1974 Greco GR125 Very Good, GigBag, $150.00

If you’ve ever wanted to experiment with adding the subtlety of a classical or nylon string folk guitar to your gig list or repertoire, here may be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Greco is one of the earliest “lawsuit” guitar makers in Japan. They have been making guitars since the early 1960's at the Fijugen Gakki plant. Most of the 1960's guitars were original models, but in the early 1970's, they got into making replicas of original Fenders and Gibsons. At first, they didn't have the hardware to make really good, exact replicas, but by 1974 or so, they had the tools to match their excellent craftsmanship, and they put out some killer replicas.

Greco made more models of originals by Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacker, Gretsch, Zemaitis, lbanez, and other brands than all other companies combined. They beat Tokai to the lawsuit race by at least 5 years. Eventually, as the company found that the demand for their popular replicas grew and that the size of the production was getting too large, they relinquished their “Stratocaster” division to Fender Japan in late 1981. By 1989 the pressure to “cease and desist” production of copyright-infringing designs took its toll on Greco and they decided to change their headstocks and logos to avoid a confrontation with the American manufacturers.

While these increasingly collectible Greco guitars were primarily patterned after American electric guitars, Greco also made very good guitars of their own design, including this classical GR125 from the 1970s. There is abundant evidence of quality in the GR125’s fully bound spruce top and beautiful mahogany sides, neck, and back (also beautifully bound). The inlaid rosette design, the 12/19-fret rosewood fingerboard, the slotted headstock accented by the nylon-head chrome tuners, the tied rosewood bridge—all these are designed to parallel the traditional classical designs. Check out the pictures: for the money, this is one beautiful guitar!

With one notable exception, this guitar is like new with maybe one or two small unnoticeable dings in the beautiful high gloss finish. However, there is some sign of a repair at the base of the heel which seems to have no effect on the playability of the guitar. The neck is straight as an arrow, and the action is very easy to play. The nut width is 2 inches and it has a scale of 25.5 inches.

Since I don’t play a classical guitar very well, I can’t speak very reliably for its sound compared to other classicals, but it plays chords remarkably easily and it produces a strong sound compared to my Sigma steel-string. It’s light weight and very comfortable to handle, but it plays much bigger than it is. All in all, it’s a great little guitar even for my buy-it-now price, and would be an ideal way to start your nylon-string career.

The inexpensive black vinyl gig bag is also in very good condition. The zippers work perfectly, and it has straps. It’s light weight and easy to handle, but it offers more than adequate protection for this fun instrument.

Buyer pays a flat rate of $45 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.

I have made every effort to describe and illustrate this guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing.

Thank you for your interest in this cool guitar.