Carlo Greco

[sonny michaels]

Wow, you're talking about *that* Carlo, from Alex?!?!

He used to set up my guitars. He had a great rep, but I didn't realize he hand-built them as well. I once asked him about swapping out a Tele neck pup for a humbucker, and he talked me out of it. He said, "You'a put'a humbucker in'a here, and you's no more'a got a Fender!"

God, he seemed old even then. How old is this dude now, assuming that we're talking about the same guy?

Oh wait, was it Carlo, or Pasquale? I do know it was some Italian dude!

 

[Jahn]

From that accent it sounds like Carlo alright, hehe! Yep he does work on everything from D'Angelicos to some kid's Ibanez Iceman that I saw - very approachable fellow for being a luthier legend!

 

[sonny michaels]

Oh yeah, he was good people - totally approachable. no "attitude" whatsoever. Just wanted to get the job done. Feisty, but like I said, no "attitude."

 

[West R Lee]

Darryl, you look ravishing! :shock: Especially in red.

West

 

[fastednj]

For anyone interested in Carlo Greco today is Dec 18, 2010. Carlo is 84. He is building has last two guitars, one for Alex, and the last one for me. The woods he is using are 50 years old. All hand done. He is charging me $5,000 and I consider it an absolute bargain. Jumbo auditorium. Brazilian rosewood back and sides, Spruce top, ebony fretboard and bridge. Hand inlaid work on the fretboard, all by him. Not shopped out. I bought a similar one this summer from Rudy Pensa and brought it to Jorma Kaukonen guitar camp. There were dozens of high end gibsons, martins, taylors there. Tommy Emmanuel was guest instructor. He spotted it as did Jorma, asked what it was and played it for half and hour. Then asked to buy it on the spot. It blew every other guitar away. If you can find a real carlo greco, buy it. then sell it to me!

Ed Miller
fastednj@gmail.com

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

For anyone interested in Carlo Greco today is Dec 18, 2010. Carlo is 84. He is building has last two guitars, one for Alex, and the last one for me. The woods he is using are 50 years old. All hand done. He is charging me $5,000 and I consider it an absolute bargain. Jumbo auditorium. Brazilian rosewood back and sides, Spruce top, ebony fretboard and bridge. Hand inlaid work on the fretboard, all by him. Not shopped out. I bought a similar one this summer from Rudy Pensa and brought it to Jorma Kaukonen guitar camp. There were dozens of high end gibsons, martins, taylors there. Tommy Emmanuel was guest instructor. He spotted it as did Jorma, asked what it was and played it for half and hour. Then asked to buy it on the spot. It blew every other guitar away. If you can find a real carlo greco, buy it. then sell it to me!

Ed Miller
fastednj@gmail.com

Congratulations on what will likely be an extraordinary guitar! We'd love to see some pictures, when it's finished.

Oh, and welcome to LTG!

Cheers,

~nw

 

[tjmangum]

Thanks guys for the updates on Mr. Greco. I wonder if the powers that be in Scottsdale know how much he did to enhance and maintain the Guild brand for all those years? A whole line of "Greco" instruments should exist to celebrate the man!
Terry

 

[chazmo]

Welcome to LTG, Ed. Best of luck with your final Carlo Greco guitar, and please pass along our collective thanks from LTG to the man who was so key in the development of some of our favorite guitars.

 

[fastednj]

Carlo greco inevitably last Guitar is done. The past year has seen Carlo age very rapidly. Lost his wife, lost most if his vision. The finish work was, well the work if a man gone mostly blind. I had to have Alex Glasser of Ironhorse instruments rework much of the neck, do a complete refret and nut and saddle. But the sound, oh the sound! Magnificent. Chimes like bells.

 

[ladytexan]

Carlo greco inevitably last Guitar is done. The past year has seen Carlo age very rapidly. Lost his wife, lost most if his vision. The finish work was, well the work if a man gone mostly blind. I had to have Alex Glasser of Ironhorse instruments rework much of the neck, do a complete refret and nut and saddle. But the sound, oh the sound! Magnificent. Chimes like bells.

Ed, please, post pictures of your guitar. How wonderful for us to see Mr. Greco's last guitar.

Thanks for the update. It is sad to know that he will no longer be making guitars (my gosh, he's 86, God bless him), but age is a wicked beast that catches all of us.

 

[twocorgis]

Carlo greco inevitably last Guitar is done. The past year has seen Carlo age very rapidly. Lost his wife, lost most if his vision. The finish work was, well the work if a man gone mostly blind. I had to have Alex Glasser of Ironhorse instruments rework much of the neck, do a complete refret and nut and saddle. But the sound, oh the sound! Magnificent. Chimes like bells.

Ed, please, post pictures of your guitar. How wonderful for us to see Mr. Greco's last guitar.

Thanks for the update. It is sad to know that he will no longer be making guitars (my gosh, he's 86, God bless him), but age is a wicked beast that catches all of us.

Ed, a big +1 to what Toni said!

I had the opportunity to meet Carlo about a year and a half ago before he retired, and it was a genuine honor (meeting Ren Ferguson felt about the same). It was really sad news when Jahn relayed that his wife had passed away and that he had retired. When people work that hard for that long, and are married to the same person for that amount of time, often they don't last long without either. When I met Carlo he was an absolute gentleman, and I wish him only the best.

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

Does anybody know how old he is?

 

[chazmo]

86, Darryl. Ed ordered his guitar in 2010, and he was 84.

Ed, please post some pictures if/when you have a chance. We'd love to see them. Carlo is a Guild legend!!

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

Thanks, Chaz.