barney kessel copy

[Astrochimp]

I got this from my neighbor's FIL last night. Neighbor 'plays' but knows I have a thing for (as he calls them "wall hangers")






more photos here-
http://s185.photobucket.com/albums/x119 ... o/Guitars/


Any ideas on maker, year, value?

I need to put some new strings on it,lower bridge, and oil the tuners.
I also got a pair of acoustic's in the deal, one with newer case, other is made interesting, with Mexico label on headstock.

[VintAxe]

Hey Astrochimp.

Your new guitar is a Greco and probably from the mid 1960's. It has the same pups and hardware as my 1966 GE-2 Solidbody and it has the same trem unit as the 1967 hollowbody model 920.

Unfortunately, my 1966 brochure only pictures solidbody guitars. However, there are three hollowbody guitars with short descriptions listed on the 66 pricelist. The description indicates bound f holes which your instrument doesn't have so I don't think it's 66. Your exact instrument is also not in the 1967 catalog which does picture a variety of Kessel style hollowbodies.

Here's a link to a 1968 Greco Catalog. Unfortunately, the pages are too small to be of much help with an ID but we can at least determine that their are no pointy bout models in the line-up..



I've got an early 70's Greco catalog but again, only solidbody guitars are pictured.

So, given this evidence, I beginning to wonder if it is a 64-65. The Barney Kessel was introduced by Gibson in 1961 so the earlier date makes sense. Also, the Kessel is clearly missing in the 68 catalog.

I don't know about value. I paid $300 for my solidbody GE-2 a couple of years ago. You can see my guitar here:

[VintAxe]

Just a quick follow-up. A quick thumb through Bizarre Guitars indicates the faux f hole in your guitar is seen most frequently on 64-65 models. Looks like by 1966 or so, most companies were using true f holes (Aria being one exception).

The Kessel type Grecos pictured in the 1967 catalog have true f holes.

[Astrochimp]

Thanks!

I thought I had see one like it here not long ago, but no luck searching.

Still need to clean, restring it, and plug it in.

I hate to ask value, but want to make sure my stuff isn't worth much more to others. I paid $75 for it and the 2 acoustics, one is junk, other I hope is ok when strung- its pretty.


David

EDIT- the '68 catalog has one close mod # 920

http://goyaguitars.tripod.com/greco_catalogs.htm