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1960s Teisco EP-17 Vintage Hollowbody Electric Guitar w/ Case, Japan

$999.99

+ shipping

Up for sale, a 1960s Teisco EP-17 in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. Produced in Japan, this Teisco features a full-depth hollowbody design with set-neck construction, measuring an impressive 17" across the lower bout with a body depth of 3 3/4". Based on the italic T block logo and electronics layout, this Teisco was produced circa 1964-66.

The fully hollow maple body has sound post bracing, delivering a bright, cutting quality with an airy note attack and excellent projection, qualities which translate through the original trio of single coils. The pickups are rich and warm; with a broad, harmonically-complex midrange; sweet, singing highs; and a tight low end with just a touch of growl when opened up. It’s a balanced, articulate sound, perfect for jazz chording or fluid melodic playing. Weighing 5lbs 15oz, this EP-17 has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 11-52 flatwound strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

The maple neck has a substantial U-shaped profile carve with prominent shoulders in every register, measuring .885” deep at the 1st fret and .990” at the 9th. The thick slab rosewood fretboard features offset block inlay, a 16” radius, and original extremely slender fretwire that shows moderate wear beneath all strings on the crowns of frets 1-3, with wear growing lighter and extending beneath the plain strings until fret 9. This guitar plays cleanly up the 25 1/2“ scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod. A replacement nut measures 1.650” (42mm) in width, carved from bone for optimal sustain and articulation. The headstock sports a raised  "T" Teisco logo, and the open-gear tuners turn smoothly and hold pitch as they should. The back of the headstock retains the silver foil factory model sticker.

All of the electronics function as intended, with the trio of pickups wired to the stock harness and governed by a trio of Mic On/Off switches, with Master Volume and Tone controls. The chrome-plated control plate and trapeze tailpiece have plenty of shine, with a light dusting of surface patina on the pickup surrounds. The rosewood bridge has plenty of room for future adjustment, and the uniquely shaped original one-ply white pickguard is present.

The gloss Sunburst finish is framed by multi-ply binding, with subtle vertical finish checking and a trio of professionally-addressed splits on the bass-side rim on the lower bout. Cosmetic wear includes a number of nicks and finish scratches on the body as a whole, a couple tan lines on top from previously removed stickers, and areas of finish reaction across the back and particularly on the inside edge of the treble-side cutaway and on the neck heel, mostly from prolonged contact with a strap. The neck profile retains its smooth gloss, with some sporadic spots of wear through the finish, and a number of minor shallow nicks along the profile length that have no impact on playability.

A hardshell case is included.