Had a 1979 Aria Pro 2 Gibson copy that was every bit as good as a Gibson, and I've had many Gibsons since 1981. I'd play a Greco of this, era all day long.
The 850 is a wee bit more mellow, while the mint series has a bit more bite to it. Depending on what I’m playing would determine the guitar. But if I could only use one at a gig it would probably be the 850. Both incredible guitars!
@@DunsysGuitarWorld I want to tell you that I never ever considered a Japanese made guitar until I stumbled onto your RUclips channel a couple of years ago. Your review of a Tokai Les Paul Goldtop… how it looked and played… blew me away. I’m now totally sold on them - Tokai, Aria Pro ii, Greco - I have about 20 now! All of them in the late 70’s to mid to early 80’s. Incredible guitars! Thank you…
@@DunsysGuitarWorld thanks for the compliment, but I rate your playing well above mine, I'm just a noodler, you've got some tasty riffs that you put together for your videos.
Two nice guitars Dunsy, I'd prefer either one too a gibson of that era. cant really hear a difference as i'm listening on a laptop. Cheers, thanks for posting.
Comprehensive comparison. To my ear I think the sounds difference is quite subtle, initially though the 59 was warmer, but going back listening again, decided I didnt know what I was talking about! Anyway, both great guitars. Greco from the 80s are all brilliant (you can stretch that back into late 70s and early 90s too), certainly from the ones I have had and tried.
Yeah, I think there's not a lot in it sound wise - playing them both, I consider the EGF just to be a better feeling guitar. It's a proper vintage LP style of instrument. That said, the EG59 has featured in a lot more of my gigs. But that could be because I didn't want the EGF dinged up!
Awesome stuff mate, especially your high-gain sounds 👍 Double Tricks were also standard in the EGC68-80 Mint Collection Custom. Mine sounded okay, but nothing stood out. Put some cheaply acquired Duncan Zephyr Silvers in, got some kerrang then. Later got an EGF850 with PU-2s gone and 490/498 in, which were awful. The Tricks were transplanted into it, and it is an arsekicker. I noticed the 850 has a body/neck resonance that the 68/80 lacks, and a later-purchased egf1200 also has this resonance, on a higher level. The 68-80 has the long tenon and a beautiful 2pce solid maple cap, with faint flames, and ebony fretboard. The 850 has beautiful African Rosewood board, 1200 has Brazilian. All 3 have Mother Of Pearl inlays. The 68-80 is the Violin Burst, IMHO the best Burst finish. So, from my small sample lot, the MC has the aesthetic aspects truer to vintage spec, but the SRs had something going on with wood selection/tap testing. The Dry Zs in the 1200 are as good as all reports, more testament to the lengths the builders went to with this series.
Nice info, Sir. I must say that I do love the Violin Burst guitars from that era. I can see why they command a bigger price. I've owned maybe 6 or 7 MC Les Pauls (nothing higher than a 600 though) and they were all great guitars, but there is just something that feels a bit better about the EGF guitars. I can only imagine that once you get well above the 850 and into the Dry Z's, then it's something to behold.
@@DunsysGuitarWorld Yeah the 1200 is a beautiful thing, but the 850 is no slouch. Sometimes I reach for it first, to get a rockier sound . The 1200 gets the boogie blues/early ZZ Top/Stones thing, 8fiddy can get to Motorhead/ACDC/Thin Lizzy more readily. I had the 68-80 set up for slide, and it was zeroing in on Rose Tattoo 😎
I hate to tell all of the Greco lovers now that includes me too now so. But the mint collection is higher grade and spec then the super real series I have done alot of research on these out of Japan and from what I gather and other people who are really into these know that the Mint Collection is higher spec just beautiful guitars.....I own a 1989 EG59-70-75 not sure which model....
@@DunsysGuitarWorld From all the info I have seen in the Greco catalogs Yeah I think In construction, And Am pretty sure the mint collection Is supposed to be higher end...What's your take Dunsys??
@@DunsysGuitarWorld Was not trying to say I know all about these Just stating what I think so don't take me to serious just my opinion If that is worth anything lol..
Absolutely no problem at all, Sir! I was just interested in why they were - I've owned a few MC Les Pauls, but none of them have been any higher than an EG600, so I'm not really that familiar with them (other than this EG59-70). I'm always happy to hear what people have to say, I can assure you I'm definitely not an expert!
Yeah, 100%. It’s been filled with something, I think. Not sure what the previous owner was doing but, given that they put a trem on it, I can only imagine! 😂
Only 1984 Greco I’ve had was an RR95K - a white Les Paul Custom with a Kahler. Unfortunately it didn’t have the original pickups when I got it. A lovely guitar, but super heavy at almost 11lbs.
I have an odd ball which i'm struggling to identify, it's a 1982 super real with screamin pickups, the colour is a bit strange, it's like a dark cherry red.
Not sure buddy - there are lots of anomalies and transitional models which span different lines. Could be the end of the Super Real run guitar with the new screamin pickups?
Had a 1979 Aria Pro 2 Gibson copy that was every bit as good as a Gibson, and I've had many Gibsons since 1981. I'd play a Greco of this, era all day long.
I think the period from 1979-1983 was the perfect time for these guitars - absolutely brilliant for the money.
Nice to hear lp's with proper tenons and screw in posts. Gibson could learn a lot about nuanced sounds. Keep on trucking. Steve.
Thanks for checking it out Steve - yeah, definitely great guitars.
The 59 seems to have a slightly clearer and crispier bite. A great in depth comparison. Great work. Thank you.
Thank ya for checking it out - lovely guitars.
Dunsy,
Excellent video on two loverly guitars.👍🍺
Both sound great but if I had to choose one on sound it would be EGF850 👍😎
Those Super Real guitars are fantastic, I have to say.
Super real for my taste, sounds ballsier and has the 'look'.
A class act, definitely up there with high end Gibson stuff. And I say that very much as a Gibson fan.
The 850 is a wee bit more mellow, while the mint series has a bit more bite to it. Depending on what I’m playing would determine the guitar. But if I could only use one at a gig it would probably be the 850. Both incredible guitars!
I agree - for recording stuff I tend to use the 850, but for gigging I’ve used the Mint Collection guitar a lot more.
@@DunsysGuitarWorld
I want to tell you that I never ever considered a Japanese made guitar until I stumbled onto your RUclips channel a couple of years ago. Your review of a Tokai Les Paul Goldtop… how it looked and played… blew me away. I’m now totally sold on them - Tokai, Aria Pro ii, Greco - I have about 20 now! All of them in the late 70’s to mid to early 80’s. Incredible guitars!
Thank you…
I'm not sure if you should be thanking me or blaming me, lol! Great to hear that you're enjoying those fine guitars.
Awesome video mate, the EGF850 takes the win for me here, could be a biased opinion though, because, well you know. 😂
Sounds better in your hands too!
@@DunsysGuitarWorld thanks for the compliment, but I rate your playing well above mine, I'm just a noodler, you've got some tasty riffs that you put together for your videos.
Two beautiful looking and great sounding guitars. Keep up the great work!
Thanks David, appreciate you checking it out.
Great video Dunsy love that you love Greco's and you play great man god bless....
Thanks buddy, appreciate you checking it out. Yeah, fantastic guitars for sure.
Two nice guitars Dunsy, I'd prefer either one too a gibson of that era. cant really hear a difference as i'm listening on a laptop. Cheers, thanks for posting.
Thank ya for checking it out, sir.
Comprehensive comparison. To my ear I think the sounds difference is quite subtle, initially though the 59 was warmer, but going back listening again, decided I didnt know what I was talking about! Anyway, both great guitars. Greco from the 80s are all brilliant (you can stretch that back into late 70s and early 90s too), certainly from the ones I have had and tried.
Yeah, I think there's not a lot in it sound wise - playing them both, I consider the EGF just to be a better feeling guitar. It's a proper vintage LP style of instrument. That said, the EG59 has featured in a lot more of my gigs. But that could be because I didn't want the EGF dinged up!
Those pickups sound quite juicy man, good show...👍🔥🎸🎼🙏
Cheers Josh, appreciate you checking it out.
Good video thanks. Agree pretty close but I prefer the 850 sound. It looks great too.
Great work Dunsy, both guitars sound awesome man 😀🤘🎵🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Thanks Adam, appreciate you checking it out - hope you're well.
Hello from Brazil ☕️ 🎸🎸🎸👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎸🎸
Rock on!
Ace used greco on the japan akive 2 tour theres a few pics of him playing them
Awesome stuff mate, especially your high-gain sounds 👍 Double Tricks were also standard in the EGC68-80 Mint Collection Custom. Mine sounded okay, but nothing stood out. Put some cheaply acquired Duncan Zephyr Silvers in, got some kerrang then. Later got an EGF850 with PU-2s gone and 490/498 in, which were awful. The Tricks were transplanted into it, and it is an arsekicker. I noticed the 850 has a body/neck resonance that the 68/80 lacks, and a later-purchased egf1200 also has this resonance, on a higher level. The 68-80 has the long tenon and a beautiful 2pce solid maple cap, with faint flames, and ebony fretboard. The 850 has beautiful African Rosewood board, 1200 has Brazilian. All 3 have Mother Of Pearl inlays. The 68-80 is the Violin Burst, IMHO the best Burst finish. So, from my small sample lot, the MC has the aesthetic aspects truer to vintage spec, but the SRs had something going on with wood selection/tap testing. The Dry Zs in the 1200 are as good as all reports, more testament to the lengths the builders went to with this series.
Nice info, Sir. I must say that I do love the Violin Burst guitars from that era. I can see why they command a bigger price. I've owned maybe 6 or 7 MC Les Pauls (nothing higher than a 600 though) and they were all great guitars, but there is just something that feels a bit better about the EGF guitars. I can only imagine that once you get well above the 850 and into the Dry Z's, then it's something to behold.
@@DunsysGuitarWorld Yeah the 1200 is a beautiful thing, but the 850 is no slouch. Sometimes I reach for it first, to get a rockier sound . The 1200 gets the boogie blues/early ZZ Top/Stones thing, 8fiddy can get to Motorhead/ACDC/Thin Lizzy more readily. I had the 68-80 set up for slide, and it was zeroing in on Rose Tattoo 😎
👍🏻👍🏻 Love a bit of Greco action!
Fantastic guitars!
👏👏🤘
Can't find them in left hand though...... those ones do look great.
There’s a left handed EGF1200 on EBay - must have been a customer order - at a mere, get this, £10,000!!!!!
My brother ❤
my mates got a Greco Marc Bolan incredible guitar
Sweet! A rare guitar.
I hate to tell all of the Greco lovers now that includes me too now so. But the mint collection is higher grade and spec then the super real series I have done alot of research on these out of Japan and from what I gather and other people who are really into these know that the Mint Collection is higher spec just beautiful guitars.....I own a 1989 EG59-70-75 not sure which model....
Ah, interesting- higher spec in terms of pickups/construction/material?
@@DunsysGuitarWorld From all the info I have seen in the Greco catalogs Yeah I think In construction, And Am pretty sure the mint collection Is supposed to be higher end...What's your take Dunsys??
@@DunsysGuitarWorld Was not trying to say I know all about these Just stating what I think so don't take me to serious just my opinion If that is worth anything lol..
Absolutely no problem at all, Sir! I was just interested in why they were - I've owned a few MC Les Pauls, but none of them have been any higher than an EG600, so I'm not really that familiar with them (other than this EG59-70). I'm always happy to hear what people have to say, I can assure you I'm definitely not an expert!
The inlays on the 59 look strange, it's like they're fading away as you go up the neck and then the 21st fret marker has disappeared completely!
Yeah, 100%. It’s been filled with something, I think. Not sure what the previous owner was doing but, given that they put a trem on it, I can only imagine! 😂
What do you think about Greco 1984 mint collection I have one of them whit screaming pickups ?
Only 1984 Greco I’ve had was an RR95K - a white Les Paul Custom with a Kahler. Unfortunately it didn’t have the original pickups when I got it. A lovely guitar, but super heavy at almost 11lbs.
I have an odd ball which i'm struggling to identify, it's a 1982 super real with screamin pickups, the colour is a bit strange, it's like a dark cherry red.
Not sure buddy - there are lots of anomalies and transitional models which span different lines. Could be the end of the Super Real run guitar with the new screamin pickups?
A Nice pair prefer the 59 Mint
That’s my go to LP if I’m going anywhere for a jam.
I have a greco acoustic in my shopping cart just now,,,finger hovering over the trigger...Built at fujigen I think...
Those PU-2 pickups are the cats pajamas.
Yeah, very nice indeed. Classic Rock right there.
The Super Real certainly has the looks but when it comes sounds, it’s no Stylophone. Perhaps that’s just as well.
My R&D team are working on incorporating the legendary Stylophone into one of these legendary Japanese Les Pauls. For the 1st April 2025! 😆
You caught your finger in your G string 🫣
G strings can be dangerous you know 😏
Both great sounding guitars. Thank you!
Bloody sore it was too, lol 😂