Teisco 1960s Spectrum 5 Metallic Blue Stereo/Mono Z-Coil Good

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

The Spectrum 5 was different from Teisco's typical 1960s output. While Teisco and its parent company Kawai were saturating department stores with entry-level guitars under a myriad of nameplates, they came to believe their newfound market share might put them in a position to compete with the likes of Gibson and Fender. That's where the Spectrum 5 comes in.

As the 1966 Teisco Del Rey catalog boasts, the Spectrum 5 "has unique features which no other guitar in the world can match" — the mahogany body with Mosrite-inspired German-carve edge, seven-layer hand-rubbed lacquer finish, staggered pickups with stereo/mono output, and a five-ply ebony neck unique to this model. Mark Knopfler has used the Spectrum 5 in the studio. Brian Ray, Paul McCartney's guitarist, calls his "a true piece of rare vintage guitar art." These guitars have been highly sought after for decades, and a reissue was produced specifically because demand for the originals outpaced supply. 

The electronics are where the Spectrum 5 stands out. The Spectrum 5 moniker refers to the five basic color tones produced by its five self-canceling colored switches, whose sounds range from bass to treble — any combination of switches can be pressed, allowing a wide range of tonal colors. Each pickup is a split Z-coil single-coil — there are two jacks to play in true stereo, using two amps. Basically, the bass strings go to one amp and the treble strings through another. The five colored slider switches correspond to the visible electromagnetic spectrum — red, orange, yellow, green, blue — and each engages different pickup combinations and phase relationships. The mono output allows conventional single-amp use; the stereo output splits the signal for a genuinely immersive two-amp experience that players describe as immediately and unmistakably different from anything a standard guitar can produce. 

There are all sorts of cool features worth noting: the parachute fretboard inlays, the German carve, and the 4+2 headstock design. These guitars are a joy to play and sling around because they are light and balanced. The proprietary Kawai/Teisco rolling bridge with complex vibrato system is original and functioning with the original arm. The multi-ply maple neck carries the original 4+2 tuner configuration. Zero fret plus 22 additional frets. 

The guitar isn't perfect - the original metallic blue finish is in poor condition.  The metallic finish on these tends to flake on these, and someone couldn't handle it so they did some sanding where there were flaky edges to the finish. We describe it as poor, yet oh so cool. The tailpiece cover is missing the Teisco emblem. The tone knob and shaft will fall out if the guitar is turned upside down — it slides back in and works fine, visible in the photos. One pot is a replacement. Some wiring and solder joints have been touched. Non-original nut. Action set at 2/32" on both strings at the twelfth fret. No case — we will ship with the utmost care.

These aren't the best playing guitars in the universe, but they are cool AF!

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Color: Originally, metallic blue
• Finish Original?: yes
• Finish Condition: poor, yet oh so cool.
• Weight: 7lbs 10oz 
• Scale Length: 24.75"
• Nut Width: 1-9/16"
• Neck Thickness At 1st Fret:
• Neck Thickness At 12th Fret:
• Fretboard Radius: 7.25"
• String Spacing At Bridge: 2.0865"
• Body Length: 20-1/2"
• Lower Bout: 13-1/2"
• Waist: 9-3/8"
• Upper Bout: 12"
• Body Depth/Thickness: 1-3/8"
• Overall Length: 41-1/2"
• Pickguard Color: white
• Pickguard Original?: yes
• Pickguard Condition: fair - scratched and worn
• Pickguard Screws Original?: yes
• Neck Material: Multi-ply Maple 
• Neck Profile: C
• Neck Condition: good
• Neck Repairs: none
• Neck Finish Original?: yes
• Neck Plate Color: nickel
• Neck Plate Material: metal
• Neck Plate Original?: yes
• Neck Screws Original?: yes
• Tuner Brand And Model: Kawai/Teisco Unique 4:2 configuration
• Tuners Original?: yes
• Changes To Headstock For Tuners?: none
• Tuner Condition: very good
• Tuner Markings: none
• Tuner Screws Original?: yes
• Truss Rod Cover: none
• Nut Material: feels like real bone
• Nut Repairs: yes
• Nut Original?: no
• Inlay: pearl parachutes
• Fretboard Material: rosewood
• Fretboard Condition: excellent
• Fretboard Repairs: none
• Fret Condition: very good
• Fret Repairs: none
• Fret Count: 22 frets plus a zero fret
• Body Material: Offset "German Carve" Mahogany
• Body Condition: good
• Body Repairs: none
• Body Binding: none
  
• Body Finish Original?: yes
• Body Finish Condition: poor, but super cool
• Bridge Brand: Kawai/Teisco rolling bridge with a complex proprietary vibrato system
• Tremolo Or Fixed Bridge?: tremolo
• Bridge Original?: yes
• Tremolo Arm Original?: yes
• Saddle Material: metal
• Saddles Original?: yes
• Bridge And Saddle Screws Original?: yes
• Bridge Condition: excellent
• Tailpiece Brand: Teisco
• Tailpiece Color: chrome
• Tailpiece Condition: very good. cover missing Teisco emblem. 
• Tailpiece Original?: yes
• Switch Brand: Kawai/Teisco
• Switch Type:  Five colored slider/rocker switches that allow for various phase and pickup combinations.
• Switch Condition: very good
• Switch Original?: yes
• Switch Tip Color: multi color
• Switch Tip Original?: yes
• Neck Pickup Brand: Teisco "split" or staggered single-coil (often referred to as Z-coils)
• Neck Pickup Original?: yes
• Neck Pickup Condition: very good
• Neck Pickup Screws Original?: yes
• Neck Pickup Cover Color: white
  
• Middle Pickup Brand: Teisco "split" or staggered single-coil (often referred to as Z-coils)
• Middle Pickup Original?: yes
• Middle Pickup Condition: very good
• Middle Pickup Screws Original?: yes
• Middle Pickup Cover Color: white
  
• Bridge Pickup Brand: Teisco "split" or staggered single-coil (often referred to as Z-coils)
• Bridge Pickup Original?: yes
• Bridge Pickup Condition: very good
• Bridge Pickup Screws Original?: yes
• Bridge Pickup Cover Color: white
  
• Solders Original?: some
• Wiring Original?: some
• Control Cavity Cover Original?: yes
• Control Cavity Condition: good
• Potentiometer Count: 2 
• Potentiometers Original?: 1 original, 1 replaced
• Potentiometer Condition: good and very good
• Output Jack Plate Original?: yes
• Screws Original?: yes
• Output Jack Original?: yes, mono or stereo output options
• Knob Color: silver
• Knob Count: 2
• Knobs Original?: yes
• Knob Condition: good, tone knob and shaft will fall out if guitar is turned upside down, see pic. it slides right back in and works fine.
• Case Brand: no case, we will ship with the utmost care
• Accessories Included: none
• Action 1st String At 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Action 6th String At 12th Fret: 2/32"
• String Gauge: 10-46
• Documentation: none
• Smells?: none
  

Shipping Policy
By completing your purchase you are agreeing to this shipping policy. Shipments require signature on delivery, no exceptions. Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely. If there is damage, retain all packing materials intact, photograph them immediately, and send the photos to .

Stringed Instruments: Multiple shipping speeds are available for orders on our website — Ground, 2 Day, 3 Day, and Next Day Air Saver. For Reverb orders: customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air. Otherwise, ground shipping will be used.