The Teisco brand name stands for Tokyo Electric Instrument and Sound Company. Teisco was founded by Renowned Hawaiian and Spanish Guitarist Atswo Kaneko and Electrical engineer Doryu Matsuda. The company was originally called 'Aoi Onpa Kenkyujo' meaning (Hollyhock Soundwave or Electricity Laboratories). In 1956 the company name was changed to 'Nippon Onpa Kogyo Co' then changed to Teisco in 1964.
The Vintage Electric Guitar
In 1967 the company was aquired by the Kawai Musical Instrument Co. Ltd. They discontinued the name Teisco for guitars but used it for their keyboard brand until the 80’s In the USA Teisco guitars were imported with at least eight brand names:
Teisco- Teisco Del Rey- Kingston- World Teisco- Silvertone-Kent- Kimberly and Heit Deluxe In the UK the Teisco Guitars were known to be imported by theses Brand names were- Arbiter- Top Twenty- Audition- Kay
Solidbodys guitars usually have a one or two letter prefix indicating the body style or Model. This is followed by a dash and a number which usually indicates the number of pickups. Although on occasion the number indicates the year of introduction. Guitars bearing a vibrato usually add another number after the Pickup number. Hollowbodies usually use either EP or PE prefix followed by a dash which indicates the specific model. With the Hollowbody Guitar the higher the number the fancier the appointments.
The Unique Style of The May Queen Electric Guitar
From 1948-60’s Teisco products were just like many other Japanese products of this period, close copies of American and Western European. Including Hagstrom and EKO both manufactures of Electric Guitars. However in the early 60’s Teisco Guitar products became increasingly unique. Teisco became notable for unusual body shapes such as the May Queen Guitar design resembling an artist palette or other unusual features such as installing four pickups ( most guitars have 2 or 3).
The vast amount of controls typically a switch for each pickup plus Tone or phase cancellation switches and 4 and 2 headstock as many as 5 tone and volume knobs that gave a wide variety of sounds yet were easily worked while being played. Blues man, Hound Dog Taylor famously used these 60’s era Teisco electric guitars and bought them at the local Sears department store. Many Teisco guitars had a primitive tailed bridges with limited timbre (the quality of the musical note or sound or tone that distinguishes between different types of sound production)
Cheaper Than a Jaguar or a Jazzmaster
When the strings are attacked from behind the bridge, a third bridge sound is created. It was unconventional and unorthodox but made Tesco guitars were very popular & cool in the 90’s as an alternative for the Fender’s Jaguar (used for the Surf Sound) or the Jazzmaster which were starting to become popular with collectors. Teisco also produced guitar amps and a six string bass similar to Fender Bass VI. It used a Fender style headstock with an oversize scroll.
Fender Features on The Japanese Guitars
For some, Teisco, was the king of the Knock-off guitars and are truly considered an oddity and for years ridiculed as cheap. Still, like the vintage Harmony guitars and Kay guitars, were the instrument that today’s musicians weaned on. It was the guitar they learned their first chops on. Times change and some of the cheap Japanese guitars that sold in the states for $59.00 now can fetch $400.00 and some like Teisco Del Spectrum above $1500.00. So check the attic out, you never know.
References
The Teisco Twanger Paradise- http://www.mark-cole.co.uk/teisco/index.htm
Vintage Guitar Magazine-Teisco Guitars
Jim Galloway - Professional Musician/Published Songwriter for 30 yrs. With over 200 Articles in Recording/Music Buisness/ Resources/Vintage Instruments
Join the Conversation