NGD 79' Greco Explorer!!
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red_bull
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thanks, I dont have an Explorer in the collection, but have found the shape really comfortable to play. My favorite color combo is the classic LPC with black body and vintage ivory binding. thats why this one really caught my eye. I also prefer simple dot inlays, Im a fan of MIJ guitars, and Im old school in liking heavy guitars ... I like how the weight makes them more stable.
May need some work ... some saddles are backwards, fretboard edge looks excessively worn in spots ... wont know till I get my hands on her
red_bull
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sweet, would love to see some photos of that too!!!
red_bull
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arrived today, and now that I can clearly see serial # it's a 78'! (ad said 79). not that it would have made a difference to me, but at least explains why I couldnt find the bound body/dot board combo in the 79's brochure. it's in the 78'
Greco Electric Guitars Catalog 1978
anyway, great guitar in exceptional good condition for it's age ... frets don't have any of the depressions on the high strings usually found on guitars that old. neck is a wonderful slim (not but skinny) shape, flattish radius, original tuners turn smooth and even ... tailpiece has some unusual raised chrome bumps, and bridge looks too clean to be original, but ill know more when I take it apart.
only negative are the PuPs ... at some point in its life some fool replaced the originals with some cheap Ibanez pups .... bridge is borderline acceptable but neck is complete toneless muddy crap.
anyone have ideas what to replace with?
my original thought was Duncan Antiquity JB/Jazz in Zebra (79' look). But the 78' look is a covered chrome HB in neck, and exposed white/cream in bridge. doesnt have to be returned to original look, that was just one way to approach it
Greco Electric Guitars Catalog 1978
anyway, great guitar in exceptional good condition for it's age ... frets don't have any of the depressions on the high strings usually found on guitars that old. neck is a wonderful slim (not but skinny) shape, flattish radius, original tuners turn smooth and even ... tailpiece has some unusual raised chrome bumps, and bridge looks too clean to be original, but ill know more when I take it apart.
only negative are the PuPs ... at some point in its life some fool replaced the originals with some cheap Ibanez pups .... bridge is borderline acceptable but neck is complete toneless muddy crap.
anyone have ideas what to replace with?
my original thought was Duncan Antiquity JB/Jazz in Zebra (79' look). But the 78' look is a covered chrome HB in neck, and exposed white/cream in bridge. doesnt have to be returned to original look, that was just one way to approach it
Tenafly Vipers
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Pix please.
red_bull
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I decided to go w/ Duncan JB/Jazz Antiquities. I did a blind test with this video ....
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKce3azLgGw]Seymour Duncan JB Model vs 35th Anniversary JB vs Antiquity JB Shootout Comparison - YouTube[/ame]
.... and discovered that's exactly what I'm looking for.
Stock JB/Jazz are good, but all too familiar at this point, and also lacking in some bite/range to my ear. Antiquities add that back. Cosmetically the vintaged look goes w/ the guitar too. They're pricey, but after receiving it I realized this is a special guitar that needs to be treated right.
red_bull
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after I put new pups in (had to order online) I'll make a video. Prolly about a week. Thanks for your interest!
Picked this up last year in near mint condition. Also a '78 and a pretty decent copy of Rick Nielsen's Hamer Standard #0000. Considering this guitar was made in April, 1978 and that's when Cheap Trick was recording the Budokan album over there, those guys worked fast!
Pickups are original, but like most 70s Japanese copy guitars, a bit microphonic. Plays great though. I want to get it refinished to look more like Rick's Hamer though.
Pickups are original, but like most 70s Japanese copy guitars, a bit microphonic. Plays great though. I want to get it refinished to look more like Rick's Hamer though.
red_bull
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thats beautiful. if it's all original don't touch it!!!! for history's sake, leave it alone. that finish is gorgeous in its own right anyway.
btw i see link to images in my OP isnt working ... reposting image here.
Also have Seymour Duncan Antiquities in hand, and will post sound demo of them in the guitar in next couple days
rabidhamster
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Very nice looking! That's a great color
I would expect Greco would have same-era ibanez pickups, since they're the same company. Unless you mean replaced with cheap new ibanez pickups. In that case bummer, but antiquities will do the trick.
I would expect Greco would have same-era ibanez pickups, since they're the same company. Unless you mean replaced with cheap new ibanez pickups. In that case bummer, but antiquities will do the trick.
red_bull
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Very nice looking! That's a great color
I would expect Greco would have same-era ibanez pickups, since they're the same company. Unless you mean replaced with cheap new ibanez pickups. In that case bummer, but antiquities will do the trick.
I assumed the latter. But now you got me thinking, are the Ibanez pups in there original? I had no idea Greco and Ibanez shared parts. if thats the case I will still swap for Duncan's and just keep the originals, instead of selling as I was planning.
