1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

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Here's another question for you guys. I thought to ask since many of you seem to know a lot about Jeff Beck...

I recently got this 1979 Greco guitar, model number SE-600J - and in Japan, this guitar is always being marketed as a "Jeff Beck Stratocaster." Here is the link to this one on my website: http://www.guitarsjapan.com/1979_greco_se600j_jeffbeck_strat.html

I can't figure out why... first, it was made in 1979, so if it was made as a replica of one of Jeff Beck's stratocasters, it would have to have been a replica of one of Jeff's pre-1979 strats.

Second, I have searched the net for days trying to find a picture of Jeff playing a guitar like this one and have come up empty-handed.

I know professional guitarists have tone of guitars sitting around, but this one really confuses me. I have seen this guitar a few times being sold over the last 4 years and in every single case, they mention some Jeff Beck affiliation.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance for your help -

Andrew
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

I can't answer your question, but thats a gorgeous guitar. I love the switching system, and the pics are great. Very sharp.

Where's my piggy bank? :laugh2:
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

Question: Are Jap strats as good as their Les Pauls? I've played a couple of Jap Les Pauls and love them to bits. Are the strats that they produce anywhere as good as the LPs? Also, what brands produce these good strats and how does Fender Japan measure up ?

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I thought it was related...
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

wow that's nice...it's soo odd that you posted that i was thinking about my new strat project today which will be odd in pickup choice and control layout...it will only have one volume one tone like the strat you posted and i was also contemplating uing 3 mini toggles for pickup selection...now at least i know it looks cool...i think i may have to do it!

-Mike
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

Obviously made in Japan, the headstock says "Brazen Picker Professional." :)

She is a real looker though. And I'm really digging that case with the blue lining.
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

Vincent said:
Question: Are Jap strats as good as their Les Pauls? I've played a couple of Jap Les Pauls and love them to bits. Are the strats that they produce anywhere as good as the LPs? Also, what brands produce these good strats and how does Fender Japan measure up ?

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I thought it was related...
Click to expand...

In general Japanese guitars are almost always superior to American made ones. That's not always the case, but as a whole, and generalized, they are better. Some guys like to disagree with me, but those are usually the die hard gibson and fender guys who have never played a japanese guitar to begin with. I still stick to my guns by saying that the idea that the japanese can't build a better guitar than americans is ethno/egocentric and borderline racist.
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

Xeromus said:
In general Japanese guitars are almost always superior to American made ones.
Click to expand...

Alright. You knew that statement was going to bring out the retorts.

I've played and own both Japanese guitars and American guitars. In every case the American was better. In most cases the craftsmanship was almost identical but in terms of electronics, pups, trem, and all the extras they throw on the wood, the Japanese stuff always seemed sub par. Wood-wise, and build-wise they both usually seem to be top-notch.

That's not to say the Japanese aren't capable of building top quality stuff. Anyone can as long as they put the time and effort into it. I've played great MIM and MIK guitars too. But generally it seems all the Japanese stuff I've played that is meant for sale in the US seems to have inferior parts. Although that may have more to do with marketing and corporate decision making than craftsmanship.
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

Gamera said:
Alright. You knew that statement was going to bring out the retorts.

I've played and own both Japanese guitars and American guitars. In every case the American was better. In most cases the craftsmanship was almost identical but in terms of electronics, pups, trem, and all the extras they throw on the wood, the Japanese stuff always seemed sub par. Wood-wise, and build-wise they both usually seem to be top-notch.

That's not to say the Japanese aren't capable of building top quality stuff. Anyone can as long as they put the time and effort into it. I've played great MIM and MIK guitars too. But generally it seems all the Japanese stuff I've played that is meant for sale in the US seems to have inferior parts. Although that may have more to do with marketing and corporate decision making than craftsmanship.
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They probably get worse american models over there than we get here also. I would imagine the best japanese guitars never leave japan. Notably Ernie Ball Music Man, Parker, and PRS make incredibly super sounding and constructed instruments. I would not hesitate to put down money on any of those, and I actually have in the past and will in the future. But I WILL NOT ever buy a USA Fender or Gibson, not until they clean up their act anyway. If I ever want a Les Paul or Strat style guitar I'll go the custom route or get a nice copy instead of blowing a load of money on something that simply isn't worth the price they ask. Don't forget that Yamaha is #1 in the world for instrument sales and company size.
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

Looks like I've opened a can of worms...

Just the other day I played a 3 strats: MIM, MIA and MIJ.

MIA - not bad, good craftsmanship, but otherwise uninspiring...

MIJ - Equipped with Lace Sensors - totally not resonant and 'dead sounding'

MIM - Whoa!! Killer!! Very sweet, and resonated beautifully when played unplugged...

Needless to say, the MIM was cheapest as well!!! That was the first time I used my ears to pick a guitar instead of looking at headstock/brandnames. I certainly surprised myself!!! I guess its just a matter of picking a good one from the lemons...
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

Xeromus said:
In general Japanese guitars are almost always superior to American made ones. That's not always the case, but as a whole, and generalized, they are better. Some guys like to disagree with me, but those are usually the die hard gibson and fender guys who have never played a japanese guitar to begin with. I still stick to my guns by saying that the idea that the japanese can't build a better guitar than americans is ethno/egocentric and borderline racist.
Click to expand...

How many american made guitars OTHER than Gibson or Fender have you played? :rolleyes:

The Japs CAN build just as good of a guitar, no question. ESP proves that every day (To my personal Dismay, but that´s another subject).

But to drop EVERY US Manufacturer´s QC and overall quality with F+G is just as narrow-minded. There are manufacturers such as PRS, Hamer, Jackson, Tom Anderson, Ernie Ball, Moser, BC Rich, Taylor, Martin,..... whose US Production can easily match up to any other guitar out there.

Are they more expensive: Yes, because in the US Most raw materials are more expensive, and especially US Wages are generally higher than the same Job in Japan. But some such as Jackson are even CHEAPER than the Japanese company that´s been knocking them off for 20 years, at a level of quality that is easily comparable.
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

I can't answer your question, ................................ maybe someone will FOCUS and try,
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

Ok Here's my weigh In, i would say dollar for dollar for people with an average budget, jap strat are an awesome, I would say if you can find an early90's, late 80's jap strat, for that price, you wont find an american strat of equal quality and playability. However, of course our american Made GandL's are gonna kick these guitars, heck GandL style makers kick alot of "mainstream" guitars but its because these guitars "generally speaking" operate in a different price bracket and tailor towards a different crowd of musicians.

Just my humble two cents.
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

Just to clarify, Im speaking mainly towards the Fender japanese strats . . . thats it!
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

Xeromus said:
I still stick to my guns by saying that the idea that the japanese can't build a better guitar than americans is ethno/egocentric and borderline racist.
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I've been saying this for years and no one seems to want to believe me.

For the record....the two Japanese Les Pual clones I own have fantastic electronics. This past week I acrually did a pickup swap on one to a 59' neck and JB bridge and it lasted a few days until i realized the originals had a warmer sound to them.
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

I owned a MIJ 50's reissue, and it was 1 of the most resonant guitars I have ever owned. I wish I kept it. Before that I owned a '91 US standard, which was uninspiring to play. However I found the components of the US to be of a better standard than the MIJ. With hindsight, I should have swapped the pickups and pots from the US to the MIJ. I later sold it to a friend, who fitted Fender noiseless pickups, and I wanted it back!!! The thing I gained from the experience is that a good guitar is a good guitar wherever it's made. You can always upgrade the niggly things.

P.S. I now own a US Strat plus and a G&L Legacy, bought on the guitars individual strengths, not where they were made.
 
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Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

image.jpg

Hi, first time here on a real old one..

I'm guessing that the album cover photo is from the late 70s judging from Jeff's appearance ie hair color, hair style and clothes. And he does look a bit younger.

I've been looking at picking one of these up recently, and it's looks like there's a ton of info on these now, as compared to when this thread originated.
Greco company marketing brochures (which now abound online) from 1979 to 1981 have this variant to their stratocaster line. I've seen the SE 500J, SE 600J and the SE 800J. They're all designated as "Jeff Beck" stratocasters, with the difference being the black pickguard with the 3 switches and 2 knobs. I don't know if Mr Beck openly endorsed these guitars as his, but Greco sure did. I don't know if it was also trending at the time, but Schecter was making strats with the individual pickup switches, so if someone was already endorsing the Schecters, and Greco was making the only other model with that option, maybe it was a win-win.

Anyway, there is photographic proof that JB knew they existed and actually played one onstage once.
Thanks for letting me join and adding what already be common knowledge.
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

Stanley Clarke - wasn't he the guy who played only on the neck, with both hands? IIRC he was unknown until about the mid-late 80s, though it's possible he was already doing his thing in the 70s.

Or am I thinking of Stanley Jordan? I know one's a bassist and one's a guitarist. I can never keep them straight.
 
Re: 1979 Greco Jeff Beck Stratocaster? Really?

Clarke the bassist and hit it pretty big with mainstream music with the Duke-Clarke Project in late 70's and early 80's (rendition of Louie Louie and also big with Sweet Baby). Really showed what great bass and keys can do together.
 
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