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Greco SG

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The Greco SG models were their earliest copies of the SG. While the SG-300 — 400 were built by Matsumoku, the other models were likely built by Fujigen. The SG-600 is one of the earliest set-neck SG copies from Japan. At some point in 1977, the SG is replaced by the SS.

SG-300 — 400T (1970—1975)[]

71 greco sg350t 2

SG-400 (1972)[]

72 greco sg400 2

SG-360 / SG-400T (1976-1977)[]

77 greco sg400 2

SG-500[]

75 greco sg500
  • 1975
  • 50,000 Yen MSRP

Body:

  • Beveled Agathis or Mahogany pancake body (catalog specs conflict)
  • Top & back veneers
  • Angled heel
  • Polyurethane finish

Neck:

  • 1-pc quartersawn Mahogany
  • Set-in construction (early 1975)
    • Joins body at 20th fret
  • Bolt-on construction (late 1975)
    • Joins body at 20th fret
  • Rosewood fretboard
    • Acrylic Pearloid dot inlays
    • 12" radius
  • Open Book headstock
    • Holographic foil Greco logo
    • Volute
  • 22 frets
  • 24 3/4" scale
  • 1 9/16" nut width

Electronics:

  • Two P-90 style pickups
  • 1 Vol, 1 Tone

Hardware:

  • Chrome Hardware
  • Gotoh Star or MH-802 tuning machines
    • Schaller-style buttons
  • Single-ply Angel Wing style pickguard
  • Bell shaped truss rod cover
    • 2-ply b/w
    • 3 screws
  • Black Speed knobs w/ pointers
  • Wraparound bridge/tailpiece

Finishes:

  • Wine Red

SG-600 (1972-1974)[]

72 greco sg600 2

Built to order.

  • 60,000 Yen MSRP

Body:

  • Beveled Agathis pancake body
  • Top & back veneers
  • Angled heel
  • Polyurethane finish

Neck:

  • 3-pc laminated Maple
  • C profile (~.800" / .890")
  • Set-in construction
    • Joins body at 20th fret
  • Ebony fretboard
    • Mother of Pearl block inlays
    • 12" radius
  • Open Book headstock
    • Holographic foil Greco logo
      • "Gneco" (1972-1973)
      • "Greco" (1974)
    • Holographic foil crown
      74 greco sg600 embossed pups 2
  • 22 frets
  • 24 3/4" scale
  • 1 9/16" nut width

Binding:

  • Neck, single-ply

Electronics:

  • Two Maxon Jazz-Rock U-500 humbuckers[1]
    • ~7.85k Ohms D.C. Resistance[2]
    • "Gneco" embossed covers (1973-1974)
  • 3-way switch
  • 2 Vol, 2 Tone
73 greco sg600

Hardware:

  • Chrome Hardware
  • Gotoh Star tuning machines
    • Schaller-style buttons
  • 4-ply Batwing style pickguard
  • Bell shaped truss rod cover
    • 2-ply b/w
    • 3 screws
    • "Custom" engraved (sporadic use)
  • Black Witch Hat knobs
  • Tune-O-Matic style bridge
  • Stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

  • Wine Red

SG-600 (1974-1977)[]

76 greco sg600 2

This new style first appears in November 1974 catalog. It is replaced by the SS-600 at some point in 1977.

  • 60,000 Yen MSRP

Body:

  • Beveled Mahogany pancake body
  • Top & back veneers
  • Angled heel
  • Polyurethane finish

Neck:

  • 3-pc laminated Maple (catalog 1974-1975)
  • 1-pc quartersawn Maple (catalog 1976-1977)
  • 1-pc quartersawn Mahogany (observed)
  • C profile (~.800" / .890")
  • Set-in construction
    • Joins body at 20th fret
  • Ebony fretboard
    • Mother of Pearl block inlays (1974-1975)
    • Mother of Pearl trapezoid inlays (1976-1977)
    • 12" radius
      76 greco sg600 4

      Walnut

  • Open Book headstock
    • Holographic foil Greco logo
    • Holographic foil crown
    • Volute
  • 22 frets
  • 24 3/4" scale
  • 1 9/16" nut width

Binding:

  • Neck, single-ply
  • Fret-edge binding

Electronics:

  • Two Maxon U-1000 humbuckers
    • AlNiCo 8 or Ferrite ceramic magnets[3][4]
    • ~7.8k Ohms D.C. Resistance[5]
    • "Gneco" embossed covers (~1974)
      76 greco sg600 3

      Gotoh MH-802 tuners

  • 3-way switch
  • 2 Vol, 2 Tone

Hardware:

  • Chrome Hardware
  • Gotoh Star tuning machines (~1974)
    • Metal Keystone buttons
  • Gotoh MH-802 tuning machines
    • Schaller-style buttons (1975)
    • Metal Keystone buttons (1975-1977)
    • "Greco Guitar" engraved
      74 greco sg600
  • 4-ply Angel Wing style pickguard
    • Wide bevel
  • 4-ply tenon cover
    • Wide bevel
  • Bell shaped truss rod cover
    • 2-ply b/w
    • 3 screws
  • Black Speed knobs w/ pointers
  • Tune-O-Matic style bridge
  • Stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

  • Cherry Red / Wine Red
  • Walnut

SG-???[]

75 greco special

This was a limited run, which does not appear in any catalogs. At least two are known to exist, ruling out it being a custom order. It's mostly a copy of the 1972-1973 Gibson SG Special, however, the pickup and mounting ring designs are taken from the 1971-1972 Gibson SG Pro. These were manufactured by Matsumoku.[6]

  • Circa 1975

Body:

  • Beveled Mahogany pancake body
  • Top & back veneers
  • Angled heel
  • Polyurethane finish

Neck:

  • 3-pc laminated Mahogany
  • Set-in construction
    • Joins body at 20th fret
  • Rosewood fretboard
    • Acrylic Pearloid dot inlays
    • 12" radius
      75 greco special star stamp

      Fretboard stamp (Photo Credit: Vintage-Japan-Guitars)

  • Open Book headstock
    • Holographic foil Greco logo
  • 22 frets
  • 24 3/4" scale
  • 1 9/16" nut width

Binding:

  • Neck, 2-ply black/white

Electronics:

  • Two Maxon P-90 style pickups
    • ~8k Ohms D.C. Resistance
    • Large mounting rings
  • 3-way switch
  • 2 Vol, 2 Tone
75 greco special 2

Hardware:

  • Chrome Hardware
  • Gotoh Star tuning machines
    • Metal Keystone buttons
  • Single-ply Angel Wing style pickguard
    • Beveled edges
  • Bell shaped truss rod cover
    • 2-ply b/w
    • 3 screws
  • Black Speed knobs w/ pointers
  • Harmonica style bridge
  • Stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

  • Walnut

SG-????[]

73 greco doubleneck

1973, set necks

This model was not in any catalogs, and due to its built-to-order nature, specs differ from one example to another. Even control layouts will differ.[7] Set neck examples have flat fretboard ends whereas bolt-on examples have rounded ends. The bolt-on versions are related to the Ibanez 2402, having longer horns, while the set neck versions have more accurate shorter horns.

  • 1973-1977

Body:

  • Beveled Mahogany pancake body
  • Top & back veneers
  • Polyurethane finish
77 greco doubleneck

Circa 1977, bolt-on

Necks:

  • 1-pc quartersawn Mahogany
  • Bolt-on or set-in construction
    • Join body at 15th frets
  • Rosewood or Ebony fretboards
    • Acrylic Pearloid split parallelogram inlays (bolt-on)
    • Mother of Pearl split parallelogram inlays (set-in)
    • 12" radii
  • Open Book headstocks
    • Holographic foil Greco logos
      • "Gneco" (1972-1973)
      • "Greco" (1974-1977)
    • Holographic foil crown inlays
  • 20 frets per neck
  • 22 frets per neck (custom option)
  • 24 3/4" scale
  • 1 9/16" nut widths

Binding:

  • Necks, single-ply
73 greco doubleneck 2

Embossed pickup covers

Electronics:

  • Four Maxon U-2000 humbuckers
    • AlNiCo V magnets
    • ~7.8k Ohms D.C. Resistance
    • "Gneco" embossed covers (1973-1974)
  • One or two 3-way pickup switches
  • 3-way neck switch
  • 2 Vol, 2 Tone
77ish greco custom order

Custom Order

Hardware:

  • Chrome Hardware
  • Individually enclosed tuning machines (bolt-on)
    • Green Keystone buttons
      • Double ring
  • Gotoh Star tuning machines (set-in)
    • Metal Keystone buttons
  • 4-ply pickguards
  • Bell shaped truss rod covers
    • 2-ply b/w
    • 3 screws
  • Black Witch Hat or Speed knobs
  • Tune-O-Matic style bridges
  • Stopbar tailpieces
    • Narrower early 1970s style used

Finishes:

  • Any

References[]

  1. ↑ https://vintagejapanguitars.com/1973-greco-sg-300-matsumoku/
  2. ↑ https://reverb.com/uk/item/19323424-1973-greco-sg-600-vintage-electric-guitar-cherry-set-neck-japan-w-gigbag
  3. ↑ https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/identify-these-pickups.431682/page-3
  4. ↑ https://vintagejapanguitars.com/greco-pickups/
  5. ↑ https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/identify-these-pickups.431682/page-2
  6. ↑ https://reverb.com/item/23741437-greco-ss600-p90-1975-marron
  7. ↑ https://mojostompboxes.com/products/1973-greco-japan-sg1300-doubleneck-6-12-string-vintage-sg-w-hardcase-cherry-red
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