■1987 Greco EGC68-50 ( EGC68-60) EB — Mint Collection

Here is a beautiful 1987 Greco EGC68-50 ( EGC68-60) EB, made in Japan during Greco’s highly regarded Mint Collection era.

Finished in classic Ebony Black with multi-ply binding, block fingerboard inlays and naturally aged gold hardware, this model was Greco’s interpretation of the iconic late-1960s Les Paul Custom design.

With its maple top / mahogany back construction, mahogany set neck, rosewood fingerboard and original Greco Screamin’ humbuckers, the EGC68-50 ( EGC68-60) has the substantial feel, strong sustain and commanding appearance expected from a vintage Custom-style instrument, while retaining its own distinctive Japanese character.

Serial Number: E870179

At nearly 40 years old, this is no longer simply a Japanese interpretation of an American classic — it is now a genuine Japanese vintage guitar in its own right.

■Classic 1960s Inspiration

The EGC68-50 was clearly inspired by the 1968-style Les Paul Custom concept.

The black finish, elaborate multi-ply binding, large block inlays, gold hardware, maple-over-mahogany body construction and twin-humbucker layout all create the unmistakable presence associated with the classic “Black Beauty” design.

It should not, however, be viewed simply as a one-to-one copy.

One important difference is the rosewood fingerboard, rather than the ebony board traditionally associated with the original Gibson Custom.

Combined with Greco’s own Screamin’ humbuckers, this gives the instrument a character of its own.

During this period, Greco was producing an exceptionally broad range of American-inspired guitars, including artist-associated models connected with players such as John Sykes, Randy Rhoads, Phil Collen and Jimmy Page, illustrating how seriously the company was pursuing the professional rock-guitar market during the 1980s.

The EGC68-50 comes directly from that same era of Japanese guitar building.

■Beautiful Details, Distinctive Greco Identity

Visually, this guitar has everything that makes a black Custom-style guitar so appealing.

The deep Ebony Black finish is framed by extensive cream binding, while the large block inlays and gold hardware give it an elegant but powerful appearance.

After almost four decades, the gold plating has naturally faded and oxidized in places.

Rather than detracting from the guitar, this genuine aging gives the instrument a particularly attractive vintage presence.

Nothing has been artificially reliced.

The contrast between the black finish, naturally aged binding and worn gold hardware is something that simply cannot be reproduced in the same way on a new instrument.

■Why We Recommend Its Sound

One of the most important features of this guitar is its pair of original Greco Screamin’ humbuckers.

These pickups are an essential part of the character of Mint Collection-era Greco guitars.

Rather than simply being generic high-output pickups, the Screamin’ humbuckers were designed to provide plenty of power while retaining clarity, definition and the natural character of the instrument.

The sound is rich and full, with a strong midrange response and excellent note separation.

The bridge pickup has plenty of attack and authority for classic rock, hard rock and overdriven sounds, while still retaining definition when playing chords.

The neck pickup is warm and substantial, but remains articulate rather than becoming excessively dark or muddy.

A comparable EGC68-50 has been described as having a resonant, midrange-forward character, with its Screamin’ pickups offering both definition and power at the bridge and warmth and fullness at the neck.

For players interested in vintage Japanese guitars, the original Screamin’ pickups are part of the reason to own this guitar, rather than something that needs to be replaced with modern aftermarket humbuckers.

On examples from this later period, Screamin’ pickups can be found without the earlier identification stickers, so the absence of stickers is consistent with this period.

Together with the maple top, mahogany body and mahogany set neck, they give this EGC68-50 a powerful but musical voice that works particularly well for blues, classic rock, hard rock and heavier styles.

■Shop Maintenance & Preparation

This guitar has been carefully inspected, serviced and prepared by The Sound Shop SUZUKI in Niigata, Japan before listing.

Our maintenance includes:

• Neck adjustment
• Fret inspection and adjustment as required
• Electronics inspection
• Fingerboard cleaning and conditioning
• Detailed cleaning of the hardware and metal parts
• General setup and playability check

We do not simply polish vintage guitars until they look new.

Our approach is to ensure that the guitar functions properly as a musical instrument while carefully preserving the natural aging, finish character and atmosphere that it has developed over nearly four decades.

This is not an unserviced vintage guitar being offered as-is.

It has been carefully prepared so that the next owner can enjoy it immediately.

■Condition

Considering its age, the guitar remains in very good overall condition.

There are scratches, small dents, light finish marks and other normal signs of use and age.

Several marks can be seen on the rear of the body.

The gold-plated hardware shows natural fading, oxidation and plating wear, particularly around the pickups, bridge and other frequently touched areas.

These signs of age have intentionally not been refinished or artificially concealed.

The pickguard is not original.

The neck, frets and electronics have all been checked and adjusted before sale, and the guitar is currently playing well.

The frets retain approximately 90% or more of their usable life.

Please carefully review all photographs, as they form an important part of the condition description.

■Specifications & Measurements

• Brand: Greco
• Model: EGC68-50 ( EGC68-60)
• Finish: EB / Ebony Black
• Year: 1987
• Serial Number: E870179
• Country of Manufacture: Japan
• Series: Mint Collection
• Body: Maple Top / Mahogany Back
• Neck: Mahogany
• Construction: Set Neck
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: Approx. 12" / 305 mm
• Inlays: Block Inlays
• Pickups: Original Greco Screamin’ Humbuckers ×2
• Controls: 2 Volume / 2 Tone / 3-Way Selector
• Hardware: Gold
• Scale Length: Approx. 630 mm / 24.8"
• Nut Width: Approx. 44 mm
• Weight: Approx. 4.36 kg / 9.61 lbs
• String Height: Approx. 1.8 mm on both 1st and 6th strings
• Fret Life: Approx. 90% or more
• Pickguard: Replacement / Non-original

All measurements are approximate.

■ Model Identification Note
This guitar dates to 1987, which appears to have been a transitional period for this model. Earlier catalogs list this specification as the EGC68-50, while by late 1987 Greco had changed the designation to EGC68-60, apparently reflecting a price revision rather than a major specification change.

Because examples from 1987 can be found under both model designations, this guitar is listed primarily as an EGC68-50, while it may also correspond to the transitional EGC68-60 specification.

■Included Gig Bag

A padded backpack-style gig bag is included.

The bag itself is in exceptionally clean condition and appears almost unused.

It has two shoulder straps for backpack-style carrying; however, one of the shoulder straps has a partially torn section.

For this reason, the gig bag is included simply as a complimentary bonus for protection and storage, and no additional value has been assigned to it.

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■Vintage Guitar Notice

This is a nearly 40-year-old vintage instrument.

Minor signs of aging, finish movement, hardware oxidation and other age-related characteristics should be expected.

Measurements are approximate, and the setup may change slightly during international transportation or due to differences in temperature and humidity.

■Shipping

The guitar will be shipped from Niigata, Japan, normally by FedEx with tracking and insurance.

Before shipping, the strings will be loosened slightly, movable parts will be secured, and the guitar will be carefully protected inside the gig bag.

The instrument will then be securely packed inside a strong outer shipping carton with appropriate cushioning.

The customs declaration will show the actual purchase price.

We cannot declare the shipment as a gift or enter an artificially reduced value.

■Customs & Import Duties

Import duties, VAT/GST, local taxes, customs-clearance charges and carrier brokerage fees are the buyer’s responsibility.

These charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost.

Any sales tax or VAT collected by Reverb at checkout is separate from import duties, customs charges or other fees that may be assessed when the shipment enters the buyer’s country.

Please check the applicable import regulations in your country before purchasing.