Deluxe NGD

TheCruelSea

Joined: Feb 25, 2012
Posts: 131
2 Map Pins

Posted on May 27 2014 06:47 PM

Found a deal that I just couldn't pass up on Craigslist and finally became a Teisco owner. So here it is the Heit deluxe. If anyone could share some history on Heit that would be awesome.

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Badger

Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
United States

Posted on May 27 2014 07:22 PM

Wow, congrats! That thing is neat lookin'!

—

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

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Noel

Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
United States

Posted on May 27 2014 08:23 PM

That is seriously cool! Congrats on the fascinating score.

—

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

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imafunkyman

Joined: Sep 16, 2007
Posts: 548
Utah

Posted on May 27 2014 09:37 PM

Cool! How does it play and sound?

—

Either you surf, or you fight.

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CrazyAces

Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4053
Nashville, TN.
3 News Pins

Posted on May 27 2014 10:22 PM

Very cool indeed.
I don't know much about the Heit branded guitars but those are not Teisco parts, not a Teisco product.

—

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

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TheCruelSea

Joined: Feb 25, 2012
Posts: 131
2 Map Pins

Posted on May 28 2014 12:40 AM

CrazyAces wrote:

Very cool indeed.
I don't know much about the Heit branded guitars but those are not Teisco parts, not a Teisco product.

Ok that was the one part of the story I got from the salesman I didn't really trust.

And imafunkyman it plays really nice. The two pickups sound alright alone but as soon as they are both turned on they sound very piano-y, almost like the Jazzmasters middle position. It honestly sounds like a jaguar jazzmaster love child. The only problem is the action is a bit slow and the vibrato is very stiff. But I should be able to work out the kinks.

All in all I am very glad I found this deal. I will try and make a demo video if you guys are interested.

Last edited: May 28, 2014 00:41:58

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SanchoPansen

Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
Germany

Posted on May 28 2014 03:18 AM

Very nice! Congratulations!

—

The Hicadoolas

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LeeVanCleef

Joined: Oct 05, 2011
Posts: 744
France
12 Map Pins

Posted on May 28 2014 11:59 AM

I found several sources mentioning that Heit was indeed one of the brands under which guitars made by Kawai Teisco were sold.

Heit was a brand name used by G&H importers of Lodi, New Jersey. [Source: Vintaxe] Made by Teisco [Source: Vintage Guitar Pro ] The Heit Deluxe was only built from 1967-1970 [Source: Guitar for beginners]

Made in Japan in the Teisco factory between 1967 and 1970, this highly individual guitar was marketed in the States by a currently unknown New York distributor. Very rare today, especially in the UK, but one is currently used by "Queens of the Stone Age".

In 1967, Teisco Company was bought out by Kawai. Historically, Teisco would put any name a buyer wanted on the guitar as long as he purchased enough units. Kawai continued this tradition. Teisco-made guitars bore names such as Kent, Heit Deluxe, Kingston, Kimberly, AOL Ultra Deluxe 68, etc... and many still had the Del Rey labels as well. Oh, the variety!

—

Old punks never die... They just become surf rockers.

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CrazyAces

Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4053
Nashville, TN.
3 News Pins

Posted on May 28 2014 12:23 PM

Ah yes, the Kawai buyout of Teisco.
I don't and a lot of other vintage Japanese guitar enthusiasts don't really consider anything Teisco that was made after the take over or '67 on up to be truly Teisco.
The manufacturing methods changed, hardware, pickups and not really for the better, quality wise.
While it is true that models like the May Queen and Spectrum came out during this period and are in fact badged Teisco and are some of the more desired instruments it is not for their sound quality or build, it is for their lavishness and shape/designs.
The earlier guitars before the buyout were just plain better quality.
During Teiscos "golden years" my research (read: actually buying, owning and repairing many, many of these over the last fifteen years)indicates to me that the pre '67 Tesico factory actually built for far fewer badge names than modern versions of their history would like to suggest.
When Kawai took over the re-badging industry was exploited much more.
What exactly am I saying?
The Heit is actually a Kawai product, in design, materials, feel, hardware and has very little to do with what Teisco made their name doing.
It's similar to saying that all Epiphones are Gibsons because Gibson owns them.

—

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

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CrazyAces

Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4053
Nashville, TN.
3 News Pins

Posted on May 28 2014 12:28 PM

And yes TheCruelSea, we'd love a demo when you get a minute!

Cheers,
Jeff

—

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

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Teiscofan

Joined: Feb 21, 2011
Posts: 513
Ontario
Canada

Posted on May 28 2014 12:29 PM

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teisco
As my forum name implies I am a huge Teisco fan. Congrats on the purchase it looks awesome!

—

I am not obsolete, I am RETRO....

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TheCruelSea

Joined: Feb 25, 2012
Posts: 131
2 Map Pins

Posted on May 28 2014 05:15 PM

Alright so I made two quick videos.
Here it is clean with a bit of clean reverb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rMVxZrcx4U

amd here it is with some fender tank reverb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiE29Wj4Le0

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CrazyAces

Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4053
Nashville, TN.
3 News Pins

Posted on May 28 2014 10:21 PM

Sounds perfect in the videos.
Nice demo.

—

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

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TheCruelSea Joined: Feb 25, 2012 Posts: 131	Posted on May 27 2014 06:47 PM Found a deal that I just couldn't pass up on Craigslist and finally became a Teisco owner. So here it is the Heit deluxe. If anyone could share some history on Heit that would be awesome. Top
Badger Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4537 Wisconsin	Posted on May 27 2014 07:22 PM Wow, congrats! That thing is neat lookin'! — Wes SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices. Top
Noel Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.	Posted on May 27 2014 08:23 PM That is seriously cool! Congrats on the fascinating score. — This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. Top
imafunkyman Joined: Sep 16, 2007 Posts: 548 Utah	Posted on May 27 2014 09:37 PM Cool! How does it play and sound? — Either you surf, or you fight. Top
CrazyAces Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4053 Nashville, TN.	Posted on May 27 2014 10:22 PM Very cool indeed. I don't know much about the Heit branded guitars but those are not Teisco parts, not a Teisco product. — http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic Top
TheCruelSea Joined: Feb 25, 2012 Posts: 131	Posted on May 28 2014 12:40 AM CrazyAces wrote: Very cool indeed. I don't know much about the Heit branded guitars but those are not Teisco parts, not a Teisco product. Ok that was the one part of the story I got from the salesman I didn't really trust. And imafunkyman it plays really nice. The two pickups sound alright alone but as soon as they are both turned on they sound very piano-y, almost like the Jazzmasters middle position. It honestly sounds like a jaguar jazzmaster love child. The only problem is the action is a bit slow and the vibrato is very stiff. But I should be able to work out the kinks. All in all I am very glad I found this deal. I will try and make a demo video if you guys are interested. Last edited: May 28, 2014 00:41:58 Top
SanchoPansen Joined: Jan 04, 2011 Posts: 1588 Berlin L-Berg	Posted on May 28 2014 03:18 AM Very nice! Congratulations! — The Hicadoolas Top
LeeVanCleef Joined: Oct 05, 2011 Posts: 744 France	Posted on May 28 2014 11:59 AM I found several sources mentioning that Heit was indeed one of the brands under which guitars made by Kawai Teisco were sold. Heit was a brand name used by G&H importers of Lodi, New Jersey. [Source: Vintaxe] Made by Teisco [Source: Vintage Guitar Pro ] The Heit Deluxe was only built from 1967-1970 [Source: Guitar for beginners] Made in Japan in the Teisco factory between 1967 and 1970, this highly individual guitar was marketed in the States by a currently unknown New York distributor. Very rare today, especially in the UK, but one is currently used by "Queens of the Stone Age". In 1967, Teisco Company was bought out by Kawai. Historically, Teisco would put any name a buyer wanted on the guitar as long as he purchased enough units. Kawai continued this tradition. Teisco-made guitars bore names such as Kent, Heit Deluxe, Kingston, Kimberly, AOL Ultra Deluxe 68, etc... and many still had the Del Rey labels as well. Oh, the variety! — Old punks never die... They just become surf rockers. Top
CrazyAces Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4053 Nashville, TN.	Posted on May 28 2014 12:23 PM Ah yes, the Kawai buyout of Teisco. I don't and a lot of other vintage Japanese guitar enthusiasts don't really consider anything Teisco that was made after the take over or '67 on up to be truly Teisco. The manufacturing methods changed, hardware, pickups and not really for the better, quality wise. While it is true that models like the May Queen and Spectrum came out during this period and are in fact badged Teisco and are some of the more desired instruments it is not for their sound quality or build, it is for their lavishness and shape/designs. The earlier guitars before the buyout were just plain better quality. During Teiscos "golden years" my research (read: actually buying, owning and repairing many, many of these over the last fifteen years)indicates to me that the pre '67 Tesico factory actually built for far fewer badge names than modern versions of their history would like to suggest. When Kawai took over the re-badging industry was exploited much more. What exactly am I saying? The Heit is actually a Kawai product, in design, materials, feel, hardware and has very little to do with what Teisco made their name doing. It's similar to saying that all Epiphones are Gibsons because Gibson owns them. — http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic Top
CrazyAces Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4053 Nashville, TN.	Posted on May 28 2014 12:28 PM And yes TheCruelSea, we'd love a demo when you get a minute! Cheers, Jeff — http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic Top
Teiscofan Joined: Feb 21, 2011 Posts: 513 Ontario	Posted on May 28 2014 12:29 PM http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teisco As my forum name implies I am a huge Teisco fan. Congrats on the purchase it looks awesome! — I am not obsolete, I am RETRO.... Top
TheCruelSea Joined: Feb 25, 2012 Posts: 131	Posted on May 28 2014 05:15 PM Alright so I made two quick videos. Here it is clean with a bit of clean reverb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rMVxZrcx4U amd here it is with some fender tank reverb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiE29Wj4Le0 Top
CrazyAces Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4053 Nashville, TN.	Posted on May 28 2014 10:21 PM Sounds perfect in the videos. Nice demo. — http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic Top

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