Greco Serial Numbers

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Greco (Japanese: グレコ Gurekou) are abrand of electric guitars produced by KandaShokai (Japanese)神田商会. Kanda Shokai (Shokai means trading company) is a musicalinstrument wholesaler mostly known for being part of Fender Japan.

History

Kanda Shokai was established in 1948 and the Greco guitar brandname was started by Kanda Shokai in 1960 [1]. It was not until 1966/1967 that electricguitar production was begun in earnest with the introduction ofGreco Telecaster like models. Kanda Shokaiat first used the Greco brand name for the solid body models andused the Canda brand name for their Acoustic models which was basedon the company name Kanda (Canda). Also in the mid/late 1960s,Kanda Shokai produced Greco branded guitars based on Hagström and EKO designs for Avnet/Goya in the USA and theseguitars were made by the Teisco and FujiGen guitar factories and were very similarto the late 1960s Ibanezguitars based on Hagström and EKO designs.

In the early 1970s Kanda Shokai made Greco Gibson like models with bolton necks which were very similar to the Ibanez Gibson like models at that time and mostof these models had a Greco logo that looked more like 'Gneco'. Bythe mid/late 1970s most Greco Gibson like models were being madewith set necks andopen book Gibson headstock designs. Some other Greco Gibsonlike models from the 1970s had a different headstock design (morelike a Guild headstock design) that had aGreco logo with equally sized letters.

Starting in late 1979 the Greco 'Super Real Series' wereintroduced which were high standard replicas of Gibson and Fendermodels. In 1982 the Greco 'Mint Collection' was introduced whichcontinued the high standard of the 'Super Real Series'. In 1982Kanda Shokai and Yamano Gakki become part of Fender Japan and KandaShokai stopped producing its own Greco Fender replica models. Sincethe end of the Greco open book headstock Gibson replicas in theearly 1990s, Kanda Shokai have produced various models using theGreco brand name such as the 'Mirage Series' (similar to the Ibanez Iceman),various Gibson copies (not using the open book Gibson headstockdesign), Violin basses (VB), Zemaitis Guitars and various othermodels as well.

Some notable guitar players that have used Greco guitars includeAce Frehley who usedGreco Les Paul replicas when Kiss were on tour in Japan and Elliot Easton of The Cars.

Electricguitars

Greco has produced a lot of different models over the years andthis is a listing of the most common models.

Gibson like models

• EGF - Les Paul Flametop models.
• EG - Les Paul models.
• EGC - Les Paul Custom models.
• PC, RR, JS - Les Paul Custom (Phil Collen, Randy Rhoads, John Sykes) models.
• EJR - Les Paul Junior models.
• EGS - Les Paul Special models.
• SS - SG models.
• JP - SG (GlennTiptonJudasPriest ) model.
• FV - Flying V models.
• MSV - Flying V (Michael Schenker) model.
• TB - Thunderbird Bass models.
• EB - EB-3 Bass models.
• MM or MG - Melody Maker models.
• SA - ES-335/ES-334 models.
• FA - ES-175 models.
• L - L-5 models.

Fender like models

• SE - Stratocaster models.
• TL - Telecaster models.
• JM - Jazzmaster models.
• JG - Jaguar models.
• JB - Jazz Bass models.
• PB - Precision Bass models.

Other Models

• M - Greco Mirage/Ibanez Iceman models. Also other Greco/Ibanezmodels such as the Korina 58 Flying V and Modern as well.

• EX - Greco/Ibanez Explorer (Destroyer) models as used by Eddie VanHalen. The Greco Destroyer used U-2000 pickups and the IbanezDestroyer used Super 70 pickups.

• BM - Brian May-based models.
• RG - Rickenbacker-based models.
• RB - Rickenbacker-based Bass models.
• VB - Violin bass models.
• RJ - Gretsch-based models.
• WF - Gretsch-based models.
• AP - Dan Armstrong (Ampeg)-based guitar models.
• GO - 'Neck Through' guitar models. The Greco/Roland G-808guitar synth is very similar to the GO1000 model.
• MR and MX - Ibanez Artist-based models.
• BG - Boogie Fender-based models.

Timeline

1967

Telecaster like Greco models start.

1969

VB (Beatles Violin Bass) models start.

1970

EG Gibson like models start with the EG-360 with mostly setneck models from 1977.

1973

SE Fender like models start and the SE-800 models are producedfrom 1977 to 1982. The SE models end in 1982 when Kanda Shokai andYamano Gakki become part of Fender Japan.

1976

EX Explorer (Destroyer) models start. MR models start and MXmodels start in 1979. They end in 1981/1982.

1978

M Mirage (Ibanez Iceman) models start.

1978

GO and GOB (bass) models start. They end in 1981/1982.

1979

The 'Super Real Series' models start in late 1979. They end in1982.

1979

GOII models start. They end in 1981/1982.

1980

GOIII models start. They end in 1981/1982.

1982

The 'Mint Collection Series' with an open O Greco logo start(an O letter with the top part of the O letter removed). Most ofthe 'Mint Collection Series' models with an open O Greco logo endin 1990. In the early 1990s most of the Greco guitars return to aclosed O Greco logo but there were some open O Greco logo guitarsmade in the early 1990s as well.

Early 1990s onwards

Various models are produced with an Ibanez like headstockdesign.

Characteristics

The Greco Fender replicas from the late 1970s and early 1980sare similar to the early Fender Japan guitars as Kanda Shokai ownthe Greco brand and are also a part of Fender Japan. The GrecoFender replicas made by Matsumoku have Matsumoku stamped on theneckplate and the other Greco Fender replicas were made by Fuji-GenGakki. Most of the Greco models included the original selling pricein Japanese Yen (Japanese)円 in the model number (EGF-1800 = 180000 Yen). The 'Super RealSeries' date from late 1979 to 1982 and the open O Greco logo 'MintCollection Series' date from 1982 to the early 1990s. The 'MintCollection Series' have an open O letter in their Greco logo (an Oletter with the top part of the O letter removed) and the 'SuperReal Series' usually have a closed O letter in their Grecologo.

The Fuji-Gen Gakki guitar factory were the main maker of theGreco guitars in the 1970s and 1980s [2]. Fuji-Gen Gakkiobtained a CNCrouter in mid 1981 for making guitar parts and also began tomanufacture their own pickups starting in late 1981 [3]. The Fuji-Gen Gakki CNC router and Fuji-GenGakki made pickups were used for the 'Super Real' and 'MintCollection' series starting from 1981 to the early 1990s. Up until1981/1982, Nisshin Onpa (Maxon)made pickups were used in the Greco guitars including the 'SuperReal Series' and the guitars were made in a more luthier style withno CNC machines used. The Cor-Tek and Tokai guitar factories werealso used to make some Greco models due to FujiGen not being ableto make some lower priced Grecos in the late 1980s.

There were also some transitional Greco models from 1981/1982that have a mixture of 'Super Real Series' and 'Mint CollectionSeries' features such as a 'Super Real' model with an open O letterin the Greco logo instead of a closed O letter. The Super Real EGF(flametop) and EG series higher end models featured nitrocelluloselacquer finishes and fret edge binding and some of the Super Reallower end models also featured fret edge binding.

Medium tenon neck joints with dowel reinforcements were used upuntil 1981 and standard Gibson style long and medium tenon neckjoints were used after 1981. The medium tenon neck joints withdowel reinforcements were very similar to the Gibson long tenonneck joints that were used in the early 1970s before Gibsonswitched to using a short tenon neck joint. Some Greco modelsfeatured chambered (not solid) body designs up to the early 1980swhich weighed less than a regular solid body model and also had aslight semi acoustic quality. Some of the current Gibson modelsalso use chambered bodies such as the Gibson Les Paul Supreme.

Some Greco Les Paul guitars up until 1982 had laminated pancakebodies and were based on the similar Gibson Les Paul laminatedguitars from the 1970s. The lowest priced Greco Les Pauls sometimeshad different woods to the regular Maple and Mahogany combination.Up to 1980 the lowest priced Greco Les Pauls such as the EG450model have Birch bodies. Thelowest priced Super Real and Super Power Les Pauls such as theEG450 and EG480 models from late 1979 to 1982 have Sycamore tops.

The EGF-1800 (flametop), EGF-1200 (flametop) and EG-1000C(custom) models from the 1980 and 1981 catalogues (as well as veryearly 1982 models) featured 'Dry Z' pickups (PAF like pickups madeby Nisshin Onpa (Maxon)). Thetype of pickups vary depending on the guitars original sellingprice and the Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) made 'Dry Z' or Fuji-Gen Gakki made 'Dry82' pickups were reserved for the top end models. The lower endmodels such as the EG-500 mostly used 3 piece maple tops while thehigher end models mostly used 2 piece maple tops. 'Mint Collection'models with a K after the numeric price designation (e.g. PC-98K)came with factory installed Kahler tremolo (vibrato)bridges.

The 'Mint Collection Series' features vary with price with someof the higher end models such as the EG58-120 model having most ofthe same features as the 'Super Real' higher end models. Most ofthe 'Mint Collection Series' had long tenon neck joints but somehad medium long tenon neck joints. There were also some Greco'Super Sound', 'Super Power' and 'Rock Spirits' Gibson replicamodels made as well. The 'Super Sound' models were mid pricedmodels from the 'Super Real' years (late 1979-1982) and the 'SuperPower' models were lower priced models from the 'Super Real' years(late 1979-1982). The 'Rock Spirits' models were lower pricedmodels from between 1979 and the early 1990s

SerialNumbers

Greco guitars have been made by Matsumoku, Fuji-Gen Gakki [4], Dyna Gakki [5] and others aswell.

Greco Gibson replicas started using serial numbers around 1975and pre 1975 models had a Greco logo that looked like 'Gneco'.

From the mid 1970s to the mid 1990s Greco models have mostlyused 2 serial number formats for non Acoustic models.

Graco Serial Number Lookup

The first format is MYYPPPP.

• M = production month (A=January B=February ... K=NovemberL=December).
• YY = year (79=1979).
• PPPP = production number.

The second format is YPPPP.

• Y = year (9=1979 0=1980 or 1990).
• PPPP = production number.

Sometimes a month letter is used in an MYPPPP format.

Since the mid 1990s Greco models have used other serial numberformats as well.

Most of the Greco open book headstock Gibson replicas were madeby FujiGen Gakki. Some Greco open book headstock Gibson replicasstarting from around 1988 had no serial numbers. The lower pricedno serial number Greco Les Paul and SG models were made by Cor-Tek (Cort) andusually have Cor-Tek (Cort) potentiometers. The Cor-Tek made Grecoguitars have square shaped, brick like nuts with no slope and alsooften have shielding paint in the pickup and control cavities.Other higher priced no serial Greco Les Paul and SG models weremade by Tōkai and the Les Paul models have an EG-75or EGC-75 model number stamped in the pickup cavity and sometimeshave fret edge binding. The no serial Greco guitars made by Tokaihave square shaped routing holes at the bottom of the pickupcavities whereas the no serial Greco guitars made by Cor-Tek (Cort)have thinner rectangle shaped routing holes at the bottom of thepickup cavities. Kanda Shokai stopped using the open book headstockdesign on Greco Gibson replica models around the early 1990s andthen concentrated on their other model lines and Fender Japan.Atlansia have supplied body and neck parts for Greco models aswell. Tokai currently make the Kanda ShokaiZemaitis and Talbo models.

Pickups

1980 Greco Super Real models and pickups made by Nisshin Onpa(Maxon) sample.

Pickup prices.

Greco Serial Number Check

• DRY 20000 Yen
• PU-2 15000 Yen
• U-2000 12000 Yen
• U-1000 10000 Yen

Models and pickups.

• EGF1800 DRY
• EGF1200 DRY
• EGF1000 PAF
• EG1000C DRY
• EG900 PAF
• EGF850 PU-2
• EG800GS HOT LICK
• EG800C PU-2
• EG800PB U-2000
• EG800PR U-2000
• EG800 PU-2
• EG700 U-2000
• EG600PB U-1000
• EG600PR U-1000
• EG500 U-1000
• EG500C UD
• EF500J U-1000
• EG500GS UD-DX
• EG480 UD
• EG450 UD

1984 Greco Mint Collection models and pickups made by Fuji-GenGakki sample.

Pickup prices.

• DRY 1982 20000 Yen
• DOUBLE TRICK 18000 Yen
• THE GROOVE 16000 Yen
• SCREAMIN 14000 Yen

Models and pickups.

• EG58-120 DRY
• EG-59-70 DOUBLE TRICK
• EG-56-60 HOT LICK
• EG-59-50 SCREAMIN
• EG59-45 SCREAMIN
• EJR54-50 HOT LICK
• SS63-70 DOUBLE TRICK
• SS63-50 HOT LICK
• EG59-65 SCREAMIN
• JP-55 SCREAMIN
• EGC95K DRY
• EGC68-50 SCREAMIN
• JS-98K DRY
• JS-65 DRY
• JS-55 SCREAMIN
• RR-95K DRY
• RR-65 DRY
• RR-55 SCREAMIN
• EGC58-100 GROOVE - only first year, after that DRY 1982
• EGC68-80 DOUBLE TRICK
• EGC57-60 SCREAMIN
• PC-98K DRY

Greco and Ibanez Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) pickup serial number format consisting of5 numbers up to and including 1977. Ibanez Super 70 pickups havethe same serial number format.

• First number = Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) pickup code (1, 2, etc)
• Second number = Year (7=1977)
• Third number = Month (0=Jan ... 9=Oct then .=Nov, X=Dec)
• Fourth and Fifth number = Day of Month (01-31)

Greco and Ibanez Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) pickup serial number format consisting of6 numbers from 1977 to 1982.

Greco Serial Number Database

• First number = Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) pickup code (1, 2, etc)
• Second number = Year (9=1979)
• Third and Fourth number = Month (01=Jan ... 12=Dec)
• Fifth and sixth number = Day of Month (01-31)

Greco Basses

Sources

• (Japanese)Kanda Shokai
• (Japanese)Fuji-Gen Gakki history
• (Japanese)Greco OEM Fuji-Gen
• (Japanese)Greco Journal Japan
• (Japanese)Kanda Shokai/Dyna
• (Japanese)Greco catalogues
• (Japanese)Atlansia

Serial Numbers For Electronics

References

Ibanez, The Untold Story by Paul Specht (Michael Wright, JimDonahue) ISBN 0-9764277-0-2