Greco (guitar)

History

The Greco mark appeared with beginning of the year 60 but starting official is located around 1966/1967 with the impression of the first catalogs.

Greco with the group Kanda Shokai, a company which imports and distributes musical instruments in all Japan. In the Sixties, they decide to add the manufacture of their own brand to their activities. At the beginning, the Greco label is reserved for the electric models, the acoustic guitars being called Canda.

The mark starts by producing models with screwed handles: solid body typified telecaster, half-case or the low ones in the shape of violin. In 1970, benefitting from the boom of the Hard rock in Japan, Greco leaves the counterparts of Gibson, marks too much expensive for the Japanese consumer at the time. The first models of the Paul have a screwed handle and approximate proportions (too large head, a little small body), but from 1975/76, probably while using some Gibson original like models, the company manages to manufacture instruments respecting the proportion of original and with a stuck handle. It is also at the same time that the premirs serial numbers appear. The mark copies at the time the model contemporaries from Gibson and Fender. But a change will take place:

In 1980, Greco launches the series “super real”, a range which retorts absolutely perfectly the mythical models which made the reputation of the two American giants until in depth. This series will last until 1982. At that time, the copies of Fender models disappear. Indeed, Fender, impressed by the copies manufactured by Kanda Shokai, decides to make manufacture part of its production in Japan. Management is entrusted by it jointly to Yamano and Kanda Shokai.

In 1982, the collection “super real” is replaced by the range of the “mint collection”, which will perdurera until 91/92. The " mint collection" also takes again Gibson models but, the mask of the truss rod is modified and the binding on freight abandoned. Generally, beginning of the year 90 marks the end of the Japanese copies at the various marks, under the pressure of Gibson which imposes its mark Orville/Orville by Gibson until 1998.

The Kanda group initially makes manufacture its instrument with the factory Matsumoku, one of the factories pionnières in the manufacture of electric guitars in Japan and which will manufacture €piphone, Aria and Aria pro II, its own brand Westone, etc… kanda Shokai moves small with small its production starting from the middle of the Seventies at Fujigen Gakki, another factory which will manufacture much for Ibanez and Fernandes and Dyna gakki, a factory which manufactures much Fender Japan current.

Fujigen gakki is, at the time, the principal manufacturer for the group groups Hoshino, which has the mark Ibanez. Greco and Ibanez will have several joint models, of which celebrates it Mirage/Iceman, guitar carried out for Paul Stanley of group KIS. But the two companies are not dependant in addition to measurement, Ibanez fabriquant mainly for export and Greco being a mark confined with the Japanese territory, the two marks belong to quite distinct groups. Greco is probably the most famous mark in Japan because their catalog presented guitars for all the budgets, of the guitarist beginning with the experienced musician, everyone finds its account there.

Moreover it is the only Japanese mark has to be really left the stakes Gibson, Rickenbacker and Fender.

All the American mythical guitars were copied: Gretsch, Danelectro, famous low Ampeg and daN Armstrong, etc During 10 years, all passes there.

For a few years, Kanda Shokai has mainly developed series under Zeimatis license in collaboration with the English mark which have great reputation. Kanda Shokai has also the Ornetts mark.

Production and classification

Greco are in general equipped with mechanics and rests made in Gotoh, the microphones can be manufactured at Maxon (U-1000, screaming and U-2000) and, as from the Eighties, at Gotoh (Dry) also for the top-of-the-range models. II - Production and serial number The system of classification for the Greco guitars functions as follows:

Before 1975, the guitars do not have a serial number. It is the typo of the logo " Gneco" or the parts which will indicate the year.

System 1 1975 - 1994, Classification with 1 letter and 6 digits EX=K773422 means: - K = month of production (has =Janvier, B = February… K = November, L = December) - 77 (2 following figures) = year of production (77 = 1977,79 = 1979) - 3422 (the last 4 digits) = sequence of production. The guitar manufactured at Matsumoku in door generally the plug, tandsic that the plug " Matsumoto" indicate Fujigen.

System 2 It is about a classification with 5 digits inspired of Gibson S/N. It is applied to the super real series and then to the mint collection series. EX= 04236 means: - First figures = year of production (0 = 1980 or 1990,2 = 1982 or 1992) - 4236 (last 4 digits) sequence production. Dyna gakki uses a slightly different system: Month/year sequence of production.

System 3 After 95= identical to system 1

The models higher than 700 in the range have a varnish nitro As for the other marks, the designation of is done by two letters accompanied by a figure. EGF= the standard Paul flametop, EGC= the Paul Custom, EG= the standard Paul, EJr= the Paul junior, EGS= the Special Paul, MM or MG= melody maker, FV= flying V, PB= low precision, JB= low jazz, low TB= thunderbird, low EB= Eb, SS= SG models, JM, jazzmaster, JG= jaguar, ST= strats, TE= telecasters, SA= (semi-accoustic) models typees-335, FA= (full accoustic) models standard be-150, L= models L-5 type

microphones

Models " super real" and microphones assembled in series:

EGF1800 DRY
EGF1200 DRY
EGF1000 PAF
EG1000C DRY
EG900 PAF
EGF850 PU-2
EG800GS HOT LICK
EG800C PU-2
EG800PB U-2000
EG800PR U-2000
EG800 PU-2
EG700 U-2000
EG600PB U-1000
EG600PR U-1000
EG500 U-1000
EG500C UD
EF500J U-1000
EG500GS UD-DX
EG480 UD
EG450 UD

Modèles" mint collection" and Microphones assembled in series:

EG58-120 DRY
EG-59-70 DOUBLE TRICK
EG-56-60 HOT LICK
EG-59-50 SCREAMIN
EG59-45 SCREAMIN
EJR54-50 HOT LICK
SS63-70 DOUBLE TRICK
SS63-50 HOT LICK
EG59-65 SCREAMIN
JP-55 SCREAMIN
EGC95K DRY
EGC68-50 SCREAMIN
JS-98K DRY
JS-65 DRY
JS-55 SCREAMIN
RR95K DRY
RR65 DRY
RR55 SCREAMIN
EGC58-100 GROOVE
EGC68-80 DOUBLE TRICK
EGC57-60 SCREAMIN
PC-98K DRY

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