Look closely at the controls. I've never seen this model of copy. https://www.ebay.com/itm/155502268986?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m43.l3160&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=7b5eceba5098417cab14422a7e62e486&bu=43197246228&ut=RU&exe=0&ext=0&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20230413063142&segname=11021
That's interesting. I recently played a vintage Greco copy of a P bass (I think made in the 70's or early 80's) and it was a killer bass. They made some good and some not so good stuff back in the day.
Wow - very interesting. My first bass was a Greco EB-3 copy - I was just thinking about it the other day, I was probably a freshman and an upperclassman whose brother was my friend pressured me into selling it to him.
Anyway, I have never seen one of these - maybe it was a one-off? I lived in Japan from 1982 to 1988 and visited guitar stores regularly, though actually that probably wasn't until I was a little older, so 84 or so. Things were getting pretty sophisticated by then, to me this looks older than 1981 but who knows?
I've seen numerous Greco guitars that were significantly inspired by Alembic. This is the first Alembic-style Greco bass I've seen. Here's a Greco guitar that's currently on Bay Area Craigslist. Looks a lot like an Ibanez Musician.
Bill, tgo
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/msg/d/san-mateo-greco-go-made-in-japan/7606053169.html (https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/msg/d/san-mateo-greco-go-made-in-japan/7606053169.html)
Can't seem to reply with quote this morning, but Greco instruments were made in the same factory as Ibanez - Fujigen. They also made their own version of the Iceman guitar, and lots of really good Gibson clones.
That Greco GO1200 guitar on the SF Bay Craigslist is sweet; I've seen it recently as well. The GO models always immediately make me think of Talking Heads, as both David Byrne and Adrian Belew played the Roland G-303 - basically the same guitar and all part of the same production, just with different specs + guitar synth. IMO, the Greco GO series actually looks a lot nicer! Very Alembic-influenced.
From the Stop Making Sense movie:
(https://i.ibb.co/Y0PhNXC/David-Byrne-Guild1.gif)
First BK-1200 8 strings Bass was made 1979, produced by music shop "Key" with AK-1400 (Flying V shape guitar).
I believe these instruments were inspired by Greg Lake Scorpion 8 strings and AE-16 Flying V guitar.
AK-1400 Flying V guitar is well known, Ace Frehley played KISS live in Japan 1979.
BK-1200 8 strings Bass was Greco & Key store's ad with Tom Petersson in Japan Jam 2 Aug.1980.
Both instruments has nice Jacaranda veneer top and back with surrounded binding.
I didn't know the 5pin construction of BK bass, but I found the photo of the circuit.
It was simply passive 2 Pu construction, but switch phone jack mixed both PU when the plugged in, and each PU signal are send to 5 pin for stereo out. (No.2 and 4 pins & other pins are earthed)
After few years, BK-1200 were made with maple like top wood and mahogany body.
Eiji
A quick cruise through 80's Japanese basses shows LOTS of Alembic influence, whether the SB Arias, the Ibanez Musicians, and on and on.
That is a nice looking Greco bass. Some of those 70'-80's MIJ basses were REALLY good. This one seems like no exception and the inlays are outstanding.
Thanks Eiji!