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Topic: Teisco D8 - Good price? |
Andy Henriksen
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2017 6:13 am |
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http://www.elderly.com/instruments/electric-guitars/lap-and-pedal-steels/teisco-twin-neck-lap-steel-1960-s.htm
$500 for any D8 seems like a decent price, but I don't really know...
And Elderly is notoriously overpriced on vintage steels. I would expect them to want a few grand just based on string count. 
I'm going to go check it out in person today (I work just a few miles from the store). I don't really need this guitar, but if the price is appropriate in the mind of all you experts, I'd consider it. It's always nice to have a few extra necks to play with. |
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James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
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Posted 19 Jan 2017 7:54 am
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I bought a single-neck 6 string Teisco with a built-in speaker for around $500 in perfect condition. I think it sounds great, though the tuners aren't the best.
That ad says it's a D10, but it's obviously a D8. |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2017 8:04 am
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They probably realize that you can get a real National D8 console (which this is a copy of) for just a couple hundred more. I'm sure that there are a lot less of these to choose from though, and to a collector of 50's and 60's Japanese guitars this seems like a snap it up quick price. The pickup covers are certainly a thing of coolness. Looks like the leg sockets are just straight and not angled - bummer.
Mercenary note: I will be selling my '59 National D8 console soon for not much more than the Teisco's price but then there's shipping. |
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James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
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Posted 19 Jan 2017 8:40 am
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I'm not an expert but I've tried plenty of steels in music stores, always looking for something magic. The old Japanese steels easily stand with the more revered American models, in my opinion. There are good and bad ones from both sides of the Pacific, and often the old Japanese ones look cheap. However, they can sound great.
Japanese "spanish" guitars from the same period...not so much. Small frets, unplayable fat necks and, often, no truss rods. Steels are just easier to build and they made some great sounding pickups.
I'd consider that Teisco D8 if I could try it first. I think it's a good deal.
Last edited by James Mayer on 19 Jan 2017 9:25 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Stefan Robertson
From:
Hertfordshire, UK
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Posted 19 Jan 2017 9:06 am
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You decide. I tried one way back when but ended up getting a Harley Benton instead.
My personal experience not necessarily can be applied to this Teisco Model.
Pros:
Its a D8
Comes with a Case
Good Price
If you can fix it up its great to have 2 necks
Cons
Tried one before and the string spacing wasn't equal
Fretboard markings were slightly out.
Plastic crap tuners
Old machine heads that can sometimes need replacing not as easy to find ones that fit your slots as you may think.
Tried a few before and had scratchy switch for the necks.
Electronics may need a good clean
Not a fan of a hand rest/bridge cover.
If I had time to tinker with it I would probably go for it as a fix up job.
_________________
Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com
"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist" |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2017 9:24 am
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| James Mayer wrote: |
Steels are just easier to build and they made some great sounding pickups.
I'd consider that Teisco D8 if I could try it first. I think it's a good deal. |
Agreed. Trouble is, every time I go to look at a steel because it's close by, I seem to come home with it in the trunk. Looking forward to your report back, Andy. |
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Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
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Posted 19 Jan 2017 9:56 am
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delete
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 21 May 2018 11:24 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Andy Henriksen
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2017 11:23 am
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OK, I'm back with my field report. First, I did not buy it. But one of you guys should. 
It's not in terrible shape, but it's certainly seen some rough play/handling over the years. I did plug it in and play it for a while.
It has some noticeable hum to it, which at first I thought was a deal breaker, but it turns out it's generally a very loud guitar, and when actually played, the hum disappears behind the music. Typical single coil thing, I suppose.
The tone knob has some crackle to it. Probably an easy cleaning job, though. Also, the taper on the tone knob is such that ALL the change is in just the first few degrees off the bass end. The rest of the pot does nothing. Good for boo-wah stuff, I'd reckon.
The volume pot and neck switch all seemed clean and properly functioning.
My other two main guitars are a stringmaster and a guyatone D-8. I'd say this Teisco actually has better response and overall tone than the guya. It seemed loud and clear at the lowest end of the fretboard and the top end and everything in between, something my guya doesn't (it just sorta get's wimpy at the extremes).
The tuners are dirty and possibly a bit rusty, and clearly a few buttons are not original. But, I suspect it could all be cleaned up pretty easily.
Most of the chrome is shiny and decent looking. The fretboard is gross-looking in spots, and a bit of spit on the tip of my finger didn't seem to do any good at cleaning it up.
I'm pretty sure it's solid wood - it's VERY heavy, and looked like it on the one area where the paint is gone. I'm sure is partly why the tone is decent (and it seems to have decent sustain).
There are no legs, and the sockets are straight flanges, so I suspect a pipe from lowes of the right diameter could be cut to make some legs.
I didn't look at the case that closely, but I agree that it's probably not super reliable.
I offered $400, and they said they'd take $450. I passed. If I didn't already have two D-8s, I would have jumped at it. but ultimately, I can use that $450 better elsewhere...
I took a few pics and will post them in a sec (need to switch from desktop to my phone).
Last edited by Andy Henriksen on 19 Jan 2017 11:34 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Andy Henriksen
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2017 11:30 am
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Sorry about the weirdly rotated 1st pic! Oh, one other thing, that I thought I had taken a picture of, was on the bottom, there was some separation along one of the neck joints. It didn't seem to be a structural problem, but still definitely something to be aware of. You can see it in the last pic on the Elderly page.
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Andy Henriksen
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2017 11:44 am
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| Michael Lee Allen wrote: |
| I don't think of Elderly as "notoriously overpriced" at all. |
I didn't mean to be disparaging. I've bought a lot from them over the years and think they are one of the best all-around guitar stores out there.
But my impressions, at least with regards to lap steels, are that they charge a premium for known names, like Fender and Gibson, regardless of the model, quality, etc., and for "vintage" even if it's a crappy student model. But, as they are a successful business and certainly understand 'supply and demand,' they must be doing ok selling those. So maybe my expectations are unreasonable! |
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James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
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Posted 19 Jan 2017 12:53 pm
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| Michael Lee Allen wrote: |
James Mayer...nice to see you back in the USA and on the SGF. I'll be sending you an email.
MLA |
Thanks! What do you need? |
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Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
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Posted 19 Jan 2017 3:43 pm
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deleted
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 21 May 2018 11:24 am; edited 1 time in total |
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James Kerr
From:
Scotland, UK
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Posted 20 Jan 2017 11:46 am
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Here is my Teisco single neck, bought direct from Japan music shop, with pictures & sound. If I were in the US I would go after the Twin Neck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oyMbwGnZh0
JK. |
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Blake Hawkins
From:
Florida
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Posted 20 Jan 2017 5:45 pm
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That is a Teisco model EG-NW. I bought one directly from the factory while I was in Japan in 1953.
I still have it and it still sounds good.
It is a copy of a National but much heavier.
Yes, it is solid wood. Over the years I have replaced the pots and put better wiring in it.
They made the legs longer for me because I mostly played standing and their standard legs were too short. I am surprised there is so much interest.
Have not seen another one of this model.
Please let me know if there are any questions
about it. |
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