1979 Greco SA-550 Vintage ES Guitar Cherry, Near-Mint w/ Maxon U-1000 & Case, Japan Fujigen

Up for sale, a 1979 Greco SA550 in near-mint, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. This “Lawsuit Era” Greco was crafted at the Fujigen factory in Japan, evoking an ES-335, yet with an almost fully hollow thinline birch body (there is a small centerblock beneath the bridge), loaded with Maxon U-1000 humbuckers.

The fully hollow thinline body construction gives this Greco a sweet, round note attack and a rich bloom as notes sustain, while the three-piece maple neck ensures immediacy and treble detail. The Maxon U-1000 pickups are wound in the spirit of Gibson’s PAF; these pickups are harmonically rich and sonorous. The neck pickup has a round, warm quality with an accentuated midrange, while the bridge pickup is clear and smooth. Lightweight at 7lbs 2oz, this Greco has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Maple (three-piece)
• Shape: Slender C, full shoulders, measuring .815” 1st fret, .895” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Rosewood, small block inlay
• Frets: Medium jumbo, leveled/crowned, faint wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-5
• Scale Length: 24 3/4”
• Nut: 1 11/16”, bone
• Tuners: Greco Deluxe double-line, double-ring
• Serialization: F79-prefix (June, 1979)

Body Specs:

• Wood: Birch
• Pickups: Maxon U-1000 humbucker x2 (1979 date stamps on baseplates)
• Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
• Hardware: Adjusto-matic bridge, stopbar (nickel-plated)
• Plastics: Witch hat knobs, four-ply black pickguard, amber switch tip
• Label: Fujigen, white rectangle, “SA-HO” (hollowbody) model designation

The gloss finish is categorized as “Wine Red,” yet presents as a traditional Cherry, framed by gently ambered binding, with just a couple small dings along the lower bout perimeter and some faint finish scratches on the back (well short of buckle rash). The gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean.

A hardshell case is included.