1981 Greco Super Real SA1200 Vintage Long Guard Lacquer 335 w/ Dry Z PAFs & Case, Japan

Up for sale, a 1981 Greco Super Real model SA-1200 in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. The absolute pinnacle of Japanese 335 production, the SA1200 was crafted in exceedingly small numbers at the famed Fujigen factory. Completely faithful to the introductory specs of Gibson ES-335 down to the smallest details, this long guard dot neck 335 is loaded with the original pair of Maxon-made Dry Z PAF pickups. Quite a bit rarer than an actual PAF and produced for only two short years, the Dry Z is widely considered one of the most spectacular and faithful humbuckers for capturing the harmonic double tones, creamy warmth, and woody articulation of the PAF design. In this SA-1200, the pickups positively sing with a detail and dynamic breadth rarely heard in any humbucker. In cosmetic appointments, feel and most importantly, tone, this SA-1200 was designed to be the absolute best, using correct tone woods and build techniques and boasting a gloss nitro lacquer finish.

It's incredible how accurate these Greco guitars are to what makes vintage Gibson guitars desirable and coveted, with minor details like the oval label in the bass side F hole, dished tops on the amber bonnet knobs, perfect "Mickey Mouse Ear" body horns, and even embossed text on the underside of the nickel ABR-1 bridge. And while the Greco guitars were never subject to any actual legal action, they still round out what's commonly referred to as the "lawsuit" instruments due to their reverence and accuracy to their USA made counterparts. The guitar weighs in at 8lbs 9oz and has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar and strung with 10-46 strings.

The mahogany neck has a slender and fast-feeling C shaped profile with moderate shoulder and just a hair more perceptible depth and roundness as you travel up the fretboard, measuring .830" deep at the 1st fret and .954" at the 12th. The bound rosewood fretboard has dark, tight grain, with vintage-correct binding nibs over the fret ends and fretwire that's just shy of medium jumbo in width. The frets are nearly flawless with ample height and crown, showing just a touch of wear beneath the G and B strings on the first two frets. The guitar conforms to traditional specs with a 24 3/4" scale length and hand-carved 1 11/16" wide bone nut. On the headstock, the Kluson-style tuning machines turn very smoothly, and the small, open book headstock shape has the inlaid Greco "closed O" logo as well.

All of the electronics work as they should, and the humbuckers read a very well balanced 7.98k ohms in the bridge and 8.16k at the neck. Both pickups have the correct "Z" stamps on the baseplates, with six digit Maxon codes that date to '81, matching the inked serial number on the back of the headstock. The nickel hardware has light uniform surface patina, and once again, it's amazing how well the Japanese craftsmen at Fujigen matched the look and functionality of the actual Gibson hardware. The oval label visible through the bass side F hole has clear Greco SA-1200 markings and the label is minty and complete.

Cosmetically, this guitar has a warm three-tone burst with a subtle slender red ring transitioning from amber to deep brown at the body edges. The maple features light speckles of tight birdseye figuring across the entire back, with light quilt figuring on the lower bout on the face too. It's a bit difficult to capture the depth ad consistency of the figuring in the photos, but it's quite alluring in person, and the gloss finish has a great sheen and deep, unfaded color. The body binding is ambered, and there is one small repaired crack at the edge of the treble-side F hole which is stable and has been professionally addressed. Wear is limited to a few light scuffs in the pick path, and a tiny bit of wear in the clear coat on the tops of the body horns, ostensibly from sitting in the case for an extended period of time and touching the pink case lining. The neck profile is very smooth and has only two small shallow nicks on the neck profile behind frets 9-10.

The original heavy-duty Lifton-style brown mottled hardshell case is included. The case has the traditional 335 exterior dimensions, yet the interior is form fit for the body shape, and the headstock is ideally elevated. The case alone is a real rarity and in similarly spectacular shape to this SA1200 with working latches and original handle.