1975 Greco SA-800WR Vintage ES-345 Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar w/ Varitone, Japan Fujigen
1975 Greco SA-800WR Vintage ES-345 Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar w/ Varitone, Japan Fujigen
Up for sale is a 1975 Greco pre-catalog SA-800WR model, in exceptional and fully original condition, complete with its original aluminum frame case. Extremely rare, this high-end Greco semi-hollowbody is one of the finest (and only) "lawsuit era" Japanese instruments to closely mirror the features of a Gibson ES-345 TDC, with a finish that toes the line between a deep Cherry and Wine Red.
This is one of the earliest, if not the earliest, SA-800 examples we’ve ever encountered, featuring both original Maxon PAF-style PU-2 humbuckers, dated to 1975. Additionally, 1975 appears to be the most likely year of production, as indicated by the absence of a serial number and label inside the F-hole—an omission commonly seen across the entire Greco archtop and ES range during this particular period.
It features a sycamore (English Maple) body, a maple centre-block flanked by spruce, a slender C profile three-piece maple neck, a striped ebony fingerboard, with fret-nib binding and split parallelogram inlays.
It also features a Greco version of the Varitone switch, which significantly alters the tone using a range of capacitors. A particularly desirable aspect of the Varitone on this model is that it operates in mono rather than stereo, so it doesn't require two amplifiers or special cables for use.
In truly spectacular cosmetic condition for its vintage, this ES-345 clone boasts a remarkably clean exterior, with only a few minor, unobtrusive marks and light polishing scratches. The original gold hardware retains its coating and shine, with the only real indication of the guitar's age being the beautifully aged but fully intact binding. There are a couple of small, clean screw holes on the lower side of the body, suggesting it was once fitted with a trapeze tailpiece, but it has since been returned to its original setup.
The neck and fretboard are equally clean, with all 22 frets showing minimal wear and plenty of life remaining. The neck offers an uninterrupted, incredibly smooth playing experience, making it a joy to play. Finally, the stock electronics operate flawlessly, delivering the intended performance, while both PAF-style Maxon PU-2 humbuckers preserve their distinctive tone and power. This one weighs in around 7.3lbs.
It’s been expertly cleaned and setup by Ben of Beej Guitar Repairs with a fresh set of 10-46 strings
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and thanks for looking!
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