Greco EG1000R 1978 specs - how to recognize

[ermis33]

Hello everyone!

First post here, although I 've been watching the forum for a while.

I have a chance of getting what seems to be a 1978 Greco EG1000r custom LP, which I'm going to try tomorrow in person. The thing is that the seller is not sure about the model, since he doesn't know what kind of pickups the guitar has (they are uncovered) and given that the guitar's hardware seems to be chrome other than golden - most probably the tuners and the bridge have been replaced - and that it probably has a dark rosewood fretbd.

From my own research I have gathered that the basic specs of a 1978 Greco EG1000R custom LP are 1) ebony fretboard with fred edge binding and mother of pearl block inlays, 2) slim 70s three piece maple neck, 3) one piece maple top over one piece mahogany body, 4) carved serial number on headstock back, 5) Grover tuners, 6) "lawsuit" split diamond headstock, 6) a pair of Maxon U3000 or PU2.covered humbuckers, 7) nitro finish and 8) golden hardware all around.

So I would like to ask the more Greco knowledgeable forum members 1) is my list of specs accurate? 2) is there any chance that the said model came in a rosewood fretboard variation? 3) what else should I look for in order to determine if model of the guitar is right or if it is a lower model? 4) given that I plan to get the guitar if it proves to be the 1000 model, provided the price lower the bit (say 700 to750 eur), is it worth it to get it even if it proves to be a lower model ( i.e. EG800 which I believe is almost the same with nitro finish and different pups, or even a lower one, i.e. EG500) ? And what would be a good price then?

I am attaching some photos of the actual guitar I am going to inspect tomorrow for reference.

Apologies for the long post but I believe it might prove useful in consolidating the basic specs of the pre Super Real era Greco customs.

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[Roxy13]

Actually I think that might be a 500 (or lower?). It seems to have a ply top, which will have a hollow underneath. The fb is definitely rosewood.

When you go see it ask to remove a pickup and take a look in the cavity to verify but I don't see any seams in the top.

None of that doesn't mean you won't like the guitar, but i'm nearly certain it's not a 1000.

 

[ermis33]

Thanks for the reply! I tested the Greco today, it definitely does not look like a 1000, more like a lower model, no fret edge binding, but of course the guitar may have been refretted, and it was extremely light, leading me to also believe that the body is chambered (not necessarily bad). The setup was extremely low, so I think I can not have a clear opinion about the sustain of the guitar....a friend of mine who plays lead guitar in a metal band, who was with me and also tried the guitar, liked it and thought it sustained well.... In any case the back is not mahogany, but rather maple veneer, like the top, and the pickups did not blow me away...no chance to remove a pickup unfortunately....the thing is that my friends Greco EG800 1977 Standard was a much better player

 

[Eagle X]

Pull out the pickup or the pickup ring and you can easily find if it's chambered.
If it's chambered, it's an EG500 or lower model.

 

[Natima]

Yeah it's an arched pressed birch plywood top (it is hollow, but not like a traditional hollowbody), with a birch ply veneer back. Pickups should be U1000 which are A8 7.5-8k Ohms. Good pickups. But that guitar is nowhere near EG1000 level.

There is no need to look inside to determine if it is chambered, it is. Once you've seen enough of these things, you know with 100% certainty, that when you see an 'apparently' one piece birch top, that it is a low-end model with a butcherblock mahogany construction, and a hollow top.

Whats the asking price?

 

[ermis33]

Yeah it's an arched pressed birch plywood top (it is hollow, but not like a traditional hollowbody), with a birch ply veneer back. Pickups should be U1000 which are A8 7.5-8k Ohms. Good pickups. But that guitar is nowhere near EG1000 level.

There is no need to look inside to determine if it is chambered, it is. Once you've seen enough of these things, you know with 100% certainty, that when you see an 'apparently' one piece birch top, that it is a low-end model with a butcherblock mahogany construction, and a hollow top.

Whats the asking pri

 

[ermis33]

Apologies for the belated reply - I have been very busy with pressing work matters this past week. Thank you all for your replies. It really makes sense that the top and the back of the guitar body are made from birch plywood, it is certainly not mahogany and it does not look exactly like maple. The guitar is being sold for 900 eur, but I could get it down to 800. I think I will pass... After all today I received two Burny RLC customs from Japan, that both look and play better than the guitar in question (an ebony rlc60 and a cream white rlc60/70 advertised as a Randy Rhoades, I will post NGD threads soon). Thus, I think it doesn't make sense to get a lower than model 800/80 Greco, either custom or standard, (I prefer late 70s, but early 80s is fine too), so I will keep looking. If anyone thinks there is any point in not dismissing the guitar, I am open to all opinions.

 

[MauiCliff]

Dead give away for an EG-1000 is:
Thick Greco logo
Ebony fretboard

 

[R1sky]

Looks similar to a eg-500 I had in a clown burst, that guitar was chambered but had lovely binding!