1979 Greco SE-500

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.