Comparing a Gibson Les Paul Custom to a Greco Copy from the 70's. Is the Gibson 5X Better?
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- Опубліковано 18 вер 2024
- Just how accurate are the Japanese Les Paul Customs from the late 70's? Surprisingly close! Here we compare the details of a 1976 Gibson to a 1978 Greco EG-600.
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My EG-600 was found in the trash in Chiba, Japan one sunny afternoon in the early 200's. I spotted it sticking out of the trash, refurbished it, and still play it today. Thanks, Japan!
"Why do you need both?" "It's complicated babe."
70s and 80s Grecos in good shape are great guitars. They got sued for a reason
Agreed. I love mine!
Actually they never got sued. Gibson had the same factory (Fujigen) make the MIJ Gibsons (aka Orville)
Yea, they came to an "agreement".
@@cool555breeze Yeah...."don't use our headstock design or else"!!
@@johnpulaski3293 so Orville is basically a subset of Gibson?
Cool vid Nick. Would love to see more vids of imports from Japan!!
I just picked up a Burny LPC i am in love with this guitar, next is a greco, an Orville and aria
Bring back the volute. Make the volute great again!
Hearing these prices 5 years ago blew my mind. God knows what the value of that custom is in this climate.
Watching this while picking on my black custom Orville. :)
2 of my top 3 guitars are made in Japan. I have a Fender MIJ strat and a Grassroots (ESP) Les Paul and they play the best. My other favorite is my Gibson 70’s Tribute. But a lot of these MIJ guitars are hidden gems.
That would be great. Appreciate the help.
Great, and I mean GREAT guitars, never to be beaten by no guitar ever!
Excellent vid. I've wondered about Greco for a long time.
I got a massive LEGO Millennium Falcon set for my 40th. No regrets :) It's nice to have a story, I've got a three humbucker "single cut" semi and that's given me some idea for wiring options.
Must get Greco!
Cool wiring on the Greco! If I weren't so lazy I'd do the same to my EG600-57.
Gibson has never been one to worry about keeping prices down.
Loving the Greco,
Great video, learned something 😎
600 bucks for the Greco was good deal. BTW, I absolutely love the SG Special with P90s on your wall.
Thanks man... I love how it came out. Plus it stays in tune year round and the neck is resistant to seasonal changes. Love that guitar!
I'll take the Greco!! BOING!! MY EYE MY EYE!!!
Jack - Canada
Hey Nick.. I'm at 3mins in.. and MAN.. thats REAL high grade *well cut* Mother of Pearl, you can see the depth and swirls of the pearls like the ocean.. I have that on my 1979 Epiphone Scroll Custom (Black Beauty).. I have a SG from China (aliexpress/alibaba) that has real MOP I paid an extra £50 for it.. it was NOT cut well at all.. you have aim the guitar with the output jack under your chin like your sighting the body from the bottom to be able to see its not fake :/
I replaced a set of inlays on one of my Gibson SG's (formally a 70's tribute) .. and I know 100% it's real MOP.. but its mostly outer shell medium quality with no depth :/.. only option I had though.
oh FYI to anyone reading.. the reason the headstocks MOP is gold is because of the lacquer, not some special gold MOP. If you were to take off the lacquer (NOT advised) it would be the same as the fret inlays.
i hope your daugther is doing well!! i prayed for her and ur family
Very cool review/comparo. I've got a titanically heavy black '96 LP Standard. Great guitar, but not on the same level fit and finish-wise with my PRS. I have a 1983 Conn LP copy and it actually has better fit and finish than the '96 LP Standard. Go figure! Keeping you, your daughter and family in my prayers for complete healing my friend! God Bless!
Greco rules. I played one at GC and it was damn near a fretless wonder
You're so right. The frets are just like my fretless wonder 70's LP.
Great video, Nick. Greco's are fantastic bang for the buck. Or the £ as we say in Edinburgh, Scotland!
The only question I have is where the Mohawk!!? 😆
It's amazing how fast I can grow my hair back!
"that's why its 8 lbs, not 473"
PFFFFT XD
If I got a Les Paul from my birth year it would be the first year of production. Obviously....I won't be getting one.
If I got one from my birth year I'd have to buy a SG
Great review Nick. It would be interesting to compare the EG1000 or EG900 spec Greco's from the early 1980's to the Gibson equivalent. I've had a chance to play on an EG1000 and it was a killer guitar. Definitely a better player and finished instrument than the equivalent age Gibsons. They weren't chambered either. The price of the one I played was probably double the equivalent EG500/600 (which makes sense since the the number in the model represents the sale price).
Thanks man! I haven’t been lucky enough to come across the next rung up the ladder. If I can I’ll definitely do a review. There just not cheap!
Nick in the States Yup, definitely not cheap!
I am old enough to remember the Japan copy/lawsuit era. That part is true no BS but having a hard time with this topic from a guy in a Harley Benton T-shirt.
As I am having a difficult time replying to a guy named DickBoneSteel. What a world!
It's actually my daughter's name
I have played many 70s lawsuit guitars, I have a buddy who collects them. If you are buying "lawsuit" guitars, go with the 70s, they are AMAZING. The 80s is the era when lawsuit guitars are no longer lawsuits and they just become cheaper guitars.
Love your review. Keep it up
I watched this review and then decided to get a 1977 greco eg-600 peter frampton model for $800 plus shipping and tax. Came with an original case that had aluminum edging and a golden interior. I already had a greco eg-500 if thats the correct model, but its a standard with sunburst finish. This new eg-600 sounded incredible and plays well with plenty of sustain. Came with chrome hardware. I wasn't fond of the tulip style tuners, but I had planned on swapping for gold hardware. After swapping in gold hardware, I removed the pickups so I can remove those open center metal covers. When doing so, I discovered that the guitar is chambered on top with a thin top. There was a wide open area under the pickups. This reminded me of my first vantage les paul copy from 1984 that is built the same way, except it has a bolt on neck. Vantage was made by moksumoko with mmk pickups. I am very happy with my recent greco eg-600, but thought it was built like a gibson with a maple cap. My 1978 greco eg-500 has a maple cap. I like this one because of it being a custom, that look is incredible!
'why, why do you need both'? My wife never comments...hey, great presentation...you said it so fast at the end i heard 'Nick in the Sticks'..haha ( i got one of those Grecos...do ask what i paid( i forget), but it was cheeep...)F.Y.I. Greco has an era of guitars with a big star on the tuning machines. I have a couple and they are good...) thanks
Thumbs up just for the opening comment. ;D
I have an Edwards (ESP) Flying V. It's easily my #1
That's a gorgeous looking tele you have there.
Either guitar is fine with me!!! I can say I LOVE the black with three gold pickups!!! Do you know if Epiphone ever made a version of these guitars? Cool video Nick!!! 🎸🤙🏾🤘🏽
Thanks man! They did and do occasionally. They tend to be about $500 used for an Epi one give or take.
I saw one for €300.- a few years ago, but the 3rd pickup was not a plus to the sound in my ears.
Greco fan here
Cool stuff Nick ,I've refrained from 3 pickup guitars because it seems like the middle one would get in the way of picking, is that an issue for you ? ( Hope your daughter is doing as well as can be expected.)
Todd Flowers I've got a three pickup SG and i have no problem with picking because of the middle pickup.
I've been playing Strats and others with 3 pickups for years with no issues at all.
Me too, NOT the same thing.
Interesting theSG is what I've been considering but,it sure looks crowded ! :-)
Same...I hit the pickup
I have a 78 Greco LP Custom EG500C here, 'burst finish, diamond logo, open book headstock and NIBS! Which makes me wonder if it's actually a higher end model. Plays better than my 2000 Gibson LP Std. The Gibson now has a pair of 57 Classics and now sounds (to my ears) better than the Greco. Bought the Greco about 8 years ago for £350, the Gibson around the same time for £1000. You pays your money.......
It's likely higher end. Are the fret inlays Mother of Pearl? If yes it's either a very strange 500 or a 600 or higher. My 500 and a buddy's one both have solid silver (not MOP) inlays while both of our 600's have proper MOP.
Nick in the States How do you make the distinction Nick? Is it the smell of Mother of Toilet Seat? But seriously, what's the best way to tell?
Nick in the States ok, reread your post - it is MOP
Hahahaha. It took a minute but that T shirt is hilarious
I hate to say it but i like the Greco more. Then again i knew a guy that bought a CopyCat style Custom back in '73 that i wish i had now.
So cool you're giving away the Burny lololol
I love my 77 Greco EG700 and 83 FV600
breath out on the effort!!!...good one!!!!
I've had 2 Norlin era Gibsons. A '69 Les Paul bass, weighed just under 13lb, and a '71 Les Paul Recording guitar that weighed just under 12lb. They were both great sounding and feeling guitars. I had to play them sitting down though. The bass seemed to have normal frets but the Recording guitar had the flat, wide frets (fretless wonder ?). I've always been a bit confused about that. Were the low, wide frets considered the fretless wonder? I've read that was something entirely different. Anyway they both played like a dream. I think the bass is probably the best sounding bass guitar that I've ever heard, It happened to be made in my birth year as well. I got it for $500 back in '89. I sold it a few years ago for $1500. I only had the Recording guitar a few years and made a profit when I sold it. It's amazing how stupid the prices have gotten on what once was considered the worst guitars that Gibson ever made. Just in the last 5 years the prices seem to have gone up 50%.
Prices have gone nuts... but I think a lot of people who grew up in the 70s are now in a position to buy the dream guitar from their childhood. 70s stuff and early 80s are rocketing upward now. 70s Deluxes used to be $1500. Now your lucky to get one for $2700. That’s why I’ve moved in to the Japanese stuff. I can still afford to play that game!
It's fear that Gibson will go out of business, and poor build quality in contemporary guitars that push up prices...
Gibson 3 pickup wiring is neck- middle and bridge pickup with the middle out of phase and bridge pickup. At least that's the way every Les Paul -SG Custom I've ever played or seen was wired from the factory..Now your Custom may have been wired differently when the pickups were changed out....
That black custom needs to shoot rockets out the headstock!!!! I love that MIJ Greco though. I love lawsuits.
I have a black, 3 p/u Greco EG600 as well ... I'm under the impression that the tops used on these EG600 models are actually sycamore, not maple... that may have something to do with the lighter weight, as well.
I love Les Pauls! ( even the copied ones...haha )
Great detail, thanks!
Great detail, thanks!
"Why do you need both?" Haha The age old question
I like both guitars but for some reason the looks of the white on the zebra pickup on the Greco bothers me. One difference is that the resale price Gibson will hold or increase but the Greco is a great guitar for the money.
I had a Greco of that series...those Pickups are D'Armond Pickups, HOT AS A CHILI PEPPER, I sold the PICKUPS foe $300.00 on Reverb.com.
Mine was 2 Pickup Las Pawell Copy by Greco. Bought at a Pawn Shop on Skid Row, San Francisco, CA for $150
My goddam key board makes mistakes. I know how to Spell, but this goddam DELL Keyboard is AWFUL.
hahaha I know how it goes man!
Grecos and other good lawsuits are rising in value and have done for the past 10 years where i live.
The EG series ALL have pancake bodies even the 1000s.
The Super Real series have two peice.
Thanks for the share dude.
The thing with vintage japanese Gear is that it's nearly as good as original 59 and 60 for a fraction of a price. For normal mortals it's the only way to touch this greatness and undertand its magic. Of course you can buy Way better clones like Gil Yaron or Vaschenko. But those are 5k...
What is that rightmost black double cut guitar on the wall? Looks awesome! Anyway, thank you for a very informative video.
Oh just found your video on it. It's a Bacchus :D Never hears of these guitars
Just wondering, I just found a 1970's Black Beauty Greco for 400 CAD$...is that a good deal?
The OldSchoolGamer yes
Um, YES! I hope you got it at that price!
@@Timbo6669 Didn't get a chance to reach out to the owner...it was already sold when I had the funds to buy it
I have a Korean Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty 3. I was wondering if you had a wiring schematic available for the wiring of the Greco Les Paul. I have been trying to get that desired effect but have not been successful. If you can share a link to a schematic like the Greco is wired I would greatly appreciate it.
There may be something useful on this forum www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?199313-Black-Beauty-3-way-Switch-3-volumes-1-tone-re-wiring-help-needed
I’ll see if I can find one that matches how this is wired.
That T-shirt!
How can u make the fret inlays look aged aged and old, on the Greco Custom?
I like your red SG on the wall. nice guitars
That wiring schematic would be cool to have ....
I'd love to try a 3 pickup Les Paul like that ... a few years ago I missed out on an Epiphone black beauty 3 pickup wired like that..
I've always loved the Grecos, and call me retarded, but Grecos back in the day were better guitars...sorry, it's fact. And Nick knows this, because he happened to buy one I was after right out from under my huge manly nose!!
How dare you!!? ;) Pssst I couldn't afford it...don't tell!
Jack - Canada (welfare artist...sigh)
They’re great guitars, even the cheapie ones. I’m going to get a bolt neck one at some point just to thing my nose at the purists... except I haven’t yet because I’m a purist. I’m a self hating purist!!! Lll
Please, Nick, guitar snobs are.....snobs. You're too nice a guy.
Well thanks man... I feel better now.
HAHA! I love bolt on necks, if anything goes south you undo that mofo and either deal with it, teach it a lesson it won't soon forget, or replace it! DONE! lol!
Cork sniffin neck purists...Hmmmph! ')
Jack - Canada
Bronzesnake you’ll like my next project then... it will be called il Bastardo. It’s an unholy combination of guitars and of course a bolt neckZ
Man, this was boring... you have two beautiful Paulas and you don't play A SINGLE NOTE in 16 min 51 secs.
Agreed. I suck! I wasn't setup to play that day but both guitars will have demos up soon.
Let me buy that Greco!
What is the easiest way to tell if you are looking at/buying a Japanese vs. Chinese/Korean made Les Paul? Are there any telltale markers to watch for? Very detailed Video, Thumbs UP!
Greco may still have the pancake body also. They copied everything down to detail ! I think it was when they introduced the Super Real series in late 79 that they went to a non pancake body comstruction.
The Greco is wired the best way for a 3 pickup Paul!!!
Brilliant comparison vid. But yeah, now I need to pee... #water
My Ace Frehley eg600 is heavy and a sandwich body with 3 piece top and just as good if not better than a gibson it is better than my custom red wine gibson in my eyes
Anyone have any experiences with Orville?
I have one and love it. It just feels like quality and plays quite wellzz
hey nick what's the black dc guitar?
It’s a Bacchus from Japan. Kind of halfway between a Les Paul Custom and a Les Paul DC
I discovered vintage Japanese guitars years ago and have an extensive collection of Grecos, some so rare I have yet to see another one even on a web search. Fantastic Japanese quality. Grecos were made at the same factory as Ibanez, but they were only sold in Japan, one of the reasons they were not concerned about copyright issues and made them so close to the brands they copied. I have a Greco website at www.vjguitarshop.com, lots of cool Grecos.
It's not chambered. The top is not carved on the Greco. It is heat formed in a press. It has hollow spaces between the top and the back.
Damn, you're right! I remember reading that now... obviously I missed that detail. Much appreciated!
Nick in the States: You're welcome. I have a set neck Cortez (predecessor to Cort) that has the same type of construction. It's my favorite Japanese copy guitar.
Late to the party but... while still an interesting comparison, it's a rather unfair one. Unlike the higher grade models starting to emerge around this time, meticulously trying to replicate vintage models and all, the Greco EG-600s of that era are marking the end of the more elaborated "lookalike" era of the late 1970s. The "chambering" is merely a cost-cutting measure of gluing a steambent plywood carved top equivalent onto the guitars, which is a Matsumoku trademark technique (obviously also used by Fujigen at that time), and they all produced pretty much the same unspecific/contemporary "Custom" copy with this telltale feature with only little variations in the features for many brands like lower spec'd Arias, "Vorg by Pearl", even some Epiphones (which were made by Matsumoku as well at this time) etc.. While they were generally made very well, they targeted the entry-level export market and the EG-600 represented the small share of that "generic" LP Custom copy that was sold on the domestic market.
It seems later EG-600s did away with the plywood top and got actual maple tops, likely because standards were quickly escalating into an insane quality competition on the domestic market, which is now considered the short "golden era" of MIJ guitars (first half of the 1980s).
Can we get the "Benton... Harley Benton" shirt up in the store now? :P
I guess the prices are not the same anymore
Are you Tom Greenes’s doppelgänger?
Cool shirt
They WERE $600; now they are $1000+...
First of all. The Greco not a fake Gibson. It’s a Greco and second of all it’s not a Chinese Gibson. Both made in different country’s
So wait... Where can I buy that shirt????
Keep your eyes peeled starting June 1. I should have it up in the June collection until Thomann tells me to take it down.
The Gibson pancake bodies had a maple fillet in the middle..not walnut. It was for "wood stability" which would be true had mahogany not been one of the most stable woods as it is . Also the Greco 600 series IS a pancake body like the gibson..only I don't think they have a fillet filler piece.
super
I wonder which one has the better car top. I bet you Greco's is closer to a 58/59 shape then the Gibson
The Greco has a more dramatic carve for sure. 70s Gibson’s have a pretty lackluster carve.
You need all those guitars so that you can have them in alternate tunings! Who wants to retune from standard to open G in order to belt out some Keef? No one.
All this comparison and not a single note played
is there a fish tank/indoor door fountain in the room with u?
Nope just someone taking the world’s longest leak! Just kidding, it’s a 55 gallon fish tank that needed a top off.
Nick in the States ahhh makes perfect sense... I thought maybe a homwle
DUDE! No mention of Ace Frehley?!?!?!
Better Call Saul!
Sad not to hear any tones!
What sort of tone sucking glue they use on those sandwich body Gibson.
Why would we need a sound demo after all heh?
Mohawk has vanished 🤔🤔🤔
My hair is impressive as it can all grow back instantaneously!
78 Greco vs 80s burny?
"Prices down" ?!? Gibson??? Ha ha ha ha!
great playing numbnutz
Greco isn't anywhere near a Gibson or Epiphone period
You said it, and it says it all.......... The real deal....GIBSON...save your money and get the real thing.. You'll be content , and totally happy with the sound you have for the rest of all your life... Just for starters , there is real Mahogany on Gibsons, Not jungle wood ..they call mahogany.. nothing is the same as the real deal.. There is no comparison... A volkswagen can never be a Ferrari no matter what you do to it.. Life is short , you deserve the real deal...your worth it..
Why would any intelligent person start a sentence with the word SO.
So I was thinking about your question and... :-P
This is the worst!!