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Greco SE-430, The Survivor. < Back Greco SE-430 Matsumoku Stamped This is a fabulous rescue story. This 1973 Greco has remained totally original throughout its life - for years it hung in possibly the most tobacco stained bar in Japan, and languished in a junk shop for a few years before we saved it. It took hours and hours of "de-nicotining", a small repair to the bridge pick-up leads, a tiny adjustment to the truss rod, and finally a decent set of 010s. Now it sings. No-one who has sampled this survivor has managed not to fall in love with it. Hardened Les Paul players respect it; expensive modern Fender players are slightly perturbed by it. Like a lot of our favourite guitars here, it pulls the music out of you; it leads you to odd places and unlocks things. My favourite comment from a guest here is "you just can't not play this thing - it's haunted - it's playing through me". Price Private Stock Availability Stays at Ketteringham Hall Recommendation I have maple neck versions under restoration - we can talk about these Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1973 Pick-ups Maxon 13414 Selector Original 3-way Bridge Greco vintage tremolo Board Rosewood Weight 3.88kg; 8lbs 9oz 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

Such an honour to play a part in the history of this fine guitar < Back Levin Goliath Free Consultation Book Now Neck repair and general recommissioning This example is made public with the owner's permission. A bettered, cobweb covered, rat-gnawed tobacco-burst acoustic guitar is held out to me - the metal emblem truss rod cover rattling as I receive it. Thankfully I am sitting down as I learn this is the guitar referred to in several books and has been used by Clapton, Buddy Guy, and Peter Green. Knowing a little history of this era, but only a little, I recognized the name of the guitar's actual owner, but after the aforementioned trio, he would forgive me for not putting a face or a song to the name. Geoff Krivit. The guy that bailed Clapton out a few times in the Bluesbreakers era. He has passed the guitar to a life long friend and new guardian who happens to live nearby. "Is it worth making it playable again?" was the question: "well of course" was the immediate answer. The biggest issue with this old Goliath was the neck. A perfect excuse to get a fabulously skilled luthier out of retirement and back to performing magic. Alan is only semi-retired. Guitars such as this are the 'semi' bit. Lifting the Levin beyond the reach of Ryker, the over-excited Alsatian puppy (now the size of a horse) that guards Chez Arnold, the patient experience and talent pours onto the stepped neck, and a few weeks later, I have the pleasure of strumming a few chords mid way up the neck - previously impossible. Smooth as silk, that unforgettable tone ringing out free from choking and buzz. What a guitar this is. The patina retained, the weak spots under the rosette strengthened, the bracing shored up - this guitar now has its mojo back, and strength to continue delighting guitarists for a long while to come. We elected to stop that emblem rattling around, just in case this Levin needs to be mic'ed up in the future. Gallery ← Previous Next→

1978 Greco SE-500PR, A very rare version of the SE-500 < Back 1978 Greco SE-500PR J783017 The 1979 Specials Catalogues from Kanda Shokai had some real anomalies to catch out the experts 40 years later. The SE-450 with a 3 way switch (450 and 700 models were both modern 5 way switches to keep up with Fender's introduction of this in 1977) is next to a bright red SE-500 with a tortoiseshell plate on the page, called the SE-500PR. This was the first time a red Greco Strat could be ordered. If you ook up a YouTube video of Peter Frampton playing Show me the Way on the Midnight Special in late 1975, you can see him playing a red Strat with a tortoiseshell plate. This 500PR is a total copy of that guitar. Should it have been a 500PF? Typo in the catalogues? A popular opinion is that he was playing a Fiesta Red 62, a more contentious opinion is that it is a Fernandes model - forget that, there were none of these MIJ Strats in hallowed hands until a lot later in that decade. The PU-100 pick-ups are the evolution of the infamous Maxons from the early 70s - still slightly fatter dimensions to the Fender pick-ups. The 100 units had a little more power than the earlier versions, and the airy brightness does remind us of the Texas Specials - after all both of them are modelled on early 1960s tones with a bit more oomph. A little winding down of the tone pots will calm the brightness without losing the volume. The neck is a very familiar C profile - not the super skinny JV style that most associate with Fujigen produced Fenders. This feels a lot more like the early Squiers from Japan - the ones that are always 'keepers'. At 3.67kg, it is a comfortable weight. The condition of this guitar is amazing - we have changed the pots to premium Alphas to avoid having to drill the plate to accommodate them. A Sozo capacitor gets that warmth from the tone roll-off without the dullness. Everything else on this SE-500PR is original and it will add a rarity to a collection, or just serve as a really good everyday guitar - perfect to gig with. Even better if you are a Frampton tribute act and have a TalkBox. If you have a triple humbucker Les Paul because of Frampton, you ought to have this too. Price £845 Availability Sold Recommendation Enjoy as it is Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1978 Pick-ups Maxon PU-100 Selector 3-way Blade Bridge Vintage Tremolo Board Maple Weight 3.67kg; 8lbs 1 oz Modifications New potentiometers ← 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

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