/early 1990's the supply from FujiGen would not have been enough, so Kanda Shokai would have had to contract other guitar manufacturers to supplement FujiGen's reduced output. One of the other manufacturers that was contracted was Dyna Gakki who now make the Kanda Shokai Fender Japan and Japanese Gretsch models. Dyna Gakki also currently make the Kanda Shokai Japanese Greco models.
Sources
Greco Journal Japan. http://homepage3.nifty.com/greco/
Greco Catalogues.