Greco EGC68-50 1983 - '68 Les Paul Custom - Original SCREAMIN 1982 Pickups - Mint Collection - Made in Japan MIJ

1983 Greco EGC68-50 Les Paul Custom - Nearly All Original with 2 original SCREAMIN 82 humbuckers - Made in the famous Fujigen Factory in Japan - MIJ

• Serial Number: C832004 (March 1983)
• Body: Solid 3 piece centre-seam maple top on a 3 piece mahogany body
• Neck: 1 piece mahogany neck
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Fretboard Radius: About 10"
• Fret Edge Binding: Yes
• Inlays: Acrylic Pearloid Blocks
• Frets: 22 x Medium Jumbo (1.1mm tall x 2.7mm wide)
• Nut Width: 43.3mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 43.7mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 52.5mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 22.2mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 24.5mm
• Nut: Bone
• Tuners: Original gold Greco branded sealed tuners
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Original Japanese made SG 8107 F ABR style bridge & F.G.T 8001 tailpiece
• Pickups: 2 x Original gold covered SCREAMIN 1982 humbuckers
• Neck Pickup Resistance:  7.76K ohm
• Bridge Pickup Resistance: 7.54K ohm
• Pots: Original 500K pots (2O date codes on the tone pots indicate October 1982, volume pot date codes are hidden under solder/wires)
• Strings: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 2221 10-46 strings - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 10.54lbs
• Non Original Parts: Jack plate, strap buttons
• Case: New quality made Profile G05TX gig bag
• Truss Rod: Works as expected with room in both directions

This is a classic 1983 Greco EGC68-50 Les Paul Custom Black Beauty model. Who doesn't love a black Les Paul custom? From Blues to Metal, this guitar fits right in no matter what genre you play.

This is an EGC68 model, meaning it is a clone of a 1968 Gibson Les Paul Custom, so it has a mahogany neck, mahogany back and maple top. The model number for the Greco EGC68 during this time was either EGC68-50 or EGC68-80. Since this one has the 500 sticker on the back of the headstock, this would be an EGC68-50 (along with other indicators).

Overall this guitar is in good player grade condition, and other than a new black jack plate and some replaced vintage style locking strap buttons, everything else on this guitar appears to be original.

Being a gloss block guitar, it shows every single ding, dent, scratch, chip and swirl - and this one has its fair share over the entire guitar, front, back, sides, neck and headstock. It has been played, a lot, but not abused.

Fitted with 2 Fujigen made SCREAMIN 1982 pickups, with the original stickers still in tact on the bottom of each pickup, the pickups are aptly named - they can scream! There are lower wind pickups, similar to a PAF, measuring between 7.54K and 7.76K ohm, but with a standard thickness ceramic magnet giving it a lot more power. They are very clear and articulate, but can handle fast playing really well. The mids and highs are very present, and the low end is very focused. They can clean up well when you roll down the volume, but can easily shred as well. There is a reason why these pickups have a following.

When cleaning and setting up this guitar, I removed the covers on these pickups to clean them, and the bobbins underneath are a pair of zebra bobbins (cream bobbins on the screw side, black bobbins on the slug side).

The original gold hardware, including the pickup covers & pole pieces, bridge, tailpiece, tuners, screws are all heavily worn, with varying degrees of pitting, corrosion, tarnish, peeling, and/or rust on them, although everything works as expected: the bridge saddles move freely, and the tuners are work well. The patina on the hardware is consistent, and gives it that vintage "mojo".

Although it's hard to tell under the solid black finish, the guitar is made with what appears to be a 3 piece maple top on a 3 piece mahogany back, with a 1 piece mahogany neck. The Mint Collection series introduced the L.A.C. neck joint in their Les Paul's, which is a long neck tenon that extends well into the neck pickup cavity - like this one.

Like all of the Mint Collection Greco's I've had, this guitar is solid. The neck is substantial and incredibly stable. It feels hefty, at 10.54lbs, it's not light, but it's also not the heaviest Les Paul Custom I've owned, but to me it feels right. It has great sustain, and just feels solid in your hands when you play it.

The neck itself has a nice carve - it's a nice medium thick C carve starting out at 22.2mm thick at the 1st fret and widening to 24.5mm at the 12th fret. This one also features a beautiful rosewood fretboard that has a lovely grain all the way up the board, along with acrylic pearloid block inlays.

The 22 medium jumbo frets have been played a lot, with play wear across the fretboard - but overall there's lots of life left in these frets, and the guitar plays incredible well and sounds great up and down the entire fretboard.

All the guitars I sell, I test, thoroughly clean, and setup completely before I list them. Anything that is missing, damaged, or non original is mentioned in the listing.

I setup all my Gibson style guitars to Gibson factory specs - including neck relief, action, pickup height, intonation, and tailpiece height. So this guitar will be ready to play out of the box (after you tune it up - I ship my guitars with the strings loosened).

Comes with a new quality made Profile G05TX gig bag.

Overall, this is classic looking Greco Les Paul custom from the desirable Mint Collection era that plays and sounds just fantastic.

If you're looking for an great Japanese made Les Paul Custom, you'll want this EGC68-50 in your collection today.

CONDITION ------------

Overall it's in good player grade shape.

I've tried to capture all of the flaws in the photos and in the description.

The jack plate and strap buttons are non original.

Over the entire body of the guitar, top, back, sides, back of the neck and front, back and sides of the headstock, there are many significant dings, dents, scratches, chips, and swirling in the gloss black finish.

There is a superficial crack in the top coat (finish) at the heel, only on the cutout side. The joint is solid, and there is no movement in the heel joint.

There are some finish chips on the top of the headstock.

There is a chip in the finish on the top of the body.

All of the black plastics on the front and back of the guitar have typical scratches and swirling on them.

Both of the pickup rings are cracked in the middle - both have been taped.

The gold hardware, including the pickup covers & pole pieces, bridge, tailpiece, tuners, and screws are all heavily worn, with varying degrees of pitting, corrosion, peeling, tarnish, and/or rust, but overall there is some shine left and everything works as expected.

All of the gold Greco branded sealed tuners work well.

Around the strap buttons there's some strap marks/swirling.

The 22 medium jumbo frets have been played a lot, with play wear across the fretboard, mostly on the lower frets - but overall there is lots of life left in these frets, and the guitar plays well up and down the entire neck.

There is no signs of a headstock, heel or any other major repair.

The truss rod works as expected with room in both directions.

SHIPPING ------------  

Every shipment is expertly packed with great care and includes tracking, signature required on delivery, and full insurance coverage for both the purchase price and shipping.

Every guitar is fully wrapped in bubble wrap, in a cardboard box meant for guitars, with proper support inside. To reduce environmental impact, the packing material (paper, newsprint, gift wrap, bubble wrap, air packets, foam, carboard boxes and/or tube supports, etc...) used may be recycled.

Package dimensions are 118cm x 47cm x 17cm

Note: if you want an exact shipping quote, just send me a note with your postal/zip code, and I'll get a proper quote for your address. 

Note: If you're buying from outside of Canada, you as the Buyer may be required to pay import duties, tariffs, taxes and/or VAT upon delivery, depending on your location and the purchase price.

QUESTIONS ------------

Any questions? Want more photos or detailed shots? Measurements? Shoot me a message, and I'll be happy to answer them, or send more pics, or take any measurements you want/need.

Thanks for looking!