Greco SE-600J (Upgraded)

These Jeff Beck models were built by all the main factories around the time of his Japanese tour - there are a couple of photos of a similar (presumably a Fender) guitar on the Nagoya publicity shots - there are certainly a few reverse-phase sounds present if you listen to the recordings. Matsumoku, Fujigen, Chushin, Tokai, they all produced a replica of this guitar and offered different degrees of complexity between the 500, 600 and 800 models. The 500 and most 600 models were offered with simple on/off/on switches to control the pick-ups and select the phasing; some 600 and all 800 models had a very complex arrangement where series/parallel functionality replaced a couple of the normal pick-up selections - so complex that even the brochure writers gave up trying to explain it.

The series options are worthwhile with these magnificent Excel pick-ups - they work together without the muddiness, but it seems annoying to have to forego some of the parallel combinations. So, here is an alternative that gives you a traditional Strat, a decent go at a Tele, and some immense series tones that come into their own with the phase reversal facility.

It's genuinely impossible to give a comparison with other guitars as this configuration is only really available via Brian May, but we can't have 6 switches on a Strat - I don't want to mess with the looks.

The 3 mini switches control the pick-ups for on/off and which phase you wish, and a stealthy S-1 switch in the volume control will bring you all the series options. A master tone completes the arrangement. In the aim of keeping things simple and not having more switches to contend with, the series options require all 3 pick-ups to be engaged - then you decide what phase relationship they have with each other, and this unlocks a surprisingly versatile palette - this is beyond "offering a Gibson sound", and into powerful alternative tones that you'd usually require a square metre of foot pedals for. The demo video attempts to let you hear these tones:

Once familiar with the controls, this becomes quite a beast, and you can either recreate the Stanley Clarke stuff, or go your own way and find some really interesting tones to get you noticed.

Those familiar with JV Fenders will recognize the neck profile - not super skinny, but decidely slim and slick. This has been a busy guitar (a good sign) and you'll have to forgive the sticker rash behind the bridge. We have put brand new Gotoh SD-91 tuners on this one along with a brand new Gotoh GE-101 vintage style bridge. The pick-ups are original, as are the switches, but the pots and knobs are brand new Fender/CTS units.

The appeal of this guitar ought to extend beyond Jeff Beck fans - it is a good useful tool in its own right - we decided to wait a while after his sad passing before offering this one. This could easily serve as your only guitar, but will happily sit alongside more traditional instruments ready to be called upon when you need those special tones. It's a cracker.