There are plenty of things to consider when buying a guitar – how it looks, how it holds up over time, and of course, how it sounds are all very important.
- Teisco Guitar Serial Numbers
- Teisco Serial Numbers
- Teisco Serial Numbers
- Teisco Guitar Serial Numbers
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SILVERTONE 1960's TEISCO MADE SHORT SCALE JAZZ BASS Hi and thanks for looking.This is a very cool bass that was made by Teisco during the 1960's in Japan.The logo is what I am use to seeing on guitars sold by Sears/Silvertone at that time.The bass is 30.5' like Gibson basses being made at the time.The body has been spray painted a flat black. By then Teisco had built over 1 million guitars. Kawai did maintain the Teisco brand name until 1969 on imported instrument, but kept the Teisco brand it on guitars sold in Japan through 1977. Guitars built and imported after 1969 seemed to lose the originality of the original Teisco instruments, and became copies of popular instruments. 1968 Teisco May Queen. 1960 Teisco SW (Kingston) Lap Steel Guitar. 1964 Teisco WG-3L Guitar. 1969 Teisco S-2 Guitar. 1962 Teisco SD4L Guitar. 1990s Teisco Spectrum 5.
Still, it’s easy to look past the electric hardware and beyond the body design, with eyes fixating right atop the headstock.
Why is this?
Because buyers have become accustomed to shopping by brand value alone, meaning the bigger names usually see more interest from consumers.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing – humans like to be able to identify things quickly. It’s a common need of our species to order our options and link things with others for the sake of familiarity. If you’re buying a brand that millions of others have already purchased from and gotten good results off of, you may feel a little more secure.
But what about buying from lesser-known brands?
The flip side of shopping only by brand value is that you could miss out on a lesser-known gem. Stumbling upon a rare find that offers a unique look and a competitive price is something musicians love – as do collectors.
This is why Teisco guitars are worth checking out.
But what does this brand offer? And is it worth your money to invest, or should you pass and seek other brands instead?
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Teisco Guitars: A Japanese-Made Brand with Retro Flare
During the 1960s, many music genres and studios had almost completely abandoned their acoustic instruments for electrics. The era of amplification was in full effect, and although acoustic instruments would make an eventual comeback, this period saw many electric guitar manufacturers rise to prominence.
Teisco guitars, also known as Teisco Del Ray guitars, were created in this time period in Japan. They had everything instruments of the time needed – electronic components, eye-catching body shapes, and unique design choices. It was a time when electric instruments were viewed as the bringer of the next generation of music, so an out-of-this-world design meant more appeal.
The body design of many Teisco guitars is reminiscent of the Fender Jazzmaster and other similarly styled instruments. An angular body with exaggerated cutaways wasn’t exactly a rare find in this era, and still isn’t – other instrument makers like Danelectro use the same style.
But what about the performance and the price, though?
Are the two close enough to make this brand worth looking at?
And because it is a bit dated, does that factor into the decision of whether or not to buy?
While some people prefer to buy the latest and purportedly greatest instrument released on the market, others find value in older models. Maybe it’s the vintage vibes or the retro style, but this old-school design is something many musicians and collectors appreciate.
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There’s a big market for retro products – classic cars, antique furniture, and even vintage musical instrument can be a gem in any collection.
While not all Teisco guitars are in the same price range, some can go for hundreds while others fetch thousands. Why the disparity?
The answer is simple – some of the body types used in the Teisco line are almost impossible to find elsewhere. They’re not hugely popular among other guitar manufacturers and their rarity means they’ve seldom been copied or used to model new brands after.
One-of-a-kind instruments (or those that are close to it) can fetch a lot of money. Teisco guitars with rarely seen body shapes and design styles make it easy to see why some of them are worth $1,000 or more.
But retro guitars are also known for something else – their vintage sound.
Older guitars usually have older pickups provided they haven’t been updated or modified. Therefore, a person who wants to get their hands on an instrument that sounds noticeably different than most modern models could also benefit from finding a brand like Teisco.
So for a collector, would an instrument that costs a couple grand be worth it?
Depending on said collector’s budget, this type of brand is perfect as an addition to any collection. Finding something that looks and sounds special can make any collector’s day and give them bang for their buck.
What about how the Teisco line appeals to guitarists on a budget?
Though it’s hard to create a good collection without a big bank balance, not everyone wants to do this. For some people, they want to find a solid guitar for getting their musical aspirations started or even for traveling.
Any instrument that costs less is usually safer to travel with, as a few dings won’t constitute a big loss of money.
So does the brand offer anything for guitarists on a budget?
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Sure, modern brands offer starter and travel guitars in a comfortable price range of a few hundred dollars or less. But does Teisco offer anything similar?
- Vintage 70's Guitar
Teisco can certainly offer some great options for guitar and instrument collectors.
But what about those people who don’t want to spend a sum as high as four figures?
Consider how practice guitars or beginner guitars are viewed. They should be affordable but should also offer a good sound and look.
A model like the Teisco ET-200 fits the bill perfectly. Coming in at just around the $200 price range, this guitar is perfect for someone who is just starting out or who wants a rare vintage treat that doesn’t break the bank.
This model has the type of unique body style and sunburst finish that screams “old school.”
Combine this with a unique tailpiece, decorative pickguard, and even retro-style controls, and you’ve got a solid value-based purchase option to consider.
If you’re looking for something that is out of the ordinary and offers old-world charm for a very reasonable price, this is a great guitar to consider.
This is just one of the guitars Teisco has in this price range. As with most guitars from their line, this one was in production during the 1960s. And while the low price indicates the pickups and setup aren’t anything that will greatly enhance your sound, it does open you up to some creative options.
Let’s say you buy a model like this – then put some work into it. If you’re not a luthier, you can always hire one.
Modifying old-school guitars with updated hardware is a great way to get the perfect combination of vintage looks and modern playability.
Most guitarists take great pride in the features their instrument has. The finish, the pickups, and even the action setup all play a big role in how the guitar performs and provides value to the musician.
But just because a guitar is old doesn’t mean it has to look like it – or sound like it.
A person who buys a guitar from Teisco may want to keep the antique-style bridge piece and pickguard.
But what about the pickups?
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It’s possible to swap them out for a set of modern humbuckers and give this blast from the past a modern roar.
Some pickups may require a little bit of body work and wiring rerouting to make things work. But under the skilled eye of a talented luthier, it is possible to make sure the instrument maintains its vintage appearance with modifications.
Even the neck could be set up, the fretboard redone, and minor body imperfections doctored.
These are just a few of the ways a person may modify a budget guitar from Teisco. This is a great way to get a unique looking instrument that sounds great without spending a lot of money. For those who are on a budget, using a Teisco as is or enhanced can be a great choice.
Is this brand worth your money?
Should you check out the line and maybe even look into turning one of their cheaper guitars into a personal project?
Whether you’re looking for the type of rare guitar that makes a great addition to any collection or a solid starter model with a retro flare, Teisco is a great band to consider.
Often overlooked as their line was in production over a decade ago, Teisco is the type of rare line that doesn’t get a lot of notoriety.
But this can also speak to their value – and their hard-to-find design style.
Whether as a standalone model used as it is or a guitar that is destined for numerous upgrades, a low-cost Teisco model is a great option to try.
If you’re looking for a solid beginner guitar with pickups geared toward modern songs, you could probably find a starter pack from Fender (Squire) or Gibson (Epiphone) for around the same price as a low-cost Teisco.
But those starter packs include guitars that don’t offer that vintage style. When you want to get an instrument from yesteryear that either adds a lot of collection or gives you a ton of value, look into Teisco guitars.
If you want an electric guitar, but didn't find what you are looking for with Teisco, you can check out reviews of other models and hopefully you will get what you need!
What is the Teisco Serial Number / Date Chart?
The chart is a list of model numbers going down the page and alist of serial numbers going across the page. Guitar models have theircorresponding serial numbers marked on the chart. Above the serial numbers isthe estimated production dates for those serial.
What Can the Chart Tell Us?
The chart can provide a lot of information, such as thefollowing;
·Determinewhen your Teisco was made based on the serial number;
·Identifywhat other guitars models were made when your guitar was made;
Teisco Guitar Serial Numbers
·Determinehow many of each model was made;
·Seehow often each guitar was made;
·Determinewhich models are rare and which are common;
·Identifythe sequence of when guitars were constructed;
·Estimatethe production output of Teisco factory during the serial number era;
·Determinethe total number of Teisco guitars that were made during the serial numberplate era.
There are some interruptions in the data for some of the above,but the accuracy is probably the best that will ever surface. The chart will berevised and expand as more information is discovered and confirmed.
The chart also gives us a direction on how to start to study eachmodel and a reference between other models. Hence trends in productiontechniques and hardware used can be compared. A lot of information on this website has been discovered from the trends in this chart.
How the Chart Came Into Existence
The Teisco serial chart was reconstructed from serial numbers offTeisco guitars that have surfaced on the internet since 2007. The numbers wererecorded from as many possible sources that could be found.
It all begun with an eBay listing that stated “There might havebeen only 500 Spectrum 5 guitars ever made. Could be as many as 2000. No onereally knows.” Someone wanted to know really badly. (And at that time theydidn't even have a Spectrum 5.) So what if someone recorded every spectrum 5serial number they could find and see if it linked up?
Teisco Serial Number Lookup
So the Teisco Serial / Date Chartproject was started and several months ofresearch later it became evident that some things did not linkup. The numbers were all over the place. From that point it was decidedthat all serials numbers from all the models needed to be collected.Then perhaps it could finally be determined exactly how many were made.Several searches were done on the internet to determine a complete list ofTeisco models. The problem is that a lot of the models did not have anypictures. It was determined that some of the model numbers were not even Teiscomodels on those original lists. This project took years of research justto determine what was or was not a Teisco, and also, what eachmodel looked like. As time went by, missing models were added and nonTeisco models were removed. Hence the most accurate and complete list of Teiscomodels was developed.
As the Teisco models were being recorded the serial numbers werearchived in such a way that they could be recalled later to enter them into thechart. These numbers were slowly all mapped onto the chart. The scale wasdetermined by limitations of excel and a size that could be viewed on thescreen, such that any patterns could be observed. So the guitars weregrouped in blocks of 10,000. Then if required, all the guitars in a given blockcould be viewed in the archived files that were logged. (Note the archivedfiles will not published.)
As the chart started to take shape, patterns started forming veryearly on. It became very apparent that Teisco was actually very diligent withthere serial numbers and model numbers. In fact the serial numbers flowed veryconsistently and changed the way that Teisco guitars were considered to bebuilt. The original claim,
that Teisco would simply use any parts on hand whenbuilding guitars in their factory has now been proven wrong.
The chart clearly showed when models were manufactured in relationto other models. By looking at a group of serial numbers of a model, it wasdetermined how the evolution of the model occurred. (ie The hardware changesetc.)
The information provided from the chart is something that novintage guitar collector ever thought would be possible to obtain. A large partof the hidden history of Teisco is in that chart. It has enabled us to studyand understand what the company produced and what changes happened in itsproduction history. This is information that has been lost for decades. Todate, it has provided the most accurate insight into the history of one of thelargest guitar manufactures of it’s time. This information is more than anyother guitar researcher / writer has been able to produce in the last 30 yearson Teisco guitars.
Anyway back to that beginning question. Well we have a pretty goodidea of many Teisco Spectrum 5’s were made. We want to be very accurate, but weneed more serial numbers to narrow the spaces between the serial numbers wehave. With time, these gaps will be filled in to such a point that the chartcan be recalculated in increments of 1,000 instead of 10,000. It willthen be possible to accurately estimate how many of each model was made. Buttill then, keep sending in your model and serial numbers. If you have a Teisco,you can help. See
How Dates Were Linked to the Serial Numbers
The initial unpublished chart was undated and was useful toconstruct a map of when models were made in relation to each other. It was notable to establish a link between when each guitar was manufactured, based onthe serial number.
At first, dates from original owners were recorded when theybought or received a new Teisco guitar. But this seemed inconsistent. Mainlybecause people forget when they got the guitar and who knows how long it was ina shop before it was sold. There were too many unknowns when working with thesedates. But it did provide a good reference point later as these serial numbersneeded to be manufactured before these dates. So these became checks pointslater on.
So then some Bennet Bros catalogues were cross referenced to try anddetermine when particular models were made and when they were featured incatalogue. Again the chart and this data did not match. Guitars models appearedin catalogues for many years after they were built, due to low sales or overpurchasing of certain models. There was not a clear link to production. A lotof these catalogues used stock photos. Hence a slight hardware change may haveoccurred but the photos in the catalogues stayed the same. This prevented anexact link between actual serial numbers and these catalogues.
Finally one WMI catalogue surfaced and these were very good.Firstly these catalogues were dated with the month they were printed. Thesewere also printed in
The chart dates were then checked against dates provided by ownersand other printed catalogues, to ensure that the first batch of any modeldidn’t post date the relevant catalogue. This confirmed the link between theserial numbers and the catalogue dates were very close to accurate.
However, there is one inaccuracy in the dating method. This beingthe time between when the last guitar was ready to be featured in thecatalogue, and when the catalogue was actually printed. There could have been aslight delay for artwork design and actual printing time. This time isunknown and has been assumed as zero for the moment.
So Where is the Chart?
The chart is about 80% to 90% complete. There has not been a lotof support or information come through on the Help Re-Discover Teisco site, soat this time the chart will not be published.However information from the chart is being used to prepare this website.
If you wish to help the Teisco serial chart project please visitthe
Teisco Del Rey Serial Numbers
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(Last Revised: 4h Nov 2012)