1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

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javier-san
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1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

Post by javier-san » Thu Apr 30, 2020 12:05 pm

Hey everyone.
First post here and am in the middle of a "dilemma."
I've had a 1964 "sparkle brown" Teisco TG-64 laying around for about 5 years. Given the current situation, I have a lot more time to think about guitars...
I finally took the Teisco to the shop to get it looked over (it's in rough shape). My guy said all the switches and electronics are ok, but the pots should be replaced. The neck is ok, but would need new frets. I was quoted about $400-500 to get it going.

I don't necessarily need another guitar, but it does look fun to play. What would 'all do?
Get it fixed up or sell it to someone who would really enjoy restoring it?

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Gavanti
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Re: 1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

Post by Gavanti » Thu Apr 30, 2020 1:19 pm

That looks fun. Pots are a cheap and easy fix if you're willing to solder. It might be worth doing that and then making the decision whether you like the tone/feel enough to invest in a refret.

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antisymmetric
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Re: 1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

Post by antisymmetric » Thu Apr 30, 2020 2:42 pm

^^Good advice above. By the look of the fretboard wear, someone in its past must have liked playing it.
Watching the corners turn corners

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Re: 1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

Post by mgeek » Fri May 01, 2020 4:51 am

Those things are sooooo cool.

Have you ever had strings on it, given it a go? Sort of... looks fine to me.

IMO the pots at least, if they truly need replacing rather than just upgrading cos they are old and crap are easy to do yourself. Bit more complicated for a refret as it has binding but it's still doable

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Re: 1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

Post by javier-san » Fri May 01, 2020 4:42 pm

Y’all probably are right.
I did play it a few times, but then it started to die out...and I put it away for a long time.

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Re: 1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

Post by Pacafeliz » Sat May 02, 2020 3:18 am

I've had a couple of these, they sound, look and feel great. But man those tiny square wire frets made me hate them. Refret would have been good, yes. 😔
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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Re: 1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

Post by MattK » Sat May 02, 2020 6:34 am

I love mine. Not worth sinking $500 into fixing it when you may get good results using contact cleaners and pot lubricants like DeOxIt. They're easy to take apart and check over.
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Re: 1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

Post by javier-san » Sun May 10, 2020 3:42 pm

That looks great!

Ok. Ok. Lemme get around to this project.

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Re: 1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

Post by will » Sun May 10, 2020 7:40 pm

Oh! I saw this on the local craigslist and was hoping to get it out to the East Bay to check it out.

...but I probably shouldn't get another Teisco monkey-grip guitar.

Are the pots frozen in place? Some electronics cleaner can do wonders to get them spinning freely again.

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Re: 1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

Post by will » Sun May 10, 2020 7:47 pm

...also, the frets/fretwork aren't too good on these - not even when they were brand new. I did a bit of work and a fret dress on mine, and I like it a lot, but tiny frets and chunky necks aren't everyone's cup of tea.

You might be able to tap down any frets that have sprung up, and get it working well enough to at least try out. It would be a big risk to put a lot of money into a guitar that you're not sure you'll like.

(though I think these are pretty likable guitars once they have some setup work. ...my loyalties are given away by a profile pic of a brown Teisco.)

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Re: 1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

Post by javier-san » Mon May 11, 2020 8:57 pm

I go back and forth on the teisco. Definitely looks fun, but then I put the neck in my hands...and it's like holding a baseball bat.
The person at the guitar shop said he was able to get sound out of the guitar, but new pots and frets were a recommendation.

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Re: 1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

Post by mgeek » Tue May 12, 2020 12:38 am

javier-san wrote:
Mon May 11, 2020 8:57 pm
I go back and forth on the teisco. Definitely looks fun, but then I put the neck in my hands...and it's like holding a baseball bat.
The person at the guitar shop said he was able to get sound out of the guitar, but new pots and frets were a recommendation.
The best type of neck!

If you aren't into it, you aren't into it, just sell it to someone who will like it.

Personally I've come to enjoy 'differences' in necks. Not every guitar has to be the 'noodling on the couch, neck perfection, omg' one. If I'm recording and want a particular sound that involves using a guitar with a neck like a bit of 2 by 4 with rusty nails in it, I'm 100% focused on playing it, and just get on with it. It's only holding them and thinking about them that stuff like neck profile seems important, imo.

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Re: 1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

Post by jvin248 » Tue May 12, 2020 3:13 am

.

Get it fixed up!

Even if you can deoxit the pots, if you plan to play it, just get regular Bourns/CTS pots and install those. Switches can be old/worn/corroded but are difficult to find new replacements. Certainly put a new Switchcraft jack in there.

I have a 63 Teisco Tulip that had terrible back bow that after all the usual tricks I finally had to steam off the fretboard and reglue.
Then I installed stainless steel frets, including the zero fret (some prior owner had installed a conventional nut where the zero fret guide nut goes so even without the back bow the thing would never play in tune. Zero frets historically wore out 'fast' but with stainless it will play forever.

Never having played the guitar, as it came with no strings and the back bow, I was pleasantly surprised how massive this sounded when finally played. The pickups are constructed like Jazzmaster pickups (large area and thin height). Later models switched to Strat-style coils. It only weighs 5.5lbs.

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Re: 1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

Post by MattK » Tue May 12, 2020 5:23 am

Fun fact, the bodies on these are copied from the Bass VI, which is not a surprise if you consider the TB-64 bass 6 version. Also the NB-4 I think.
Mine hangs in there with the "proper" Jazzmasters purely on charm.
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Re: 1964 Teisco TG-64 - To fix or not?

Post by Lo-Fi » Wed May 13, 2020 2:09 am

MatthewK wrote:
Tue May 12, 2020 5:23 am
Fun fact, the bodies on these are copied from the Bass VI, which is not a surprise if you consider the TB-64 bass 6 version. Also the NB-4 I think.
Mine hangs in there with the "proper" Jazzmasters purely on charm.
Image
That Mory Jazzmaster is lovely. The pickguard is possibly the nicest I’ve seen.
I’ve gone down the road of Japanese Gibson “tributes” before (I have a Greco Les Paul Junior double cut which is simply amazing) but had never considered japanese Fender style guitars before.
Your photo sent me down a massive Japanese JM rabbit hole last night and I have some serious GAS now.
How does it compare to your fender?

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