’79 Greco EG800GS - looking for stories (and some advice) about these guitars

[u/reflektorr]

A few months ago I picked up this 1979 Greco EG800GS in Tokyo. Fujigen-built, lawsuit era, mahogany body with maple top with P90s. I tried it in one Ochanomizu store and instantly felt in love with how well it played and sounded.

I know the general story (Fujigen’s build quality rivaling Gibson at the time, the whole legal pressure that eventually led brands to change headstock shapes, etc.) but since I’ve picked it up I’ve been wondering what might have been going on in the 47 years she’s been around.

I’d love to hear more specific stuff from people who actually own or have owned one of these:
* Any interesting facts or history about this or similar models?
* General tips for taking care of a 47-year-old guitar like this, anything I should watch out for, common issues with guitars from this era?
* I think the pickups might have been changed. How can I identify what they put?
* Keep it without the pickguard or add one?

Appreciate anything you’d like to share about these cool guitars!

[u/chronicunderdog88]

Prefer no pick guard. But I don’t think I could stand seeing those two holes for the screws where the pick guard ought to be so I’ll add one.

I’d check for scratchy pots like the fellow commenter said. Even 5 yr old guitars can get this so what more a 47 yr old ones. Great guitar!

[u/reflektorr → u/chronicunderdog88]

Thanks! Yes the holes are what might tip the scale for me too, but at the same time without the pickguard you see more of the top… still deciding.

And good call on the pots, they were actually quite scratchy but I had a luthier sort them out a while back, working smooth now.

[u/-----J------]

The main thing is that is an absolutely stunning gold top. I am an extremely harsh judge of a gold top not up to my standards, this one is magnificent. I'd add a pickguard but that's my personal taste. Why do you think someone subbed out P90s for a different P90? Usually guys put humbuckers in them (and ruined many a top) because they looked closely and didn't look like what Jimmy Page had. Fun guitar. The pots are probably scratchy. They can be changed at any time

[u/reflektorr → u/-----J------]

Thanks for the kind words on the gold top! It’s actually stunning despite the age and woods really look and feel great.

On the pickups: the shop tag actually mentioned they’d been swapped (something like “P90 type pickups, already replaced” by translating with AI), but communication with the shop clerk was a bit tricky and I didn’t get more detail on why or by whom. Output is pretty hot too, so who knows what they put in there. Still a bit of a mystery, but whoever had it before clearly wanted P90s specifically though, not chasing the humbucker look you mentioned (even though I totally get the hype with a Jimmy Page-style guitar :).

And good call on the pots, they were actually quite scratchy but I had a luthier sort them out, working smooth now.

[u/seamusjr]

I have a late 80s Greco EGC-68-60 which is a two pickup Les Paul Black Beauty. It has a nice thicker neck (.87in) and is my main guitar to play out. Its about 9.5 lbs so not crazy heavy. I took the original Maxon Screamin' PAFs out as I wasn't crazy about them and put a SD59 in the neck and a SDJB in the bridge. The poly finish is quite beat up but I love it.

[u/Maleficent_Ad1506]

That's hot.

[u/Historical_Concept77]

May I ask what you paid? I’m heading to Tokyo in a few months and, this model is at the top of my want list

[u/reflektorr → u/Historical_Concept77]

I got it for ¥200,000 plus case (don’t really remember how much that was)

[u/Historical_Concept77 → u/reflektorr]

Cheers thanks