1979 Greco EG-800PR — Ace Frehley Model

I’ve generally avoided replica models, but this one is an exception — for a simple reason: sentimental attachment.

When I was in my first year of junior high school, I heard KISS Alive! for the first time, and it was nothing short of a shock.
The guitar solo on “Got to Choose” shook me to the core.
For me, my guitar hero was never Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, or Ritchie Blackmore — it was Ace Frehley.
He was unmistakably original, and his phrasing sounded like no one else’s.

And then there was the sight of those three cream-colored open-coil humbuckers, a visual that burned itself into my young mind.
At that age, when even the number of buttons on a school uniform sleeve seemed like a competition, I was naturally impressed by the sheer number of pickups.

When Greco released this replica model, I wanted it desperately.
But as a 13-year-old boy, it was far beyond what I could afford.
Time passed, my musical tastes evolved, and Ace Frehley gradually shifted from being my favorite guitarist to becoming a cherished memory.

Now, about the guitar itself—

When I finally acquired it, I was struck by its excellent condition.
It must have been kept as a collector’s piece, since most replica models tend to remain unmodified and well preserved.

With Grover tuners, an ebony fingerboard, and mother-of-pearl inlays, the specifications are easily on par with, or even superior to, the EG-1000—especially considering the cost of the pickups.
That it originally sold for ¥80,000 suggests Greco fully expected it to be a strong seller.

Weight: 4.77 kg (including strings)
(Updated August 24, 2016)