1985 Greco JS55 - John Sykes Model - Les Paul Custom

Serial: J850820

Luthier Measurements: 

Nut Width: 1.69

Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .85

Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: .99

Radius: 12

Scale: 24.75

Weight: 10 lbs

Upgraded Vintage Seymour Duncan JBJ in the Bridge Position

Comes in a Very Nice Hard Case with Pink Lining

$$$ It has just been professionally set up and dialed in for optimal tone and playability. It has low action with no buzzing. The frets are in perfect condition and polished to shine like a mirror, it is truly stage or studio ready/worthy. Including New Strings,  Perfect Intonation, Truss Rod Adjustment and Low Action. 

Read Our Feedback and Rest Assured, The Dude Abides!

🔥 1985 GRECO JS55 — JOHN SYKES LES PAUL CUSTOM WITH VINTAGE SEYMOUR DUNCAN JB 🔥

Channel pure 1980s hard-rock attitude with this 1985 Greco JS55, the official John Sykes model Les Paul Custom built at Fujigen during the highly regarded Mint Collection / Personal Series era. Inspired by Sykes’ iconic black Les Paul (Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Blue Murder), these Japanese-made instruments deliver the looks, weight, and sustain that defined the era’s biggest riffs.

This example features an upgraded Vintage Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge position (Maricela Juarez winding) while retaining its original character elsewhere. It’s been professionally set up and dialed in for optimal tone and playability.

Cosmetically it shows real life: heavy buckle rash on the back and heavy play wear throughout, including dings, dents, and surface scratches. It’s a well-played rock machine that still looks mean and plays even better.

The Specs

Classic Greco Mint Collection Les Paul Custom formula:

•  Carved maple top over mahogany body

•  Mahogany neck (typically long tenon construction)

•  Rosewood or ebony-style board with block inlays

•  Brass nut

•  Mirrored pickguard and pickup rings (signature Sykes aesthetic)

•  24.75” scale, 22 frets

•  Original hardware and electronics (with the upgraded bridge pickup)

•  Gloss black “Black Beauty” finish

Built at Fujigen with the attention to detail that made mid-’80s Greco Les Pauls favorites among players who wanted Gibson-level performance at a smarter price.

The Sound

The upgraded Vintage Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge brings classic high-output PAF-with-attitude tone — tight low end, aggressive midrange growl, and singing highs that cut through a mix. Perfect for the searing leads and heavy rhythm work Sykes was famous for. The neck pickup (original) provides warmer, rounder tones for contrast. Together they cover everything from bluesy rock to full-on 80s hard rock and metal. Professionally dialed in, this guitar has excellent dynamics, sustain, and that thick, authoritative Les Paul voice.

The Playability

Professionally set up with comfortable action and accurate intonation. The neck feels solid and familiar in the classic Les Paul style, frets are in good playing condition, and the whole guitar is balanced and ready for stage or studio use. Heavy buckle rash and moderate wear only add to the battle-scarred rock vibe — this one has been played and still wants more.

A genuine 1985 Greco JS55 John Sykes model with a killer upgraded Vintage Seymour Duncan JB, pro setup, and authentic hard-rock character. Perfect for the player who wants that classic black Les Paul Custom look and tone with real Japanese build quality and some serious road wear already paid for.

This Sykes machine is dialed in and ready to roar. Grab it while it’s here.

🔥 This guitar (or bass) has been professionally set up and dialed in for optimal tone and playability. Unless otherwise noted in the listing, It features low action with no buzzing or dead spots, perfect intonation, a brand-new set of American-made Ernie Ball strings, and a straight neck with a fully functional truss rod. We make sure all frets are leveled, dressed, crowned, and polished to a mirror shine. The fingerboard has been thoroughly cleaned (unfinished rosewood and ebony boards are treated with Fret Doctor, a premium all-natural oil). All electronics function flawlessly. The guitar has been deep-cleaned and detailed and arrives stage- or studio-ready. 🔥

About The Guitar Dude 

Three-time NAMM Top 100 Dealer worldwide. Specializing in premium Gibson, classic Fender guitars from all eras and the best Japanese made treasures. Known for the highest-quality consignment sales and custom layaway plans (available on select guitars and extendable beyond 45 days to fit your budget—contact us for details).  

Often copied, never duplicated. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for beautiful guitar content. 

Consignment Services

Like what you see? Let us go to work for you. We offer the best and most fair priced consignment service on the planet! Look for me online. @TheGuitarDude

Our Guarantee  

We stand behind every guitar we sell. “Good enough” is never good enough. Every instrument is inspected, set up, and tested by multiple people immediately before shipping. We deliver the highest standard of quality and have built a reputation as a three-time NAMM Top 100 Dealer since 2009. The Dude Abides.  

Neck & Setup - (unless otherwise noted)

- Neck is perfectly straight with no truss-rod issues. 

- Intonation is spot-on.  

- Professionally set up with low action and new American-made strings.  

- All frets are dressed, leveled, crowned (if needed), and all frets on all guitars are polished to shine like new with no divots.  

Return Policy, Restocking Fees & No Tire-Kicking Policy 

We follow Reverb’s 7-day return policy. However:  

- You must 

notify us in writing within 3 days of delivery (per tracking) of your intent to return.  

- Original shipping and return shipping costs are not refunded unless the guitar is damaged in transit or is significantly not as described.  

- A 15% restocking fee applies to all returns for any reason other than damage in transit or significantly not as described.  Please note there is a 10% restocking fee on guitar orders that have been purchased and paid for - that have been off the market for 24 hours or more, even if they have not been shipped or picked up by the carrier. We perform a final set up and change strings put when an order is placed and paid for. NO EXCEPTIONS

We do our best to honestly describe and photograph every guitar and most of the noticeable imperfections. That said, we are human, if something very small can be overseen, if tiny marks, dings or super fine scratches (normal wear) bother you, please don't buy.

We record demo videos of every guitar before shipping to document exact condition and performance. Additional photos, measurements, or in-hand descriptions are available upon request prior to purchase.  

Minor adjustments and tweaks to a set up (for example to correct a slight buzz or truss-rod tweak) are normal after shipping due to carrier mishandling the package, climate & atmospheric changes, especially when moving from South Florida to colder or less humid environments. These slight issues do not constitute “significantly not as described.” Guitars must be returned in the exact same condition as received/advertised or additional repair/restocking fees will apply.  

We are a small family owned and run business, not a big-chain retailer. We invest significant time, money and effort into every guitar. This is a NO TIRE-KICKING shop. There is no post purchase haggling, returns without restocking fees or partial refunds. If minor cosmetic marks, tiny imperfections, or the possibility of a post-shipping setup tweak makes you uncomfortable, please do not buy. Plenty of large retailers offer free trials and can absorb shipping costs—we do not.  

Payment, Shipping & International Duties  

- All items can be shipped internationally. Buyer is fully responsible for all import duties, taxes, and customs fees.  

- We accept PayPal, PayPal Credit, Affirm, and other major payment methods.  

- Most U.S. shipments are sent via UPS or FedEx with full insurance, tracking, and signature confirmation. All packages are professionally packed for maximum protection.  

International Shipping Note 

International shipping prices shown are for most countries. Certain countries have higher costs. We try and avoid USPS and mostly ship UPS, but USPS is the only available or reasonable carrier in certain situations. Express services (UPS, DHL, FedEx) are always available. We can’t under value merchandise as it can not be properly insured. If you would like to discuss different avenues, contact us by phone for a personalized quote.  

Thank you for considering The Guitar Dude. We look forward to earning your business and delivering a guitar that exceeds your expectations. Contact us anytime for questions, consignment inquiries, layaway details, or a personalized shipping quote.