ULTRA RARE 1978 Greco M800 Mirage (STEVE MILLER Signature) (AKA Ibanez IC-210 2663TC) Made in Japan ... with the RARE Maxon PU-5T triple-coil pickup + FORM FIT HARDCASE

Vanborn Vintage Guitars Presents …

The Greco Mirage M-800 is one of the rarest and most interesting high-end Japanese interpretations of the legendary asymmetrical “Iceman” design — and historically, the story behind this guitar is considerably more interesting than simply calling it a copy.

Produced by Fujigen in Japan, the Greco M-800 was the Japanese domestic-market counterpart to the Ibanez IC-210. Both models were built at the Fujigen factory and share the same fundamental design and construction.

The lineage goes back to the Ibanez 2663TC — the model made famous by Steve Miller in the mid-1970s, before the “Iceman” name was adopted.

Steve Miller helped turn this unmistakable design into a true rock icon. The guitar became closely associated with him during one of the most important periods of his career, appearing in the era that produced some of the biggest rock hits of the 1970s.

The distinctive guitar can be seen and heard in connection with the Steve Miller Band's classic sound, including the recording of “Rock'n Me” — a track that became one of the defining rock hits of the decade. (we've attached a LIVE performance on YouTube video of this song, featuring Steve using his Iceman)

In 1978, the design evolved into the Ibanez IC-210 for the international export market, while Greco introduced the Mirage M-800 for the Japanese domestic market.

And here is where things get particularly interesting: the Greco Mirage M-800 and the Ibanez 2663TC are, for all practical purposes, the same guitar.

Both were built at the Fujigen factory in Japan, by the same craftsmen, using the same construction, the same components and the same unique Maxon PU-5T triple-coil pickup. The electronics and four-way rotary switching system are the same as well.

The difference was not in the quality, the construction or the design — it was simply the market they were intended for.

The Greco was sold domestically in Japan, while the Ibanez was exported to international markets including the United States and Europe.

So while the name on the headstock is different, the guitar itself comes from the same factory, the same production operation and the same Japanese craftsmanship.

In other words: this is the Greco version of one of the most recognizable and unusual vintage Japanese guitar designs ever produced.

And this is not a basic entry-level Mirage.

The M-800 was one of the top models in the Mirage range.

This example features the classic mahogany construction, a bound mahogany top, set mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. The guitar is fitted with the distinctive Maxon PU-5T triple-coil pickup and the unusual four-way rotary switching system that gives access to multiple coil configurations.

The Maxon PU-5T Triple-Coil Pickup

The M-800 is equipped with the exceptionally rare Maxon PU-5T triple-coil pickup.

This is not a conventional humbucker with multiple coils hidden under one cover. It is a genuine three-coil pickup, controlled by a four-position rotary selector.

• Position 1 — Neck Coil + Dummy Coil
  Focused, hum-cancelling neck sound.
• Position 2 — Bridge Coil + Middle Coil
  Brighter, more cutting bridge/middle sound.
• Position 3 — All Three Coils in Series
  Maximum output and thickness.
• Position 4 — All Three Coils in Parallel
  Lower output, open and articulate.

It is a wonderfully strange and highly effective system — very much a product of late-1970s Japanese guitar engineering, where manufacturers were not afraid to experiment.

The result is a guitar with a huge visual presence, a surprisingly versatile electronic setup and a fascinating place in the history of the Steve Miller / Iceman design.

The M-800 was only produced for a relatively short period, appearing in the Greco catalogues for 1978 and 1979 only. Based on this short production window and the limited number of known examples, it is generally believed that fewer than 200 M-800 examples were produced.

Original examples are not often seen outside Japan.

This is one of those guitars that immediately stands out in a collection.

Not just because of the shape.

Not just because of the history.

But because it represents a very specific moment in Japanese guitar manufacturing: Fujigen craftsmanship, Maxon electronics, ambitious design and a domestic-market model that shares its DNA with one of the most iconic guitars of the 1970s.

A rare and highly collectible Japanese vintage guitar for collectors, players and anyone who appreciates the more unusual side of vintage MIJ instruments.

Specifications

• Model: Greco Mirage M-800
• Year: 1978
• Serial number: J785586
• Country of manufacture: Japan
• Factory: Fujigen
• Body: Mahogany with bound mahogany top
• Neck: Set mahogany neck
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Frets: 22
• Pickup: Maxon PU-5T triple-coil pickup
• Controls: Four-way rotary pickup selector
• Bridge: Original vintage hardware
• Tailpiece: Original vintage hardware
• Case: Form-fit hard case

Condition

This Greco Mirage M-800 is in clean vintage condition, with the expected dings, scratches and signs of use associated with a nearly fifty-year-old instrument. Please study all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.

The frets have seen their share of playing over the decades, but still have plenty of life left in them.

The original G-string tuner unfortunately broke during the 1980s. The original owner subsequently had a replacement tuner installed by Greco. This replacement is not the exact same model as the original tuner, but after several decades of natural ageing, its patina has developed to the point where the difference is visually far less noticeable than one might expect.

Pickup Ring & Pickup Cover

As is known to occur with certain tortoiseshell-style plastic pickup rings used on Greco instruments from this period, the material on this guitar has developed signs of age-related off-gassing.

Over time, this can lead to oxidation of nearby metal parts and cracking of the plastic itself. This is not unique to this particular instrument and is a known ageing phenomenon associated with vintage guitars.

We have taken care to stabilise the pickup ring in its current condition. At present, we do not believe the pickup ring requires replacement.

However, as with any vintage plastic component affected by this type of ageing process, we cannot predict exactly how the material may develop over the coming decades and time. For this reason, we recommend storing the guitar in a well-ventilated environment rather than permanently keeping it sealed inside its case. Allowing the instrument to breathe will limit the accumulation of any further vapours and reduce the potential for continued oxidation and deterioration. In general handeling the pickup ring with care is recommend.

The original pickup cover was also significantly affected by the ageing of the pickup ring and eventually separated from the pickup. A replacement pickup cover was subsequently made by the previous owner.

It is not a perfect reproduction, but it restores the classic visual appearance associated with this model and, from a normal playing distance, gives the guitar the look one expects from the original triple-coil pickup configuration.

Please refer to the photographs for the exact condition of the pickup ring and replacement pickup cover.

Rest assured, the electronics and all pickup coils are fully functional as expected.

This is a genuine vintage instrument with nearly five decades of history, use and natural ageing. It is not a new reproduction, and the condition should be judged accordingly.

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Cheers!

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