Guide / SELECTED VINTAGE GUITARS
Gibson electric guitar or a Japanese Les Paul-style instrument? Greco and Yamaha after workshop care
Looking for a Les Paul-style guitar? Compare our Greco EG800 and Yamaha Studio Lords before choosing a new Gibson. Here are their construction details, prices and completed repairs.
What draws you to a Gibson?
Two humbuckers, a single-cut body and independent pickup volume controls are often where a Les Paul conversation starts. If these features and a satisfying sound are your priorities, it is worth including Japanese Greco and Yamaha Studio Lord guitars in the search.
At Guitar Lab, we believe a carefully selected Japanese guitar after skilled workshop care can be a better playing purchase than a more expensive new instrument. That is our judgement from repairs and comparisons with musicians. Let the neck, response and comfort convince you.
A specific reference: Les Paul Standard 50s
Gibson’s current Les Paul Standard 50s specification lists a mahogany body with maple top, mahogany neck, 24.75-inch scale and two Burstbucker humbuckers. Those details describe one model, not every Gibson. Compare clearly identified instruments.
Japanese LP-style guitars developed through careful interpretations of popular American designs. Their appeal today also lies in the range of necks, hardware and individual configurations. A familiar silhouette does not guarantee identical construction; the differences may be exactly what suits you.
Greco EG800: traditional construction and replacement frets
Our 1979 EG800 has a mahogany body with solid maple top, a set mahogany neck and Maxon PU-2 pickups. At Guitar Lab we replaced the frets and nut and carried out the setup. The shop price checked on 13 September 2026 is PLN 6,800.
We would show it to someone looking for a traditional single-cut with vintage character and preparation for continued use. Signs of its playing life remain. Try bends, note sustain and both pickups with the guitar’s volume backed off.
Yamaha Studio Lord: another route to the same goal
The SL600S is PLN 4,900 in this comparison. It combines a mahogany body and maple top with a three-piece maple neck and replacement frets. Its neck humbucker is non-original, an important detail for collectors and something useful to assess while playing.
Our 1978 SL800, at PLN 5,900, also has a maple neck. We replaced its frets and nut, and it has a Seymour Duncan ’59 Zebra at the bridge. It is an example of an older instrument with a personalised pickup configuration.
Yamaha Studio Lord SL600S - Sunburst, Lawsuit era, approx. 1979Photos, service record and current offer details →
Yamaha Studio Lord SL800 - Sunburst, Lawsuit era, 1978Photos, service record and current offer details →
| Instrument | PLN price, 13 September 2026 | Individual listing details |
|---|---|---|
| Yamaha SL600S | 4,900 | Replacement frets; non-original neck humbucker. |
| Yamaha SL800 | 5,900 | Replacement frets and nut; Seymour Duncan ’59 at the bridge. |
| Greco EG800 | 6,800 | Replacement frets and nut; Maxon PU-2 set. |
Three useful playing tests
Use the same amplifier at a similar listening volume. Start clean with chords and single notes on each pickup. Add moderate overdrive and listen for separation between the strings.
Then reduce the guitar’s volume and assess the response. Play standing up as well: weight, balance and neck position matter over a longer session. A louder pickup can make a stronger first impression without being a better match.
Originality or personalisation?
For a working instrument, a good refret can be a substantial benefit, as can a sensible electronics change. For a collector seeking full originality, the same changes carry different weight. Both approaches are valid; the listing should explain what remains and what has been replaced.
Euphony, DiMarzio, Seymour Duncan or Bare Knuckle pickups can be considered, but play the existing set first. The Greco’s Maxons or the SL800’s current combination may already deliver what you want. Start with a guitar you like and modify it only with a clear purpose.
Which would we try first?
For traditional construction with a mahogany neck, we would begin with the Greco. For a lower budget and openness to modifications, we would start with a Studio Lord. In our opinion, all three deserve comparison with a new Gibson. Choose after playing; the best guitar for you need not carry the most familiar logo.
Prices record the date of this comparison. Consult the instrument pages and selected marketplace listings for current availability, shipping and purchase terms.
History and construction: Greco, Yamaha, Burny and Tokai ↗
Choosing a vintage Yamaha electric ↗
Browse used electric guitars ↗
Further reading
Gibson’s specification identifies the particular Les Paul Standard 50s used as a reference. Yamaha’s museum entry documents the SG-2000 and Carlos Santana’s involvement; it concerns the SG, not the Studio Lord. The buying recommendations are Guitar Lab’s own assessment.