Greco EG500C 1981 - Violin Sunburst - Super Power Custom - Les Paul Custom - Original Maxon UD Pickups - Made In Japan - MIJ

Used 1981 Greco EG500C Super Power Custom (Les Paul Custom) in beautiful Violin Sunburst finish - with Split Diamond headstock inlay - With original Maxon UD pickups - Made by the famous Fujigen factory in Japan - MIJ.

• Serial Number: C816048 (March 1981)
• Body: 3 piece solid maple top on a 3 piece solid mahogany back
• Neck: Mahogany - 1 piece
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Fretboard Radius: Compound - from around 7.25 at the 1st fret to around 10"
• Fret Edge Binding: Yes
• Inlays: Acrylic pearloid block inlays
• Frets: 22 x Medium Jumbo (1.1mm tall x 2.7mm wide)
• Nut Width: 43.9mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 44.6mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 53.2mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 22.5mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 25.0mm
• Nut: Bone
• Tuners: Original Greco gold sealed tuners
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Original gold Japanese made FGB 8001 ABR style bridge and FGT 8001 tailpiece
• Pickups: Original gold covered Maxon made UD humbuckers with 210218 date codes on both (1981 February 18th for both)
• Neck Pickup Resistance: 7.66K ohm
• Bridge Pickup Resistance: 7.75K ohm
• Pots: Original 300K volume pots (can't see date codes) and 100K tone pots (0D date codes for December 1980)
• Strings: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 2221 10-46 strings - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 9.26lbs
• Non Original Parts: None
• Case: Vintage Japanese rectangular hard case
• Truss Rod: Works as expected with room in both directions

This is a 1981 Greco EG500C Super Power Les Paul Custom from Greco's famous Super Real series.

This instrument must have been made in the transition between the 1980 and 1981 catalogs - this beautiful Violin Sunburst finish from Greco doesn't appear in the 1980 catalog, but it does in the 1981 catalog - however the headstock inlay on the EG500C's changed between 1980 and 1981 from the Gibson Split Diamond headstock inlay to the large Greco "flower pot" inlay. This serial number (C816048) dates it to March 1981, the pickup stamps (210218) point to Feb 18th 1981, and the pot codes being 0D appear to be December 1980, so it appears to have been made with the 1980 specs, using the 1981 finish.

This finish is, in my opinion, is one of the coolest finishes from any Japanese manufacturer in this era - and Greco appear to be one of the only Japanese manufacturer to do this colour. Everyone made black, cherry sunburst, and tobacco burst, and sometimes white, but only Greco did this violin burst on their Les Paul's (possibly Ibanez as well). Yamaha had something similar on their SG800 and SG1500 models with the Oil Stain finish, and Ibanez offered some similar finish on their guitars.

Based on the Greco 1981 catalog, it has a 1 piece mahogany neck, mahogany body, with a solid maple cap, and that appears to be true. The body is a 3 piece mahogany body, that has incredible grain in it, and the maple cap is a 3 piece, which is nice and thick - just shy of 5/8".

This guitar is just stunning - really.

The neck is a chunkier 1 piece mahogany neck with the violin sunburst finish on it, as well as the sides of the headstock, which looks awesome. It starts out at 22.5mm at the 1st fret, and makes it's way up to 25.0mm by the 12th fret - so this is on the thick side for most Japanese made Les Paul's - not the thickest I've had but it's up there. With a nut width of 43.9mm, this neck fills out the hand nicely - if you like a substantial neck that is solid, you'll love this neck.

It has a rosewood fretboard with a beautiful grain up and down the entire fretboard that compliments the Violin Sunburst colour well. The frets have edge binding (nibs). The acrylic pearloid block inlays have yellowed over time and from playing, and they look great with the yellowed binding over the entire guitar.

The 22 medium jumbo frets have some typical playwear across the fretboard - but mainly in the open chords area. Overall there is lots of life left in these frets, and this guitar plays well up and down the entire fretboard.

The original Maxon UD are low wind, measuring in the mid 7K ohms, but do have a good amount of output by using a thin ceramic magnet. These were likely the pre-cursor to the later SCREAM'IN pickups that Greco used on their Mint Collection series guitars, and they sound great. This guitar has a good amount of low end, and a rounded smooth top end.

This particular guitar appears to be all original, and in good player grade condition. It does have typical scratches, swirling, dings, dents and chips in the finish all over, but nothing major - the guitar has been used, but not abused, and overall it has a consistent feel.

All of the gold hardware is in good shape for it's age, with lots of shine left, with some areas of corrosion, tarnish, peeling, pitting and/or rust - but compared to most gold hardware from 1981, this one is in good shape.

The black plastics are all in tact, with some typical pick marks on the pickguard, and typical swirling on all of the other plastics. The neck pickup ring has cracked on both sides, but has been repaired and works as expected.

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 what is likely the original Japanese made rectangular hard case with yellow interior - and the ribbon to hold the neck in place. It's in used condition, and all of the hinges and latches are corroded, but everything is in tact, and the case works as expected. Comes with a super cool vintage Cat's Eye sticker on the top!

Overall, this is an awesome vintage Japanese Les Paul in one of the nicest finishes to come from Japan - it plays great, looks incredible, is built incredibly well, and sounds great.

If you're looking for a Japanese Les Paul, don't miss this one.

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

Overall it's in good shape.

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

Over the entire body top, back and sides, neck and headstock, there are many scratches, swirling, dings, dents, checking, and chips in the finish, with most of them on the back and sides of the body, and the top of the headstock.

There is typical to see small finish crack at the heel of the neck (where the neck meets the body). This is only in the finish, and not int the wood - the neck joint is solid and stable.

All of the gold hardware including the bridge, tailpiece, tuners, pickguard bracket, the screws, strap buttons, and the pickup covers and pole pieces all have varying degrees corrosion, rust, and/or peeling on them - although not much, and there is still lots of shine left in most areas. For it's age it's in better than average condition. Everything works as expected.

The black pickguard has lots of pick marks and scratches on it.

The neck pickup ring has been cracked on both sides (top and bottom) but has been glued back together and works as expected.

There jack plate has also cracked and been repaired and works as expected.

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

The frets have been played, but mostly in the open chord area, and overall there's lots of life left in these frets and this guitar plays well up and down the entire neck.

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

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

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!