[Markc]

Like many of you (and some greats, I'm told) my first guitar was a Silvertone.
Unlike you, I still have it!!!!

I got this thing in 1967, give or take a year. This was right after Sears went to Teisco in Japan to get their guitars. Before that they had Dan Electros, Harmonys, and maybe Kays. It is a solid body, with two single coils pickups, and the whammy bar. Just the fact that it still looks this good after 45 years is a testament to the build quality of these guitars. The neck is straight, the electronics all still work, and there is hardly a scratch or ding on it. It has a typical single coil "surf music" kind of sound. I've seen James Iha from Smashing Pumpkins playing one of these on their video "Rocket". It plays well, but she ain't no Gretsch. Of course, I wanted a Fender or a Gibson back then, but this was what my parents could afford. I'm not complaining - my folks did OK raising five of us. These guitars were actually a pretty good value back then.

So my question is this: Does anyone know what it might be worth? I've seen a few that were similar on eBay, but they were red or blue. This Tabacco burst is a nice color. It is pretty funky looking with the striped metal pick guard and the 4 x 2 headstock. But IMHO, this is one of the best looking Teisco guitars I have ever seen. I still have the original case, but it is rough.

I'm hoping someone can help me unload this thing.

[montereyjack66]

Sir, that guitar desrves no less a fate than to mounted as a hood ornament on a pre-65 Caddy! It is priceless! (I used to have one. It didn't survive the five kids in my family, but parents did just fine, too. ((The former guitar may have a different opinion)).


mj

[Astrolux]

That thing looks great. My friend has his father's but no where near that good of a condition.

[MitchC]

If you've had it your entire life, just KEEP IT ! I would... it's worth more to you just for the sentimental value alone I'd say ?

[Dylanphile]

That's a seriously funky guitar. If that were my first guitar, there's no way I could sell it. Especially not for the few hundred (?) that you'd get for it. Once the money's gone, it's gone.

[dgshooter]

That's awesome. Looks like something from the Jetsons.

[calvin lee]

that is one of the more desirable teisco guitars, and i think it is just dripping with cool. but even the most saught after teiscos aren't worth much. if you tried selling it, most guitar shops would probably offer you 150 USD (their go-to number for any guitar like this). you've had the guitar for so long, and i think selling it would just not be worth it.

keep the guitar.

[tartanphantom]

The two-pickup version that you have goes for between $200 and $350. The 3- and 4-pickup versions command a higher price. There are examples on ebay that are listed for more, but they ain't selling. Many dealers snatched these up (as well as most other mid-60's Japanese guitars) a several years ago when the US Vintage market started drying up. The popularity was largely driven by the Emo crowd and the Garage revival folks, both fads which have largely subsided. When the economy tanked and the Vintage market largely turned south, the market for low-market mid 60's imports got crunched as well--particularly when people found out that many of these are real dogs and are very difficult to set up properly to be truly gig-able. I mean, the appeal mostly lies in the un-conventional body shapes and all the fiddly-switches, but as true players they often leave much to be desired.

I have several very clean mid-60's Japanese budget guitars (a few example pics below), but fortunately I bought them before the mini-boom and bust hit, and got most of them for less than $150 each.

Yours is a beautiful example, but as someone else stated previously, the real market price is what a dealer is willing to give you in cash ($150-200 range), not what some behind-the-curve greedy granny on Ebay thinks she can get just because it was listed at 3 times that five years ago.

If offered for sale, I might be interested at the right price, but if I were you, I'd keep it, and possibly pass it on as an heirloom-- that guitar has a story, and you're still around to tell it-- that in itself is priceless.

[NeilSt]

Wow. Quite a few little blasts from the past there! Plus, those tween cases are seriously cool. I've got my Tele Thinline in one of those.

[Synchro]

When I was 17 or so my father bought a set of automotive tools for me. They were decent tools and the plating was of better quality than most of what you see today unless you are buying Snap On. The thing is, when the 3/8" drive ratchet broke I made them replace it on warranty. After the fact I realized that I was short-sighted in doing that. I'd much rather have a busted ratchet that my father bought for me than a shiny new replacement.

Keep the Teisco/Silvertone. It's the only guitar you'll ever have that captures that time in your life.

[GentleBen]

All these cheesy guitars bring back a lot of memories! I believe today's student guitars are a lot more playable than they were back in the day. They sure did have style though!

[dgshooter]

If you decide to sell it, list it here first. Give one of us GTers the first shot.

[telespank]

My first guitar was a Kingston with flat wound strings. I bought it for $35 along with a matching tube amp. I was 15 years old and had to walk about a mile each way to buy it.

This will sound horrible, but I tried to smash it during the last gig I had with a band that I'd played with for 10 years (I was transferred out of state). That thing was tough! I could not break it! I ended up giving it to a fan, unscathed.

Man, I wish I had it back. I bought and sold several guitars over the years ( a '66 SG, a pre CBS Strat, and a '72 Les Paul Standard included). I wish I had them all back.

Keep it! Build a display case for it and hang it in your man cave!

[telespank]

Originally Posted by tartanphantom

The two-pickup version that you have goes for between $200 and $350. The 3- and 4-pickup versions command a higher price. There are examples on ebay that are listed for more, but they ain't selling. Many dealers snatched these up (as well as most other mid-60's Japanese guitars) a several years ago when the US Vintage market started drying up. The popularity was largely driven by the Emo crowd and the Garage revival folks, both fads which have largely subsided. When the economy tanked and the Vintage market largely turned south, the market for low-market mid 60's imports got crunched as well--particularly when people found out that many of these are real dogs and are very difficult to set up properly to be truly gig-able. I mean, the appeal mostly lies in the un-conventional body shapes and all the fiddly-switches, but as true players they often leave much to be desired.

I have several very clean mid-60's Japanese budget guitars (a few example pics below), but fortunately I bought them before the mini-boom and bust hit, and got most of them for less than $150 each.

Yours is a beautiful example, but as someone else stated previously, the real market price is what a dealer is willing to give you in cash ($150-200 range), not what some behind-the-curve greedy granny on Ebay thinks she can get just because it was listed at 3 times that five years ago.

If offered for sale, I might be interested at the right price, but if I were you, I'd keep it, and possibly pass it on as an heirloom-- that guitar has a story, and you're still around to tell it-- that in itself is priceless.

I love that last one. It looks like the control panel of a 747 and the pickups look like dominoes.

[6stings]

As the guys said: Keep it!

[tartanphantom]

Originally Posted by telespank

I love that last one. It looks like the control panel of a 747 and the pickups look like dominoes.

That's a Norma guitar from around 1968.

[Henrytwang]

To be quite honest those old 60s' Japanese guitars are not worth a lot of money. BUT I find them hard to resist, they're a lot of fun to play and they have very distinctive tonal qualities. I have a few of them, I bought this one for £5 a year or so ago and have had a lot of fun with it.

[MPM3]

So cool Markc!!! Its in great shape. Love these old cheapos!!! Especially like the old silvertone products. I have an old twin twelve solidstate amp that sounds fantastic. As well as an archtop from the 50's that sounds good too!! I would say that if you don't really play it and theres not much sentimental value other than you've had it a long time I would sell it. There's somebody out there who would really love this thing. I know I would, but I need to settle down. So much Gasing lately. You probably wont get much for it, but a few hundred could get yourself that new pedal or whatever!! Thanks for sharing!!

[fender62custom]

I'm a sucker for vintage Japanese guitars...love all the guitars shown on this thread...l share Synchro's sentiments as it's a link to your past...i'd keep it for sure!!!

[Markc]

Guys,

I am overwelmed by your responses. I have to admit that I was a little hesitant to post the pictures and ask for your opinions about this old Silvertone guitar. I really don't play it and I much prefer my Ibanez acoustic and my 5120, but I'm glad to hear that others thought this baby looks cool. Thanks to all who responded.

So it is decided - I will keep it. We're moving to a new house in Arizona soon and it will have a place in my new "man cave" (also known as the den). As a wall hanger, I'm sure it will be a pretty good conversation piece.

My wife is laughing at me - she told me all along to keep it.