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I was just surfing eBay and saw this gorgeous 1988 Greco LG100 - L5 clone. I tried finding additional information, but the web seems rather sparse of any reviews/comments/specs, etc.
Anyone know anything about these?
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02-25-2014 09:25 PM
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Gorgeous guitar.
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Gorgeous 2.
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Pretty thing.. for me the 1 5/8" nut width would be an issue. If, in fact, that's what it is.
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If that were mine... and it's not going to be as I have a new violin to buy this month for my daughter (yeah, moving up to a half size
) I'd really think hard about having a nice humbucker like a Seth Lover or similar mounted and turn it into a Wes Mo clone!
Seller states that it has parallel bracing. Would that make mounting a hum bucker easier?
What's the tonal differences between parallel and cross bracing?Last edited by Steve Z; 02-26-2014 at 12:55 PM.
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That's a gorgeous guitar, at least in front-view. I'm less enthused about the "bubble" on the back; looks kinda like a skin disease to me...)
Last edited by jasaco; 02-26-2014 at 01:23 PM.
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if it's not built for a humbucker you'll likely have to cut into the braces regardless, though parallel braced guitars have more of a chance of that. if it's a solid spruce top you also face the possibility of the top sinking over time under the weight of the pickup and the fact that the top is compromised.
parallel bracing usually gives a punchier sound, X a mellower tone
I like the bubble back myself....
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I agree, but it doesn't LOOK like 1-5/8 by the string spacing. Of course, can't tell for sure.
Originally Posted by Spook410
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
Wow. I wasn't aware that having a hum mounted could cause such problems. I've seen other guitars for sale that have started as floating pickups and had mounted installed with no mention of problems... interesting and educational.
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Made for Japanese market only. Never exported to the US market, hence the open book headstock on an '87 made Japanese archtop. Sold new for $900, so my bet it is all laminate like the earlier 70's Ibanez models...but that's just my guess. The guitar will sell, only question is at what price. I'm guessing $1900.
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"I'm guessing $1900"
my bet is it'll be a 'no longer available' end.
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I already tried. Seller refuses to sell off the listing.
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Greco made other Gibby copies too, most of what I've seen in person were copies of Les Pauls and were falling apart. Binding, inlay, pots gone, or missing.
This one looks pretty good and the owner is calling it a 9, and it may just be. I'm going to follow it.
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U and half of feebay. The seller has a 78CES Greco in sunburst he forwarded photos on. He wants $2k for it. Originally Posted by GNAPPI
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Why would you do that? Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
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Calling a guitar from 1988 'vintage' makes me feel old.
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I use an Aria ProII CES on gigs where I don't mind my guitar getting bumped. I paid around $600 for it Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
the Greco CES is essentially the same guitar. they're good but not an L-5, which you have.
if you're not gigging I'd stick w/your L-5, but hey, you're you and I'm me.
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Mmmm...I'd have bought it perhaps? Originally Posted by Woody Sound
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You bought it when? I've not recently seen an Aria ProII CES selling in the price range you've indicated. Actually, I've a pair of L5's, but there's always room 4 more Originally Posted by wintermoon
I use an Aria ProII CES on gigs where I don't mind my guitar getting bumped. I paid around $600 for it
the Greco CES is essentially the same guitar. they're good but not an L-5, which you have.
if you're not gigging I'd stick w/your L-5, but hey, you're you and I'm me.
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For $1595.00 it's pretty reasonable. The Greco copies are very nice. Stick with a floater, I've seen laminated arch tops that somebody tried to mount hum buckers in, later it did cave. You're playing at a loud gig and need a lovely floater guitar this would be a good choice. The GB10's are laminated bodies with floaters and sound amazing. I've owned Ibanez Byrdlands and Johnny Smiths with the open book heqadstock shapes and they were killer guitars. There's lots of guys out there that will appreciate having this in their work arsenal.
Check out the Tokai Registry forum, you'll find lots of believers in Grecos.
And Gibson used lots of amazing bubble maple on their arch tops after WWII, I know I owned a gorgeous L-7 from '46 that was to die for.
my .02
Big
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I've had it for several years. it was on the 'bay but didn't sell @ $1100. Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
You bought it when? I've not recently seen an Aria ProII CES selling in the price range you've indicated. Actually, I've a pair of L5's, but there's always room 4 more
it was local [orig owners daughter] and the frets were worn to the board.
I offered $900 through ebay but when I saw it in person and saw the frets and the fact that the fingerboard looked like a rollercoaster I said I'd pass. as I was walking back to my car I turned around and said $600? and she took it.
so after a $300 board plane and fret job I'm into it for $900.
found another just like it a couple yrs ago on Canada's kkjjjlist or whatever it's called.
got that one for $1100 as a backup, just needed a fret level.
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Then why not just bid your highest price like everyone else? Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
Mmmm...I'd have bought it perhaps?
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WARNING!!
I may be totally wrong about this and If so my sincere apologies to the seller.
I contacted him, claiming that I thought his claims were (politely) incorrect (of course what I wanted to say was absolute BS). As far as I am concerned, it is a laminate L5 copy. I would be immensely surprised if this had a solid hand carved top.
I also do not think it is true, that the guitar was made, start to finish by one person.
(Again I could be wrong)
Some of the things that make me suspicious are,
1. It has a rosewood fretboard (not ebony, which would lend to the solid top idea)
2. It has no Fret Edge Binding (again showing it to not be from the 'top' end of the range)
3. The pictures of the sound board show no real grain (although not entirely possible to see). It looks to me like Laminate grain i.e. not very apparent and even, with a kind if sheen to it. Again I could just be seeing things.
4. There is no binding in the fretboard its self (on the side yes) and there are not many piles of binding on the headstock etc.
From someone who knows quite a bit about Greco archtops, having owned many. They can play great and sound good. However, some of them also have a way of feeling a little cheap, 'plasticy' etc. I would not put this on par with say an Ibanez 2470 of Fa-800 in terms of wood 'Lacqure' and cost etc. I believe that this is a budget model or shall I say, cheaper version of the copies.
Thats not to say it's not worth its price. It is currently priced accurately for what it is (as why I suspect the seller slightly). If it really was a solid hand carved 1 person made Japanese L5 copy, it would be straight up at $2,500/3000 at least.
It also has no signature on the label.
Don't be fooled by YEN $ conversion. An ibanez Af120 in 92 was $1,000 and that was made in Korea with a scarf neck join and clickable wires for the pups. The tuners weren't worth a penny etc.
I could be wrong about all of this, so again sorry if I am. I'm not trying to down sell the guitar for my own reward, as I do not live in the US and it is already about £300 overpriced for our market anyway (probably £400 but hey), so I will not be bidding.
Once again, at the asking price currently, I don't see this guitar as expensive, but If I am right about its construction and the sellers blurb, then its a shame that this type of thing goes on in the world. Misleading sales tactics for a higher price etc.
I could if I wanted to claim the seller is an out and out BullSh*ter but I wouldn't want to jump that far ahead and we've actually struck up some what of a relationship since then online. Although he refuses to accept my claims and I have told him that I do not accept his appraisal at all.
So good luck :-) But yes you could buy an Aria Fa70 or Epiphone Broadway and it will pretty much sound and play exactly the same (IMO) but won't look nearly as nice (Again IMO)
And apologies if I am wrong. Which I well could be (but I doubt it). The seller even claim solid rims (which aren't even used on many L5's!!). I suggest a certain amount of scepticism is used when people make very bold claims, that cannot be backed by any real hard information (Ie spec sheet) and you have to rely on the seller, who obviously has his own interests. (Again not saying the seller is untrustworthy).
:-)
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I must claim that IMHO the seller has not described the guitar accurately and has made some claims that I find to be hard to believe.
I doubt very much, if the top is solid carved and I certainly doubt that it was made by one single luthier. I also doubt that it has solid rims either.
It has no fret edge binding and a rosewood fretboard. The grain on the fornt doesn't look like solid top to me. (From what I scan see, which is admittedly not too much). The fretboard and lack of fret binding should send alarm bells ringing to (IMO). I think this is a very nice but reasonably budget L5 japanese copy.
I'm not saying the guitar is worth less than the current asking price but I do feel that someone will possibly end up paying far too much, for what is essentially (and IMO) a nice looking Aria Fa-70/Epiphone Broadway (current) 17" laminate type guitar.
I could be wrong of course but from my vast experience with Japanese guitars and Greco, I would say this is the case.
I have no interest in the sale as it is overpriced for my market, and as I've stated, I don't agree with the sellers claims.
I would also be very concerned about the neck. Japan suffers from extreme humidity and it is more than common for their necks to warp and suffer.
In the end this is why the American guitar market has gone crazy. This guitar if it is what I think, is worth no more that $1,000 lol. If it were for sale here, it certainly wouldn't go for anything over £1,000 (probably more like £700-800).Last edited by GoergeBenson; 02-28-2014 at 07:50 AM.
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