This listing is for a Greco EG-500GS (Gold Top) from 1979, with a lacquer refinish.
 
The neck, like the original, is a 3-piece maple neck, a design adopted around 1975, making it resistant to twisting and structural stress. The 3-layer neck structure and the "volute" at the base of the headstock were rational designs for improving neck rigidity at the time.
It is also characterized by a stronger and tighter sound compared to mahogany.
The body has a 3-piece maple top, and the back is a pancake construction with a thin layer of maple sandwiched between mahogany.
The "pancake construction" of the body is a major characteristic of the original Les Paul Deluxe.
The back material consists of three layers of thin mahogany wood sandwiching a 1mm thick layer of maple, which, when viewed from the side, looks like stacked pancakes. This is also the same as the original.
 
Furthermore, it is equipped with Greco's original mini-humbucker (PU-113).
Mini humbuckers are characterized by their design, which integrates the pickup ring (frame) with the pickup itself.
The height is adjusted using screws on both sides, but the entire escutcheon moves up and down.
 
On the other hand, because the width of the pickup itself affects the sound, it has a clearer and brighter tone than PAF-type pickups.
 
Furthermore, this particular guitar has had its original gold top stripped and refinished with vintage gold nitrocellulose lacquer. The previous owner apparently felt the original gold color looked a bit cheap, so it was refinished with a color closer to the vintage gold of the 1950s. (This is what the shop staff told me when I purchased it.)
It's been about 5-6 years since it was refinished, so it's getting more and more mellow, and I think it will develop an even more vintage feel in the future.
 
In recent years, the popularity of 70's Gibson Les Paul Deluxe guitars has been steadily increasing, and consequently, their market prices have also been soaring.
Perhaps as a result of this trend, this Greco model has become extremely popular both overseas and within Japan. It is being traded on overseas websites for nearly 250,000 to 300,000 yen.
Originally, perhaps because of the small number of units produced, this model is one of the rarest in the EG series and is not often seen on the market.
 
In terms of external condition, there are some scratches on the back of the body, and some chip repair marks, small dents, and minor scratches on the sides and edges of the body.
There are small chips in the clear coat on the edge of the fretboard.
The metal parts, including each screw, bridge, and saddle, have been polished to a high degree and are in relatively good condition.
 
Currently, the string height at the 12th fret is approximately 2mm for the 6th string and 1.8mm for the 1st string. The neck condition is also good, as the frets have been adjusted previously.
The nut width is 44mm.
Overall length: approx. 105cm, String length: approx. 63cm, Weight: approx. 4.1kg
The frets have approximately 80-90% remaining.
The fretboard and frets have been regularly maintained and cleaned, so they are in good condition.