Guide / SELECTED VINTAGE GUITARS
Gibson electric guitar or a Japanese Les Paul? Greco and Yamaha after a workshop overhaul
Looking for Les Paul character? Before you choose a new Gibson, compare the Greco EG800 and the Yamaha Studio Lords we have in stock. We show their construction, prices and the work we have carried out.
Start with what you're looking for in a Gibson
Two humbuckers, a single-cut body and convenient volume controls for both pickups — for many guitarists, this is where the conversation about the Les Paul begins. If these features and a good tone are what interest you, it's worth widening your search to include Japanese Grecos and Yamaha Studio Lords.
At Guitar Lab, we believe that a carefully chosen Japanese instrument that has been through the workshop can be a better buy for playing than a new guitar costing more money. We base this opinion on our work on instruments and on comparisons with musicians. A good example should win you over with its neck, its responsiveness and its comfort; a country-of-origin label won't play for you.
The reference point: the Les Paul Standard 50s
The current specifications of the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s list a mahogany body with a maple top, a mahogany neck, a 24.75-inch scale length and two Burstbucker humbuckers. This is one specific model, not a specification shared by all Gibson guitars. It's worth comparing precisely defined designs.
Japanese LP-style instruments developed within a tradition of careful work on popular American templates. Today their appeal also lies in the choice of different necks, hardware and configurations. A similar silhouette doesn't have to mean identical construction, and the differences can be an advantage for a particular guitarist.
Greco EG800: classic construction and new frets
Our 1979 Greco EG800 has a mahogany body with a solid maple top, a set mahogany neck and Maxon PU-2 pickups. At Guitar Lab we refretted it, replaced the nut and carried out a setup. The shop price, checked on 13 September 2026, is 6800 zł.
This is an option for someone who wants a classic single-cut with historical character, prepared for continued use. We left the visible signs of the instrument's life and focused our work on playability. When examining it, it's worth comparing how comfortable bends are, the sustain, and how both pickups respond when you roll back the volume.
Yamaha Studio Lord: a different road to a similar goal
In our comparison, the Studio Lord SL600S costs 4900 zł. It has a mahogany body with a maple top and a three-piece maple neck, and it has been refretted. The neck pickup is not original — information that matters to a collector and a useful point to check during a trial.
The 1978 SL800, priced at 5900 zł, also has a maple neck. On this example we replaced the frets and the nut, and there is a Seymour Duncan ’59 Zebra in the bridge position. It's a ready-made example of personalisation: a historic guitar with a pickup chosen outside the original specification.
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 | Price PLN, 13.09.2026 | What sets this particular listing apart |
|---|---|---|
| Yamaha SL600S | 4900 zł | New frets; replaced neck humbucker. |
| Yamaha SL800 | 5900 zł | New frets and nut; Seymour Duncan ’59 in the bridge position. |
| Greco EG800 | 6800 zł | New frets and nut; Maxon PU-2 set. |
Comparing through an amp: three short tests
Start with the same amp, a similar volume and the clean channel. Play chords and single notes on the neck pickup, then on the bridge pickup. Next, add moderate overdrive and check whether the guitar still lets you separate the individual strings.
Finally, turn down the guitar's volume and check how the response changes. Add a test standing up: weight, balance and neck position matter during longer playing sessions. A hotter pickup can make a better first impression, so don't equate signal level alone with quality.
Originality or an instrument tailored to you?
If you're buying to play, a well-executed refret can be a big plus, as can a sensible electronics modification. If collector originality matters to you, judge the same changes differently. Both approaches are understandable; what matters is that the listing clearly states what has been retained and what has been replaced.
You can fit a guitar like this with Euphony, DiMarzio, Seymour Duncan or Bare Knuckle pickups. First, though, play the current set thoroughly. The Maxons in the Greco or the SL800's configuration may already give you what you're looking for. Our recommendation is simple: choose a great base and tailor it to yourself only once you have a specific goal in sight.
Which one would we choose in the shop?
To someone looking for a classic design with a mahogany neck, we would show the Greco first. With a lower budget and openness to modifications, we would start with a Studio Lord. In our opinion, each of these instruments is worth comparing with a new Gibson. Make your final choice after a trial — the best guitar for you doesn't have to have the most recognisable logo on the headstock.
The prices given reflect the day this comparison was prepared. You'll find current terms and availability on the instrument pages and in the chosen sales listing.
History and construction: Greco, Yamaha, Burny and Tokai ↗
How to choose a vintage Yamaha electric? ↗
Further reading
Gibson's specifications make it possible to compare the precisely identified Les Paul Standard 50s with other designs. The museum description of the SG-2000 recalls Yamaha's collaboration with Carlos Santana; it concerns the SG model, not the Studio Lord. The opinion on the purchase value of the instruments presented is Guitar Lab's own assessment.