I picked this up today. Loved it at first sight. It plays really well and has wonderful tone, even with those old strings. This is in fact my first Greco.
Has anyone here ever had one of these? I've only had a chance to do just a little research trying to figure out the details about it. Seems that there is a lot of info on 70s Greco LP copies, but not so much on these. I know there are some Greco guys here.
One of the things I'm curious about is the bridge pickup, which doesn't look like the others I've seen online. Wondering if it's been swapped.
GRECO 920 (1960s MIJ Semi Hollow)
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toomanycats
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“There are only two means of refuge from the miseries of life: Music and Cats!” Albert Schweitzer
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toomanycats
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“There are only two means of refuge from the miseries of life: Music and Cats!” Albert Schweitzer
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toomanycats
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“There are only two means of refuge from the miseries of life: Music and Cats!” Albert Schweitzer
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Gear_Junky
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Ah, one of those proto-Rondo guitar brands 
This leaves me hopeful that someday some of Rondo's instruments will have decent resale value (I know, I'm not holding my breath, but it makes for a good chuckle). Sounds like fun, I like how they played around with pickups back then. Today most of the import guitars just do cheap ceramic versions of the most mainstream pickups.
This leaves me hopeful that someday some of Rondo's instruments will have decent resale value (I know, I'm not holding my breath, but it makes for a good chuckle). Sounds like fun, I like how they played around with pickups back then. Today most of the import guitars just do cheap ceramic versions of the most mainstream pickups.
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toomanycats
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Some more pics and observations.
I think the nut may have been replaced, as it seems slightly narrower than the nut slot. As it is bone I would expect it to have yellowed to some degree if it is 50+ years old. However, it is very white.
I'm also surprised by the size of the frets, as my other other 60s/early 70s MIJ guitars (UNIVOX, Teisco, Heit, Silvertone, etc.) all have tiny frets. The fact that there is absolutely no wear on the frets also makes me suspicious that the guitar may have had a refret at some point with larger wire. If the frets are new, they are very well done, level, and impeccably dressed. By the excellent set up you can tell that somebody loved this guitar, that it was a player.
These pickups are apparently a kind of generic late 60s make that are found in various brands of MIJ guitars, including Greco. The magnet is ceramic, though the low output, as well as the warmth and "woodiness" imparted by the guitars hollow body (no center block, just a post under the bridge) seems to mellows out any spikiness or harshness, leaving a very full, responsive, and musical tone.
Below is link where a guy disassembles and rewinds pickups that look quit similar to those in my Greco 920. They are different in that they are both the same output as my neck pup, and they have adjustment screws instead of rods.
https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussi ... ic-pickups
The bridge pickup measures 7.53K. No markings on the base plate. Note the black and white cloth wires, which is different than the single grey wire on the neck pup. Definitely looks original to the period.
The neck pickup measures 4.76K.
A shot of the post beneath the bridge. No center block in this guitar. Acoustically it is quiet loud, full, and crisp.
I think the nut may have been replaced, as it seems slightly narrower than the nut slot. As it is bone I would expect it to have yellowed to some degree if it is 50+ years old. However, it is very white.
I'm also surprised by the size of the frets, as my other other 60s/early 70s MIJ guitars (UNIVOX, Teisco, Heit, Silvertone, etc.) all have tiny frets. The fact that there is absolutely no wear on the frets also makes me suspicious that the guitar may have had a refret at some point with larger wire. If the frets are new, they are very well done, level, and impeccably dressed. By the excellent set up you can tell that somebody loved this guitar, that it was a player.
These pickups are apparently a kind of generic late 60s make that are found in various brands of MIJ guitars, including Greco. The magnet is ceramic, though the low output, as well as the warmth and "woodiness" imparted by the guitars hollow body (no center block, just a post under the bridge) seems to mellows out any spikiness or harshness, leaving a very full, responsive, and musical tone.
Below is link where a guy disassembles and rewinds pickups that look quit similar to those in my Greco 920. They are different in that they are both the same output as my neck pup, and they have adjustment screws instead of rods.
https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussi ... ic-pickups
The bridge pickup measures 7.53K. No markings on the base plate. Note the black and white cloth wires, which is different than the single grey wire on the neck pup. Definitely looks original to the period.
The neck pickup measures 4.76K.
A shot of the post beneath the bridge. No center block in this guitar. Acoustically it is quiet loud, full, and crisp.
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“There are only two means of refuge from the miseries of life: Music and Cats!” Albert Schweitzer
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RiverDog
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Whoa! That's amazing Cats. I really dig the vibe.
Aaron
---------------
"What is perfect pitch?"
"Perfect pitch is when you toss a banjo into the dumpster, it hits an accordion and they both break."
---------------
"What is perfect pitch?"
"Perfect pitch is when you toss a banjo into the dumpster, it hits an accordion and they both break."
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RiverDog
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Aaron
---------------
"What is perfect pitch?"
"Perfect pitch is when you toss a banjo into the dumpster, it hits an accordion and they both break."
---------------
"What is perfect pitch?"
"Perfect pitch is when you toss a banjo into the dumpster, it hits an accordion and they both break."
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nomadh
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- Gearlist: My Gear:Electric
Gibson '13 studio dlx hsb
Gibson '79 flying V
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Gibson '15 LP CM w gforce
Epiphone Casino coupe
Epiphone dot studio
Fender USA strat w mjt body _w Original body 81
Fender lead II
Firefly spalted 338
Squier affinity tele bsb
Squier strat std relic
Squier subsonic baritone
Agile al2500 albino
Agile al3001 hsb
Sx ash Ltd strat
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Dean vendetta
Washburn firebird. Ps10
Johnson trans red strat
Johnson jazz box Vegas
Seville explorer
Inlaid tele
flametop bigsby tele wood inlaid neck
23
Acoustics
new Eastman acoustic
Sigma dm3 dread x2 (his and hers)
Fender 12 str
Ibanez exotic wood
Silvercreek rosewood 00
Ovation steel str
martin backpacker acoustic
Johnson dobro
I just love the way the old finish sinks into the grain and ages. And that old dry wood can be crazy light. For awhile I got to play an es175 iirc felt as light and delicate as a baby bird but it lived to be rode hard.
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toomanycats
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Sorry for bumping my own old post, but I came across this photo today of EVH playing a semi hollow Greco and wanted to attach it to the thread for reference purposes.
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“There are only two means of refuge from the miseries of life: Music and Cats!” Albert Schweitzer
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Partscaster
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Very nice and old looking. Stetson, vest, even spurs would look at home with that.
"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. The motions of his spirit are dull as night, and his affections dark as Erebus. Let no such man be trusted."