Up for sale, a 1970s Greco A-style mandolin in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Sparingly little is known about this very rare, Japanese-made mandolin; it’s finely crafted, clearly taking its design cues from a Loar-era “The Gibson” A5 mandolin, featuring a spruce top, maple back and rims, and a maple neck capped by a dark rosewood fretboard.

Tonally, this mandolin is sparkling and bright, offering excellent projection with good breadth and harmonic complexity, and there’s a percussive chop that’s ideal for ensemble playing. Freshly strung with bronze strings and weighing 2lbs 1oz, this Greco has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with comfortable action and accurate intonation.  

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Maple
-Shape: Soft V, measuring .885” 1st fret, 1.030” 7th fret
-Fretboard: Rosewood
-Frets: Slender bar frets, flawless
-Scale Length: 14"
-Nut: 1 1/8"
-Headstock: "The Greco" script logo, flower pot inlay
-Tuners: Open-gear strip, gold

Body Specs:

-Wood: Spruce, Maple
-Bridge: Ebony
-Hardware: "The Greco" gold-plated tailpiece
-Serialization: No stamps/label inside body, consistent with early Greco production

The Sunburst finish is extremely clean, with just a scant few tiny nicks and scuffs on the treble side of the top along the strum path, and a few faint scratches in the clear coat on the body as a whole. The smooth gloss on the neck profile is immaculate.  

The original Ishibashi-branded (the Japanese retailer where this instrument was likely originally purchased) hardshell case is included.