Anyone try a 1973 Greco N-55 (ES-175 copy)?

[mr quick]

popped up for $700







Absolutely IN LOVE with its battle-scarred look!!

[h1pst3r88]

I had one of those about 8 years ago -- an ebay expoeriment. I sold it pretty quickly because the nut width was too narrow for me. It was a solid guitar but I couldn't mesh with the neck.

Oddly, I paid about the same almost a decade ago.

Good luck,

-Chris

[mr. beaumont]

They're pretty highly regarded as one of the better 175 copies ever made. $700 is a decent price, I think.

[wintermoon]

just be careful when buying 70's-80's Japanese guitars as many have binding rot.

[abelljo]

Great guitars, good platform if you want to upgrade some of the parts.

[mr quick]

I'm really wanting to pull the trigger on it but I'd like to know more about it.

[Archie]

This is essentially the same guitar as the Ibanez 2355M

It is an all laminate maple version of the Es-175. I would say the nut doesnt look too thin but the previous poster was right. Greco were made for the Japanese market so the necks do vary to suit that market and can be thinner. Or it depends what model Es-175 they had to design from, they could have had a 60's model in the factory to copy.

The differences are a maple neck (3piece) which I prefer but anyway. Old Japanese necks have a reputation for being very stable but who knows how people treat their guitars (standing against radiators?).

The neck heel is spliced which is a sign of cheaper building I guess and JZ thinks is effects tone but I wouldn't go that far myself.

Other than that it wont have kerfed braces so the top wont have sunk and should be 9/10ths of an early 70's late 60's Gibson es-175. The ibanez might just lack that gibson sound but for the price you would be more than happy. I would imagine the pickups are very good and more likely re stamped super 70's or Maxons.

The 55 is an early model I would say around 75?

The price seem ok for the damage, not great but hey. If you like the scars then great but I would try and get the price down by $100 or so just to cover your back.

[Franz 1997]

I had the mahog neck/ sunburst version of this Greco. Nice guitar, sound very similar to a 175 sound ( I find '175 sound' to be a very variable quality anyway, depending on build and year). Don't know about the maple neck version. Judging by the screw size, those pickups are maxon rather than super 70. I didn't like maxon pickups, but maybe others do. I found the wiring to be the usual rather suspect quality on Japanese guitars of that era, so it might need attention. The output jacks are prone to breakage on these guitars.

But, it seems a reasonable buy to me, if you don't mind doing a bit of work on it. I sold mine for a lot more than that.

[mr quick]

Thanks for a comprehensive response, AH. Seller seems to be a collector, says it's a '73 with the original Maxon PU's.

Does anything on the back seem off?




-

Franz, do you have any sound clips or footage? all the youtube clips I found used roundwounds

[Archie]

I had the mahog neck/ sunburst version of this Greco. Nice guitar, sound very similar to a 175 sound ( I find '175 sound' to be a very variable quality anyway, depending on build and year). Don't know about the maple neck version. Judging by the screw size, those pickups are maxon rather than super 70. I didn't like maxon pickups, but maybe others do. I found the wiring to be the usual rather suspect quality on Japanese guitars of that era, so it might need attention. The output jacks are prone to breakage on these guitars.

But, it seems a reasonable buy to me, if you don't mind doing a bit of work on it. I sold mine for a lot more than that.

Yours would have been slightly different (or I may be wrong). I believe the sunburst had a thin laminate spruce top, where as the 2355 ibanez (SB) had a thick laminate spruce. It may be only the blonde models that have maple?
Are you sure yours alas had a mahogany neck? They were coloured pretty dark brown but where actually maple.

I have never found a problem with the electrics, wire braided cloth the leads, electric good but that would be 76 onwards I guess. I know pre 75 it can get a bit ropey.

[Archie]

Seems fine to me, got some binding issues though!

I gotta be honest, I wouldn't be wanting to pay more than $500. It's got issues and he'll have a hard time selling it.

Looks like it needs $200-300 worth of work (if it needs new frets?)

There are small collector circles where the N in the Greco makes it more collectable but a guitar in this condition is not collectable. Good for you on price but when a guitar is not collectable it can often have problems with the playability too. I'd offer $500 and make sure I'm covered (returns).

[Franz 1997]

Yours would have been slightly different (or I may be wrong). I believe the sunburst had a thin laminate spruce top, where as the 2355 ibanez (SB) had a thick laminate spruce. It may be only the blonde models that have maple?
Are you sure yours alas had a mahogany neck? They were coloured pretty dark brown but where actually maple.

I have never found a problem with the electrics, wire braided cloth the leads, electric good but that would be 76 onwards I guess. I know pre 75 it can get a bit ropey.

Well you certainly know more than I do about them, but I think ( not 100% sure) that the truss rod cavity showed mahogany; I always look there. On the top, it had a maple ( or possibly birch) figuring on the top, although who knows what was underneath, could have been spruce.

As for the OP's guitar and its price, even 12+ years ago, my Greco sold the next day for £750. Maybe the market was better then??

[mr quick]

Thanks for the tips, AH. I'd definitely want to check it out in person and I'm not going to second-guess somone like you's estimation. It'd take me a good 5-6 hours to drive up there but hey it might be a fun little thing to do after easter because by then my whole department will have been replaced by robots

[Dave70]

Looks like the screws on the tuners, truss rod cover, and pick up rings might have been replaced. Kinda new looking and except for the pup rings I think the others should have rounded tops, right? (I know small detail lol)

[mr quick]

Very curious about it but wondering if curiosity is worth 5 1/2 hours one way

[Archie]

Very curious about it but wondering if curiosity is worth 5 1/2 hours one way

No is the short answer ;-)

[Little Jay]

Very curious about it but wondering if curiosity is worth 5 1/2 hours one way

Maybe if it had a Mahogany neck.....

[mr quick]

Neck material doesn't matter to me at all

[Little Jay]

Neck material doesn't matter to me at all

Then go for it!
(I prefer the way a mahogany neck vibrates, although in the amplified tone the difference is minimal).

[mr quick]

How does the difference sound or feel to you? as in, why do you prefer the mahogany?

[Little Jay]

It might be in my mind only, but I have the impression mahogany sounds a little warmer or maybe woolier and also livelier and sings a little more. But the guitars I own and compare with mahogany vs maple (an ES-125 and a Furch G1) are rather different, so it might not be the neck material at all that causes the difference.

So if I am really honest to myself it should never be a deal breaker for a guitar......