1981 EGF 1200 solid top and not veneer

[jimmypringles]

I got a 1981 egf1200 and it is definitely not a veneer. it's a solid flame top. I took out the pickups and the grains in the pickup cavity clearly match the top. Anyone know whether 1200's in general were solid tops or whether just some of them were that way? I had always heard that egf 1200's were veneers, but I'm wondering if that was just disinfo like "all japanese guitars have thin necks" thing that people keep repeating. I've seen 1200's with and without sheilded pickup cavities and I'm wondering whqat the difference is.

I AB'ed this guitar with an 83 egf59-100 that came with two pickups with dry z stamps and dry 1982 stickers and either dry 1982's sound almost exactly like dry z or the pickups are left over dry z's that they just stuck dry 1982 stickers on. If they really are dry 1982 stickers then dry z's are nothing but hype. I also AB'ed them with an OBG with gibson classic 57's in it and it shits all over the orville. It's too bad the orville by gibsons came with american pickups because otherwise they are great guitars.

neck measurements
nut width a little over 1 11/16 (1.70)
depth at 1st fret .9
depth at 12th 1.00
width at 12th 2.06

I have 4 other japanese les pauls (3 59 models and one 57) and the necks are all very similar, the difference is this one is a little bit more of a rounded C profile and the others are closer to D

 

[jimmypringles]

I asked some experts about this and they both said ALL egf1200's super reals have a veneer. which means I bought an egf1800 thinking it was a 1200. I'm getting lucky buying greco's. just bought a mint collection with dry z's that the seller thought were dry 1982's and now got an 1800 the seller thought was a 1200.

 

[Freebird]

Nice finds. Like a treasure hunter.

 

[eborej]

I have an EGF-1800, EGF-1200, EG58-120 and some others with Dry-Zs. You've been incredibly lucky. Chances are you won't find any of them again because they are both quite rare and there are collectors with deep pockets who know how to spot these and are hunting for them in all the same places.

 

[CliffsGuitarWorld]

Any pictures of the guitar, serial number?

 

[jimmypringles]

I have an EGF-1800, EGF-1200, EG58-120 and some others with Dry-Zs. You've been incredibly lucky. Chances are you won't find any of them again because they are both quite rare and there are collectors with deep pockets who know how to spot these and are hunting for them in all the same places.

there's an eg58-120 on ebay right now for 3500 that's in very good condition. mint collection guitars are undervalued. The long neck tenon makes them closer to vintage spec than the super reals. I would buy it if i hadn't just bought this one.

I also just bought an 83 eg59-100 mint collection that has two dry z's in it that the seller was selling as dry 1982's. they have the dry z serial number and Z stamps but also dry 1982 stickers on them. I bought it assuming they were left over dry z's that they labelled dry 1982's and put in the eg59 and when I AB'ed them with the super real I turned out to be right.

 

[jimmypringles]

Any pictures of the guitar, serial number?

I've never seen a bookmatched les paul body before, so this is a first.

 

[CliffsGuitarWorld]

Ahhh this is the guitar M and M had for sale. You may of recieved Dry-Z's but they are mismatched as one is dated in April and the other in Dec. Make sure that the top is solid and this could easily be passed on as an EGF-850 or EGF-1000. Do you see flame running down the top into the cavity?

 

[guitar hiro]

I have never seen a single solid top EGF-1200.
I would be willing to bet the most educated, expert, knowledgeable, etc. Greco folks have also likely never seen a single solid top EGF-1200.
Do solid top EGF-1200s exist? I don't know, I doubt it but I assume anything is possible.

One item of note: the above pictured guitar in post #7 does not have the typical EGF-1200 top color finish.
The typical EGF-1200 top color finish has very little to virtually no gradation in the burst color.
The burst color gradation in the above example is quite stark and it's also not the typical 'color' of the typical EGF-1200 top. Food for thought.

One other item to consider: All of the claimed EGF-1800 examples I have seen typically have 1800 written in the bottom of the neck pickup route, most likely under the (clear coat) lacquer. Does the example in post #7 have that? Dunno.

Is the above example an EGF-1200? Really doesn't matter if it is, or isn't.
Is it an EGF-1800? Is it the missing link?
Only thing that matters is if the owner likes the guitar.

 

[jimmypringles]

Ahhh this is the guitar M and M had for sale. You may of recieved Dry-Z's but they are mismatched as one is dated in April and the other in Dec. Make sure that the top is solid and this could easily be passed on as an EGF-850 or EGF-1000. Do you see flame running down the top into the cavity?

the top is definitely solid. That's 100% confirmed. The picture isn't that clear but when you look at it in person you can clearly see that all the grains line up exactly. I bought it hoping the top was solid but thinking the seller might just be mistaken.

and i haven't told the seller it's an 1800. i don't want to rub it in.