ULTRA RARE 1978 Greco ORDER MADE (Fretboard BINDING, 12" Radius Fretboard = GIBSON FEEL, Chunky D-Shape Neck) SE-600 Super Sounds (Burgundy Mist / Candy Apple Red Metallic + Matching Headstock) ... Maxon Excel PU-100 CLONE pickups + ORIGINAL HARD CASE

Vanborn Vintage Guitars Presents …

This 1978 Greco SE-600 Super Sounds “Order Made” Stratocaster is not a standard production instrument — it is an exceptionally rare custom-order example from Japan’s golden lawsuit-era, built with a specification set that fundamentally changes how a Strat-style guitar feels and plays.

During the 1970s, Japanese manufacturers like Greco began producing 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 SE-600 offer vintage Fender-level build quality — without the Fender price tag. Built by renowned Japanese factories such as Matsumoku and Fujigen, these instruments represent outstanding value, delivering vintage Fender-style quality, craftsmanship, and tone, simply under a different logo on the headstock. This period ultimately led Fender to officially partner with Japanese manufacturers, resulting in the birth of Fender Japan in the early 1980s —

What makes this instrument immediately stand out are its non-standard structural specifications, starting with the neck.

The maple neck is paired with a deeply coloured rosewood fretboard that appears almost ebony-like under certain lighting. More importantly, it features white fretboard binding — a highly uncommon detail on Strat-style guitars. (a feature Fender only did on a few guitars back in 1966, most famously the Ry Cooder "Coodercaster" that sold for 150K in 2020 in auction) Beyond aesthetics, binding subtly changes the visual perception of the neck edges, giving it a more defined, “finished” feel typically associated with higher-end or custom instruments rather than standard production Strats.

Equally significant is the playing geometry. This guitar features a 12” fretboard radius, which is considerably flatter than traditional vintage Fender-style radius. The result is a noticeably different playing experience: ... more GIBSON esque with easier string bending, lower perceived resistance across the fretboard, and a more modern, controlled feel — especially when combined with a thicker neck profile.

That neck profile itself is a chunky D-shape, adding mass and depth to the hand. Combined with the flatter radius, it creates a unique hybrid feel: the ergonomic solidity and control often associated with Gibson-style instruments, while still retaining the articulation and response of a Strat platform.

This instrument is marked “5” inside the body, indicating it originates from a very small store-commissioned Order Made batch, produced through a Greco retailer. Rather than a standard catalog run, these guitars were typically built in extremely limited quantities (research shows usually runs of 5, making this what seems to be the last of this unique batch) with specific requested configurations, making surviving examples particularly rare.

Tonally, it is loaded with a full set of original Maxon Excel PU-100 pickups (dated July 18, 1978). These originate from Maxon’s early reverse-engineering period, focused on capturing the dynamic response and tonal behaviour of highly regarded early-’60s Strat-style pickups (that MAGIC Pre-CBS Sound)

The result is a set that delivers:

• Open, airy vintage Strat cleans with body
• Smooth, controlled top end without harsh ice-pick frequencies
• Full, musical midrange presence
• Natural compression when pushed
• Excellent note separation and touch sensitivity

These pickups are a key reason why Maxon Excel sets from this era are increasingly sought after, especially when preserved as a complete original set.

The guitar comes complete with its original Greco hardcase (black tolex with orange/yellow interior), including original key, Greco SE-series handbook, and period-correct case stickers.

Condition is very good, with honest playwear consistent with age (as pictured)

the electronics work perfectly!

currently strung with a set of 9-46

This is not just a Strat-style guitar — it is a rare custom-ordered Japanese instrument defined by its non-standard neck geometry and premium construction choices, offering a playing experience that sits between traditional Fender design and more modern ergonomic feel.

A serious collector-grade piece, and a deeply inspiring player’s instrument.

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Cheers!

Vanborn Vintage Guitars

Belgium’s finest vintage & rare guitar store!

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