Teisco Guitars?

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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Teisco Guitars?

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topsail Joined: Jun 10, 2009 Posts: 317	Posted on Jun 16 2009 07:00 AM Anybody playing these (Surf)? How do they sound? I've never played one but found one for sale. They look cool. Top
zak Joined: Sep 24, 2007 Posts: 2728	Posted on Jun 16 2009 09:20 AM This post has been removed by the author. Last edited: Sep 27, 2009 19:05:10 Top
topsail Joined: Jun 10, 2009 Posts: 317	Posted on Jun 16 2009 11:51 AM I found a 1970 ET-220 model? Top
Jagshark Joined: Nov 05, 2008 Posts: 745 Colorado, home of The Astronauts	Posted on Jun 16 2009 11:53 AM I second what Zak said. The Teisco's can be all over the map as far as quality and playability. You are best off trying it out before buying it. — (defunct) Thee Jaguar Sharks Plus! Other stuff not surf: https://soundcloud.com/jamesmileshq Enjoy every minute Top
zak Joined: Sep 24, 2007 Posts: 2728	Posted on Jun 16 2009 12:14 PM This post has been removed by the author. Last edited: Sep 27, 2009 19:05:14 Top
CrispyGoodness Joined: Apr 06, 2009 Posts: 565 North Cackalacky	Posted on Jun 16 2009 04:56 PM If you do go and try it out remember that on Teiscos the tone knob is usually wired BACKWARDS, so you've got to turn it all the way down to hear the pickups at their brightest. I forgot about this on more than one occasion, and missed buying a couple of nice guitars because I thought they were all muddy! In General, Teiscos have two consistent flaws, which are cheezy tuners and cheezy vibratos, both of which allow said axe to constantly go out of tune--fix these problems (or learn to tolerate them) and you'll do okay. Teiscos are also known for microphonic pickups, but since you're playing surf, and not blasting the booger through a Big Muff into a Marshall, this shouldn't be an issue. --Crispy Top
scotstandard Joined: Nov 09, 2008 Posts: 1140 Davenport Iowa	Posted on Jun 16 2009 05:43 PM I agree with everyone else, pretty junky but there are a few jems in the heap. Play it first. — Give me reverb or give me death! facebook.com/onenightstandards https://www.youtube.com/scotstandard scotstandard@yahoo.com Top
surfin_bird Joined: Jun 09, 2009 Posts: 267 Amstelveen [The Netherlands]	Posted on Jun 22 2009 12:58 PM I found this guitar on the web for sale I think it's a teisco but i don't know for sure does somebody know more about this guitar ? http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_0R7Gx6excCYSgaYZYLKfg?feat=directlink — Member of the league of banana yamaha's ! Top
Jagshark Joined: Nov 05, 2008 Posts: 745 Colorado, home of The Astronauts	Posted on Jun 22 2009 01:15 PM The headstock looks like a Teisco headstock. — (defunct) Thee Jaguar Sharks Plus! Other stuff not surf: https://soundcloud.com/jamesmileshq Enjoy every minute Top
zak Joined: Sep 24, 2007 Posts: 2728	Posted on Jun 22 2009 03:36 PM This post has been removed by the author. Last edited: Sep 27, 2009 19:03:40 Top
skeeter Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 2063 Virginia, USA	Posted on Jun 22 2009 04:46 PM surfin_bird I found this guitar on the web for sale I think it's a teisco but i don't know for sure does somebody know more about this guitar ? http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_0R7Gx6excCYSgaYZYLKfg?feat=directlink I don't think it's a Teisco. Doesn't look anything like any of the 4 pick-up guitars on this site: http://www.mark-cole.co.uk/teisco/ Maybe Italian? This is a pretty good site for identifying Euro guitars: http://www.fetishguitars.com/ — Paul Atomic Mosquitos Bug music for bug people is here! Killers from Space Top
CrispyGoodness Joined: Apr 06, 2009 Posts: 565 North Cackalacky	Posted on Jun 22 2009 06:02 PM If it's not a Teisco proper, it's certainly in the same gene pool; from the 4x2 headstock to the pickups to the vibrato to the metal pickguard--these all say "Japanese TLO (Teisco Like Object), no doubt about it. It might be a Kawai, or some house brand made at the same factory. At any rate, it DOES look snazzy. --Crispy Top
Woodsurfer Joined: Feb 07, 2009 Posts: 310 Bel Air, MD USA	Posted on Jun 22 2009 06:26 PM So, was Teisco one of the main ones responsible for the huge flood of guitars into the Japanese market inspired by the Venture's early tours? From what I've read, something like 750,000 guitars were sold in a single year! -- Woody — It takes a lot of mussel memory to avoid clams. Top
tartanphantom Joined: Jan 13, 2009 Posts: 25 Murfreesboro, TN	Posted on Jun 24 2009 02:25 PM CrispyGoodness If it's not a Teisco proper, it's certainly in the same gene pool; from the 4x2 headstock to the pickups to the vibrato to the metal pickguard--these all say "Japanese TLO (Teisco Like Object), no doubt about it. It might be a Kawai, or some house brand made at the same factory. At any rate, it DOES look snazzy. Not technically a Teisco, but you are on the right track. Like Teisco, it IS in the Kawai family, either branded as a Kawai, a Kingston, or not branded at all. Right now it's screaming "Kingston" to me. Teisco/Kawai guitars are definitely hit-or-miss. I've been lucky, I've got a few that are decent players. a 1965 Teisco-made Silvertone: a1966 Kingston: and a 1966 Teisco: The Silvertone is a GREAT short-scale surf monster, and the Kingston and Teisco are good for good ol' 60's rock & roll & punk. By the way, Yes, the pickups were all pretty microphonic... which is why I wax potted every one of them! No more squealing now.... — www.exoticones.com www.myspace.com/exoticones www.myspace.com/tartanphantom Top
pipeline50 Joined: Dec 26, 2012 Posts: 20 Chicago	Posted on Feb 17 2013 01:22 AM Don't shy away from a Teisco. In fact, snatch it up if it's reasonable. These are a piece of guitar history. What they lacked in high end quality, they made up for with innovative design and style. They crazier the better and the more buttons and switches, even better! These were intended for middle class kids that couldn't afford a Fender or a Gibson. That's why you found them in the Sears catalog, among other type stores. Montgomery Ward carried the Airline brand... I've got six of these guitars and although none are stellar players,each has it's own sweet spot. The Norma seen as my avatar, with the four pick ups, sounds incredibly bright and warm. Best $150 I've spent...get 'em while you can...Guys like Jack White and Billy Corrigan are buying these things up... Top
ChazSurf Joined: Nov 25, 2010 Posts: 191	Posted on Feb 17 2013 02:55 AM I have an ET-220 sitting on my lap right now. Of all my guitars, the neck on the Teisco feels the best. The Spectrum labeled pickups look pretty darn cool. Top
CrazyAces Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4053 Nashville, TN.	Posted on Feb 17 2013 08:46 AM Revived Teisco thread......I'm in! I've played and collected Teiscos, Guyatone, Kawai and others for years now. There is a lot of mis-information about them for sure. Teisco actually put out some fairly decent guitars. Some have fantastic vibrato bridges. Their line of instruments was varied from beginner to semi pro and the quality and playability can very appropriately. Teisco actually made fewer models than people think and their name is erroneously applied to other builders instruments far too often. As stated above, the pickups can be microphonic, not all of the pickups they used sound good or normal ( for surf ) and fret work can be low grade. I love them, the ones that remain in my collection are solid, great playing, stay in tune, instrumental and surf monsters. — http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic Top
tubesNtweed Joined: Sep 07, 2011 Posts: 507	Posted on Feb 17 2013 02:09 PM I can't speak for all Teiscos since I haven't played many, but I do know you'll want to stay away from the "Tulip" models. Neck is pretty comfy I will say that, but pickups sound terrible, they're out of phase and really weak, need a loud amp to hear it in a live setting. Microphonic. Also the tuners and vibrato were useless. Bought it cause it looked cool. Then sold it not too long after. The higher end, rarer Teiscos are probably better and there's plenty of people that get good sounds out of them, but don't expect much from the Tulip. I hope to try a Spectrum or Sharkfin Teisco one day, those seems like the good ones. Last edited: Feb 17, 2013 14:10:56 Top
Chippertheripper Joined: Mar 11, 2011 Posts: 819 Semass	Posted on Feb 18 2013 06:24 AM Hah, those plinky, out of phase sounds are why I LOVE me some teiscos. I could see the put off for a surf traditionalist though. Top
CrazyAces Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4053 Nashville, TN.	Posted on Feb 18 2013 10:01 AM Many of the Teisco pickups are 2 conductor plus a ground which means they can be intentionally wired out of phase. They also marked some of the pickups for their North or South polarity. It's my belief that the company had the best intentions of in phase and possibly even hum canceling sounds but what actually happened on the production floor was a different story. Whenever I get a mid 60's WG, ET or K series Teisco in the shop that has these 2 conductor and ground style pickups it's always fun to see how they were wired because it is often different from guitar to guitar, in phase, out of phase, series etc. Quite fun! — http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic Top

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