Teisco Firebird

[Sigmania]

These sure resemble Tokai Hummingbirds. I am wondering which came first?

The Teisco was pretty short lived from what I have read, but I still don't have a reliable date for them.

Anyone know when they were made?

Teisco Firebird-G -Black- 1960's [Very Rare ] [Made IN Japan]

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

The Hummingbird is much less bizarre and much more aiming for the Ventures/Mosrite craze in late 60s Japan than this "Fire Bird" (Teisco had other models catering for that demand much better than this weird one).

According to Aussie Teisco researcher "Jimmy Noise" (whose website seems to be gone forever now ) the huge Firebird guitar was briefly offered in Japan in 1969. I'm personally not quite sure tho, due to the sticker under the neck plate and all, this would be already 2 years into the Kawai "Enshu Kogei" era eradicating most true "Teisco" domestic design efforts that wouldn't fly for the export business*, so it may or may not have been thought up in the brief and very bold period 2 years earlier. Rittor's Bizarre Guitar book seems to confirm this, it was seemingly released together with the May Queen and Vamper guitars and certainly one of the rarest Teiscos.

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

* There were apparently 2 brief periods the Fire Bird was made, the second one (with different pickups) was apparently even sold under the "Kimberly" label (which was a brand the Lafayette electronics stores in the US used for their cheapo guitar imports) in the US.