Weird Japanese Steels / Teisco & etc

Kunihiko Suzuki · Post by **Kunihiko Suzuki** » 3 Sep 2005 8:59 pm

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 · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 3 Sep 2005 9:24 pm

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 · Post by **Cartwright Thompson** » 4 Sep 2005 1:06 am

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 · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 4 Sep 2005 2:15 am

Hi Kuni,
Very interesting pics and information!
Thanks for posting and I hope you are keeping
well these days.

Roy

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 4 Sep 2005 4:20 am

I love those top two Teiscos with chrome fenders! They're real art.

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 4 Sep 2005 6:24 am

I second that, Charlie -- those first two are like space age automobiles. Too cool! Thanks for the pics.
Peter

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 4 Sep 2005 9:40 am

Thanks for the pics, Kunihiko!
Really cool - just when I thought I'd seen 'em all . .

<b>RA</>

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 4 Sep 2005 11:33 am

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 · Post by **Kunihiko Suzuki** » 4 Sep 2005 7:16 pm

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.