Identifying Single Coil Pickups in 1978 Greco Super Sounds Guitar

[NothingHappens]

Hi all, new to the forums. Hopefully someone here can shed some light on this situation I have here! Thanks to all way in advance!

So I have this amazing 1978 Greco Super Sounds guitar in black. It really vibrates a pure, beautiful tone unplugged. I don't know why. I don't question it. I just assume there's some spirit in the '70s that made things nice like this.

But the one thing I do question are the pickups on it. Clearly the body, neck and neck plate are original. It's all the hard-ware I'm not sure about yet, and I was hoping that maybe someone here can tell me if these pickups are original 1978 or not.

For one thing, they seem and sound like 1978. I see rust on the tops, and back of the pickup has MIJ maxon style grounding...but I don't know why, but I've never seen this pickup on the dozens of Grecos I saw online! Also, the two middle poles are raised, and the two outside poles are flat/flush on all of them. So while they looks and seems original, nothing really supports that! So I'm confused!

 

[NothingHappens]

Re: Identifying Single Coil Pickups in 1978 Greco Super Sounds Guitar

Bump....anyone have any info?

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Identifying Single Coil Pickups in 1978 Greco Super Sounds Guitar

I have no idea what youve got in there. Swap em out form Fender Custom Shop 69s for massive 70s funky skank

 

[NothingHappens]

Re: Identifying Single Coil Pickups in 1978 Greco Super Sounds Guitar

I have no idea what youve got in there. Swap em out form Fender Custom Shop 69s for massive 70s funky skank

Actually, I swapped em out for January 1974 Alnico V pickups! They're Maxons....output 4.5K. How do they sound? Take a listen: https://soundcloud.com/johns-music-2/3292017-jam


How do they look? Awesome!

Can someone explain how these pickups are staggered? Why are they staggered this way? As you can see, the first black ones have the two pole pieces in the middle staggered. With the new 1974 Maxons I just put in there, the staggering is all over the place (and it's not messed up, I've seen 3 other sets and they all have the exact same staggering). Also, I have 1998 MIM Fender pickups on my strat (they're stock) and the staggering is like an arch. Anyone know what gives with all these different staggering configurations??

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Identifying Single Coil Pickups in 1978 Greco Super Sounds Guitar

In the 50s, 60s, and 70s; Strats had 7 1/4" neck radius. The staggered pattern was to give good string to string balnce.

Your modern Mexicaster has a flatter 9 1/2" radius. Thus the different stagger.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Identifying Single Coil Pickups in 1978 Greco Super Sounds Guitar

Wow, what a cool guitar! I don't know anything about the original pickups in the pictures, but they sure are funky. Good find on that guitar.

 

[NothingHappens]

Re: Identifying Single Coil Pickups in 1978 Greco Super Sounds Guitar

Hi Mincer, thanks. When I first picked it up I thought USA Strat all the way. Not MIM, not MIJ, but felt like the actual American Strats I've owned (a 1991, and 2007). There's a certain quality here that is hard to find for sure.

Also, I've learned in this process that when it comes to PUPs, people's opinions are useless. People talk about the '70s Strat pickups as sucking and being "weak" in output @ 5.4K. I hate to break the news, but these 1974 Maxon pickups I put in are even weaker @ 4.5K, but they're the best sounding pickups I've ever owned so it just goes to show opinions are like A-holes. My unit of measurement in buying a pickups is, "is it from the 1960s or 1970s and if it isn't I'm not interested".

Wow, what a cool guitar! I don't know anything about the original pickups in the pictures, but they sure are funky. Good find on that guitar.

 

[NothingHappens]

Re: Identifying Single Coil Pickups in 1978 Greco Super Sounds Guitar

Also, this Greco seems to have a more modern 9.5 to 10 radius....even though it's vintage 1978. So the pickups are staggered like the pre-1974 Fender pole pieces meant for a 7.5 radius, yet here that style of pickup is on a 9.5 radius. Doesn't seem to matter much in my experience.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Identifying Single Coil Pickups in 1978 Greco Super Sounds Guitar

Bump....anyone have any info?

They are OEM cheap p'ups with ceramic mags and metal baseplates. Got many of them to be disposed of, most coming from Squier bullets.

HTH,

 

[Aceman]

Re: Identifying Single Coil Pickups in 1978 Greco Super Sounds Guitar

Also, I've learned in this process that when it comes to PUPs, people's opinions are useless. People talk about the '70s Strat pickups as sucking and being "weak" in output @ 5.4K. I hate to break the news, but these 1974 Maxon pickups I put in are even weaker @ 4.5K, but they're the best sounding pickups I've ever owned so it just goes to show opinions are like A-holes. My unit of measurement in buying a pickups is, "is it from the 1960s or 1970s and if it isn't I'm not interested".

I'm going to agree and disagree with you there...

Agree: MOST people associate a sound (their sound) with a specific pickup. Or they know what they have "heard" about a pickup from the intro-webz. People give advice based on nothing more than the name of a guitar. I agree fully, those are nothing more than people speaking out of their @$$. So when they give advice they are saying:

"I don't really know or care what you like or want or need. I just know that in my Ibanez shred stick, which is nothing like your Hamer Explorer, being played through my Marshall MGD, which is nothing like your Fender Deluxe, using a modded DS-1, instead of your original TS-9, and having a preference for screaming highs and scooped mids, instead of your desire for more upper mids, and a more rounded highs....I recommend a Custom! Because I think it's awesome!!!!!:headbang "

Reality: Getting a sound for someone by advice requires that you know a few things. First - you gotta know the guitar. But even knowing the guitar isn't always enough. Two Les Paul will be pretty close usually, but not necessarily. Then you gotta know the amp/fx. I have a Fender Pro Jr. that leaves NOTHING to hide about the pickup. I have a Roland Cube that on some settings, just cares that there is a pickup. Which pickup really doesn't matter. And of course, then there is the sound in the players head. That one is always tough. one man's boomy is another ones meaty. One man's shrill is another ones cutting.

Disagree: I think your "Is it from the 60's or 70's is equally as dumb as anything I've heard anyone say. It's like believing a 59 Les Paul is magic just because it is from the 50's. FAIL. There were crappy Les Paul from 1959 just like 1969, 79, 89, 99, etc... They had pickups that were wound just all jacked up from then. So age/era is not any better of an indicator than the name. But if it's your thing, go for it.

However - there are a number of people here who are freaking tone surgeons. They DO ask those questions, they have owned your guitar, or one almost exactly like it, have been through every major amp brand and style, and became masters of changing the quality and tone of a pitch in exactly the right way. Learn to tell those people from noisy, stupid, spouting masses, and seek their wisdom and their advice.

Back to the guitar...In general though, I'll sound old Greco's tend to be uber cool. And that looks bad@$$!!!!!! Aesthetically, those pups were a freaking awesome choice!

Rock on bro!!!!