Guide / SELECTED VINTAGE GUITARS
A Japanese Les Paul instead of a new guitar? Greco, Yamaha, Burny and Tokai
A solid single-cut, two humbuckers and a professional overhaul: using the Greco EG800 and Yamaha Studio Lord, we show where to find value in Japanese vintage guitars.
You hear and feel the value in the individual instrument
When looking for a Les Paul-style guitar, it is worth looking beyond new-instrument catalogues. In our opinion, a well-maintained Japanese single-cut after a thorough overhaul is a much more interesting purchase than a new mid-range guitar. It combines a classic design with preparation of the parts you feel most when playing: frets, nut and setup.
Greco, Yamaha, Burny and Tokai represent different paths in Japanese guitar craftsmanship. Each brand produced different series and equipment levels. Rather than choosing a logo alone, compare the model, year, surviving hardware and work carried out. Two excellent examples from our collection are the Greco EG800 and Yamaha Studio Lord.
1979 Greco EG800: a classic design after an overhaul
Our Greco EG800 has a mahogany body with maple top, a set mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard and two Maxon PU-2 pickups. These features merit comparison with a classic Les Paul. For reference, the modern Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s also combines a mahogany body and neck with a maple top and two humbuckers, although the equipment and construction details differ.
On the EG800 we fitted Medium Jumbo frets and a new nut, conditioned the fingerboard and adjusted the action and intonation. Signs of use remain on the back of the body. For a player who accepts that appearance, it is an appealing balance: an instrument with history whose key wear components have received specific attention.
Yamaha Studio Lord: look beyond Greco and Tokai
The 1978 Studio Lord SL800 has a mahogany body with a maple top and a three-piece maple neck. This example has a Seymour Duncan 59 at the bridge and retains its Yamaha neck pickup. Our workshop fitted new frets and a nut, shielded the electronics and performed a setup. Scuffs and finish chips remain on the back of the body.
The SL600S from around 1979 is another example. It also received new frets and has a replacement neck pickup and its original Yamaha bridge pickup. Our listings give weights of 3.99 kg for the SL600S and 4.56 kg for the SL800. Feel that difference on a strap. A heavier guitar is not automatically better — comfort at rehearsals and gigs is a valid buying criterion.
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 →
Where do Burny and Tokai fit in?
Include Burny and Tokai when searching for a Japanese alternative to Gibson. When comparing a specific offer, check the series’ origin, neck construction, pickups and condition. Do not apply the specification of one year to every instrument bearing the same name.
This guide focuses on Greco and Yamaha guitars we can describe as individual examples from our collection. The histories of Burny and Tokai are in our knowledge base. Assess the next promising instrument from either brand using the same criteria: how it plays, what remains original and what has been professionally prepared.
An overhaul as part of a guitar’s value
Refretting is not just about fixing a failure. On a worn instrument, it restores useful fret-crown height and prepares the playing surface for further use. A new nut, when needed, requires slots precisely fitted to the strings. The final result depends on the entire job, not simply on installing new parts.
A new guitar also deserves an inspection and a setup tailored to the player. Compare the cost of an instrument prepared for your playing, not just its price tag. In our view, a Japanese single-cut following a good overhaul is an excellent choice for someone who wants to spend their budget on the instrument’s quality and preparation.
What to check when trying it
Play through both pickups, check the volume and tone controls’ response and assess comfort high up the neck. Inspect the headstock area and neck-to-body joint, and ask directly about previous repairs. With modifications, what matters is the quality of installation and whether you like the result.
The best purchase is a guitar you want to return to. Age, brand and specifications narrow the search, but your hands and ears should make the final decision. The Greco EG800 and both Yamaha Studio Lords deserve an open-minded comparison with new instruments.
Further reading
For further detail, see the resources below. Manufacturer specifications help compare specific designs, while service resources explain setup principles. Photographs and links accompanying our examples lead to our instruments; check their listings for current condition and preparation scope.
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s — a contemporary reference ↗