In the 1960s, the world was hungry for electric guitars, and Japanese manufacturers such as Teisco, Guyatone, and Matsumoku seized on the opportunity to export mass-produced axes. The market for affordable electric guitars grew so much that in 1966 over 750,000 guitars were exported from Japan. Most of their design elements were price-driven, which ultimately led to quirky but intriguing instruments that resembled American-made classics but captured their own unique vibe.
In 1967, Teisco was taken over by the Kawai corporation who moved much of the guitar production to Taiwan, where even more guitars could be produced at an even lower cost. As Kawai forged ahead, the number of Teisco models exploded, and specs became much less consistent. Many guitars produced during this era are blantant copies of American shapes and designs, but they always have interesting pickups and their own unique charm.
This single-pickup Teisco E-100 was made in Taiwan during the Kawai era (probably late-'60s, and possibly made from '66 parts). The E-100 model was sold under the "Prestige" brand and also marketed under the "Kay" name in certain department stores and catalogs. It's got a fun tulip-shaped body, and it's rigged up with a single Black Foil pickup in the middle position. The Black Foil pickup shares some similarities with the sought-after Gold Foil pickup, but it appears later in the Teisco chronology. Think of it as a warm, darker P90 with lower output. It sounds nice clean, but it really shines through a cranked tube amp.
This late-'60s Teisco E-100 has a 25" scale, and the current setup is extremely playable. Like a lot of these old imports, it's a little wonky—but that's just part of its charm! It's got authentic vibe, and the Black Foil pickup sounds fantastic.