Greco Les Paul Custom

1983 model, fret-edge binding, black beauty, MIJ. Unbelievably heavy.

Not better than a Gibson LPC, but different. Brighter, making the guitar sound more like an SG with immense sustain.

Dunno, bought with plenty of batle scars, just the way I like it - ageing is about being played, not just sitting in a cupboard.

Tuning stability is better than 2009 Gibsons, even after a few hefty string bends. Solid as a rock. Finish isn't so nice, but not bad.

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A lot of guitars have gone through these hands, including a '76 Gibson LPC. The only thing better about the Gibson was the fingerboard inlays. The inlays on the Greco look like some kind of plastic. It doesn't sound quite the same as a Gibbo LPC from the same era, but I think it's clearer. It's certainly vastly superior to Gibson's current output, which is scandalous.

I'm not sure of the model but sure made in japan, not in korea.
The seller says me this is a '84 model, but the headstock desing seems to be 75-80s, long tenon neck and big tone capacitors, gibson early 70s like.
Mahogany back and neck, maple top, comed to me with original pickups.
Good tuners and hardware, the potentiometers are 24mm diameter, metal shielded wire.

Very beautiful finishing.

I tried a lot of guitars trough my 1973 marshall jmp / 1960ax cab and ibanez ts10, but I never heard a Gibson LP custom with this tone!
It has the perfect Custom tone combined with the wonderful standard bright.

Stock pickups are a bit noisy and dark and I replace them with Duncan SH55 seth lover model, these pickups is the perfect match for this guitar to have a real custom sound, from country blues to hard rock.

Plenty of sustain, mountains of tone, warm sound but with the balls.

I bought used with some dents, original finish was wonderful.

Tobacco sunburst, gold hardware, 70s gibson building style.

The neck is fat but very quick to play, tuners get a stable tuning.

Almost 30 years of bad threatment, before me.
Only a few dents and very light oxidized hardware.
Pots and electronic works very well.

I don't know....

I think a guitarist has once a chance in the life to have a good guitar like this.
Just see it, I love it and spend all my cash to have it.
It was an instinct attraction that hold me also when I see my '69 Gibson LP Deluxe.

If stolen or lost...impossible, probably I try to buy another identical but without results yet.

Well finished tobacco sunburst shock, 4,4 Kilos of pure les paul tone!

This is my second review of a Greco and this is for an earlier 1977 model. Unfortunately the model number sticker is missing so I can't be exactly sure which model this is. The model number relates to the new price in Japanese yen at the time of manufacture so the higher the number the better the guitar.
Please note that there are later Grecos' produced in Korea that are a completely different animal and probably best avoided. As a rule of thumb, if it doesn't have a serial stamped in the back of the headstock avoid it like the plague.
Mine is a Greco LP Custom "Black Beauty" with three pickups. I'd guess it to be a higher end model (EG800?)as it has the solid mahogany body with solid maple top (Cheaper ones have a laminated top often referred to as a resonance chamber). It also has the fret edge binding (like a Gibson) and the proper Gibson diamond logo on the headstock. Neck is of slim section, almost certainly mahogany and with Grecos' own design dowelled tennon. (looks very sturdy to me, better than a Gibson). Fretboard is rosewood and slightly darker than my Gibson. Standard Gibson style electrics though I'll probably change the 3 way selector to give me more options on the pickups. Gold hardware has tarnished severely with age which is unsightly but of no real consequence. Medium frets that have stood up well to the ravages of time. The fretboard inlays aren't as good as my Gibson but on the whole this has got to be the closest thing to a Gibson you can buy.
As a guitar in it's own right I'd have to give this an 8 as there's room for improvement with the features. (5 way selector, coil taps etc). As a copy of a Gibson though it's close enough for a 10 especially when you consider that it's likely to cost less than half the price and the differences are cosmetic.
My score therefore is in the middle and a 9.

Perhaps you'd expect this to sound like a Gibson. Some other reviewers claim it does sound like an early Gibbo but I can only really compare it to my 80's LP Std. I'd have to say this is nearer to my LP than the other (80's) Greco I own but still brighter and clearer. Which you'd prefer would have to be subjective. One thing is certain it's streets ahead of the modern Chinese rubbish out there (I've very briefly owned an Epiphone LP). Personally I prefer it to my Gibson so I'll give it a 10.
Just a thought but for the price it would work out cheaper to buy one of these and put Seymour Duncans in and have a guitar better than any Gibson! with coil taps that would even rival my beloved Yamaha SG.

Guitar is ancient so the factory setup etc doesn't apply here. Action fit and finish are easily as good as my Gibson. Personally I prefer the slim neck but again that's purely subjective and Greco, like Gibson, have produced guitars with all sorts of neck profiles. Shame about the tarnished hardware but If it really mattered I could replace it very cheaply and easily. On the whole, as good as anything I've owned apart perhaps from my Yamaha SG.

Guitar is built to a very high standard, at least as good as my Gibson. The tarnished hardware and inlays let it down slightly from a purely cosmetic point of view but to my mind this is more than made up for by what I see as a superior neck joint.
It's 30 years old and the neck is still straight as a die. It's had it's fair share of knocks but has taken them all with out any problem. I'm sure it's got another thirty years left in it and probably more.
Totally dependable.
Not sure why anyone would gig without a backup though?

Well clearly there isn't any but parts are easily available.

I've been playing for many years now and have owned many different guitars. As a direct comparison I also own a Yamaha SG1000 (with coil taps) a Gibson LP Std, Ibanez Musician and a Greco MR800. Each has their merits but If I had to lose them it would be the Ibanez followed by the Gibson and then the Greco EG. After that I'd probably just commit suicide. I also own a Strat but it's a completely different guitar so I can't really compare.
These early Grecos' are more than a match for a Gibson and they represent the best value for money LP copy that I've come across. As an instrument they are held back by being a copy of a less than perfect design but for what they are you won't find better. Interestingly enough Greco didn't only produce American guitar copies. As mentioned earlier I also own a Greco MR800 which is similar to an Ibanez Artist. Without the design constraints the MR is a better guitar in just about every respect but I bet the EG is worth more.
My score will therefore reflect the Grecos' ability to copy a Gibson and It's easily the best.

This is a later 80's model in white and though I believe it's still made in Japan the construction is different to earlier 70's Grecos' possibly from a different factory. First and most obvious difference is the innacurate headstock logo. Also this one does not have the fret edge binding of the earlier models (or indeed a genuine Gibson). It has a "long Tennon" neck joint whereas earlier Greco's have a standard tennon but with dowel re inforcing. Construction quality is first class though and every bit as good as my 80's Gibson.
Features are pretty standard Gibson fare. Solid Mahogany body and neck with maple cap and rosewood fretboard. Full width and therefore weight body. Fat "D" section neck. Medium frets (shame no edge binding). Open book headstock, cheap but adequate tuners. Grecos own pickups (braided wiring like a Gibson). No fancy coil taps or electrical gimmicks but there again it's a Gibson copy so you wouldn't expect it.

It's a Gibson copy so I guess you'd want it to sound like a Gibson! Well it doesn't... not really. It's brighter and less muddy with more clarity. So perhaps it lacks the warmth of a Gibson. It's all down to personal preference really. As you might expect it has plenty of sustain due to its massive construction. I tried a "blindfold" test with some mates and compared this with my Gibson (80's LP Std), A Yamaha SG1000 and a Greco MR800 (Like an Ibanez Artist). Strangely the Gibson consistantly came bottom! The Yamaha was certainly the brightest and the Grecos somewhere in between. I've rated this against the competition in general rather than as a copy of a Gibson. If you wanted a true Gibson sound then I'd have to give it a 6 or 7.

As it's nearly thirty years old I can't possibly tell what it was like from the factory though general construction quality is excellent. Shame about the logo and the lack of fret edge binding though. The finish has aged but is still in pretty good condition. The harware has tarnished but is perfectly functional. Electrics are of good quality and better than alot of the modern Chinese rubbish you get nowadays. So no real complaints here just a couple of minor niggles. Earlier Greco's are better though.

Built like a tank, completely reliable. Will quite possibly out live me.

No hope really, all you can do is trawl the web for inhformation. Having said that the parts are easily obtainable as they're pretty standard. One slight word of warning it that a Genuine Gibson bridge or tailpiece won't fit as Grecos' (and just about every other guitar) are metric and Gibson Imperial !!!

I've been playing for far too many years and have owned all sorts of guitars from all around the world. Apart from what I've mentioned earlier I also own a Fender Strat, Patrick Eggle and earlier Grecos' (which are better). The PEG and the Strat are completely different instruments so there's no point in comparison. I'd say that in General American guitars are over priced. Vintage Japanese guitars represent the best value out there. There are some superb modern Korean guitars but somehow they seem to lack that certain "mojo" of a vintage instrument. My complaints with this guitar are limited to the fact that it's a copy of a less than perfect design. Fret access is frankly apalling and the lack of coil taps is a pointless omission. The neck tennon is secure but a through neck with string through body would have been better. (Apparently Les Pauls original design for Gibson was a through neck but Gibson decided against it to save money)! On the whole though, as a copy it has to be an 8 though earlier Greco's would be a 9. For value for money though there's no better so a 9 (earlier ones a definite 10). (see my other reviews). One final thing.... You can probably pick one of these up for about the same price as an Epiphone and there's really no comparison. Go for the Greco every time!

1986 Greco LP Custom (MIJ), All the same features as the Gibson LP Custom. Quality hardware, probably better than Gibson uses these days. I dont necessarily think a Gibson LP is worthy of a 10 for features (proly 8 or so) But because this guitar is a replica in every sense, it gets a 10. I bought the guitar with GFS Dream 180 pickups installed in it. It also came with the orriginal pickups. I reinstalled them so that I could do this review. I was really suprised by the great sound of the Greco's, but reinstalled the GFSs to give it a little more complexity, and a unique look.

I play mostly everything, from blues to bluegrass to metal, i use this guitar mostly for rock/blues. Suits it perfectly. Has that legendary Les Paul sound. This guitar has balls, big balls, lots of mojo. I love it. All likes, no dislikes. Incredible Sustain.

I would give this a 12 if I could, here's why: I own many guitars that I have all set up myself to their capability in my climate (Memphis, humidity greatly varies) This guitar has the lowest action of any that I own. Fit and finish is flawless.

Well, this guitar is 20 years old and is in great shape, I was told it has some mileage on it, and in the short time that I have had it, I have abused it. Very dependable, would not hesitate to gig with it.

Dont think the company exists anymore, but considering the quality of the guitar, I dont think there needs to be any customer support.

Ive been playing for just over 10 years. I also own a Martin 000c-16, Taylor 914c, 90's Fender American Strat, ESP KH2, ESP LTD m250, and a PRS Custom 22 (10 top). I would have to say, other than my Taylor, this is my favorite guitar. It's also the cheapest priced of them all. Like I said above, I live in Memphis, where one of the Gibson factories is. After playing this guitar for a while, I went downtown to the retail store @ the factory and played a few new LP Customs. No bullshit, this guitar is better, and costs 1/8th as much. I'm not saying that my 80's Greco is better than the vintage Gibsons, only the new junk that they make now. The old Gibsons made in Kalamazoo are wonderful, and you can still get them new under the name of Herritage. But for the money, Greco's are the best guitars you can buy. I've also heard the same for Tokai, Burny, and Orville(Japan's Gibson). All I can say is, if you have an oportunity to buy one of these guitars at a great price, DONT PASS IT UP. You will not be dissapointed

1984 Les Paul, black. Typical Les Paul set up with twin humbuckers, 3 way switch etc., but this one is a bit of a mystery. It has a cut out behind the bridge as if a Floyd Rose tremolo would fit straight in. Thinking it was some sort of backyard conversion I looked closer to find that the finish overlaps the cut for the tremolo. The overall finish on the guitar is very good, though the binding both neck and body is starting to yellow. Gold hardware had been thinning for a while and a chrome bridge and tailpiece had been installed over the cutout. There are 4 screw holes in the neck below the truss rod cover, and all holes are the same diameter, as if to hold a locking nut. All the work seems to have been done factory. Which lends me to think this was released as a tremolo model, but since not many people over here know of them, I can't be sure. Split diamond on the headstock and if you stand 20 feet from the guitar you'd swear it read Gibson. The "G" from the Greco is replicated on the back of the machine heads. Came in original Greco gig bag.

That unmistakable cranky Les Paul sound. I play through a 1973 Marshall JMP (MV conversion) with a 300 watt quad and I can dance in front of the amp all night without hearing that screaming feedback. Turn it down and you have a perfect mellow tone with lots of depth. No names on the pickups, but no need to replace them either. They are clear and bright and more than capable. Ive been playing for over 25 years, punk, metal, blues, rock and this giutar handles it all. But cranked right up, it puts my bandmates Gretsch to shame.

Other than the cut out for the tremolo, it all seems to be there. Having bought it 2nd hand in a pawn shop, I took it to have it set up and tested. All passed and now you can barely feel the difference between this and my mates Gibbo 355. The frets are starting to wear in only a couple of places, and there are 2 chips at the very end of the guitar near the strap lock. It looks like it has been played and then stored for many years. I love the weight of this guitar, you can run with your arms outstretched and the guitar will stay where it is, perfectly balanced.

I've used this live for 2 years now, and it's never let me down. It's my 1st guitar these days, and I see no reason to look at anything else. No doubt it will last me few more years yet.

Absolute Zilch. Only what I've found on the net.

I went looking for a $3000 Gibson and came home with a $750 Greco that played just as good. I don't collect guitars, I play them, and I wanted a good solid reliable working guitar and I found it. It was bought to replace an old guitar stolen a while ago. I'd be heartbroken if it happened to this one, I'll die with it around my neck. The ageing and the cutout give it a real character that prompts lots of questions. Just love it.

I have a 1979 Japanese Greco Les Paul custom.
The tuners look exactly like Grovers but have 'Royce' emblazened on them. Its a sunburst and for all intents and purposes is exactly the same as a Gibson.
It has a fiftys style chunky neck and is overall a stunning looking guitar and over time has accumulated much MOJO.

My style of playing varies from Pink Floyd to the Foo fighters and all points in between.
Through my Digitech 2120 into my Valvestate Marshall on one channel and Roland cube on the other I think Ive managed most guitar sounds I want with the Greco.
The only thing I can be negative about is the fifties neck and thats my fault for having tiny fingers not the Grecos so top marks are in order.

I purchased the Greco second hand and god knows how many people had owned it before then so I got it all professionally set up and it plays like a dream.
The construction is absolutely solid and flawless.
Hardwares tarnishing a bit now but hey people are paying extra on a new guitar to replicate that.

You could use this guitar to play live and you could use it to demolish a building and it would still be in tune.
Its up to the job of detuning to dropped D which in itself leaves some guitars lifeless.
Its dependable alright.

Never had any dealings with Greco and never gonna get the chance to.

I have been playing 27 years and was a Fender strat man for 23 of those.
Then I bought an epiphone les paul and never looked back. I now have a Gibson custom shop elegant les Paul which has only a very slight edge over the Greco and these are #6000 +.
If I saw another Greco for sale I would really struggle with reasons why I shouldn't buy it.
If it was lost or stolen I dont think Id ever stop crying.

So...I own two of these things now and have for awhile. I'd say qualified enough to be a decent judge.

I own an early 80's Black Beauty clone and a 90's Wine red clone. Both are made in Japan.

The Black Beauty has black finish and an ebony fretboard. The binding on the neck is a different material than what is on the body. As it has aged the difference is just barely noticable. You really need to look closely to notice it though. The headstock is a total clone with the split pyramid. The only difference is the name of which the font is the same as Gibsons. There's two humbuckers with gold covers. The pots are 500k all around and the body is shielded. Shockingly enough there's a long tenon in there as well. Huh...go fig. The bridge and stoptail seem to be some sort of gold plated material. After 20 years it seems to be holding up very well. Only on very heavy contact points is there any wear down past the gold plating. The tuners aren't showing any wear past the plating and look like older Schallers. The inlays are...well....they're abit of a mystery. From the 12th fret on they look like honest to god inlays. On the rest of the neck they feel like they're almost just glued on top of the ebony. You can get a fingernail in under the paper-thin material.

The red one has a rosewood fretboard and same inlays as the Black Beauty. The hardware is aging about the same, strangely enough. It doesn't look that much newer considering the 10 year difference. The binding on the neck is noticably lighter than that on the body. The headstock has a different logo than the split diamond. It looks more like a flower but the text is the same as the Black Beauty. There's two humbuckers which are noticably brighter than the Black Beauty as well. The top isn't especially book-matched but there's enough grain there to keep you busy for awhile. It's really quite pretty. The tuners are also the same style as the other well.

All the joints on all of these are solid. Nothing looks shoddy or sloppy. Drill holes are clean and joints are even and almost hard to locate without physically eyeballing them.

All in all it is a Les Paul Custom.

I tend to play classic rock and blues. It suits the style to a "T". I play it through a Blues Junior or Classic 30. I'll use a Boss Blues Driver for a little push or EQ boost if neccesary.

The Black Beauty has a noticably darker sound to it than the Wine. Additionally the pickups in the Black Beauty are significantly more microphonic. They're going to get potted in the near future because of this. Aside from that the sound is amazing. It IS that classic Les Paul sound even with all stock components. For blues and classic rock there's enough output to give it that classic sound. With some more gain I could see how harder-edged stuff would work. They're very articulate and warm pickups. Aside from needing potting (boo-hoo) I'm sold on them.

Both guitars had been previously played, and played for a decent length of time. The wine red one had been "rode hard and put away wet" when it was shipped to me. I spent two hours field-stripping and cleaning it before it was playable again.

All in all there isn't a single thing on these guitars that isn't quality. Even the pickups were probably top-notch when they were shipped. Obviously time can change alot of things and some wire stretch has got to be expected. But parts-wise both are as solid as you'll ever find.

I can see both of them being actively played for a long long time. They're just as solid as can be. If the hardware was goiing to bust it would of by now. If anything remotely short term were to fall short it would of done so by now.

I'd readily gig without a backup. And if I did have a backup it wouldn't be because it's not a Gibson.

Never dealt with them. Don't think I'll ever have to.

The two guitars were imported from Japan. What I think is happening is that there are guys pulling them out of pawn shops and selling them on eBay. I'm not sure why the Japanese would be unloading them but it could just be the usual market flux and were taking them out of the loop by bringing them in.

These guitars are, for all intents and purposes, full-on clones of the originals. I've spent alot of time playing different Gibsons and Les Pauls. They're fine instruments. But they can't hold a candle to the per-dollar value of the Grecos. Easily probably one of the best deals going on out there right now.

This is a 1975 EG-1000 Greco Les Paul custom. It has a solid mahogny body with a solid maple cap and a maple deep joint set neck. 22 frets and ebony finger board. Color is kind of a aged cherry sunburst. Looks and fels like an exact replica with a 50's style neck. The guitar is 100% original with grover tuners and EG-1000 PAF humbuckers. Nice split diamond inlay and mother of pearl inlays in the neck.

I plays various kinds of music from clean blues to pretty hard distorted rock, and this guitar really covers all my needs. Compared to other LP's this guitar screams a bit more with a bit more egde. I guess the maple neck and ebony fretboard make it sound more bright than you migh expect from a LP. Understand me right, this ain't negative at all cause thesound is rich in every way. I tested the amp on a Carvin XV-112, George Dennis Mighty mouse 2x10 cab, VOX AC-30 and a mesa maveric dual recitifier with 2x12". I found that with the PU selector in the middle position you can get almost the sound you want by adjust the volume and tone knobs. For lead playing both PU's gives just the right rich tones. the unusual brightness I compensated on the amps, but again it gives theis guitar some personality

This guitar is almost 30 years old so factory set-up is hard to say. I did some adjustments on it and it feels perfect for me. Made like a tanks.
The fret ends are just like big G covered by the binding. The bindings and finish is perfect.

Used it live serveral times and it never let me down. Plays and sound like a dream and stays in tune forever.

Never needed

Been playing for 25 years now. I own lots of strats and some Orvilles, one more Greco LP EG-900 and 2 Gibson LP's. My love for those Japanese lawsuit models is growing. These guitars represent a quality you have to pay megabucks to get today. In fact I cant say that my Gibson, not even the Supreme model is better than the greco's. They sound and feel just like you expect from a LP, and they are rock solid. I will never sell those guitars, and if I find one more I will buy it.

1978 Japan Les Paul Custom Black Beauty made probably in the Fuji Gen Gakki plant. Frets are med-jumbo. Mahogany body with a thin maple top. pickups were replaced with 2 Seymour Duncan PAF that sound very vintage. Finish on this guitar is very good, unlike the sloppy finish on todays current Gibson guitars. Hardware is all gold and the gold is flaking off a bit but at 26 years old no worse than the gibson stuff. My only niggle was the ABR-1 bridge had to be replaced as the screws kept rattling on the B string and D string. I replaced it with a Stewart Macdonald tunomatic bridge that was perfect. The neck on this guitar is fat and chunky, like the 50s les pauls.

Sound wise, Ive played real les paul customs and this seems to really nail the vintage LP sound. I own 2 Gibson Sgs and this sounds more vintage than either of the SGs. This has a full rich sound that seems to really nail the black crow, Zep and even the old Aerosmith sound.
Really just like an old Les Paul and better built than the new Gibson Les pauls as the fingerboard is perfect after 26 years. Im a tube amp guy all the way and a tone hound as well and this Greco really suprised me as I didn't think it would really sound like an old Gibson Les Paul but it sure proved itself after a week of playing on it.
Im currently useing an old non master Marshall 50 watt head loaded with EL34 tubes with a custom 2x12 cab with celestion speakers and an assortment of pedals. The guitar sounds kick ass thru the rig.
Dislikes are that you have to hold a les paul different from a strat when playing but thats up to the player.

I had this shipped from Japan and I set it up myself and it plays fast buttery with 9 guage strings on it. I just slightly readjusted the pickups and away I went on to Great LP tone. I looked the guitar over and could not find any flaws in the build. The finish is probably urathane or epoxy but its thin so not to muddy up the tone of mahogany and maple top.
The Nitro lacquer that is used on the real gisons seem to feel sorta sticky at times which I dont care for so a hard finish is better on a guitar IMHO.
This was a black beauty and the 26 year old finish still shines after waxing the guitar.

Ive played for 25 years and had many guitars and this Greco is awesome with out a doubt. at 26 years old the guitar is still in great shape. Hardware is good and no worse or better than the real Gibbson stuff. This is definitally a very well crafted guitar and is better than the Gibson stuff from the 80's
Just goes to show that the Japanies Take great pride in their work.

Non that Im aware of. Grecos were meant for the japan market and not in the USA.

Ive got 25 years of playing under my belt and I DO now guitars as Ive repaired many and built 5 strats over the years and this guitar is without a doubt very quality made. Ive looked at the Gibson new Les Pauls at GC and I see lots of sloppiness in the finish in the USA made stuff. The Korean epiphones are ot very good as construction is to varied from guitar to guitar. The new Gibson Faded SGs are real nice thought for the price and play great. If the Greco were stolen I would want to buy another one. Heck I want another one anyway :^)
I did some research on the current used Les Pauls from Japan and seems they are all on a par as very excellent made.

Made in "82 in Japan. As near as I can tell, an exact repo of a Les Paul Custom, Beautiful black with gold hardware. Original pickups. Neck is medium fat, great low action and no fret ware. Tuners are origional sealed gear type. Guitar is heavy----10.25 lbs.

Sound is excellent Les Paul sound. I play a Strat and this is my first humbucker guitar. I love the full sound and never ending sustain. I play thru a Mesa Boogie Twin pre to a Fender amp. Awsume rock power and tone.

Truly lovely guitar bought used from a fellow in Japan. Great fit and finish with only the most minor light little splits in the aged binding on ther neck, very common for a mature Custom. Set up and shipped with new strings-loose

I am sure the guitar would last a lifetime if treated with respect.

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I have been playing for 35 years, the past 12 professionally. I was playing a nice 40th aniversary Strat as my main guitar but plan on devoting a good portion of the tunes I play to this fine tool. I chose the Custom after doing a ton of homework. I would'nt want to consider anythin happening to this fine Greco until I have a chance to play it for a long while.