The Greco EG 800 (Les Paul Copy) Part 1: Buying A Guitar From Japan?

[@ErebosGR]

Japanese sellers are incredibly kind because it's part of their culture of "omotenashi", which translates into "hospitality" and the message is "to offer the best service without the expectation of a reward". I know from people who have bought cameras and lenses on eBay from Japan and they've all gotten hand-written notes and little souvenirs. Congrats on the nice find. Tobacco burst is one of my favorite Les Paul finishes too.

[@erestube]

The roots of the word can actually be traced to achieving nirvana. Try that for your customers, salespeople!

[@tuberoast]

I had an 89 EG59-60, which I gigged with for quite some time. I sold it, quickly regretting it. My neighbor had an 84 EG59-50, he never learned to play guitar so he put it away. asked him about it and he asked me if I wanted to buy it. It's fabulous, and I am happy to have a Greco again.

[@qua7771]

What is the difference in those two guitars? I recently found a EG59-70, and I'm really liking it. I'm learning a little about the other model's, and years. I'm assuming the difference in yours is the pickups.

[@RandyWillcox]

I have 3 Greco Les Pauls. A 79 EG700 "59" cherry burst, an 84 JS55 John Sykes and an 89 RR60 Randy Rhoads. I love all of them! The best part of these guitars is the consistency. You'd have to order several Gibsons to find "the one". Grecos are so consistent that, unless it's been abused during its life, they will all be "the one".

[@qua7771]

I used to doubt Greco's based on nothin more than prejudjment. I got one two weeks ago, and I'm totally impressed. I agree with the consistancy in terms of playability, and sound quality. They diddn't seem as consistant with keeping with catalog specs though. I see the same model, and year with slightly different features. I guess that is how guitar manufacturing was back then. I like it enough to have ordered another one. I hope it's as good.

[@LittleTinyKittens]

I have two of them now as well…. A 1978 Black Beauty and a 1979/80 Classic… KILLER guitars!

[@aperezdeal]

I've purchased two les pauls from JP Sounds. Great service!

[@aaronbrown0417]

Your recommendation was spot on ordered a aria pro ii leopard model les paul last Friday shipped on Saturday and was at my house on Tuesday... they're VERY QUICK. Got it for 502 bucks including shipping

[@trvpmoostaine136]

are these guitars only in used market ? cuz i only find them in expensive prices in reverb

[@steve1300]

Awesome guitar man! I got my 59-45 from the same seller. The quality of these blew me away when I first got it out the box. I thought I had a good Epiphone but after playing this my Epi feels like a plastic toy. Love the color on yours!

[@steve1300]

He also gave me a fan ;) haha

[@LucasFowler]

@@steve1300 I got a fan and this cool handwritten note in english and japanese. So neat! I just bought another one from him that I should be seeing next week, an EG-600 Custom with 3 pickups in Cherry Sunburst, can't wait!

[@PhoenixGuitars]

I’ve gotten a few guitars from JP Sounds. Really great to work with and packing is first rate. You needn’t fear buying from his shop or eBay store!

[@MistaF]

NICE deal. Now sell to me!! 20ish years ago I bought a (not every expensive) pedal? from Hawaii.. I'll be darned if they didn't send a large box of chocolate covered macadamias. People can be great. I love those surprises. It encouraged me to be a little more generous where I could be, when dealing, ever since.

[@IH8Grifters]

Ibanez Artist series from late 70’s-early 80’s are also killer!

[@theruley]

Thank you so much for this video series! I am on the hunt for a nice les paul and something japanese is the direction i think i am going in!

[@LucasFowler]

I wish you happy hunting! If you're patient and do your research you can get a great guitar on the cheap :)

[@davidallen346]

Can't believed you bought that guitar for $550 with shipping

[@andrewcruz7595]

Found one on reverb for $350 + $100 for shipping from Japan

[@sebizbir]

What do you think about Edwards series or Tokai?

[@TheYetti1]

Dayummmm Sick Playing my man!

[@TheYetti1]

And insane value Hells yeah...you normally see them going, anywhere else 6-700+!!

[@LucasFowler]

Thanks! I'm totally amazed at how awesome this guitar is, not even factoring in how much(or little) I paid for it. I can definitely see myself getting another one on down the line, hopefully an LP Custom style in Cherry or Tobacco burst, I love the way those 70's Gibsons look, even if they weren't the best era :P

[@LittleTinyKittens]

My 1978 Greco Black Beauty Peter Frampton is the best Les Paul I have ever had my hands on, with ONE exception…. Peter Frampton’s ACTUAL Phenix…..

[@johnpulaski3293]

This popped up in my fed again. $550 shipped from Japan with a hard case. That’s 1/3rd of what they’re going for in 2023.

[@LucasFowler]

I actually just bought a 77' EG900 from the same guy shipped to me for just under $700 :P

[@Asshat237]

I’m pretty sure there is no customs charge for items that cost less than $700.

[@nige99]

August 77 A is January and so on

[@GibsonVOS58]

Nice, how much does it weigh?

[@nickyp8708]

Killer tone👍

[@ddoydadi736]

Please help how to buy it

[@pedestrian_0]

Can't really find any Eg-800 selling under $800~ and it's the only guitar i desire. Anything from Japan that's similar in quality?

[@LucasFowler]

They come up periodically, you just have to be patient, willing to bargain and ok with buying a guitar from pictures. Here are a couple 700's which are pretty close to the 800. I think the 700's may have rosewood boards where as the 800's have ebony, Remember to haggle! I talked my deal down from about $800 plus shipping to $550 shipped! reverb.com/item/20535759-greco-eg700r-1976-red-sunburst-gig-bag reverb.com/item/26679259-greco-egc-700

[@RavenMadd9]

Great deal

[@zentime8047]

I have an eg59-100. Great guitar!

[@FrankBuyers...guitarista-iu3zg]

If that headstock doesn't say Gibson or Epiphone it's not a Authentic Les Paul plain and simple you can try and twist it all you want and come up bs answer but the facts are not a Gibson or Epiphone it's not a Authentic Les Paul or Sg period

[@danvex_]

Lol, if you know the guitar history, these are called Lawsuit guitars for a reason. Fujigen/Matsumoku are wonderful factories that produced a dozen of Japanese guitar replicas and even their own designs. Be it authentic or not - it doesn't play any worse, albeit it might sound differently, but definitely not in a bad way.

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

@@danvex_ umm lawsuits or no lawsuits the real Les Paul guitar are epiphone and Gibson period

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

@@danvex_ and this whole Japanese thing with being better than MIA or MIM fender Strats is straight up BS it's a marketing con job to get people like you to fall for it and buy...the majority of us actually know better and don't fall for it

[@danvex_]

@@BlueberryStinkFinger62 Lmao, what gives if the quality doesn't differ from said Epiphone or Gibson? I've read forums here and there and everyone claims that lawsuit guitars are the same, if not any better than aforementioned Gibson models, albeit everyone has their own preferences and opinion - there is still factual evidence out there that proves the build quality, precise measurements and good quality electronics in MIJ guitars

[@qua7771]

​@@BlueberryStinkFinger62The '70's, and '80's Gibsons were mediocre. Greco's quality was consistantly better in that era. Then around 1988 Gibson contracted with the same manufacturers to make the Orvile by Gibson. In that reguard you could say they are Gibsons. There is no majic in the Gibson logo. The early greco's were never exported for retail to the US, so there was no law suit. Ibanez was sent a cease, and desist notice.