1973-74 Greco Gneco TE-280/TE-350 Vintage White Matsumoku MIJ

A very cool pre-serial Greco “Gneco” T-style guitar from the early 1970s, built in Japan by Matsumoku.

This guitar dates to approximately 1973-74 and falls directly into the transition between Greco’s TE-280 and TE-350 models. The 1973 catalog lists this configuration as the TE-280 at ¥28,000, while the following year the comparable model appears as the TE-350. These early examples predate Greco’s later serial-number system, so I'm identifying this one as a 1973-74 TE-280/TE-350.

The headstock carries the distinctive early “Gneco” logo — Greco’s stylized logo from this period where the letter “r” famously resembles an “n.” The neck plate is stamped “MATSUMOKU / MADE IN JAPAN,” positively identifying its Matsumoku manufacture.

Features include:

• Pre-serial early-1970s Greco construction
• Matsumoku-built in Japan
• Vintage White / aged cream finish
• Maple neck and maple fingerboard
• Approximately 24.75" scale length
• 21 frets
• Two single-coil pickups
• 3-way pickup selector
• Master volume and tone
• Top-loading three-saddle bridge
• Removable chrome bridge cover
• Vintage-style tuning machines
• White pickguard

The unusual short scale is one of the features that separates these early Matsumoku Grecos from a conventional Fender-style build. Period TE-350 examples are documented with the same top-loading bridge, Maxon pickups and shorter-than-Fender scale.

This guitar has just been cleaned and restrung.

Overall condition is Good with normal scratches, marks, finish wear and hardware aging consistent with a guitar that is now more than 50 years old.

There is one important condition item to note: an area of wood at the body side of the neck pocket had deteriorated/rotted away at some point in the guitar’s life. That area has been filled, but the repair remains cosmetically visible around the neck joint as shown in the photos. We are mentioning this clearly so there are no surprises for the next owner.

The frets show very little wear and have plenty of life remaining.

The large removable bridge cover is especially nice to see still with the guitar, as these are frequently missing from surviving examples.

This is an interesting piece from the earliest period of serious Japanese Fender-style production — before the later Spacey Sound Grecos and before Greco’s better-known late-1970s FujiGen era.

Case: Hard

Scale Length: 24.75“

Nut Width: 1.67“

Fret Wear: 9.8/10

Action at 12F (6th): .11“

Action at 12F (1st): .1“

Weight: 8lbs 2oz

Overall Condition: 7.2/10

Cool Factor: 11 out of 10

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Internal Use (Bin) - PA-14