Another Tesco Exhumed

[drmcclainphd]

Some people attract and adopt stray animals. I seem to be the guy that they bring the hopeless case guitars to, to see if I can work the magic nobody else will.

If you can help me date and model this thing, I'd appreciate it. In any case, what say ye, mateys, bring the lubber aboard, or back to Dave Jones' Locker with it? I think I can adjust the neck to be at least close to straight. All the tuners need replaced because the six-in-one strip oif them is missing one. The pickups don't seem to want to adjust up close to the strings. The neck pickup is WAY low. The pick guard is all warped and wavy. The finish is blue house paint, brushed on. Badly. As in, slopped onto the rosewood badly -- the fretboard needs sanded. The paint on the back is so layered on in gobs that it feels like stucco. The whammy works but had the wrong bolt in it so it flopped around. All the metal that can rust, did.

At what point do you tell them the kindest thing is to pull the plug? Maybe if it was worth enough, it might be worth the effort. I dunno. Thinkses?

 

[Zuzax]

I usually abhor the people who take a perfectly good Teisco and part it out on EBay, but this time you might be at that point since there doesn't seem to be much "perfectly good" left in this one. The bridge, trem, and (maybe) the pickups should each fetch $10-$30 on EBay if you were able to get them stabilized and a bit shiny. The pits in the chrome just add to the mojo.

 

[SamClemons]

At a minimum you might save a few parts like the pickups, bridge, etc.

 

[Zepfan]

I'd try to rebuild it. But that's me.

 

[13ontheB]

Didn't know they were dead.

 

[MrTwang]

Looks like a Teisco Tulip - model ET-200. Usually this version of the shape is branded as Kay, although I have seen them branded as Teisco (who made the Kay version anyway) but with a white flower design on the pickguard.

There are a few differences from the ones I've seen - the end of the body usually has a cutaway (so it stands up on its own). The pickups are usually surface mounted foil pickups (yours look pickguard mounted like a Strat, so I would have expected the height to be adjustable).

The headstock shape is unusual - almost as if someone had made a modification with a saw! Actually, I'm not sure it's a Teisco neck - all the ones I've seen seem to have a string retainer that goes over all 6 strings and a zero fret.

No reason why it couldn't be brought back to life and it could be a fun project - especially if the pickups sound good but, if you decided to part it out, it might bring a couple of other instruments back to life!

This is the model I was talking about...

 

[62 Jazzmaster]

I too have a soft spot for stray and neglected guitars.
You can look at it as a good opportunity to practise guitar restoration without the risk of damaging a valuable vintage instrument.

 

[Zuzax]

Looks like a Teisco Tulip - model ET-200. Usually this version of the shape is branded as Kay, although I have seen them branded as Teisco (who made the Kay version anyway) but with a white flower design on the pickguard.

There are a few differences from the ones I've seen - the end of the body usually has a cutaway (so it stands up on its own). The pickups are usually surface mounted foil pickups (yours look pickguard mounted like a Strat, so I would have expected the height to be adjustable).

The headstock shape is unusual - almost as if someone had made a modification with a saw! Actually, I'm not sure it's a Teisco neck - all the ones I've seen seem to have a string retainer that goes over all 6 strings and a zero fret.

No reason why it couldn't be brought back to life and it could be a fun project - especially if the pickups sound good but, if you decided to part it out, it might bring a couple of other instruments back to life!

This is the model I was talking about...

That neck looks to have both the zero fret and base of the neck exposed trussrod adjustment typical of a Teisco-Kawai neck which was on the tulips. The headstock in question indeed seems to have had surgery. The tulips often had a Strat-shaped headstock, and that one looks like it got the curvy bits clipped.

It would be a fun project (as all Teisco adventures are) but personally I have a hard time getting excited about a tulip. If the pickups work it might be a fun hotrod with a better bridge, a refinish, and a wood-graft on the headstock.

 

[62 Jazzmaster]

Teisco guitars are anything but consistent, at times it looked like they were making it up as they went along, but here's a page that shows some variations

 

[Old Bill]

Didn't know they were dead.

Brilliant, he won't know why

 

[drmcclainphd]

Looks like a Teisco Tulip - model ET-200. Usually this version of the shape is branded as Kay, although I have seen them branded as Teisco (who made the Kay version anyway) but with a white flower design on the pickguard.

There are a few differences from the ones I've seen - the end of the body usually has a cutaway (so it stands up on its own). The pickups are usually surface mounted foil pickups (yours look pickguard mounted like a Strat, so I would have expected the height to be adjustable).

The headstock shape is unusual - almost as if someone had made a modification with a saw! Actually, I'm not sure it's a Teisco neck - all the ones I've seen seem to have a string retainer that goes over all 6 strings and a zero fret.

I think you nailed it, thanks.

The headstock was almost certainly trimmed. The retainer would have no longer fit. It has two T tree retainers instead, not very well placed either; an amateur job to be sure. It has a zero fret, but it also has a rather wide radius cut nut that does not suit the radius of the neck (and so zero fret) well.

The pickups are indeed pick guard mounted. I can't wait to plug it in and try it to find out why 3 knobs for 2 pickups.

Luckily the owner is a Chargers fan who's considering having it done with Charger colors and decals. The existing coating would have to be ground down smooth, but not all the way to wood, as the present color is already close. We'll see how much he's willing to spring for. I hate sanding.

 

[J. Hayes]

Here's the Teisco that I picked up recently. It's in very good condition and everything works great. It was a one owner guitar before I got it.....JH in Va.

 

[62 Jazzmaster]

^I have a very similar hollowbody Teisco, mine is a Kingston.

image removedimage removed

 

[Twang Gargoyle]

Here's the Teisco that I picked up recently. It's in very good condition and everything works great. It was a one owner guitar before I got it.....JH in Va.

I have it's twin sister It plays wonderfully, a very lightweight easy neck.

 

[FenderGyrl]

I too have a soft spot for stray and neglected guitars.
You can look at it as a good opportunity to practise guitar restoration without the risk of damaging a valuable vintage instrument.

Yep! Me too.