LP copies- Edwards/Greco/Burny e.t.c.

[Woogie]

Hehe.

Shame you aren't getting your Legra anymore :( :(

[sambo]

i know, im gutted.  


i will get one ONE day though... thats a fact... and i know EXACTLY what i want in my head now for when that time comes.


its just gonna be postponed for a looong-ish time.

[dave_mc]

Hehe.

Shame you aren't getting your Legra anymore :( :(

ditto, mine came in yesterday and it's awesome.

i've been looking into edwards, sambo, but my reasons are probably a bit different from yours (i'd prefer to buy new, prefer 43mm nut, etc.).

though i might take a chance with the edwards strat and tele, even if it is only 42mm (i think that's close enough, i've been noticing that narrower necks have been annoying me less recently...)

also, i'll have to buy blind, as i haven't tried them.

[sambo]

yer im a bit annoyed about it really... but hey ho, the money situation didnt work out.

glad your pleased with yours though dave- expecting a detailed review!

and yer the buying blind is the main issue with them really... with past experiences i dont want to buy something solely from recommendation...

although those Signatures are coming to close to making me break that rule of miine  

[dave_mc]

yeah, i'm a little worried about the thick neck too... though i think i'd probably be ok if I didn't try too much shred on it.

meh, i'll probably chance one anyway. problem is those edwards are always backordered, which is a pain...

i'll write up a review in a few days, i want to play it a bit more first!

[sambo]

yer ive heard a bit about that.

i think it was Twinfan.. ? who was saying hes waiting 'til december or november or something for a particular model to come in stock.

[dave_mc]

i don't know if it's that bad for the ones i'm after (i hope not), but when i last emailed ishibashi, it was around a month for the LP's and tele, and september for the strat. in the colours I wanted (as that affects it too).

[sambo]

not too bad then really.

the whole ordering from japan thing is tempting... but the extra costs of importing and shipping mean a Signature thats already in the UK would be cheaper.. and supposedly, at least as good as, if not better, than the edwards/greco e.t.c.

although in your case, as you said before, the buying from new, with the correct nut width e.t.c. is important. so that changes it a bit.

[dave_mc]

yeah, i think i have my sums right for the importing (i've been on the uk customs site), i think the LP comes in at just under £500, but i'd definitely try to make sure before I ordered.

[sambo]

yer that was the ballpark figure i arrived at as well.

not bad really, especially if the quality is as high as everyone says it is.

[Rob Stobbs]

Interesting timing for me!

I have been searching for a REALLY nice 335 for the past 3 years or so. I have played quite a few by now and whilst some have been nice enough, they have all suffered from some "fault" or problem that in my mind made me keep searching. The Holy Grail (as far as I was concerned) would have been a Stop Tail 345 from around 1960 through to 1963, but (a) They are Rare as Hen's Teeth (b) the Two that I did hook up with were NOT particularly nice examples and had been Modded. So, I widend the search and started looking at 335s as well.

Well........ I have FOUND ONE!!!

BUT......It isn't a Gibson :D .

It's actually a 1980 Greco!!!

It comes from the era before CNC Routing and is essentially a Hand Built Guitar. The Neck is a Dream, No Bassball Bat here, think of a Recent LP Standard and you're in the right Ball Park. The Fingerboard is Glorious, lovely Dark Piece of Brazilian Rosewood. All the Hardware is Nickel and has dulled down superbly!  The Pickups are the sought after "Dry-Z" PAF alikes. And it looks absolutely STUNNING. The Sound is absolutely Beautiful, a very nice Bass Response which then translates across the string range into a very Warm and responsive sound. Reminds me of the 345 that started me off on this quest.

So......Where did I get it?  I got it from a specialist Dealer who is based in France. Deals in nothing but "Vintage" (sic) Burny, Greco, Tokia, Navigator etc.

And How Much did I pay? Including shipping .............£1045.

OK.....There will no doubt be those who will say "But it hasn't got the Re Sale Value of a Gibson, Nor does it represent the investment value".

Wrong on Both Counts. The Guy that I have dealt with has already passed on 4 e.mails from Japanese Collectors whom are frantically searching for this particular model from this era. The Figures that I been quoted  are frankly unbelievable and IF I had been doing this as an Investment ONLY opportunity.....Well I would have received the highest return imaginable.

After lengthy talks with the Chap in France I now know where I am investing any spare Cash.  The Vintage Japanese Guitar Market is VERY Alive and Well Guys. You have been warned!!!

[ToneMonkey]

At the weekend, I picked up a strat copy from my wifes uncle.  It needs the electronics sorting, but it's been in his garage (without a case) for the last few years, so that's no suprise.  Everything is still dead straight though.

The guitar was built in Korea by Fenix guitars.  Wasn't that expensive, but is an absolute dream.  It's thicker than a strat and really heavy, the pups are also HB's (although in single coil format - they look like lace sensors).  It was built by Young Chang who now makes pianos.

I'd say it's definately worth a look.  I think I'm going to fix it and then steel it  :P

[Transcend]

The Ibanez LPs are rising in value, so you might find them out of your budget.

quote]

they go on ebay every now and then for about £150-200

[jt]

Interesting timing for me!

I have been searching for a REALLY nice 335 for the past 3 years or so. I have played quite a few by now and whilst some have been nice enough, they have all suffered from some "fault" or problem that in my mind made me keep searching. The Holy Grail (as far as I was concerned) would have been a Stop Tail 345 from around 1960 through to 1963, but (a) They are Rare as Hen's Teeth (b) the Two that I did hook up with were NOT particularly nice examples and had been Modded. So, I widend the search and started looking at 335s as well.

Well........ I have FOUND ONE!!!

BUT......It isn't a Gibson :D .

It's actually a 1980 Greco!!!

It comes from the era before CNC Routing and is essentially a Hand Built Guitar. The Neck is a Dream, No Bassball Bat here, think of a Recent LP Standard and you're in the right Ball Park. The Fingerboard is Glorious, lovely Dark Piece of Brazilian Rosewood. All the Hardware is Nickel and has dulled down superbly!  The Pickups are the sought after "Dry-Z" PAF alikes. And it looks absolutely STUNNING. The Sound is absolutely Beautiful, a very nice Bass Response which then translates across the string range into a very Warm and responsive sound. Reminds me of the 345 that started me off on this quest.

So......Where did I get it?  I got it from a specialist Dealer who is based in France. Deals in nothing but "Vintage" (sic) Burny, Greco, Tokia, Navigator etc.

And How Much did I pay? Including shipping .............£1045.

OK.....There will no doubt be those who will say "But it hasn't got the Re Sale Value of a Gibson, Nor does it represent the investment value".

Wrong on Both Counts. The Guy that I have dealt with has already passed on 4 e.mails from Japanese Collectors whom are frantically searching for this particular model from this era. The Figures that I been quoted  are frankly unbelievable and IF I had been doing this as an Investment ONLY opportunity.....Well I would have received the highest return imaginable.

After lengthy talks with the Chap in France I now know where I am investing any spare Cash.  The Vintage Japanese Guitar Market is VERY Alive and Well Guys. You have been warned!!!

 :D You cant write this & not give over a web site or Email address !

as it go`s the Yamaha LP series are excellent. the Lord Player NOT the Studio Lord, which is a bolt on neck made for the UK market the Lord Player was a set neck ( glued) for primarily the Jap market but they were so good people started importing them. this helped lead to Gibson taking out the lawsuit. As for neck size i`ve played Greco`s & didn`t think the necks were particuly thick the same with the Yamaha`s.

 :D  8)

[Rob Stobbs]

Muwahahahahahahaha   Oh YES I can!!! :D

But then again....... http://www.japanguitars.co.uk/index.htm

My next one is on there too.