1977 Greco EG-800GS

Today, guitars equipped with P-90-style pickups are highly sought after — but back when this model was first released, they were anything but popular.
At the time, few well-known rock guitarists were using this pickup type.
If you wanted a single-coil sound, you bought a Fender — that was the norm.
Les Pauls with P-90s were very much a niche choice.

In Japan, much of the credit for the popularity of this style goes to Char (Hisato Takenaka).
He frequently appeared on television in those days, often playing a 1968 Gibson Goldtop.
It was through him that many of us first discovered the unique voice of the P-90 — fat yet crisp, with that unmistakable bite that so many guitarists have come to love.

I lined up the three Japanese-made Goldtops in my collection for comparison.
The Navigator (bottom left in the photo) shows signs of verdigris forming near the tailpiece, caused by oxidation of the brass powder in the original lacquer.
The finish on this EG-800GS is very similar, but since it’s a polyurethane coating, the brass powder is sealed off from the air, preventing oxidation.
Interestingly, I once owned another EG-800GS that did show green oxidation, but only where the finish had been scratched.
The Fernandes RLG-60 ’56 Model in the center, by contrast, has a distinctly warmer, more yellowish gold hue.

Weight: 4.76 kg (including strings)
(Updated August 24, 2016)