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Author Topic:   Weird Japanese Steels / Teisco & etc
Kunihiko Suzuki
Member

From: Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan

posted 03 September 2005 09:59 PM     profile   send email     edit
I thought a few of the forum members would be interested in seeing wired/bizarre Japanese steels photos. Most of the pictures are from Yahoo Japan Auction since we do not have EBAY in Japan no longer. I hope some people enjoy the photos.

This is one of my favorite Teisco steels, a very nice Japanese steel.

This is another my favorite Teisco, looks like coming from another planet.

This Teisco must have been a student model.

Teisco. I need a clearer photo on this. Very weird pickup I guess.

Teisco. I guess Japanese guitar companies are very good at making this kind.

Suzuki weissenborn replica. The seller insisted that it was made in 50s or 60s, and it has better sound than Canopus weissenborn.

Shimo Guitars. It is called a Sitar Steel. Mr. Shimo makes unique guitars & steels.

Arigatou.

Blake Hawkins
Member

From: Land O'Lakes, Florida

posted 03 September 2005 10:24 PM     profile   send email     edit
I have two Teisco steels. Some of their designs seem to be influenced by National.
Others are pure Japanese.
Thanks for the interesting pictures.

Blake

Cartwright Thompson
Member

From: Portland, Maine, USA

posted 04 September 2005 02:06 AM     profile   send email     edit
Nice photos, thanks for sharing.
I owned a black 8 string that was very similar to the first two photos. It sounded good and had a very short scale length, about 20". I also owned one of the built-in amp models. It would be really cool if someone could build one today with a high tech mini amp built in. The one I had wasn't very loud but it sounded pretty good considering it was built about 40 years ago.
Roy Thomson
Member

From: Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada

posted 04 September 2005 03:15 AM     profile     edit
Hi Kuni,
Very interesting pics and information!
Thanks for posting and I hope you are keeping
well these days.

Roy

Charlie McDonald
Member

From: Lubbock, Texas, USA

posted 04 September 2005 05:20 AM     profile   send email     edit
I love those top two Teiscos with chrome fenders! They're real art.
Peter Jacobs
Member

From: Northern Virginia

posted 04 September 2005 07:24 AM     profile   send email     edit
I second that, Charlie -- those first two are like space age automobiles. Too cool! Thanks for the pics.
Peter
Rick Alexander
Member

From: Florida, USA

posted 04 September 2005 10:40 AM     profile   send email     edit
Thanks for the pics, Kunihiko!
Really cool - just when I thought I'd seen 'em all . .

RA

Jeff Strouse
Member

From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA

posted 04 September 2005 12:33 PM     profile   send email     edit
Arigatou, Kuni!

The long yellow Teisco guitar above the weissenborn replica looks very interesting. Is that some sort of sound hole to the far right? Or, possible the mini amp that Cartwright mentioned? Seems like a nice concept when practicing...one wouldn't need to plug into an amp! Did it run off of batteries??

Kunihiko Suzuki
Member

From: Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan

posted 04 September 2005 08:16 PM     profile   send email     edit
Thank you all for your comments. I knew Mr. Hawkins, Charlie, and Jeff would visit here to see the pictures, oh yes. Roy, I am doing fine, arigatou. Would you like to get and play a Teisco steel someday? Cartwright, Peter, and Rick, I would like to share more photos someday, so hope you visit to see weird steels photos again.

As for a question from Jeff-san, the only thing I know is that it is a built in amp model that Cartwright-san mentioned. In Japan, they sell so many compact built in amp guitars.

The picture below is Guyatone. Arigatou.

All times are Pacific (US)

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