![]() ![]() Well well, this Wikipedia article has to be the award winner of absolute junk. So, basically an Ibanez, differently labeled? The Ibanez line was distributed on the West coast of the U.S., the Greco was exclusively for Japan, and Penco was distributed on the East coast of the U.S. These were identical to the Ibanez Destroyer and the Greco Destroyer of the same period. The Penco brand was also put on "lawsuit" Korina-finished Explorer styled guitars. They also made excellent 12 string acoustic guitars. They also made bolt neck copies of Les Paul electrics, SG guitars and basses, Rickenbacker 4001 basses, Stratocaster/Telecaster copies and the odd mandolin and banjo. Some were fully solid wood, & some were laminate. Penco made Martin and Gibson style acoustic guitars. The Penco brand was of relatively high quality and part of the "copy guitar/lawsuit guitar" craze of the 1970s. Penco was a brand of guitars manufactured circa 1974 to 1978 in the same factory (Hoshino Gakki) in Japan as the Ibanez guitars and was distributed by the Philadelphia Music Exchange. I plan to replace the bridge, set it up and keep it forever.Not that it's the ultimate authority (and the article is labeled as an "orphan"), but here's what Wikipedia has to say about Penco: We can't talk price here, but I paid very little. (or whatever the factory that now puts out modern Ibanez's was called back then.) I think they're one of the best kept secrets around. My information is that they were built for the Philadelphia Music Comapny by Ibanez and branded Penco. The rosewood one I played sounded very much like a D-35. I'd compare the mahogany with a Martin D-18. But even with that, the thing sounds amazing. Which is a really good thing because it's all warped and separated and the bolt is the only thing holding it on. ![]() And the bridge is bolted on, like a Gibson. It has a Gibsonesque bridge with the screw saddle setting. Tough to tell, but I think it's laminated. The one I purchased has a spruce top and mahogany back and sides. I agree with it being thin, and it had laminated rosewood back and sides. I played one that was the studio knock around guitar a few years back while directing a voice session and it was amazing. I had been keeping my eyes open for a Penco. It rocks!Īnd about two months ago I purchased a Mid 70's Penco Dread. I recently changed out the hardware and replaced the pick-ups witgh a Dimarzio Super Distortion and a P90 for my oldest son. ![]() I am the original owner of a '74 or '75 Penco Les Paul Black Beauty. ![]()
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