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Greco guitars is a range of electric guitars manufactured exclusively for the Japanese market by Kanda Shokai. Kanda Shokai is a musical instrument wholesaler mostly known for being part of Fender Japan.

History

Greco first started in 1960 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 most of these models had a Greco logo that looked more like "Gneco". By the mid/late 1970's most Greco Gibson replica models were being made with set necks and open book Gibson headstock designs. Some other Greco Gibson replica models from the 1970's had a different headstock design (more like a Guild headstock design) that had a Greco logo with equally sized letters. Some Greco Gibson Les Paul replica bodies up until around 1982 were laminated and some were chambered (semi-hollow).

Starting in late 1979 Greco 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 open book headstock Gibson replicas in the early 1990's Kanda Shokai have produced various models using the Greco brand name such as the Mirage Series (similar to the Ibanez Iceman), various Gibson copies (not using the open book Gibson headstock design), Violin basses (VB), Zemaitis Guitars and various other models as well.

Greco models were made by Matsumoku up to the late 1970's and from around the mid 1970's up until the late 1980's/early 1990's most Greco models were made by FujiGen Gakki and from the late 1980's/early 1990's most Greco models were made by Dyna Gakki. 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.
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 Greco/Ibanez Iceman models. Also other Greco/Ibanez models such as the Korina 58 Flying V and Modern as well.

EX Greco/Ibanez Explorer (Destroyer) models as used by Eddie Van Halen. The Greco Destroyer used U-2000 pickups and the Ibanez Destroyer used Super 70 pickups.

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.

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: EX Explorer (Destroyer) models start. 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 with a open O Greco logo start. They end in 1990 but the Greco open book headstock Gibson replicas with a closed O Greco logo continue into the early 1990's.

Early 1990's onwards: Various models are produced with a Ibanez like headstock design.

Characteristics

The Greco Fender replicas from the late 1970's and early 1980's are very much like the early Fender Japan models. The Greco Fender replicas made by Matsumoku have Matsumoku stamped on the neckplate and the other Greco Fender replicas were made by FujiGen Gakki. As Greco have produced countless models over the years this section concentrates 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 Super Real Series date from late 1979 to 1981/1982 and the open O Greco logo "Mint Collection Series" date from 1981/1982 to 1990. The Mint Collection Series have a open O letter in their Greco logo (an O letter with the top part of the O letter left out) and the "Super Real Series" usually had a closed O letter in their Greco logo. There are also some transitional models as well such as a Super Real model with a open O letter in the Greco logo instead of a closed O letter and some early 1990's open book headstock Gibson replicas had the closed O letter in their Greco logo instead of the open O letter. The Super Real EGF (flametop) and EG Series higher end models featured nitrocellulose lacquer finishes and fret edge binding and some of the Super Real lower end models also featured 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 and is not visible at all inside the pickup cavity. 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 weighed less than a regular solid body model and also had 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. The pickups vary depending on the original selling price (which is in the model number, EGF-1200 = 120,000 Yen) and the Dry pickups were reserved for the top end models. The lower end models such as the EG-500 mostly used 3 piece maple tops while the higher end models mostly used 2 piece tops.

The "Mint Collection Series" features vary with price with some of the higher end models such as the EG58-120 model having most of the same features as the "Super Real" higher end models. Most of the "Mint Collection Series" had long tenon neck joints but some had medium long tenon neck joints. There were also some Super Sound, Super Power and Rock Spirits Gibson replica models made between 1979 and the early 1990's 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.

M = production month (A=January B=February ... K=November L=December).
YY = year (79=1979).
PPPP = production number.

The second format is Y PPPP.

Y = year (9=1979 0=1980 or 1990).
PPPP = production number.

Some Greco open book headstock Gibson replicas from the early 1990's had no serial number. Greco stopped using the open book headstock design on serial numbered Greco Gibson replica models in the early 1990's and some of the last open book headstock models were ordered by Kanda Shokai with no serial number. The reason they were ordered with no serial number is because Kanda Shokai were releasing them for sale in a delayed way while Kanda Shokai were concentrating on other model lines and Fender Japan. Also Yamano (Kanda Shokai's [[Fender Japan partner]) launched the Orville by Gibson series in 1988 and after this Kanda Shokai put less priority on their Greco Gibson replicas. The Greco open book headstock Gibson replicas were being fazed out in the early 1990's and some of the last Greco open book headstock Gibson replicas with no serial number could have been released for sale years after they were actually made. Also 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 Kanda Shokai Japanese Gretsch models. Dyna Gakki also currently make the Kanda Shokai Japanese Greco models.

Pickups

1980 Super Real models and pickups sample.

EGF1800 DRY
EGF1200 DRY
EGF1000 PAF
EG1000C DRY
EG900 PAF
EGF850 PU-2
EG800GS HOT LICK
EG800C PU-2
EG800PB U-2000
EG800PR U-2000
EG800 PU-2
EG700 U-2000
EG600PB U-1000
EG600PR U-1000
EG500 U-1000
EG500C UD
EF500J U-1000
EG500GS UD-DX
EG480 UD
EG450 UD

Mint Collection models and pickups sample.

EG58-120 DRY
EG-59-70 DOUBLE TRICK
EG-56-60 HOT LICK
EG-59-50 SCREAMIN
EG59-45 SCREAMIN
EJR54-50 HOT LICK
SS63-70 DOUBLE TRICK
SS63-50 HOT LICK
EG59-65 SCREAMIN
JP-55 SCREAMIN
EGC95K DRY
EGC68-50 SCREAMIN
JS-98K DRY
JS-65 DRY
JS-55 SCREAMIN
RR95K DRY
RR65 DRY
RR55 SCREAMIN
EGC58-100 GROOVE
EGC68-80 DOUBLE TRICK
EGC57-60 SCREAMIN
PC-98K DRY

Sources

External links

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 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 Guitar Corporation|Gibson]] like models with bolt on necks which were very similar to the [[Ibanez]] Gibson like models at that time and most of these models had a Greco logo that looked more like "Gneco".
-By the mid/late 1970's most Greco Gibson like models were being made with [[Set-in neck|set necks]] and open book headstock design (three pegs aside) just as the real Gibson. Some other models having a different headstock design (more like a Ibanez headstock) that had a Greco logo with equally sized letters. Some bodies were laminated while others were chambered (semi-hollow).
+By the mid/late 1970's most Greco Gibson replica models were being made with [[Set-in neck|set necks]] and open book Gibson headstock designs. Some other Greco Gibson replica models from the 1970's had a different headstock design (more like a [[Guild Guitar Company|Guild]] headstock design) that had a Greco logo with equally sized letters. Some Greco Gibson Les Paul replica bodies up until around 1982 were laminated and some were chambered (semi-hollow).
 Starting in late 1979 Greco introduced the ''Super Real Series'' which were very high standard replicas of Gibson and Fender models.
@@ Line 80: / Line 80: @@
 ;1980: GOIII models start. They end in 1981/1982.
-;1981/1982: The Mint Collection Series with a open O Greco logo start. They end in 1990 but the open book headstock Gibson replicas with a closed O Greco logo continue into the early 1990's.
+;1981/1982: The Mint Collection Series with a open O Greco logo start. They end in 1990 but the Greco open book headstock Gibson replicas with a closed O Greco logo continue into the early 1990's.
 ;Early 1990's onwards: Various models are produced with a Ibanez like headstock design.
@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 The Greco Fender replicas from the late 1970's and early 1980's are very much like the early Fender Japan models.
+The Greco Fender replicas made by [[Matsumoku]] have Matsumoku stamped on the neckplate and the other Greco Fender replicas were made by [[FujiGen]] Gakki.
-As Greco have produced countless models over the years this section concentrates just on the ''Super Real'' and ''Mint Collection'' Gibson replicas.
+As Greco have produced countless models over the years this section concentrates 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 ''Super Real Series'' date from late 1979 to 1981/1982 and the open O Greco logo "Mint Collection Series" date from 1981/1982 to 1990.
-The ''Mint Collection Series'' have a open top O letter in their Greco logo (an O letter with the top part of the O letter left out) and the "Super Real Series" usually had a closed O letter in their Greco logo.
+The ''Mint Collection Series'' have a open O letter in their Greco logo (an O letter with the top part of the O letter left out) and the "Super Real Series" usually had a closed O letter in their Greco logo.
-There are also some transitional models as well such as a ''Super Real'' model with a open top O letter in the Greco logo instead of a closed O letter and some early 1990's open book headstock Gibson replicas had the closed O letter in their Greco logo instead of the open top O letter.
+There are also some transitional models as well such as a ''Super Real'' model with a open O letter in the Greco logo instead of a closed O letter and some early 1990's open book headstock Gibson replicas had the closed O letter in their Greco logo instead of the open O letter.
 The Super Real EGF (flametop) and EG Series higher end models featured nitrocellulose lacquer finishes and fret edge binding and some of the Super Real lower end models also featured 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 in the pickup cavity.
+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 and is not visible at all inside 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 weighed less than a regular solid body model and also had 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 pickups vary depending on the original selling price (which is in the model number, EGF-1200 = 120,000 Yen) and the Dry pickups were reserved for the top end models.
-The lower end models such as the EG-500 mostly used 3 piece maple tops.
+The lower end models such as the EG-500 mostly used 3 piece maple tops while the higher end models mostly used 2 piece tops.
 The "Mint Collection Series" features vary with price with some of the higher end models such as the EG58-120 model having most of the same features as the "Super Real" higher end models.
 Most of the "Mint Collection Series" had long tenon neck joints but some had medium long tenon neck joints.
+There were also some Super Sound, Super Power and Rock Spirits Gibson replica models made between 1979 and the early 1990's as well.
-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 the early 1990's as well.
 ==Serial Numbers==
@@ Line 129: / Line 128: @@
 Greco stopped using the open book headstock design on serial numbered Greco Gibson replica models in the early 1990's and some of the last open book headstock models were ordered by Kanda Shokai with no serial number.
 The reason they were ordered with no serial number is because Kanda Shokai were releasing them for sale in a delayed way while Kanda Shokai were concentrating on other model lines and Fender Japan.
+Also Yamano (Kanda Shokai's [[Fender Japan partner]) launched the [[Orville by Gibson]] series in 1988 and after this Kanda Shokai put less priority on their Greco Gibson replicas.
 The Greco open book headstock Gibson replicas were being fazed out in the early 1990's and some of the last Greco open book headstock Gibson replicas with no serial number could have been released for sale years after they were actually made.
 Also 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.