Verify the year of Greco LP Custom White

[Sarkon]

Hello everybody!

This is my first post on this forum. Im glad to be with you here. And I'm glad to share and get precious information.

Now i need your help and experience.

I've just bought Greco Les Paul Custom White. And i would like to know in what year this Greco was made.

Below im sending photos.

Greetings!

 

[wulfman]

1989. Should have a nice fat neck if it is like the one I had.

 

[Sarkon]

Thank you very much.

Earlier I had Gibson Les Paul Studio 50's Tribute GoldTop 2012 y. And i think that both necks are similar Maybe Greco's neck is little thicker but just a little

I have one more problem. Maybe you can help me.

When the neck is glued to the body (around glued spot) someone used white paint to cover something. Im wondering, if someone wanted to cover paint that offed the body or someone wanter to cover that neck was broken...

Sorry for my enlglish, Im trying all my best Im from Poland

 

[Mr Teeny]

Put up some photos of the area and paint, it's hard to second guess what's happened without them.

Could be many things ranging from just paint chips to a broken neck but the amount of paint and where it is should give you at least a good idea. Most necks will crack at the neck tuners end rather than where the neck meets the body so might just be some finish cracking around the neck/body joint they were hiding.

Nice looking custom, looks in very good condition almost mint from your pics.

 

[Sarkon]

It's 24 years guitar and it has some cracks and few indents, scratchs or rusted bridge. But guitar at this age looks really good!

Now im in job. But when i get back, I will shot few photos.

One question out of certain topic: You think it was worth to change my Gibson to this Greco? I know that its really hard to answer, but in my opinion for example, wood in Greco is more precious than Gibson 50's Tribute wood.

 

[Mr Teeny]

Bit hard to answer really as they're both your guitars, you'd be best placed to say if it's worth it as you know how much you paid for both and what they sound like/feel.

I've one of the mint collection Greco's too and compared to my 2001 Gibson standard it's certainly better overall value, non chambered, long tenon etc. Only thing I'd mark it down to against the Gibson was the pups and maybe the fact it's not nitro finish but otherwise build quality etc is right up there plus I'd be able to buy a couple Grecos if I sold off the Gibson with plenty left over for new pups etc.

 

[JDB]

Have you played the Greco yet? You should be able to answer that question yourself.

 

[Sarkon]

Yep, played the Greco but only for few minutes Today im taking guitar to the luthier. I want him to check the guitar and regulate it

 

[wulfman]

Yeah, I think you have to spend some time with it and see how it is. I'd bet on the Greco for old wood vs new.

 

[Sarkon]

Hello.

I took my guitar to luthier. And he said that the guitar neck probably was screwed to the body... Someone hidden the hole and painted in white. Seriously i don't know what to think. There were any Greco's Les Paul Custom 1989 with where the neck was screwed to the body?

 

[Mr Teeny]

Yes some of the later Grecos did have screwed necks have a look at this thread http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/other-les-pauls/265326-neck-join-strap-button-alien-device.html

Two screws on the inside too

 

[reborn old]

I thought 1 screw from the back into the tenon was a 1990's trait.
Would need pics to be sure what you are referring to.
Without wanting to sound alarmist, I would mainly be concerned with every fretted note sounding correctly.
If they don't, particularly on the bottom 8 to 10 frets above the body and heel, then a proper repair would probably cost more than the guitar is worth. If all fretted notes sound correctly without dead spots or buzzing sounds, and you are OK with cosmetics, then I wouldn't be too concerned.

 

[JDB]

There were some EG 1000Ds around in 1989 so I guess there could of been some of the lower models from 1990 as well. Could be a filled strap pin hole but I guess you will soon find out once you pull the pickup.
If someone has tried to deceive you then get your money back.

 

[Sarkon]

Thank you very much guys.

I will warn my luthier and he will check what is under the pickup.

One more question:

From Wikipedia:

The second format is YPPPP.

• Y = year (9=1979 0=1980 or 1990). (9 1899)
  
• PPPP = production number.

It's about a year of the production. According to Wikipedia and comparing format from my guitar, it seems that my Greco was made in 1979...Or I don't understand the way they were putting the serial number. Are you definitely sure that the Greco is from 1989? Im just wondering and want to know. That's all


1982
BTW:The "Mint Collection Series" with an open O Greco logo start (an O letter with the top part of the O letter removed). Most of the "Mint Collection Series" models with an open O Greco logo end in 1990. In the early 1990s most of the Greco guitars return to a closed O Greco logo but there were some open O Greco logo guitars made in the early 1990s as well.


According to above: I can see that it's really hard do verify individual guitar. In the first sentence we can read that there were some guitars with open "O" . But i 1990s they came back to "O" closed. But there were some Grecos with open O Really stresful job is to verify properly...

 

[JDB]

The truss rod cover is from the Mint collection also open O =1989. If it were 1979 then it would have a bell truss rod cover and closed O. also in the 70s the serial number had a letter pefix .

 

[jacco]

And the split diamond on the headstock is a nov 1988-feb 1990 spec

 

[Sarkon]

Hmmm

Im not very well in english but I feel that we cannot say in 100% what is the year of production this guitar?

The more im reading, the more doubts i have. Im worried if i bought korean cheap Greco version.

 

[jacco]

To be clear: this 100% sure a Japanese guitar made in 1989.

 

[Sarkon]

That is what i wanted to hear. Not, that is japanese production, but simple answer I can clearly understand

Of course if i get my Greco back, i will tell you if there neck was screwed or it was only a straplock hole.

 

[JDB]

Hmmm

Im not very well in english but I feel that we cannot say in 100% what is the year of production this guitar?

The more im reading, the more doubts i have. Im worried if i bought korean cheap Greco version.

100% 1989.

Until you open the pickup cavity and see 2 screws or not, we will not know much more. If it does have screws in the tenon the model number is EGC 480 the lowest model custom of that time.