1973 Matsumoku Greco SE-500N - Pre-serial Number

A really fine example of a pre-serial number Matsumoku built Greco destined for the home market. This is an entirely different class of guitar than many of the Japanese clones from this era - by 1973, they were good enough to worry the folk in USA.

The neck profile is a substantial C, unlike the later and better-known JVs, and the pick-ups are pure Maxon – bright and airy and drive a valve amp perfectly well despite their fairly low output. The scratchplate still carries the original 1meg pot for the volume and a pair of 500s for the tones. This will upset the purists, but these pots get the best out of the Maxons. The original 3-way switch remains and has had sufficient use to allow us to find those in-between settings.

The grain on this pancake body construction is sublime – up close it has a few knocks and dings from 50 years of use, but it wears them well after 50 years.

This guitar has been a busy one – the frets are quite low, yet it still plays sublimely – those that like a low action on their Strats will adore this one. We think there is a year or two left in these frets and this will be a rhythm guitarists best mate for a while until a re-fret is finally due, absolutely worth doing on these guitars.

Glorious looking, comfortable and fast playing, most folk trying this one out get through half their Hendrix repertoire on that neck pick-up! Hendrix and SRV cut their teeth on Goya guitars in USA - Goyas were export Grecos.

Perfect as it is, or talk to us if you want to discuss upgrades or a re-fret. We have a selection of period correct soft and hard cases here too - again, talk to us.

Shipment insurance included in shipping rates. For regions I haven't listed, just get in touch and we'll find the best value way to get it to you.

For more detailed photos, a live demo or you'd like us to talk you through the guitar, please contact us on the Matsumoku.Rocks website.