Greco SA-90 or Tokai ES100R

[59fan]

Both have recently popped up on my local Craigslist. The main difference is a headstock break on the Tokai so I’m not quite sure if it'd be worth it or if I should rather go for the Greco.

This is the Tokai

 

[Roxy13]

I would try to see both and decide which you like better. Although if I fell in love with the first one I saw I'd probably just buy it.

 

[Natima]

Thats a 90's Greco btw. Maybe 1989?
But that tokai looks sexy at least to me, headstock break and all, as long as the price is right.

 

[59fan]

Sadly, I can't see/play either in person. The tokai supposedly has kloppmann PAF replicas which makes it a tad more interesting. I'd be curious to know if that Tokai was finished in nitro.

 

[JDZ]

Sadly, I can't see/play either in person. The tokai supposedly has kloppmann PAF replicas which makes it a tad more interesting. I'd be curious to know if that Tokai was finished in nitro.

Yes, '81 Tokai ES 100 were finished in Nitro

 

[Ph03n1x]

Has the Tokai had a refret as well? The case looks like the original blue lined ones from the 80s. I have an ES100 but I haven't even tried it since I am on the opposite side of the world currently. I would probably lean towards the Tokai if it has those pickups in it. But you haven't mentioned the price so that would have a big influence on the decision too.

Late 80s / early 90s Grecos were good but I think the necks tended to be thinner than the early 80s ones. I think that Greco is from 91 BTW...

 

[currypowder]

The 1980 ES-100 that I owned had a fairly narrow neck at the nut (41 mm). If that's a feature that's important to you, I would check. Other than the neck dimension, it was a fantastic guitar. Personally, I love guitars with repaired breaks like this if you're looking for an outstanding player.

 

[Mick51]

I like the Tokai. I don't care for the headstock repair. If it were me, I would wait around for another early 1980s Tokai. Or, an earlier Greco SA900, or even SA1200.
But, only you know what you really want. Good hunting!

 

[tzurby]

Isn't the SA-90 from 1991 identical to an early 1980s SA-900, that is, a true copy with mahogany neck as opposed to maple neck of the late 70s SA-900 copies? From 1982 onwards, Greco skipped one zero and added the reference year (59 or 61 for 1959 or 1961 ES-335 copies). SA-61-90 for example in 1982. I assume, the SA-90 is a 1961 copy. The neck is rather thick. I can measure it. The guitar is available here: https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/greco-sa-90-es-335-mij-nitro-finish/2054214979-74-3408

 

[59fan]

Or, an earlier Greco SA900, or even SA1200.

I'd love an SA1200 or SA59-120 but $4000 seems pretty steep considering the fact that most Grecos go for less than their Gibson CS equivalents.

 

[59fan]

Isn't the SA-90 from 1991 identical to an early 1980s SA-900, that is, a true copy with mahogany neck as opposed to maple neck of the late 70s SA-900 copies? From 1982 onwards, Greco skipped one zero and added the reference year (59 or 61 for 1959 or 1961 ES-335 copies). SA-61-90 for example in 1982. I assume, the SA-90 is a 1961 copy. The neck is rather thick. I can measure it. The guitar is available here: https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/greco-sa-90-es-335-mij-nitro-finish/2054214979-74-3408

Yeah I could kinda tell by the lack of mickey mouse ears on SA-90 models, as well as the more 60s looking sunburst with less black applied to the sides.

 

[tzurby]

Late 80s / early 90s Grecos were good but I think the necks tended to be thinner than the early 80s ones. I think that Greco is from 91 BTW

The neck is quite right, I would say. Not too thick and definitely not thin. (The neck on my 1964 ES-355 is way thinner.) I measure in the 1th fret: width 4,32cm (1.70"), thickness 2,12cm (.83"). The weight is 3,6kg.
Yes, the guitar is from 1991.

 

[Ph03n1x]

The neck is quite right, I would say. Not too thick and definitely not thin. (The neck on my 1964 ES-355 is way thinner.) I measure in the 1th fret: width 4,32cm (1.70"), thickness 2,12cm (.83"). The weight is 3,6kg.
Yes, the guitar is from 1991.

Depends on your preference. I had an RS900 from '89 with a relative thin neck but my EGC1000 is closer to a '58 profile. I've heard others here mention that early 80s had the thicker necks...

 

[Eagle X]

I might be mean but I won't pay more than 25% of the second hand market price for a headstock/neck break guitar even if it's well repaired. A headstock/neck break devalues a guitar dramatically. Please keep it in mind unless you really love that guitar.

 

[tzurby]

I once had a 1968 Gibson Trini Lopez. Very good guitar. The neck broke after a pretty light hit on the headstock. Professionally repaired. Hardly visible. The guitar sounded better. I was told there probably had been tensions in the mahogany neck that are now gone. Guitars with a neck break can be a bargain. 25% is way too much, when the repair is done right.