Search Results

Gretsch 7660 Chet Atkins Nashville, Arkansas built beauty < Back Gretsch 7660 Chet Atkins Nashville 1-3069 This 7660 is a very fine example of a Baldwin era Arkansas Gretsch - this has a nice deep hollow body and a nice balance. At 3.7kg (a touch over 8lbs), it is quite weighty for a Nashville, but perfectly balanced - a bit more maple on a deeper body. The deep orange finish is amazing - just a few polishing marks and little to demonstrate 51 years of life - you will have to hold it up to the light to see the imperfections. At a fraction under 3 inches deep at the f-hole this is one of the sought after versions. This is on its original frets and there are signs of minor wear on the lower few frets, but it does not affect playability in any way. The neck profile is thin enough to achieve some Setzer speed but not skinny. The nut is 43mm, and 48mm at the 12th fret. Unlike a few of these 7660 models, this one is intonated perfectly and the action can be varied to suit you. It currently has a low action for a fast light touch Setzer style, but I had it up 1 mm to suit my fat fingered slow style and it performed equally as well. All the famous sounds are there - the tone filter is actually very useful, and with the 2 independent volume controlled pick-ups, an enormous array of tones are available. The Bigsby behaves itself - no sliding around and keeps tune admirably. To get the best out of these, you need to get familiar with the controls, they are not one-trick ponies. Have a listen to the video to hear it in action. It comes with a non-original Gretsch case - still a Gretsch case, but not specifically for this model. Unless you go right to the top of the range and have Tom Jones or Stephen Stern breathe some magic on it, a new Gretsch wouldn't make you smile like this one does. It's an absolute cracker, and not a bad investment. 1960s 6120 models are getting further and further out of reach, this really is a brilliant alternative. Price £2,125 Availability Sold Recommendation Enjoy as it is. Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1973 Pick-ups Filtertron Selector 3 way Toggle Bridge Bigsby Board Ebony Weight 3.67kg; 8lbs 1oz Modifications None ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

Greco EG480B, The ultimate bolt-on. < Back Greco EG480B Pre-serial Number Let's get the obvious out the way - yes this is bolt on neck and therefore a much smaller appeal to a traditional set neck Les Paul. If this isn't a complete turn-off, this guitar is a wonderful example of how well Fujigen were producing guitars in the mid-1970s. This one has had a very cherished life, and comes with its original sale certificate, strap and also a period correct fitted hard case. The 480 was the top of the range for the bolt-ons, and has superior hardware to the lower order 360s and 420s. The tuners are the well regarded and reliable "star-tuners" - these have an action and feel missing from all but the most expensive tuners today. The body is a chambered sycamore pancake construction, the weight is a very comfortable 3.76kg (8lbs 4oz); and the acoustic resonance is very pleasing even before you plug it in. The maple neck is capped with an ebony fretboard - the scale is faithful and the neck has a substantial 50s-style C-shaped profile carve, measuring .890” deep at the 1st fret and .975” at the 12th. It has the feel of a far more prestigious brand. The Maxon pick-ups are never a disappointment, and have a soul, a warmth and can be as smooth or growly as you wish with the controls. This is the type of guitar you can lose hours and hours with, and it defies its price tag, and hopes you'll give it a chance despite the presence of a neck plate. The previous owner has opted to change the pick-guard and the pick-up surrounds for pleasing cream ones, but the original black items are present and correct, and can be re-fitted if the next owner chooses. A 1974 Gibson will set you back many thousands of pounds or dollars - this one will be a tiny fraction of that, and a very viable alternative to a brand new Epiphone. 50 year old guitars built by the big manufacturers in Japan are a bit of well kept secret - nothing new of a comparable price will play like these, and while the top end Super Real and Mint Series Grecos now approach the astronomical price levels that rival the Gibsons themselves, make the most of this well kept secret while it lasts and bring an EG480B into your life before the market pulls these prices up too. Price SOLD Availability Sold Recommendation Enjoy this as it is Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1974 Pick-ups Original Maxon Selector 3-Way Bridge ToM Board Ebony Weight 3.76kg; 8lbs 4oz Modifications Cream plastic - black plastic still in the case ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

Westminster Competition Colors, I bet you just said "oh Wow"... < Back Westminster Competition Colors J780480 Offsets seem to be in fashion at the moment - Fender Mustangs are getting very expensive; a Mustang makes a stronger statement today than I expect Fender expected. This white, now creamy yellow 'Competition Colors' Westminster is a very unusual guitar to be seen in UK - Westminster was a mid-range brand offered mostly to the Australian and NZ market by Kanda Shokai (who owned Greco, Aria Pro II etc). Westminster Strats, Teles and other familiar styles of guitar and bass were in the same bracket as Kimbara and Pearl, but their Mustangs and Rick 4001 were of similar standard to Greco - definitely a level above the rest of the range from a materials and quality standpoint. The two original Maxon pick-ups are typically low output, and beg for a decent valve amp and/or a good overdrive pedal. Listen to the demo - they are grown up proper pick-ups - these can either whisper at you or scream at the top of their voice. This has the classic Mustang switching and the reverse phase setting is bordering on insane. Shouldn't work but does. Especially with that overdrive pedal notched up a bit. I'd buy this guitar just for that sound. I did actually. Short scale, this will feel familiar to proper Mustang players, and at 3.7kg (8lbs 2 and bit oz), has a "this is not a toy" feel to it. Those familiar with a Ben Gibbard model, may like this one - the substantial C neck is a dream. As with most Matsumoku models until the 1980's, necks remained substantial - not the skinny types. This plays as well as it looks good - timeless style and absolutely stage ready. Price £845 Availability 1 at Ketteringham Hall Recommendation Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1978 Pick-ups Maxon Selector 2 sliders on/off/on Bridge Dynamic Vibrato style Board Maple Weight 3.7kg; 8lbs 3 oz Modifications None ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

1973 Greco SE-430 No.2, Soulful vintage Matsumoku at its finest. < Back 1973 Greco SE-430 No.2 Pre Serial Number Another glorious 1973 built Greco with the 5-piece construction neck - so special that some folk have asked us to build guitars around them. During this period in Matsumoku's history it wasn't faithful accuracy to Fender dimensions that counted, it was creating a strong stable comfortable neck. We have never seen a 1973 neck that needed any adjustment after 50 years - this one included. This guitar arrived here from Japan after a long cherished life in the hands of its original owner and aside from regular servicing and a fresh set of strings, it needed for nothing. The frets are low but level - a refret is not far away; but when guitars are as comfortable to play as this one, lets get the most from them. This would make a very good starter instrument - they were of course the entry level back in 1973, but these are a different class altogether from new starter guitars. It is tempting to spend as little as possible on the first guitar, but this really doesn't do any favours to the student as they always need the same value as the guitar itself to prepare for actually playing. This SE-430 is so slick, so gentle and has a decent acoustic ring even when not plugged in. The Maxons pick-ups are low output heaven - their distinctive brightness pairs with a small valve amp perfectly. These were the original iteration of the pick-ups in the USA-bound Goya guitars - a fair few very famous guitarists found their sounds and styles on these. Take a listen to how this one sounds in the video below: Its in great condition, needs nothing for another few years, but will need a new set of frets to get to its 100th birthday. Of course there are signs of life on the finish, but its all genuine - its taken 50 years to get it looking like this! Price ON SALE! Click Buy button to reveal latest price. Availability 1 at Ketteringham Hall Recommendation Perfect example of the marque, or a fantastic donor for sensitive DreamBuild upgrade. Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1973 Pick-ups Maxons Selector 3-way Bridge Original Matsumoku Vintage Board Maple Weight 3.68kg; 8lbs 2oz Modifications None ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

Echopark Arroyo, Your chance to be Dean Fertita (or Johnny Depp). < Back Echopark Arroyo Brooks Collection This is one of Gabriel Currie's Californian builds, and is the precise same spec as Dean Fertita's (QOTSA Reading 2014 video Burn the Witch). At a shade over 7lbs, the NOS mahogany results in a decent comfortable weight - the substantial C neck is very comfortable indeed - a solid handshake from this Arroyo. The choice of pick-ups on this build is sensational - the Arcane Echotron built to Currie's spec, and gives the lead tone a very special character clean and driven. The neck pick-up is a single coil goldfoil , another custom winding that manages to combine clarity and "lo-fi" perfectly. For the bridge pick-up, just listen to the Reading 2014 QOTSA Burn the Witch – that guitar is the exact same model and spec as this one. It is an Arcane Echotron which cuts and bites without overdoing it. The balance between the two is sublime. This is a guitar that lends its lo-fi character to every other tone you have in your head and delivers something more than you may have expected. It is old-stock Mahogany for body and neck , and a Macassar Ebony fretboard with medium Jescar frets. The bridge is a Tonepros wraparound, all other components are what you would expect (CTS, Gotoh, Switchcraft, PIO capacitor). There is a characteristic of all Echoparks that I have experienced – is it one of Mr. Curries idiosyncrasies? Maybe. The scratchplate doesn’t fit brilliantly – it curls a bit at the edges. It is a lot better than the aluminium affair that graced the Clarence that passed through here a while back. It’s character – proves it’s a real one! This is one of Gabe’s Californian builds – some say his best era. He’s not the easiest chap in the world to deal with, especially lately, but this guitar represents the finest qualities of his hands and mind. A solid handshake without being heavy, a neck like a telegraph pole without being unwieldy, and a green-burst finish that oozes quality and class. This is one of 2 Echoparks we have had here recently – both sublime. This one is still available here at the Hall – come and try it to see what the fuss is all about. Price £4,895 Availability 1 at Ketteringham Hall Recommendation Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 2016 Pick-ups Echopark Goldfoil and Echotron Selector 3 way Toggle Bridge Tonepros Wraparound Board Macassar Ebony Weight 3.23kg; 7lbs 2oz Modifications None ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

1980 Aria Pro II TS-500, Matsumoku began to go its own way < Back 1980 Aria Pro II TS-500 004263 The TS-500 is the mid-range model with all of the toys, but the regular grain woods. An extra 10,000 Yen would have got a choice of the premium woods, but still you needed 80,000 Yen to get the thru'neck version. Of course we all want one of these, but they are very rare and expensive now - the 500 with the set-neck gets all the functionality, and a pair of excellent Extra III (aka Protomatic III) humbuckers. These were evolutions of MMK53, and we know them the best from Westone Thunder II models. And Noel's Epiphone Riviera. Many children of the 1970s will probably have drooled over these in a guitar shop, up there on a hook next to a Westone Prestige, and sadly way way out of our price range. Even though they were actually pretty affordable compared to the big US brands, most of us needed to slum it with a Westone Concord, or in my case, a Satellite G65 from Woolies. 40 years later, and that opportunity re-appears! The specification on these is vast. The two humbuckers can be split into single coils with dedicated mini-switches; a third mini-switch will reverse the phase of the bridge pick-up when both are selected. A final mini-switch will activate an active booster circuit which has its own volume control. You'll make good use of this control as the boost is enormous. We have a master volume and a tone control; and the final control is a type of Varitone function with a variety of high and low passes to get some interesting tones. There is an enormous array of tones once the switches, the varitone and the booster is configured - so much to play with, and lots of genuinely useful tones. It's a guitar to be creative with. The neck is a double octave affair with a nice thick rosewood board on a maple neck. The body has a strip of maple flanked by wings of ash. The matching headstock gives this a real 80s look. This is an earlier 6 in a line model - the TS range became 3 by 3 as the earlier headstock migrated to the more expensive RS range. While the general direction for most of the big guitar plants in Nagano was to emulate as closely as possible the Fenders and Gibsons, Matsumoku never lost the spirit of adventure and looked in more exciting directions such as Alembic for inspiration. This example has just arrived from Japan, and has just been serviced, and now we can offer it for sale in excellent condition. Price £875 Availability Sold Recommendation Enjoy as it is. Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1980 Pick-ups Protomatic (Extra) III (Alnico) Selector 3 way Toggle Bridge Matsumoku Design Board Rosewood Weight 3.53kg; 7lbs 12oz Modifications None ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

Greco APW-500, Punk will return, hard rock until it does < Back Greco APW-500 B000439 Have you seen the price of the Dan Armstrong see-through guitars? As with many catastrophically expensive odd-ball niche guitars from the last century, there is a good chance that Fujigen or Matsumoku probably made a tribute version of it, and they are affordable; and probably equally or better built than the originals. In the heady days of the 1990s, Japanese guitar catalogues were literally 100 pages long packed to the gunnels with signature models for popular pop stars - this is an example of such a guitar. As far back as 1971, Kanda Shokai had a see-through model available - the EG-380 is not a typo for a Les Paul model, it was a proper Dan Armstrong copy. These are rarer than the originals so we need to whizz forward in time to 1990 for another one from Fujigen. The see-through one was mega-bucks as expected, but a more obtainable wooden body version accompanied it, and remained in the range for nearly a decade. Endorsed by a few household names in Japan, they were quite popular, but never exported. Here's one - an early version that has seen a lot of use (good sign), and blew us away with how it played. The original pickup looks mean and nasty, but is "of its time", and a little underwhelming. The bridge unit was in fine condition, but give me a chance to install a Gotoh 510FX6 unit and I'll take it. The blower switch is a bit gimmicky and not really offering a great deal. So in went a 3 way mini-switch, and an Irongear SteamHammer humbucker. This Irongear pick-up really delivers what the 1980s ceramic humbuckers tried to deliver. It also gives me the flexibility to provide 3 distinct lead tones from that miniswitch. In the middle, we get the north coil of the humbucker only - enough power and bite to cut through anything - much hotter than any Strat; only Harry's Hot Chillies get close to this. Push the switch away and the two coils join in parallel to provide a hint of hot Tele, but enough scoop to clean up beautifully. This is the clean sound setting. Bring the switch towards you and the full fat shred tone makes clean playing impossible, and unnecessary. A Master Volume and Tone with 2 easy to see chicken-heads completes the specification. The Gotoh 510FX6 bridge facilitates the harmonics and provides a deep rich sustain that the standard bridges just can't do. They are worth the high price - they do the job brilliantly. The finish has a few dings and chips - all of our best player grade guitars do. These were never supposed to be case queens. Add some more and it won't mind - colour them in with a Sharpie if they offend. It is definitely the lightest guitar we have ever had here - 2.5kg (5lbs 8oz). Have a listen to the demo to get an idea of how this guitar now sounds - from heavy rock to punk - it's all possible. In the even that the value of an original APW-500 suddenly joins the same trajectory as the acrylic ones, I shall include the original Rock-Bullet (yup) pick-up which works, but just doesn't do what the SteamHammer does. You may recognize them from some Fernandes/Aria models where they had an equally as amusing name - Dog Fighter. It is a 2 conductor unit so you will lose the flexibility of the tones, and will have to return the switch to blower duty and add a killswitch function for the 3rd position. This guitar would make a really fun and useful addition to an armoury - they don't come along very often and it will cost quite a bit of money to achieve the specification of this one. Price £895 Availability Sold Recommendation Just play the hell out of it Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1990 Pick-ups IronGear SteamHammer (Rock Bullet original included) Selector 3 way mini-switch Bridge Gotoh 510 FX6 Board Rosewood Weight 2.5kg (5lbs 8oz) Modifications Power and versatility. And Chicken-heads ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

1975 Greco SE-500W, A perfectly preserved 1975 Matsumoku Stratocaster. < Back 1975 Greco SE-500W Pre-serial number model This is very late Gneco - the clarity of the spelling increased in 1975. Most 1975 SE-500 guitars have Super Sounds logos, so this is a real cross-over model. This lovely example arrived with the Greco TE-350 , and in similarly excellent condition - both being purchased at the same time by the previous (and original) owner. It seemed essential to keep them together, and we hope to offer them as a pair to their next owner. This mid-range model of Greco was a popular work-horse instrument and may arrive here with an amazing road worn patina, but still perfectly functional. This SE-500 has led a fairly charmed life - these are the original frets and we would give them the same treatment as the TE-350 before it left us. There is a little more meat on them than the Tele, and it has that great run-in feel. This is the model that featured that very thoughtfully designed truss rod cover in the scratchplate - a thorough improvement over the previous open area that invited dust and grime into the pick-up cavities. The original Maxon pick-ups are in rude health - providing that slightly scooped yet biting tone - they sound amazing with a little crunch. As with all vintage guitars in original states, the potting may have deteriorated. We know that repotting these pick-ups will bring back some warmth - that is an option for the next owner; but until that decision is made, they stay as they are. This is a pancake construction as normal for this era of Matsumoku production - the white paint has faded to cream (matching the TE-350) but retains a lustre usually missing from guitars of this age. It has been cherished. By this time, Matsumoku was fitting a more accurate version of the vintage style tremolo , and producing them at 25.5" scale unlike many of the earlier versions which are slightly shorter in scale and have the earlier bridge design. Whilst this guitar is in fantastic original condition, we feel this guitar could be an ideal donor for a DreamBuild upgrade project - the pick-up cavities can accommodate modern pick-up footprints and a modern Gotoh 101 or 510 will fit without significant surgery. Upgrade philosophy here includes the retention of all the original electronics on the original plate, and we fabricate an identical one with a slot big enough for a 5-way selector. Nothing we would do to this one is not reversible should they ever be worth silly money. We value this guitar (and it will be stage-ready luthier prepared) at £785. A deal can be done if it can stay together with the TE-350 either in their original condition, or as DreamBuilds. Price £785 Availability Sold Recommendation Enjoy vintage feel and tones, or ideal donor for DreamBuild. Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1975 Pick-ups Maxon Selector 3-way Bridge Original Gotoh Vintage Board Maple Weight 3.69kg; 8lbs 2oz Modifications None ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

1976 Greco EB-500, A proper survivor < Back 1976 Greco EB-500 C760577 A very rare opportunity to obtain a Greco EB-500 bass in a great condition. This is a March1976 build and both pick-ups are fully operational and sound great. The neck is as good and straight as we have seen on an EB, and is wearing new strings. These are Maxon built PU-114 and PU-115 pick-ups, and both are humbuckers and are in fine health - the mudbucker making the Hall shake. The bridge unit has a fair bit of punch too - together they sound fantastic. Whilst looking pristine from the front, it does have a beauty spot on the top edge of the neck where a small patch of finish has met with an object that removed it. A lovely old bass, in great original condition - fully serviced and ready for service. I am not, never have been, and will never be a competent bass player - the demo video is limited to proving it works and what it sounds like. Price £895 Availability Sold Recommendation Enjoy as it is Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1976 Pick-ups Maxon PU-114 & PU115 Selector 3 way Toggle Bridge 2 point with mute Board Rosewood Weight 3.55kg; 7lbs 13oz Modifications None ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

1977 Greco SE-500, A decent alternative to that 25 grand 63' Strat... < Back 1977 Greco SE-500 H771864 Always a firm favourite here, a white Greco SE-500, this one with the added bonus of a Rosewood board so a proper 1960s look! The necks on the Fujigen guitars are a much slimmer C than the earlier Matsumoku models from across town. The pick-ups are original to the guitar and by mid 1977 had evolved to PU-100s, retaining the snappy and airy brightness of the older units, but with 8.3k DCR instead of the 5.8 - 6.0 we see on the pre-PU100 evolution. A real outstanding feature of this guitar is the 3.53kg weight - compared to many of the guitars from this era, it is particularly light in weight which makes it a real pleasure to play. This is the type of guitar that will hook you in before you even plug it in - it has an acoustic ring we only experience with either expensively upgraded models, or very high end Fenders. This guitar has been well used, but maintained very well - the only real giveaway of its age is the tarnished neck plate - maybe the slightly faded White finish, but that would likely be a premium feature on a new guitar! This is a prime example of a mid range guitar competing admirably with premium models - it has an amazing soul - I bet you're Hendrix in less than an hour on this one! Hendrix had one of these at the beginning - before the Fenders were affordable, he rocked a Goya Strat - this is the exact same guitar branded for the domestic Japanese market; Goya were Grecos for the USA. Whilst it is absolutely fine and good to go as it is, we would be happy to upgrade the electrics to our Alnico V late 60s spec as seen in lots of the Dreambuilds based around 77 and 78 SE-500s. It makes a great guitar perfect. Talk to us if that appeals. Price £795 Availability Sold Recommendation Enjoy it, or let's upgrade it Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1977 Pick-ups Maxon PU-100 Selector 3-way Blade Bridge Vintage Tremolo Board Rosewood Weight 3.53kg; 7lbs 12oz Modifications None ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

1928 Gibson Nick Lucas Special, To own a special piece of Gibson history < Back 1928 Gibson Nick Lucas Special 85771 This guitar is in poor condition and needs serious restoration. We have detailed pictures of the internals; the damaged bracing, and the remnants of the pin-bridge. We have a photograph of this guitar from the 1950s that shows the white repair plate, and proves that whatever accident befell this guitar, happened a long while ago. The guitar was played in concert pitch right up until the early 1990s, when it was retired and stored. The value of a restored Nick Lucas Special is known to us all, but it is still the desire of the owners to offer it for sale in its current condition to allow the new owner to decide the direction of restoration. The guitar comes in a case in similarly poor condition – the case was supplied by Manok & Renkert – a maker (and supplier to RAAF) of luggage and cases in Sydney, Australia. There is evidence of previous repairs to splits, and most of the fretboard binding is missing. The neck is surprisingly good, and a well-judged refret would enable good playability. The guitar can be taken to concert pitch with no worrying signs from the inadequately supported top, but it currently has no tension while a new owner is to be found. The guitar had been stored at close to concert pitch from 1993 until earlier this year. 2 well-known established UK luthiers have each spent 2 weeks with this guitar to provide their advice and budget quotations for restoration. The vast majority of the budget is luthier time, and so this would suit either a professional acquisition, or an owner with a very good relationship with a luthier. Offers are invited for the chance to own a very special piece of Gibson history; and obtain an opportunity to add enormous value to the investment. FON: 9665 (written on the neck block) Serial Number: 85771 Likely year of manufacture: 1928 Headstock Text: The Gibson Fleur de Lys: No Tuner style: Banjo Bridge style: Originally pin-bridge, now Tailpiece and floating saddle Price £££££ Availability Sold Recommendation Suitable for either a professional acquisition, or an owner with a very good relationship with a luthier. Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1928 Pick-ups N/A Selector N/A Bridge Originally pin-bridge, now Tailpiece and floating saddle Board Rosewood Weight 1.5kg Modifications Bridge modified. ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

1977 Greco SE-600, Sweet-spot of the range during MIJ's best ever period < Back 1977 Greco SE-600 F772471 By 1977, Grecos were being produced at Fujigen and by this time Fender had made up their minds not to beat them, but join them. Norikatsu Harayama had spent a few years at Fujigen developing their craftsmen to produce guitars to standards that would impress the Americans sufficiently to allow them to cater for the very hungry local market without the crippling import duties at the time. Early and mid-70s Greco Strats have their own individual character - by the late 1970s they were proper rivals for the USA products - a few years later these guitars had the famous decal on the headstock. This guitar was produced in the days when Japanese culture and discipline ruled the production lines - no interference or input from USA at all. This is why they are still so playable, and so capable of being excellent instruments for another 45 years. SE-600s changed in style from year to year - this one is a true 1970's character. Big headstock, pretty heavy, and very faithful sounds from the PU-100 pick-ups, and rosewood being a costly option over the standard maple. This is a nice thick slab too. The 600 had a 3-way switch (nice DM30 units - will last forever) and the parallel positions can be found with a bit of practice. The MH-80 tuners are great quality and continue to provide excellent service, as does the vintage style tremolo; which comes with its original arm. The white finish has faded gracefully to a creamy shade, and there are a few marks that remind you it is 47 years old. A no-nonsense vintage guitar that is easily as good to play as it looks. When an equivalent Fender is reaching £5,000, this makes a great deal of sense. Whilst obviously a very subjective matter, there are plenty of folk out there who would say there is every chance that a 1977 Fujigen product would be a superior instrument to the real thing. Controversial, but the late 70s saw the very best of the Japanese production quality, we can't say the same for USA. Price £895 Availability Sold Recommendation Enjoy as is or upgrade Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1977 Pick-ups Maxon PU-100 Selector 3 way Bridge Vintage tremolo Board Rosewood Weight 4.5kg; 9lbs 14 oz Modifications None ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13