Greco JJ-R1 1985 - White - Made In Japan - 24.75" Scale - Kahler Flyer Trem - Jackson Pickups (Charvel Model 4)

Used 1985 Greco JJ-R1 - In classic gloss white finish - Nearly all original with original USA Made Kahler Flyer trem and Jackson pickups - Made in Japan MIJ.

• Serial Number: G852329
• Body: Basswood
• Neck: Maple
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Fretboard Radius: About 12"
• Fret Edge Binding: No
• Inlays: Acrylic shark fin inlays
• Frets: 24 x Super Jumbo (1.3mm tall x 2.9mm wide)
• Nut Width: 43.16mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 43.32mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 52.46mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 20.71mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 22.65mm
• Nut: Carbon - original
• Tuners: Black mini Grover sealed tuners
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Black Kahlyer Flyer trem (trem arm missing)
• Pickups: Original Jackson J50B Bridge pickups and 2 JX single coils
• Bridge Pickup Resistance: 8.89K ohm
• Pots: Original - 55 volume pot (May 1985) (can't read tone pot, covered in solder)
• Strings: D'Addario EXL 120's 9-42 strings - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 8.26lbs
• Non Original Parts: 2 top screws on Kahler locking nut, 2 humbucker mounting screws and springs
• Case: None
• Truss Rod: Works as expected

This is a nearly all original 1985 Greco JJ-R1 - this is a Charvel Model 4 clone - or did Charvel copy Greco?. This was released before the Charvel model... 1985 was the first year the JJ-R1 appeared in the Greco catalog, and the first time we saw the shark fin inlay in the JJ series.

Outfitted with a black USA made Kahler Flyer tremolo, Jackson Pickups, Grover tuners, and "super" jumbo frets (which was rare for Greco at during this time), this 24.75" scale super-strat gives you a multitude of tones thanks to the 3 x 3 position mini switches that can enable each pickup independently in HI/OFF/LO. You've got a master volume and a master tone to round out the controls. You can get some pretty fantastic and usable tones with these mini switches.

The finish on this guitar is simply gloss white, and has faded all over the guitar into a more creamy white - although it has done so inconsistently or splotchy in some areas. Being white, it also has some staining to it in some spots. That said, it still looks great from every angle, and I suspect that this guitar will continue to age into a creamier white - especially if you leave it on display.

This JJ-R1 is made with a bolt on maple neck, which appears to be a 3 piece neck, and a basswood body, which is a favourite combo for 80's & 90's shredder guitars like Ibanez, Jackson, Charvel. Basswood bodies are known for being light, although I've found the older basswood bodies, like this one, can be much heavier, denser and harder than modern basswood, which seems to be much softer.

The neck has a thin "C" shape carve and is really easy to play. The neck is finished in the same white paint as the guitar, although it appears to have aged a little more yellow than the body. The fretboard is rosewood, with a nice dark grain all the way up the board, with silver acrylic shark fin inlays, and 24 "super" jumbo frets (that's what Greco called them in their catalog), that have play wear on them, mostly on the lower 7 frets. None of the frets "catch" the string, and they're still smooth - the neck plays well, and there's lots of life left in these frets.

Everything on this guitar appears to be original, except the 2 humbucker mounting screws and springs (replaced with some I had in my parts bin since the ones it came with didn't match), and 2 screws on the Kahler locking nut (the top 2 screws closest to the tuners - 1 is a dark bronze screw, and the other is a shorter length black screw). When I received the guitar, the locking nut had been removed (although included) and the guitar had a string tree (string retainer) added on the headstock to guide the B and high E strings - that is what the hole in the headstock is from.

This guitar is in good players grade condition - it's no museum piece or case queen, it's been played, and it has dings, dents, scratches all over, but nothing off putting for a 80's shredder.

The Jackson J50B bridge pickup, with ceramic magnet, has fantastic & interesting tone. The 3 way switch doesn't seem to tap the coil, or split it, it seems to give it a little treble boost? This pickup is very articulate, and can chug pretty amazingly in this guitar. The 2 single coils are also quite usable, and I find mixing the 2 together gives some great usable tones.

The Kahler trem is missing the chrome arm, but replacements are still available from the good folks at Whammy Parts right here on Reverb. Also, 2 of the intonation saddle screws on this trem are striped (the head is striped, so a hex key won't turn it). It's the high E and D string saddles. These are also available from Whammy Parts. Right now, setup in E standard tuning, with D'addario EXL 120 9-42 strings, the D string intonation is pretty close, but the high E is a little sharp, about 7 cents, at the 12th fret.

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

I setup all my guitars similar 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).

Overall, this is a great player grade guitar, that has lots of mojo, has lots of tones on tap, and looks just as good.

If you're looking for a vintage 80's MIJ shredder, look no further.

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.

Over the entire body of the guitar, top, back, sides, neck and headstock, there are dings, chips, dents, scratches, chips, hazing, staining and swirling.

The point of the headstock has a big ding/chip in it.

There is an extra hole on the face of the headstock, that was for a string tree (string retainer), that has been removed.

The back of the neck has a dings in it around the 2nd fret.

The black hardware, trem, tuners, knobs, switches, and screws all have some form of the black plating peeling, corrosion, pitting, and scratches, although the trem and tuners are in pretty good shape, and so are the knobs. The 3 mini switches have the most signs of use.

The single coil pickup pole pieces have quite a bit of corrosion and rust on some of the pole pieces, mostly the high E string pole pieces.

All of the black plastics, and pickup bobbins, have many scratches and swirling on them.

All of the original black Grover mini tuners work properly.

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

There is fret wear across the entire fretboard, mostly on the 1st to 7th frets, but overall there's lots of life left in these frets, and they play well.

The high E string and D string saddle intonation screw head is stripped, so a hex key won't turn it. This can be replaced with new saddle screws (available from Whammy Parts).

SHIPPING ------------  

Will be shipped with tracking & full liability coverage, fully wrapped in bubble wrap, in a cardboard box meant for guitars. There will be proper support inside. In order to reduce environmental impact, the packing material (paper, bubble wrap, air packets, foam, carboard box & tube supports, etc...) used may be recycled.

Package dimensions are 118cm x 47cm x 17cm

Total shipping weight will be around 16lbs.

Shipping within Canada - via Canada Post Regular or Expedited Parcel from Ayr, ON, Canada.

Shipping to United States - via UPS Standard from Ayr, ON, Canada.

Shipping everywhere else - contact me for a precise quote on shipping.

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. 

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!