Greco TV-500 LP Junior Style Wine Red 1975

Greco TV-500, made in Japan 1975. This is Greco's take on Gibson's classic double cut Les Paul Junior. This is a very rare model: they were only made in 1975; they don't feature in either the 74 or 76 catalogs, and it's certainly the only one we've come across. There's a lot to like! Firstly, it's really light; at a nudge over 3kg, it's an absolute breeze on the shoulders and resonates with great vigour at the lightest touch. The neck is a slim, round profile that's exceptionally easy to get along with and move around on... often this type of guitar requires a little 'wrestling' to play, but this is smooth as they come. The tone from the Greco P-90 style pickup is exceptional: airy, open, smooth, articulate and responsive when clean;  warm, rich and immediate when crunchy... this sounds amazing. There's some classy touches on offer: a dark chocolate vintage rosewood board, legit mother-of-pearl inlays and logo, Gotoh-made iconic 'star' tuners, dark tort single ply guard... it really walks the line between dapper and dangerous perfectly. The finish would've been classic cherry red once, but it's aged to a rich black-coffee hue. It'd take a whole lot of dollars to find a Gibson that'd come anywhere near this for build quality, playability and tone! If you like it, don't wait for the next one to pop up; you might be waiting forever!

Model: Greco
Made: Japan, 1975 (no serial, dated by logos/catalog)
Finish: wine red (faded to chocolate brown)
Body: mahogany, pancake style
Neck: mahogany, 1pce, rosewood board
Weight: 3.2kg approx
Mods: knobs replaced
Pickups: original Greco dog-ear soapbar single coil
Case: LP style generic hard case, good quality and condition

Cosmetic condition notes: mild finish wear. The headstock has a couple of minor marks on the end. The neck is pretty clean with just a couple if very minor marks and a hairline crack in the lacquer near the body joint (definitely not in the wood). The back of the body is fairly clean, just a couple of chips around the edge on the top horn, near the electronics cover and rear pin as well as some small dents 10cm in from the top edge. The front is also fairly clean, just a scratch around 10cm behind the bridge, a chip near the rear strap pin and some light play-scratches. The edges have a few scuffs and marks, mostly near the jack. Overall: good condition (7.5/10).

Playing condition notes: Neck is straight, action is low, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. Frets have a some normal wear, nothing major; 7/10 for life left. Freshly setup with new 11/49s.