RARE 1974 Greco SG-600 (Angus Young AC/DC Inspired) … Maxon U-1000 PAF REPLICA + Batwing Pickguard + Vibrola ... Made in Japan Lawsuit Era + GIGBAG

Vanborn Vintage Guitars Presents …

a 1974 Greco SG600, built in Japan during the early lawsuit-era peak, when Japanese manufacturers like Greco — produced at the legendary FujiGen facility — were refining the SG platform into something that combined American-inspired design with their own increasingly confident build philosophy.

These were extremely high-quality instruments that rivaled — and in some cases surpassed — American production standards. These so-called "lawsuit era" guitars became increasingly respected for their craftsmanship and consistency at a time when U.S. production quality was fluctuating.

In many ways, guitars like this Greco SG-600 offer vintage Gibson-level build quality — without the Gibson price tag... Gibson did not like this ... you can figure out where the name "Lawsuit era" comes from.

Let's talk about the elephant in the room ... the looks, these specs: Batwing pickguard, vibrola, embossed pickups, Aged Cherry/Wine Red .... it screams Angus Young from AC/DC

From the first moment you pick it up, the guitar immediately shows why these early-70s Japanese SGs have become so sought after. It’s lightweight, resonant, and extremely responsive, with that slightly raw, almost acoustic vibration that great mahogany SG-style guitars are known for.

There’s a natural airiness to it — unplugged it already feels loud.

The Magic of Maxon U-Series Pickups

One of the standout features of this SG is its original Maxon U-1000 humbuckers. These pickups were part of Maxon's serious effort to reverse-engineer the legendary late-'50s PAF pickups found in the iconic Gibson Les Paul Standard 1959 "Burst" guitars.

These are not modern-voiced pickups trying to be polite — they are full, dynamic and slightly compressed in a very musical way, reacting directly to picking attack and volume changes.

Fun fact: the pickups are embossed with the Greco logo, a feature taken from Gibson and only copied in late 1973/early 1794 by Greco making this even more sought after & a unicorn sighting

The neck pickup is where this guitar really opens up:
warm, round, and vocal, with a slightly “liquid” quality when you roll the tone back. It has that classic vintage neck sound that works perfectly for blues lines, clean arpeggios, and slightly overdriven rhythm work where you want warmth without losing definition.

The bridge pickup shifts the entire character. It delivers a more forward midrange bite with a slight natural compression when pushed, giving you that unmistakable SG crunch — perfect for classic rock riffs, early hard rock tones, and slightly aggressive lead playing. It cuts through a mix without becoming harsh or thin, which is exactly what makes these U-1000 sets so respected among Japanese vintage enthusiasts.

In between position of both pickups, you get a surprisingly usable middle position with a slightly hollowed-out character — very “record-ready” and dynamic under clean to edge-of-breakup amps.

This SG600 follows the early Greco high-end SG construction approach:

The body and neck are mahogany-based with set-neck construction, which is a key distinction versus the lower-tier bolt-on models of the same era.

This gives the guitar noticeably more sustain, a stronger midrange presence, and a more “glued together” harmonic response when played loud.

The scale length is 24.75”, giving it that familiar Gibson-style feel with slightly softer string tension and easier vibrato control.

Nut width: 3 mm (about 1.69", roughly 1 11/16")

Weight: 3.9 KG (or about 8.59 lbs)

The fretboard radius and general neck profile are comfortable and fast, with a slightly vintage-correct feel that sits somewhere between slim and medium — not overly thin, but not bulky either. It feels very “natural” in the hand, especially for chord work and blues phrasing.

Electronics remain original throughout, including Japanese 500k pots and factory wiring, preserving the authentic response curve of the instrument. No modern interference, no rewiring shortcuts — just the original circuit doing exactly what it was designed to do.

This example has been fitted sometime in it's +50 years on this planet with a long Vibrola system, adding both visual presence and expressive vibrato capability.

Importantly, the original stop-tail configuration remains partially intact through the presence of the original bushings, meaning the guitar can be reverted to its original fixed tailpiece setup if desired — a strong advantage for collectors or purists. (tailpiece not included)

All hardware shows natural aging and oxidation consistent with a 50+ year old instrument, giving it a visually cohesive vintage aesthetic without looking artificially relic’d.

This is a true player-grade vintage instrument, and it shows exactly the kind of honest wear you expect from a guitar of this age.

There are small dings, finish checking, and natural lacquer aging, all contributing to a very authentic vintage look and feel. NO Breaks! (condition is a pictured)

It looks like a guitar that has been played — not preserved.

The 1974 Greco SG600 sits in that rare category of vintage Japanese instruments that are no longer just “alternatives” to American classics — they are now collectible, respected instruments in their own right, with a growing reputation among players who actually use their guitars rather than just store them.

This one delivers exactly what you want from a great SG:
fast response, strong midrange character, natural compression when pushed, and a slightly wild edge that makes it feel alive under the fingers.

Plug it in, turn it up, and it immediately makes sense.

Included with the guitar is a brand new Thomann Gigbag, with good zipper and shoulder straps — ready to protect your new vintage treasure.

Available for WORLDWIDE shipping with UPS or FEDEX, the shipping cost is calculated automatically in the shopping cart, based on your location. If you're purchasing from inside the EU, your purchase will include VAT.

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Cheers!

Vanborn Vintage Guitars

Belgium’s finest vintage & rare guitar store!

Family owned & operated in Sint-Truiden (Est. 2024)