n(b)gd: Greco RW-700

[Soggy Donkey]

I've been trying to find this model for a long time, and then I've found it, but haven't been able to afford it (or to convince myself that I should pay as much as a collector wanted for it). Long-short of it is, I found a Ron Wood model on the opposite side of the planet and bought it. The seller was responsive and communicative and shipped it fast, all of which I took as a good sign. The problem was they shipped it single-boxed, in a box that **jUsT fIt** -- the tip of the headstock and the tailpiece/strap button were touching the end of the box. And it was shipped with I believe full tension on the strings. I don't know. I just know that the box rattled when I picked it up at the post office -- never a good sign -- and there was a pronounced push-through circle at the bottom of the box...

So I open it up and thankfully, I think I got really lucky: no damage to the neck or headstock. But the trapeze tailpiece had broken. Both the strap-button part and the tailpiece itself. Ugh. There is some superficial damage to the body -- marks through the paint from the pieces and strings rattlin' around, etc. Not great, but also not terrible. I play my guitars more than I look at them.

I assessed the damage, did a few futile searches for "Greco RW-700 tailpiece" in every permutation. Which yielded exactly zero hits. I don't know how many of these were made in 1974 or '75, but let's just say it must not be a lot, and those that exist are hiding in cases. I did find a gold 1975 Greco/Tokai trapeze tailpiece in the same general state as the pickups, so I swallowed the credit card yelps and bought it. I am going to attempt a repair on the broken pieces with JBWeld, which some claim will withstand the string tension. But I doubt it will work and I'll probably end up with a string wound. I'll keep you updated.

Here's some pictures:

 

[tzurby]

I hope, you did find some solution for the tailpiece. How does the guitar sound and play?

 

[Soggy Donkey]

Yep, found a Greco tailpiece of the same era and same patina, just different type -- trapeze instead of solid brass. Looks great, and probably most people would think it's original unless they'd actually seen a Wood model. I'm very happy with it.

It's the best sounding guitar I've ever played. Granted, I have probably only owned 10 guitars in my life, but compared to my '79 SG, which was an incredible sounding dual HB guitar, the RW blows it away. The frets could be redone maybe, and the propensity to neck-dive is worrying, but those pickups and the feel of the neck make it my favorite guitar.