Greco JS-98K 1984 John Sykes Black Les Paul Custom EGC - Original DRY 1982 Pickups - Original Kahler 2220 Tremolo - Mint Collection - Made in Japan MIJ

1984 Greco JS-98K John Sykes Les Paul Custom Black Beauty - 2 original DRY 1982 humbuckers - Original Kahler 2220K Tremolo - Made in the famous Fujigen Factory in Japan - MIJ

• Serial Number: I840777 (October 1984)
• Body: Solid 2 piece centre-seam maple top on a mahogany body
• Neck: 1 piece mahogany neck
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Fretboard Radius: About 12"
• Fret Edge Binding: No
• Inlays: Acrylic Pearloid Blocks
• Frets: 22 x Medium Jumbo (1.1mm tall x 2.7mm wide)
• Nut Width: 43.6mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 44.1mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 52.8mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 22.9mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 24.8mm
• Nut: Brass nut with Kahler locking nut
• Tuners: Original nickel Greco branded sealed tuners
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Original chrome Kahler 2220K tremolo with original chrome arm
• Pickups: 2 x Original DRY 1982 humbuckers (gold neck pickup, nickel bridge pickup)
• Neck Pickup Resistance:  7.31K ohm
• Bridge Pickup Resistance: 7.39K ohm
• Pots: Original 500K pots with 42 date stamps (Feb 1984)
• Strings: Ernie Ball 2221 Regular Slinky 10-46 strings - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 11.62bs
• Non Original Parts: New black plastic jack plate
• Case: New quality made Profile G05TX gig bag
• Truss Rod: Works as expected, approaching the limit of loose, but lots of room to tighten

The JS-95K was Greco's take on John Sykes famous black Les Paul custom with mirror pickguard & pickup rings, nickel hardware, brass nut, and open black humbuckers - with an added Kahler 2220 tremolo bridge. This model appeared for the first time in the 1984 "METALIZ" catalog and was part of the Mint Collection series from Greco - made with Mint Collection specs like the L.A.C. neck tenon (long tenon) - and was made in Japan by the world famous Fujigen factory.

Fitted with a pair of highly sought after Fujigen made DRY 1982 pickups, which were the successor to the famous Greco Dry Z pickups, with the original stickers still in tact on the bottom of each pickup. Interestingly, the neck pickup has gold adjustable pole pieces, while the bridge has chrome/nickel adjustable pole pieces. All of the other JS models I have seen are like this as well - I'm not sure why Greco made them this way - was this similar to John Sykes actual Gibson?

The original Fujigen made DRY 1982 pickups are very responsive and warm, with PAF like output, measuring between 7.31K and 7.39K ohm. In 1982, Fujigen - the builder of most Greco guitars - took over the manufacturing of their pickup line from Maxon (Nisshin Onpa). The DRY (aka DRY 1982 or DRY 82) model is the Fujigen version of the famous Dry (aka Dry Z) pickups made by Maxon in 1980-1982. Fujigen placed stickers on the bottom of their pickups, all with 1982 underneath the model, which is how these pickups are known as "DRY 1982" or "SCREAM'IN 1982"...

To my ears, compared to Greco's SCREAMIN or DOUBLE TRICK pickups, the DRY pickups have a much more rounded top end, more harmonics and overtones, and are incredibly responsive to picking. As you'd expect, they can clean up well when you roll down the volume, but can easily handle high gain. There is a reason why these pickups have a cult following.

When I got this guitar, it had the selector switch replaced, and the original black plastic jack plate was broken, so I replaced it with a new one.

Otherwise, everything else on this guitar appears to be original, and the guitar is in good players grade condition. As with all black guitars, especially a 40 year old guitar, there are a lot of scratches, swirling, chips, dings and dents in the finish all over the guitar.

The original hardware, including the bridge, tuners, and screws all have varying degrees of corrosion, pitting, tarnish and rust to them, particularly on the pickup pole pieces - but overall it all works as expected, all of the Kahler bridge saddles, screws, fine tuners, locking nut screws have been cleaned and move freely, and the tuners all work well.

This guitar is made with what appears to be a 2 piece maple top on a mahogany back (the catalog says 2 pieces, but I can't tell), with a 1 piece mahogany neck - that's what the specs are in the catalog and that's what this guitar appears to be. The Mint Collection series introduced the L.A.C. neck joint in their Les Pauls, which is a long neck tenon that extends well into the neck pickup cavity.

I've found the necks on these Mint Series guitars to be some of the best I've had - they are solid - more so than most guitars. The neck is substantial and incredibly stable. It feels hefty, at 11.62lbs, likely the Kahler and locking nut are contributing to that - it's not light, but it's also not the heaviest Les Paul Custom I've owned either. It has incredible sustain, and just feels solid in your hands when you play it.

The neck itself has a nice carve - it's a nice thick C carve starting out at 22.9mm thick at the 1st fret and widening to 24.8mm at the 12th fret. This one also features a beautiful rosewood fretboard that has a lovely grain all the way up the board, along with acrylic pearloid block inlays.

The 22 medium jumbo frets have been played, and there is typical play wear mainly on the plain strings below the 12th fret, but nothing that causes any issues with playing or the sound - the guitar plays incredible well and sounds great up and down the entire fretboard.

All the guitars I sell, I test, thoroughly clean, and setup completely before I list them. Anything that is missing, damaged, or non original is mentioned in the listing.

I setup all my Gibson style guitars to Gibson factory specs - including neck relief, action, pickup height, intonation, and tailpiece height. So this guitar will be ready to play out of the box (after you tune it up - I ship my guitars with the strings loosened).

Comes with a new quality made Profile G05TX gig bag.

Overall, this is classic guitar you'll love to rip Whitesnake or Thin Lizzy riffs on! It plays well, looks awesome, is built really well, and just sounds good.

Weather you're a player, or collector, you'll want this 1984 Greco JS-98K in your collection today.

CONDITION ------------

Overall it's in good player grade shape.

I've tried to capture all of the flaws in the photos and in the description.

The selector switch and jack plate are not original.

Over the entire body of the guitar, top, back, sides, neck and headstock, there are many dings, dents, scratches, scuffs, swirling, and chips in the finish, with a significant amount on the back and sides of the body.

There is a top coat finish crack on the back of the headstock at the volute that only runs a couple inches. It is only in the finish and not the wood, the neck is solid.

There are some dents on the back of the neck.

The mirror pickguard and pickup rings are worn with varying degrees of corrosion and tarnish, and some areas have the chrome/metal finish missing.

The black colour rear plastics have typical scratches and swirling on them.

The hardware, including the bridge, gold and nickel pickup pole pieces, tuners, and screws all have some form of corrosion, pitting, scratches, and rust, but everything works as it should.

All of the nickel Greco branded sealed tuners work well.

Around the strap buttons there's some typical marks/swirling. Around the lower strap button there is a large chip in the finish.

There is some typical play wear on the first 12 frets mainly on the plain strings, but overall there is lots of life left in the frets and it plays well all the way up and down the fretboard with no buzzing or stuck spots.

This one is setup with Ernie Ball 10-46 strings in E-standard. The truss rod is almost at the limit of loose. There is lots of room to tighten it. Right now, there is about .010" of relief in the neck as measured from the bottom of the low E string to the top of the 8th fret, with the 1st fret capoed and the 17th fret depressed. This is usually what I aim for, about 0.010" to 0.011" of relief. So the neck has a proper amount of relief in it right now, and with this current setup, the guitar plays very well with no problems. If you wanted more relief than this, you'd need to increase the thickness of the strings. If you play with super light gauged strings, the neck will become even more flat - although it arrived to me with a set of 9-40 strings and it still played fine with those.

There's no signs of a heel, headstock or any other repairs.

SHIPPING ------------ 

Every shipment is expertly packed with great care and includes tracking, signature required on delivery, and full insurance coverage for both the purchase price and shipping.

Every guitar is fully wrapped in bubble wrap, in a cardboard box meant for guitars, with proper support inside. To reduce environmental impact, the packing material (paper, newsprint, gift wrap, bubble wrap, air packets, foam, carboard boxes and/or tube supports, etc...) used may be recycled.

Package dimensions are 118cm x 47cm x 17cm

Note: if you want an exact shipping quote, just send me a note with your postal/zip code, and I'll get a proper quote for your address. 

Note: If you're buying from outside of Canada, you as the Buyer may be required to pay import duties, tariffs, taxes and/or VAT upon delivery, depending on your location and the purchase price.

QUESTIONS ------------

Any questions? Want more photos or detailed shots? Measurements? Shoot me a message, and I'll be happy to answer them, or send more pics, or take any measurements you want/need.

Thanks for looking!