1979 Greco EG850 Limited Edition Flame Top Burst Cherry Sunburst w/ Ebony Board, Maxon PU-2s & Case, Japan Fujigen

Up for sale, a 1979 Greco EG850 Limited Edition in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. This exceedingly rare Greco model, produced in tiny quantities, can be seen as the immediate predecessor to Greco’s much-lauded Super Real series of instruments, prized for their strict adherence to vintage spec. Just like those later guitars, this EG850 Limited Edition delivers the Gibson-inspired goods; while this guitar doesn't strictly fall under the "lawsuit" umbrella (there was never any legal action taken against Greco specifically), the legacy of these Japanese instruments is forever attached to the term.

Boasting a solid mahogany body, tightly figured tiger maple veneer over a carved maple top, mahogany neck, and a bound ebony fingerboard, the tonewood complement yields a lively and powerful sounding instrument, qualities faithfully captured by a pair of Maxon-made “double white” PU-2 humbuckers. Featuring Alnico V magnets and wax potting for optimal feedback rejection, these pickups are wound just under 8k ohms, delivering a bevy of quintessential Les Paul-centric tones. The bridge pickup has a complex and detailed sound, with a touch of growl, sweet mids, and rich, round bass response, and the neck humbucker delivers more girth and fullness while still offering plenty of clarity. This EG850 Limited Edition weighs 9lbs 4oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Mahogany
-Shape: Slender ‘60s-style C, measuring .800” 1st fret, .935” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, mother of pearl flared trapezoid inlays
-Frets: Medium jumbo, faint wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-5
-Scale Length: 24 3/4”
-Nut: 1 11/16”, bone
-Headstock: "Open book" shape, “Limited Edition” script
-Tuners: Grover Rotomatics (replacement)
-Serialization: L79-prefix (December, 1979)

Body Specs:

-Wood: Maple, mahogany
-Pickups: PU-2 humbucker x2 (vintage-correct replacements, 1978 date stamps on baseplates)
-Harness: Full-size Japanese pots date to April/May, 79 (Bridge Volume replaced CTS 500k)
-Hardware: ABR-1-style bridge and stopbar (nickel-plated)
-Plastics: Gold reflector cap knobs (replacement), cream pickup surrounds and switch tip

The gloss ”Flame Grain” finish is a vibrant sunburst, highlighting the tight and lively flame of the curly maple veneer and presenting as many genuine ‘50s Bursts do, with significant diffusion of the original Cherry Sunburst color. Cosmetic wear includes buckle rash on the back at the bass-side lower bout, some small dings along the lower bout perimeter, and a few tiny nicks and scuffs on the bass side of the top. The gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean, with just a couple shallow marks along the profile length.

A molded hardshell case is included.