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17 x 3 1/4" depth - Very warm tonality...sounds like a 17" jazz archtop should. Most impressive plugged in with the branded Greco 'G' humbuckers.
Last edited by 2bornot2bop; 07-04-2014 at 12:49 PM.
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06-28-2014 07:37 PM
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Would you be so kind to measure the polepiece spacing in both p'ups and the string spread at the bridge itself?
My guess would be 47.2mm for the neck, 50mm for the bridge for the p'ups and 52mm at the bridge?
How close am I?
BTW, gorgeous guitar. I don't think it's got much, if anything at all, to envy of the "real thing".
I, for one, am a big fan of late '70s, early '80s jap guitars.
Enjoy it in good health.
Yours very truly,
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Got the red guitar, an RG800 a few years ago on the Ibanez forum. This thing is quite nice, I owned a '66 Ric 330 and this reminds me of it a lot. The pickups are very chimey and jangly.
Friday I closed a deal on this black beauty, an RG750, a correct 3/4 scale Ric John Lennon model. This ought to be fun to bang around with. Needs some love (aka some Meguiar's polishing compound).
Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 06-29-2014 at 01:20 PM.
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OK, back to more jazzy Grecos. Got this on eBay about 9 years ago, liked it because it was sorta Byrdlandish but with a regular scale. A SW1200 model.
http://brochures.yokochou.com/guitar.../en_p3839.html
Pretty sure they are Dry Z pickups (pretty much like Ibanez Super 58s), it had a funky bottle opener looking tailpiece on it. Got it for $900.00. Changed out the tailpiece to a Byrdland style and used a set of Gibson tuners I had in the parts drawer. Any of you Ibanez freaks will notice the similarity to Sure Grip tone/volume knobs that Ibanez uses.
Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 06-29-2014 at 01:36 PM.
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Looks great 2b - but what's your motivation to try this after all the Heritages, Gibsons, Napolitanas, d' Aquistos .... ?
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It won't stay...I've simply never sampled a Greco, or a 17" laminated maple. Hmmm, curiousity?
Originally Posted by FrankLearns
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Won't stay?? Maybe you'll love it though...
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A guitar like that looks so great, now if you played at venues where you needed to be loud then a guitar with a heavy pressed top like that would be terrific. It's a real looker. Can you denote any difference in the tone because of the laminated maple top ?? Do my old eyes fool me: in some pics the little trim in the tailpiece is white, in others it appears to be black. You paint it black ??
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This guitar, sounds, as good as my previous L5CES...it has the type of tone my ear has been seeking in a 17" acoustic-electric.
But...the guitar has a strong odor of mold, mildew. I suspect its been kept in a damp environment. I'm working with the seller, Sharpened Flat of Japan, to reconcile the situation. Still, that has no reflection upon the capabilities of this guitar...stunning.
No, the trim piece is white...exactly like my former Ibanez 2460...it was stock white too. Only the Ibanez Johnny Smith model has the black insert.Last edited by 2bornot2bop; 07-04-2014 at 12:49 PM.
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B2B
She's a real beauty, maybe some desiccant packs could help clean up the smell. Lay down a layer of baking soda in the case for an hour or two in the sun, then shop vac it out might clean up any odor that would transmit to the guitar itself. I really love those Greco/Ibanez copies. One of my faves was a open book headstock Johnny Smith double copy. It was a heavy guitar (compared to a real JS) but it sure sounded good. Good luck with the odor elimination. If you had a safe wall you could hang it on perhaps that odor would dissipate over time
Nice !!
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I wouldn't put any kind of powder, crystals, etc. in a case. Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ
you'll never get it all out by vaccuming and when you open the case after moving it around some of the stuff will always be on the top of your guitar when you open it.
try some coffee grounds on plates in the case when not using it and then a few days opened and exposed to the sun's UV rays should help
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interesting comment. Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
This guitar, sounds, as good as my previous L5CES...it has the type of tone my ear has been seeking in a 17" acoustic-electric.
But...the guitar has a strong odor of mold, mildew. I suspect its been kept in a damp environment. I'm working with the seller, Sharpened Flat of Japan, to reconcile the situation. Still, that has no reflection upon the capabilities of this guitar...stunning.
No, the trim piece is white...exactly like my former Ibanez 2460...it was stock white too. Only the Ibanez Johnny Smith model has the black insert.
I've had a few 2460's, and while fine guitars, none of them sounded as good as any L-5CES I've ever owned or played.
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thanks for the suggestions BigMike. The guitar arrived with a pair of desiccant packs in the case. Obviously someone recognized the issue on the Japan end. Although it was not communicated to me, the buyer. However, upon arrival, the guitar communicated plenty. Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ
The only safe wall for this odor would be found in the garage...and that's not a safe place for the guitar. It's a shame this guitar has this issue.
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Shocked me too...Maybe it's the laminated maple. But this guitar sounds nothing like the 2460 I previously owned. That guitar had a pair of Super 88 humbuckers. This has different humbucker's. At any rate, they're good. Originally Posted by wintermoon
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One other note about this guitar I've observed. The Maple wood grain on the back is consistent with the pattern seen inside the guitar.
Has anyone seen exterior wood pattern duplicated on the interior of a laminated archtop?
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It's disguised as an L5, but having a laminated maple top, it's actually closer to an ES350 (the full body long scale version). Originally Posted by wintermoon
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B2B
I'm a real Alvarez Yairi fan, especially the very high end models: DY92 lute back, DY95 vine of life and DY96. All made from lovely solid Jacaranda. Alvarez Yairi also made the lower priced DY85 and the DY90. In the mid thru late 70s made with Jacaranda, a variety of rosewood often confused with Brazilian rosewood. Marvelous grain and lovely tone. The DY85 and DY90 were laminated back and side instruments. Many newcomer would think they found a solid wood (not laminated) guitar insisting their tech, a friend or themselves had seen the EXACT grain patterns displayed on the back as on the inside. The AY laminated instruments were really nicely done (another example of fabulous work coming out of Japan in the late 70s) and had great ringing tone, BUT if you A/B'ed a DY96 to a DY90 (the laminated equivalent to the DY96) you could feel the extra weight in the laminated guitar and hear the subtle difference in the tone. Great player, great gigging guitars, but not the top end. Sort of like comparing the Ibanez copy to a well executed Gibson L5, great but there's those subtle differences. If you don't have 5k for a Gibson and want a guitar you can gig with the Ibanez/Greco copies are very good road warriors.
Here's a '77 DY96, aside from the lovely jacaranda they're immaculately inlaid with abalone and wood. The pick guards were made from the same slab of Jacaranda, and the headstock overlays were all cut from the same slab of Jacaranda. Back in '75 the first couple were made, then a few in '76, then a few each year thru '85. The amount of time and detail work prohibited them making too many. Occasionally one will come up for sale, they always go for around $2500.00 to $4000.00 depending on the economy. I've had the pleasure of owning 2: this '77 and an '85.
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You're preaching to the choir BigMike. You may have missed the Gibson L5 WesMo, L5CES, and Super400 new guitars days I've previously posted on the forum.
I'm not suggesting this modest late 80's build Greco is comparable in build to a Gibson. But what I'm saying is, to my ear, which I trust, its tone is comparable to my previous L5CES...it's that good. I'm not seeking to alienate Gibson owners...I'm simply calling it, as in this case, as I'm hearing it.
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Hey Bop really glad to hear your getting on with the guitar.
Japan has a major issue with humidity and of course this can also depend on where a bouts on the Island the guitar has been living.
So to hear that the guitar smells mouldy or has been in a damp environment is typical of guitar from Japan of that age.
Just count yourself lucky the neck hasn't done the loop the loop :-)
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Hey BigMike...here's an Ibanez Johnny Smith with the black tailpiece I was referring to earlier:
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Love that set
own it on video and cd
single pickup JS
Mr Benson gets to embroider all over the place on that big box. This is one of those live gigs where they're loud and Mr Bensons totally not worried about feedback 'cause of that laminated body.
Love the deep bass he gets walking out on the stage playing 'Round Midnight
<strong>Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 07-01-2014 at 06:42 AM.
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A quick update, and closure, to the Greco L5.
Kevin, of the Sharpened Flat in Japan, the dealer whom I acquired the Greco from, provided a full purchase refund. I'd highly recommend Sharpened Flat's services, and wouldn't hesitate to buy from them at some future time.
Thanks Kevin!
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don't think you were long for it anyway, I'd have given it a week tops.
who ate the shipping?
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It's like life...one never knows what's around the corner, or when. A gentleman never discusses personal financial matters on a forum board! Originally Posted by wintermoon
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Hi, I am new here. Is think this L5 greco emerged now in France for sale , as to the pics, it is the same, the seller wants 2150 EUR which is quite a lot if the guitar has some issues....... Ok if it smells bad, thats not my problem, as long as it sounds good.
thanks for your help !
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