Teisco project from the Truetananny

[cook]

Last week I posted about the Truetananny event at True Tone Music in Santa Monica, CA. I was only able to go for a little while, missed Carol Kaye and Will Ray. Did see Pete Anderson, but the Q+A about music theory was way over my head. Got a bunch of free swag also, strap, t- shirts, picks, hats.... The Gibson Historic and Acoustic trailers were also there, played a bunch of guitars way beyond my means.

Anyways, they had a yard sale there and I got a Teisco Spectrum 5 body, neck, half the bridge and tuners for $10. Looks like this minus a bunch of parts!

As I was leaving, one of the staff told me the guitar was left at the store by Ry Cooder after he took all the parts he wanted off it. Sounds believable, I think he leaves around the corner from the store.

I was hoping you all could help me find the rest of the parts, other than ebay of course. I guess this guitar was only made one year and not many are parted out. Originally I was going to just screw a hard tail bridge on to it and use conventional pickups, but after learning more about it I would love to get it closer to stock. Thanks!

[woodman]

i have no idea where to find the parts, but keep us posted on your progress! the first electric guitar i ever owned was a Teisco (back in '69), and i love those funky ol' things.

[Beatbx]

I've got a Spectrum 22 that I love. It's missing the trem arm, but I found this and it looks like a good replacement:

http://store.guitarfetish.com/vistsumowhba.html

[Skrik]

Well, that's my dose of ugly for today.

[cook]

Hey Beatbx, that's pretty cool! I realize now why they sold me those parts so cheap, it's because to get the rest of the parts is going to be a chore. After cleaning it up, it seems pretty solidly built, and the rosewood fingerboard is really nice. I think I'll just screw on a Squier 51 bridge and make my own pickguard, just so I can play it while trying to get original parts.

[ThreePlyGuy]

That's going to be fun, keep us posted?

[BAW4742]

Cool project.

My grandfather had a Teisco. I would walk to his house nearly every day after school when I was about 11 years old and bang on that thing till dinner time.

My folks finally got me an electric so I would stay home a little more.

[6942]

I've been collecting old Teisco guitars for a few years.
Right now I have 5 in original working condition:
Teisco ET-220
Kay ET-220
Teisco E-110
Heit Deluxe
Decca
I modded a few others with more modern pickups and tuners.
Tuners are a real weak link in almost any Teisco.
It's hard to find mint condition hardware, seems most Teisco either lived hard lives or sat neglected in damp basements.
Some old Teisco's were so far gone, I just harvested them for parts.
They are real easy to work on, and being SO light, very kind to my arthritic right shoulder.
The Teisco Spectrum series are a little more "upscale" than your average Teisco.
That means parts will be harder to find and generally, more expensive too.
Good luck with your Teisco project.
Please try and post pics if/when you finish the guitar?

Steve

[Beatbx]

Originally Posted by cook

Hey Beatbx, that's pretty cool! I realize now why they sold me those parts so cheap, it's because to get the rest of the parts is going to be a chore. After cleaning it up, it seems pretty solidly built, and the rosewood fingerboard is really nice. I think I'll just screw on a Squier 51 bridge and make my own pickguard, just so I can play it while trying to get original parts.

Thanks, it's an awesome looking guitar IMO, but not everyone's cup of tea especially in Scandinavia apparently I don't know if I would worry too much about original parts as the the components were not very good. In fact I've often wished I had an exact copy but with high grade parts. The neck and body are great though. Good luck with yours.

[cook]

This is what I've got so far. I've been doing some research, and the Spectrum 5 was called that because of the 5 tones obtainable from multi-colored pushbuttons. I don't think I'll find those. I think I'm just going to put on a top- mounting tremolo like a Bigsby or that one Beatbx showed me and use more modern electronics. I've always wanted a Jazzmaster, maybe I can make my own version out of it! Also, even if I got the old electronics, there aren't any wiring diagrams on the internet.

[cook]

I gave up trying to find the original parts, so I used leftovers and a Squier 51 type bridge from Guitarfetish. Yeah, I know the bridge and knobs don't match, but I wanted the guitar to look like it was pieced together. I didn't trust the nut and tuners enough to put on a tremolo. Also, if I ever find original parts, they'll cover up any additional holes I drilled. I put a GFS Liverpool Hot in it, the single coils are an old Fender Japan in the neck, and a no name ceramic in the middle.

I kept the spirit of the Teisco by putting in switches to play with. The 3 way toggle controls the neck and bridge PUs, the next switch turns on the middle PU. The next switch changes the phase of the middle PU, and the last switch splits the humbucker. A lot of tones, and most of the positions are hum cancelling.

I cut the pickguard myself from leftover cream material, it's painted white with Krylon, which covers up some patches and Bondo from where I made mistakes placing the cutouts. I will order some white 3 ply and use this pickguard as a template. All in all, only spent about $60, and had a great time over the past month. Plays great too!

Give yourselves a pat on the back also, I couldn't have done it without all the knowledge I learned from you all. Some day I'll post the pics of the partscaster you all helped me build
[IMG][/IMG]

[Jackson Jackson]

I LOVE Frankenstein guitars, and that one is right up there!

Good call!

[ghosttour]

I think what you did is true to the spirit of the original - it's very cool in it's trashy way!

[JimiBryant]

I like what you've done with it.

two of my all time favorite players use(d) Teiscos: David Lindley and Hound Dog Taylor!!

[cook]

Remember this video? EVH is playing a blue Spectrum 5. There is another video where Mark Knopfler is playing one, but can't find it right now.

Thanks for the the compliments!

[6942]

Hey....looks real good!!
I like your pickguard.
BTW: The Fender Mustang or Jaguar uses a 3 slide-switch assembly.
They are not that expensive and I see NOS on flea-bay on occasion.
If you're feeling ambitious.....you could replace the toggle switches with those....for a more "authentic" look.
Good luck!!

Steve

[BAW4742]

Thought this might interest some of you Teisco guys.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TEISCO-PARTS-LOT...QQcmdZViewItem