Teisco Spectrum 5 Re-issue Solid Body Electric Guitar (1992)
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Item # 13538
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Teisco Spectrum 5 Re-issue Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1992), made in Japan, serial # 173019, Candy Apple Red finish, hardwood body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
In the 1990's ongoing demand for the rare Teisco Spectrum 5 led the owners of the brand in Japan to reissue a run of this whimsical cult classic. This is an immaculately kept example of this hot red reissue of the top-of-the-line Spectrum 5. The body recalls something of a Jazzmaster in a hurricane with an offset waist and wavy double cutaways with a space age 4-and-2 Fender-esque headstock. It features an German-carved hardwood body and slim maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard dotted with mushroom-esque inlays. The guitar also features one of Teisco's many vibrato systems with a large flat arm, feeding an adjustable bridge which elevates in twin cradles screwed to the body. The top-loaded bridge and vibrato are all one unit, with saddles and bridge height being adjustable by Philips head screws.
The electronics are truly the star of the Spectrum: a choice of mono or stereo output with those five eye-catching "rainbow" selector switches that give the guitar its name controlled by a master tone and volume knob. It features 3 pairs of slightly staggered block pole pickups, an aesthetic choice that has its merits when the guitar is in stereo. In mono, the guitar is the punchy jangly fun one might expect from a psychedelic Japanese factory guitar. In stereo, the guitar becomes capable of some rather impressive feats; run one output to a dirty amp on the verge of breakup for long sustained drones and feedback while running the other to a clean amp through some reverb for a soaring solo over your own wall of sound. This guitar is capable of more than meets the eye to a creative player with a couple amps.
The changes Teisco made to the reissue are overall pretty minimal. The tuners are a more standard 60's style parallelogram tuner similar to what can be found on plenty of other Teisco instruments but different from the starburst engraved tuners on the original. Also on the face of the headstock is an additional Teisco logo medallion. They truly chose to honor the details right down to the upside down pickguard labels (right side up for the one holding the guitar!) and the serial number plate on the back. A few other companies made tributes to the Spectrum 5, but Teisco's own reissue is indisputably the only faithful recreation especially in regards to the tone circuit that makes the guitar great. The greatly improved 90's neck construction and fretwork make for a more reliably good playing instrument than the originals, truth be told. These were not in production for long and now more than 30 years later are nearly as rare as the originals!
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a superb example of this reissued Spectrum 5 in Candy Apple Red finish with only a few minor scuffs and dings mostly concentrated to one area of the back and one in the neck. The electronics are also entirely unaltered; all five of the "rainbow" switches work like a charm as does the mono/stereo switch. There is a lot of fun to be had experimenting with the stereo functionality of the Spectrum!
All hardware is original and in shining clean shape: the Teisco embellished bridge/vibrato system, the serial number plate below the neck plate, and the top hat knobs. The original small frets rest in the rosewood fingerboard with minimal wear, and the guitar resides in an unmarked black hardshell case that has likely been with it its whole life. His is an extremely well-done reissue from Teisco that absolutely captures the charm of the original while noticeable improving playability, a win-win in every way! Excellent Condition.
In the 1990's ongoing demand for the rare Teisco Spectrum 5 led the owners of the brand in Japan to reissue a run of this whimsical cult classic. This is an immaculately kept example of this hot red reissue of the top-of-the-line Spectrum 5. The body recalls something of a Jazzmaster in a hurricane with an offset waist and wavy double cutaways with a space age 4-and-2 Fender-esque headstock. It features an German-carved hardwood body and slim maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard dotted with mushroom-esque inlays. The guitar also features one of Teisco's many vibrato systems with a large flat arm, feeding an adjustable bridge which elevates in twin cradles screwed to the body. The top-loaded bridge and vibrato are all one unit, with saddles and bridge height being adjustable by Philips head screws.
The electronics are truly the star of the Spectrum: a choice of mono or stereo output with those five eye-catching "rainbow" selector switches that give the guitar its name controlled by a master tone and volume knob. It features 3 pairs of slightly staggered block pole pickups, an aesthetic choice that has its merits when the guitar is in stereo. In mono, the guitar is the punchy jangly fun one might expect from a psychedelic Japanese factory guitar. In stereo, the guitar becomes capable of some rather impressive feats; run one output to a dirty amp on the verge of breakup for long sustained drones and feedback while running the other to a clean amp through some reverb for a soaring solo over your own wall of sound. This guitar is capable of more than meets the eye to a creative player with a couple amps.
The changes Teisco made to the reissue are overall pretty minimal. The tuners are a more standard 60's style parallelogram tuner similar to what can be found on plenty of other Teisco instruments but different from the starburst engraved tuners on the original. Also on the face of the headstock is an additional Teisco logo medallion. They truly chose to honor the details right down to the upside down pickguard labels (right side up for the one holding the guitar!) and the serial number plate on the back. A few other companies made tributes to the Spectrum 5, but Teisco's own reissue is indisputably the only faithful recreation especially in regards to the tone circuit that makes the guitar great. The greatly improved 90's neck construction and fretwork make for a more reliably good playing instrument than the originals, truth be told. These were not in production for long and now more than 30 years later are nearly as rare as the originals!
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a superb example of this reissued Spectrum 5 in Candy Apple Red finish with only a few minor scuffs and dings mostly concentrated to one area of the back and one in the neck. The electronics are also entirely unaltered; all five of the "rainbow" switches work like a charm as does the mono/stereo switch. There is a lot of fun to be had experimenting with the stereo functionality of the Spectrum!
All hardware is original and in shining clean shape: the Teisco embellished bridge/vibrato system, the serial number plate below the neck plate, and the top hat knobs. The original small frets rest in the rosewood fingerboard with minimal wear, and the guitar resides in an unmarked black hardshell case that has likely been with it its whole life. His is an extremely well-done reissue from Teisco that absolutely captures the charm of the original while noticeable improving playability, a win-win in every way! Excellent Condition.