Greco Guitars

Overview

Greco is a Japanese brand of electric and acoustic guitars owned by Kanda Shokai Corporation, known for producing high-quality replicas of American designs during the 1960s-1980s 'lawsuit era' and continuing with original designs.²³⁵ It holds a niche position among vintage enthusiasts for craftsmanship that often rivaled originals, with modern instruments emphasizing value and tone.³⁵

History

Kanda Shokai, established in 1948, launched the Greco brand in 1960, initially producing original designs with similarities to American guitars.²⁴ In the 1970s, Greco shifted to replicas of Fender, Gibson, and other brands, manufactured at Fujigen Gakki, becoming a leader in 'lawsuit' copies.⁸⁹ The brand introduced popular series like GO, GO-II, GO-III, and Mirage in the late 1970s, and remains active with original designs today.⁴⁵

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Greco guitars were historically manufactured at the Fujigen Gakki factory in Japan.⁸⁹ Current production continues in Japan by Kanda Shokai, focusing on in-house quality control and original designs.⁵

Notable Products

• Greco GO - 1978 through-neck model with complex controls, known for playability and sales success.
• Greco EG430 - Lawsuit-era Stratocaster replica with high build quality.
• Greco SG Standard - Gibson SG copy popular in the 1970s Japanese market.
• Greco Mirage - Superstrat series from late 1970s with innovative features.
• Greco Les Paul Custom Replica - Detailed copy of Gibson's flagship, favored by collectors.

Reputation

Greco is revered by vintage enthusiasts for superior Japanese craftsmanship in 1970s-1980s replicas that often matched or exceeded American originals in quality.³⁸ Professionals and collectors value models like the GO series for playability, though some criticize early designs for being too imitative.⁴ The brand maintains respect for its ongoing production of reliable, value-driven instruments.⁵