Short scale, angry when you need, furious at all other times < Back Matsumoku Ibi JKL No.2 Price £2,600 GBP | SOLD Add to Cart Chat with Us Missed out on this model? Talk to us for a rebuild! I'm assuming you've already read the description of the red one - that gives the background to these Ibi JKLs. My rock-star buddy had "settled" for a Telecaster, and despite the obvious delights of a decent well set-up Tele, I could see he wished it was something else. These Concords defintitely had the Tele in mind with their twin singles laid out like that. After evaluating a lot of different pick-ups, I settled on Jaime's amazing Creamery creations - opting for clarity and power, and a 2 speed gearbox on the bridge. To keep the purity of the look and the specific sound I wanted here, a tapped single coil is the correct answer to the question that a splittable humbucker can never answer properly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yxcz7vHCJI The original neck pick-up on these Concords were always surprisingly soulful and powerful - this P-90 style replacement takes that sound and solidifies it, fills in the gaps, and delivers something I have not heard anywhere else. Good, that's the whole point. The bridge pickup in low gear begs for a loud crunch setting on the amp and is like throwing glass bottles at a wall. Bang the tone pot to change into high gear, and it's like throwing a crate of glass bottles at a wall. All in a good way, of course. All you can do is play it to see what this delivers - there really is very little else out there to compare it to. I can do something similar or identical to your Westone / Vantage / Matsumoku guitar. Or I can find a suitable donor instrument for you. This one can be for sale - any excuse to build another one!!! Details The Look This guitar retains the orignal finish complete with 40 years of parking knocks. The same shape scratchplate is used, but now features a yellow stripe and is cut to suit the Creamery pick-ups. The output jack is now at the bottom edge. That yellow headstock completes the new look. Headstock The tuners are upgraded to Gotoh SGS510 in black - the highest quality locking tuners suiting the look and feel of the guitar, and allowing fast string changes. Neck This is the original neck with the original skinny frets - just tidied up. Pick-ups A Creamery Tele-P90 for the neck position and a Creamery Tapped Tele for the bridge. Bridge A Gotoh FX6 in black gives this guitar stability, great intonation and more sustain than the original. Controls 3 way toggle with master volume and tone pots - a push push on the tone changes gear on the bridge pick-up. This thickens up the middle position as well as the obvious changes at the bridge position. Gallery ← Previous Next→

Aria TE-400 Backaroo, Punching well above its weight < Back Aria TE-400 Backaroo E780363 This butterscotch entry-level beauty is the sweet-spot of MIJ teles for many as it retains the slightly more substantial neck profile of the early 70s Harayama models whereas TE-5 and 600s, and the TL series Grecos were getting skinnier and skinnier. This entry level model retained the early style pick-ups which is ideal at the neck - these short fat Tele pick-ups are the secret sauce for blues solos. The bridge units were always a little weedy in comparison - very brittle and icy. Usually I replace these bridge units by putting a suitable modern version into a Gotoh semi-cutaway bridge, and get the best of both worlds, but add a chunk of cost. Not everyone has that budget, so this one has a rewound bridge pick-up meaning we can retain the bridge plate, just add rewinding cost, but most importantly, rewind it to an inductance that delivers a traditional Tele output. Take a listen to the demo to hear how plucky and eager this one is. It can sit alongside a refined gentrified modern MIA Tele and be there for when things need to get a bit nuts, or more fun. This one kind of makes you venture out the comfort zone a little. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70MjmkLT7Ng Arias, even the entry level models, were strung through the back, not top loaded like the early Grecos. This feels like an "old pal" Tele, sounds better than a regular Tele when a modern just isn't raucous enough. We could use this as a basis to extend further into modernization - a set of Gibson (yes really) frets would be a great idea; and a set of modern SD-91 tuners would cure all the little foibles that mark this out as an entry level Backaroo; but before we do any of that and increase the price, just make sure these characteristics don't give it the "mojo" you'll adore. All of that stuff can be done later. Price Availability £795 1 at Ketteringham Hall Recommendation Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1978 Pick-ups Maxon Selector 3-way Bridge Original Aria Board Maple 3.95kg; 8lbs 11oz Modifications Rewound bridge pick-up Weight ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 03:39 Play Video Play Video 02:20 Play Video Play Video 04:44 Play Video Play Video 05:31 Play Video Play Video 02:04 Play Video Play Video 03:57 Play Video Play Video 02:11 Play Video Play Video 03:38

Short scale, powerful and dynamic with a twist < Back Matsumoku Ibi JKL No.1 Price £2,750 GBP Add to Cart Chat with Us The whole idea of DreamBuilds started here. I am fortunate enough to be very good friends with a fascinating professional musician who has an incredible imagination and passion for guitars. I recall the initial conversation: "I'm into short scale - like a Junior, but better. Like that Swinger I had ages ago, but not that short. Like a Mustang but not an offset. But different. And make it sound amazing. Do a couple because I'm putting thick strings on one of them. Let's go nuts on these." A fair few accomplished players spot one of the Concords that I keep here, they pick it up and reminisce. "Wish I still had mine" is often heard. OK, let's see how good they can be. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE-js-D-Ys8 After some careful routing, two 1953 Häussel P-90 pick-ups were fitted with a dummy coil hiding between them. A 5-way switch and a push-push tone pot engage the pick-ups to get traditional and more interesting tones. A set of light gauge acoustic guitar strings complete the unusual specification. Gotoh locking SGS510 machine heads are the perfect size and feel for this "shorty" and the sustain and intonation is enhanced by the remarkable FX6 bridge. This is a very purposeful build - it delivers a very specific set of tones, some ideal clean and some especially good and useful when amps are driven. It's a guitar that had a nuts brief, a nuts approach to specification, a nuts donor instrument and the result is perfectly nuts. This is a guitar built with fun in mind. It will likely take your playing and imagination in very different directions. The guitar in the pictures is still in regular studio use, but can be found here at the Hall between shifts. Any scratchplate wearing Westone / Vantage / other Matsumoku built guitar from the era can be recreated like this. Is this one for sale? Sure, as long as I build another one quickly! This one comes with decent provenance. Details The Look This guitar retains the original finish complete with 40 years of parking knocks. The same shape scratchplate is used, but cut to accommodate the new electronics. The output jack has made its way to the bottom edge. The headstock is now black Headstock The tuners are upgraded to Gotoh SGS510 in black - the highest quality locking tuners suiting the look and feel of the guitar, and allowing fast string changes. Neck This is the original neck with the original skinny frets - just tidied up. Pick-ups 2 x 1953 Häussel P-90 with Häussel dummy coil. The 1953 is slightly underwound and the lightness and brightness suits this application perfectly Bridge A Gotoh FX6 in Chrome gives this guitar stability, great intonation and more sustain than the original. Controls the 3 way toggle vol/tone arrangement has been entirely replaced with a 5 way blade, full size 250k volume and tone pots; the latter being a push push arrangement to put the dummy coil in series or parallel with the P-90 in positions 2 and 4. Gallery ← Previous Next→

1980 Aria Pro II ST-600D, Immaculate powerful Strat < Back 1980 Aria Pro II ST-600D B800256 This immaculate ST-600D looks like it has leapt off the page of the '81 Collection catalogue - looking fantastic with its natural finish and black pick-up covers. By the late 1970s, 600 models from Greco and Aria (Fujigen and Matsumoku respectively) would start to part ways specification-wise. While the Greco SE-600 would continue with the evolving PU-119 pick-ups, the guys at Matsumoku decided to equip their 600s with FS-1 pick-ups - the high output DiMarzio clones. The DCR reading from these pick-ups is 12.78, 11.56 and 12.78. They really pack quite a punch, and need the volume control backing off a notch to get a chimey Strat sound. With a decent amount of overdrive, Gilmour solos can be done with more confidence than a standard 5-6k pick-up. Despite the high DCR reading, these pick-ups are not at all muddy and trying to be humbuckers; they are still Stratty, just more of it. Being part of the pre-CBS tribute range, (post CBS models were Greco SE-450 and 700) this retains a 3 way switch - the in between settings can be found with some dexterity. Unlike earlier models and all Fujigen pre-CBS models, this scratchplate is cut for a standard size selector switch so a 5-way from OG or CRL is a direct replacement. We'll leave this decision to the next owner - some folk value originality veru highly, especially on immaculate examples such as this. It is a 3-piece Ash (Sen) body with a good thick poly clear finish - no crazing, just a few little knocks to tell you it is over 40 years old. The neck is a C profile - not the super-slim necks adorning Fujigen builds that MIJ JV guitars have. This feels decidedly more American - luckily doesn't cost as much an American! Like all more premium models, there is a distinct ring and sustain when playing unplugged that indicates how well this will play amplified. For a small headstock, natural pre-CBS Strat style guitar, this is just about as good as it gets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kooql0TOqX4 Price Availability ON SALE! Click Buy button to reveal latest price. Sold Recommendation convert to 5-way - the power of these pick-ups needs exploiting Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1980 Pick-ups FS-1 Selector 3 way Bridge Vintage Tremolo Board Maple 3.8kg; 8lbs 6oz Modifications None Weight ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 03:39 Play Video Play Video 02:20 Play Video Play Video 04:44 Play Video Play Video 05:31 Play Video Play Video 02:04 Play Video Play Video 03:57 Play Video Play Video 02:11 Play Video Play Video 03:38

1938 Epiphone Masterbuilt Olympic, Possibly the best Olympic on the planet < Back 1938 Epiphone Masterbuilt Olympic 13847 From the era when Epiphone and Gibson were direct competitors - the Emperor fighting it out with the Super-400 - this rivalry would bring the best out of each other. This is a genuine 1938 Epiphone Masterbuilt Olympic , with unusual but original block inlays (5) , full f-holes , the 15.25-inch body and original bridge piece . The pick-guard is a later replacement (most originals were replaced in the first few years), but everything else is original and in fantastic condition. The block inlays may suggest this is a Regal built Apollo or a Howard, but this is a bona fide Olympic; just an unusual specification. The cherished life that this guitar has led is obvious as soon as you pick this up. There are polishing marks, a few swirls from a dirty duster, nothing else. There is none of the normal wear on the rear of the neck, and no cowboy chord frets. There are 5 or 6 parking knocks on the upper bout of the body, but nothing else other than the discolouration of the label, to suggest that this guitar is 85 years old . These Masterbuilt Olympics have a well-deserved reputation of sounding amazing - this one doesn't disappoint. A full sound, slightly enhanced upper mids, and clarity from the lower register. It chords well at the upper end of the fretboard, and begs the question "should we put a pick-up on this?"; but realize that this is the spirit of the guitar, and we refrain from that. Although a K&K or a Benedetto would let this guitar reach the audience without needing to sit still by a mic. This Olympic has mahogany back and sides with an Adirondack Spruce top . Adirondack matures famously and after 85 years, this guitar proves the point - I doubt it has ever sounded better. This is the wood that makes the early 30's CF Martins so revered. Most Olympics, Triumphs, Spartans and Blackstones were busy instruments - bought my musicians who used them to earn a crust. Many were worked to death, most others are scarred battered survivors that have been under the knife, patched up and refuse to give up. They were made in quite large numbers and are not especially rare even today hence they remain fantastically accessible. This one must be one of the finest available today. It has been in hiding - a proud possession and safeguarded friend. It's not even on Wiedler, but we have submitted the details. The opportunity offered here is to acquire one of the best possible examples of a guitar that has matured so gracefully that the first assumption is that it is a re-issue, and not 85 years old. This guitar comes with a hard-shell case and will be restrung with either Light XL Chromes or GR-112s (or a specific type of your choice). Price Availability ££££ Sold Recommendation Collector's dream, or just buy it and play it. Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1938 Pick-ups N/A Selector N/A Bridge Rosewood Original Board Rosewood 2.2kg; 4lbs 14oz Modifications None Weight ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 03:39 Play Video Play Video 02:20 Play Video Play Video 04:44 Play Video Play Video 05:31 Play Video Play Video 02:04 Play Video Play Video 03:57 Play Video Play Video 02:11 Play Video Play Video 03:38

1973 Greco SE-500N, < Back 1973 Greco SE-500N Pre-serial Number This is a fine example of a pre-serial number Matsumoku Stratocaster destined for the home market in Greco guise. Despite being significantly cheaper than the imported US equivalent, this guitar represents incredible value for money compared to the “real thing” from 1973. The neck profile is a substantial C, unlike the later and better-known JVs, the scale is as you would expect unlike some very early Strat clones. The pick-ups are pure Maxon – bright and airy, and 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. This guitar has been a busy one – the frets are worn to absolute limit, 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. When guitars with worn frets arrive, we often just put on a nice new set of tall narrow, or some nice fat 70s Gibson frets to give it that real 70s feel; but this one we will leave to the next owner to decide – the last year of service these provide will be a fantastic year. Or, we can give it the Dave Edwards treatment and convert it to something resembling one of Rory Gallagher’s fleet – some fancy pick-ups, some unusual tonal variety – even a pair of humbuckers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6unJKL_Cc8 Price Availability £££ Sold Recommendation Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1973 Pick-ups Maxon x3 Selector 3-way Bridge Vintage tremolo Board Maple 4.13kg; 9lbs 2oz Modifications None Weight ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 03:39 Play Video Play Video 02:20 Play Video Play Video 04:44 Play Video Play Video 05:31 Play Video Play Video 02:04 Play Video Play Video 03:57 Play Video Play Video 02:11 Play Video Play Video 03:38

Hofner 500-1, < Back Hofner 500-1 3074 This is in almost original condition and its specification and serial number place it between 1966 and 1968 depending on whether the pot dates or the serial number is your chosen metric. It has large frame 511 pick-ups, cream pearl heel cover and open back tuners - if you said 1967, you could only be a year out in either direction. "Almost original" because we did replace the upper saddle (with a genuine part from Rall) as the original had lost one of its 'fret pieces'. That part is now stored in the case. We know the history of this bass since new as it has been passed between family and close friends since it left Shaftesbury Avenue. The pick-ups had been swapped around very early in its life, and although they remain original and functional, we have put them the right way round now so the switches do operate the correct pick-up. The cavity in the body for the bridge pickup only allows the leads to be fed through the body, unlike the neck pick-up cavity which is a more substantial opening. The only way to swap around the pick-ups is to snip the leads and reconnect them. While we had the neck pick-up out, we repaired the lead connections to the coil - good preventative maintenance to ensure reliability. The Macca thud is easy on the neck pick-up and a very full useful tone available with both pick-ups switched in. Light as a feather, looking precisely right, and just the right amount of signs of life to distinguish it from the re-issues. The original case accompanies, and functions; but the binding around the lip has long given up and refuses to be glued back into place. Price Availability £2,495 Sold Recommendation Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1966/7 Pick-ups Original Hofner large frame 511 Selector Sliders Bridge Original Hofner Board Rosewood TBC Modifications New upper saddle piece (genuine part) Weight ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 03:39 Play Video Play Video 02:20 Play Video Play Video 04:44 Play Video Play Video 05:31 Play Video Play Video 02:04 Play Video Play Video 03:57 Play Video Play Video 02:11 Play Video Play Video 03:38

1979 Greco SE-500, Old Warrior ready for battle. < Back 1979 Greco SE-500 B791640 Trust us, it used to be a 3-colour sunburst but I guess the previous owner played it while sunbathing - the red hue is still there under the plate and the jack socket - it's faded everywhere else. We call it a Sepia-burst. It's been busy - very very busy, and that's a great sign. Plug it in and you'll hear why - it is a set of Excel pick-ups under the stained (but clean!) plate. Excel (PU-119) pick-ups were the ones you would expect in the SE-600 and upwards. The clarity, power and definition will turn heads - the Fender boys will ask you what you have in there. It is beaten up, the neck is worn to perfection - the skunk stripe is just perceptible on you palm, the lacquer on the headstock has collected polish from those rare moments of non-essential maintenance. The staining on the plate is from a section of unpeeled protective film (now removed). It appears gloriously filthy but isn't. It's as clean as a new Custom Shop. The Excel pick-ups are not constrained by the 3-way switch as the lower tone control is a mid blend function to tailor the neck and bridge tones to perfection. The only bits we replaced were the pick-up covers - the originals were just too far gone and cracked. Perfectly not-quite-matching to stay in keeping with the general world-tour-worn look. A quarter of the price of the equivalent US Fender, and half the price of a younger and less characterful JV, this is sweetspot of value for money for true genuine vintage guitars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlV51_Y1AS4 Price Availability £745 1 at Ketteringham Hall Recommendation Prepare to be asked what pick-ups you have Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1979 Pick-ups Maxon Excel Selector 3-Way Bridge Original Tremolo Board Maple 3.77kg; 8lbs 5oz Modifications Middle pick-up blender Weight ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 03:39 Play Video Play Video 02:20 Play Video Play Video 04:44 Play Video Play Video 05:31 Play Video Play Video 02:04 Play Video Play Video 03:57 Play Video Play Video 02:11 Play Video Play Video 03:38

Aria Pro II ST-600D, < Back Aria Pro II ST-600D L800038 L800038 is a very late production of the "Regular Line" traditional style guitars with the Aria name - the more modern and up-market Project Series dominating production until the "ST & Others" brochure brought the traditional products back. L800038 is the perfect sibling for D800066 - identical in spec aside from the Rosewood neck. We'll forgive the massive cigarette burn on the headstock, and the chips on the horn - this guitar has a very soft and easy feel to it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLzpTAisDS0 Price Availability £995 Sold Recommendation Perfect donor for DreamBuild or sensitive upgrade Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1980 Pick-ups DiMarzio FS-1 Selector 3-way Bridge Vintage tremolo Board Rosewood 3.5kg; 7lbs 11oz Modifications None Weight ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 03:39 Play Video Play Video 02:20 Play Video Play Video 04:44 Play Video Play Video 05:31 Play Video Play Video 02:04 Play Video Play Video 03:57 Play Video Play Video 02:11 Play Video Play Video 03:38

1979 Greco Esquire, Timeless simplicity < Back 1979 Greco Esquire A793402 Most guitars that we find and ship over from Japan put healthy smiles on our faces and provide immense satisfaction whether we upgrade them to stellar specifications or leave them as they were when they were first built. Occasionally, a guitar can be unboxed and stun the room to silence. This is one of them. Simplicity as its finest, and a timeless aesthetic that will still appeal in precisely the same way in 45 years time. Even though in 1979, anyone could have walked into Ishibashi Music Store and asked the staff for a Custom Order form; sit in the corner and fill it in; pay a deposit and wait impatiently for a few weeks. As soon as the balance is settled, a canvas sack would be handed to you with your ideal guitar in it, and you would spend a few more Yen on a hard case instead of the canvas sack, which whilst being a nice-looking thing, was not the best way of getting your pride and joy back home. Greco did not formally offer an Esquire as part of their range. It would have to be a Custom order. A quick look under the control plate reveals contemporary components and wiring which seems to verify the Custom Order status. A close inspection of the lovely body reveals evidence that someone has removed a polyester finish – having done this myself with varying degrees of success, I know the signs. I doubt the guitar left Fujigen without paint, although we still haven’t found any clues to an original colour. Teles were available in Lacquered Natural, Blonde or Black. I suspect this guitar was a Natural guitar and someone has decided to remove the clearcoat. The Spacey Sounds Decal indicates this Esquire started life as a TL500 – these guitars are still very highly regarded today. If we manage to get one here, it tends to find a new owner before we even advertise it. This is a true Esquire spec – front position on the selector providing a jazzy boomy tone, the middle position brings in the tone control knob, and the rear position just allows volume control. The chances are that this (and most Esquires!) will stay in the rear position but it is nice to have – it is traditional. We can’t bring ourselves to mess with this guitar. We know its limitations tone-wise, and also that the Maxon pick-up is great for ice-pick punk; but not maybe as accomplished and suitable for any other styles of playing without a serious pedal board and an unaffordable amp. The idea of an Esquire is simplicity and obtainability. Maybe it is enough to look as good as this – everything else will be forgiven. If so, marvellous. If not, then we can make changes and bring this glorious guitar up to date. We really want to keep the single pick-up philosophy (there is routing for a Brad Paisley thing) and would look to upgrading the pick-up and building in versatility with the controls that already exist, or add an S-1 switch or push pulls. Either a carefully designed tapped Tele pick-up (we recommend Evil Sheep, Creamery, or Tony can wind one) with the two outputs either governed by the 3-way switch, or we ditch the switch and change gears with an S-1. If the budget can withstand, Harry can wind us an amazing dual rail Tele sized humbucker which we can offer in split, parallel and series modes either with the switch or push-pulls. We have to set limits to how far to go before we simply suggest producing a new body – therefore if we can’t manage to install a pick-up either into the original bridge plate, or a new Gotoh equivalent, we draw the line. P-90s, TV Jones, regular humbuckers we wouldn’t undertake. We can get the tones with appropriately sized pick-ups. We can offer this one as it is, or we can put it in the DreamBuild schedule. Or, as so often happens, offer it as it is, then see it again in 6 months for a DreamBuild upgrade. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbSfAkZb9mY Price Availability £795 Sold Recommendation Enjoy as is or sensitive appropriate upgrade Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1979 Pick-ups Maxon Selector 3 Way Bridge Original Board Maple 3.67 kg; 8lbs 2oz Modifications None Weight ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 03:39 Play Video Play Video 02:20 Play Video Play Video 04:44 Play Video Play Video 05:31 Play Video Play Video 02:04 Play Video Play Video 03:57 Play Video Play Video 02:11 Play Video Play Video 03:38

1980 Aria Stagecaster ST-500L, Lightly facelifted Lefty Strat with familiar MIJ feel. < Back 1980 Aria Stagecaster ST-500L L800383 We have one remaining lefty in stock here. This is a very rare model - left handers are few and far between. With its original tobacco-burst finish, and its VIN-54 pick-ups , this is already a fine guitar. We are stocking this as a donor for a DreamBuild upgrade , but would be happy to let it go as it is for the person who falls for its charms. As it is left-handed, the headstock decals are limited in what they tell us, but had this been right handed, it would have said Strikin’ Sound - the mid-range version that for a 20% price hike, could be offered in left handed orientation. We recently completed a DreamBuild based on an identical model - they are perfect donors for refinishing, and for hardware and electrical re-specification - keeping their vintage feel yet performing so much better than the established branded alternatives. We have given this ST-500L a slight makeover with a new black scratchplate, FS-1 DiMarzios from an ST-600D , and a good set-up, but the potential is here to go further and modernize its delivery. We can part with D800383 in its current specification for £725, but this is the ideal opportunity for a left handed player to get a maple neck Strat style guitar to sound and play precisely how they wish. The original finish on this guitar is remarkably nice, but a refinish is also feasible. Price Availability £725 Sold Recommendation Perfect quality donor for a left handed Dreambuild. Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1980 Pick-ups VIN-54 Selector 3-way Bridge Original Gotoh Vintage Board Maple 4.08kg; 9 lbs Modifications New black scratchplate Weight ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 03:39 Play Video Play Video 02:20 Play Video Play Video 04:44 Play Video Play Video 05:31 Play Video Play Video 02:04 Play Video Play Video 03:57 Play Video Play Video 02:11 Play Video Play Video 03:38

The ultimate spec in an International Series tribute. The best, everywhere. < Back Matsumoku Monaco H79 Price £2,395 GBP | SOLD Add to Cart Chat with Us Missed out on this model? Talk to us for a rebuild! The Monaco H79 is a re-finished and re-imagined 1978 Greco SE-800 - the top of the range instrument of the day, and a tribute to the 54 Strat. During this time Fujigen were trying so hard to court Fender and this was how they did it. Refinished, but not polished, in yellow nitrocellulose, a little of the grain makes itself known, the rest of this guitar is a nod to the International Series Monaco. The original International series had the big headstock, the bullet truss rod; as did the MIJ re-issues and so does the current reissue (did I start a trend?). Our Monaco tribute has the small headstock and the C profile neck. Instead of Vintage Fender pick-ups, I decided to explore the delights of D Allen pick-ups and ordered a set of Echoes for this. These are not a simple copy of the Seymour Duncan SSLs - they are essentially his celebrated 69 VooDooBlues set but with an extra gear on the bridge. The volume knob sports an S-1 switch which will bring in the additional winding (7.6k to 12.5k). Coil taps on Strats offer a very useable alternative to resorting to a humbucker installation with coil split. This is also a lot less complex and convenient than adding a boost facility via pre-amp and 9V. It retains the fundamental soul of a Strat, and doesn't give you the hassle of massive volume changes between settings. The S-1 really lets you make the change quickly and precisely - Comfortably Numb has never been more convenient! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qarCZ_IeSRw We have given this a Master Volume, Master Tone arrangement and assigned the lower tone control to neck blend function via a CTS 250NL potentiometer. It provides that wider in between sound - not exactly a Tele, but offers you a huge variety and finely adjustable tones. Clean and driven, this is a very versatile guitar. You may not have heard of D Allen pick-ups, but plenty of professional session musicians have. The bridge is a new Gotoh GE101 unit - stability and sustain improved, and no messing with the looks. The neck has been re-fretted with Jescar 55090 (Tall Medium). After a couple of years making tributes to the Monaco Strat, Fender must have seen Steffie's amazing photos and wondered why they aren't making these. They always cheer people up, they seem to be impervious to fashion trends, and you are unlikely to lose it on the stage. The difference between a new re-issue at £1,200 and this one at a fair bit more, is essentially due to this one being a genuine 1978 high end Greco at heart, and having very expensive and top quality components. The late 70's and early 80's is commonly considered to be the MIJ golden age for quality. Here is a yellow one with pro-session musician spec and quality. This one is already built and serving as a demonstrator - we can build one to suit individual criteria and specs. We have many fantastic guitars here ready for a transformation and will source the one you want if it isn't already here. Details The Look Vibrant yellow, shiny chrome and black plastic make this a faithful tribute to the original International Series Monaco. Headstock The smaller version of the classic shape therefore timeless. Neck A typical slightly slim C - this is what made the SE-800 Greco so great. Familiar, yet oddly better. New frets. Pick-ups The Echoes set by the legendary D Allen. The bridge is 12.5k with a tap at a more traditional 7.6k. Bridge New vintage style Gotoh GE101 in Chrome. Controls Master volume with S-1 for coil tap, Master Tone (Centralab 0.022) and Neck Blend. All CTS/CRL. Gallery ← Previous Next→