Teisco ET-220

$300.00 Price Tier: Budget

1 Critic Review

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

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Page last updated May 27, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated May 27, 2026.

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5.0 (1)

$300.00 5 available Used

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Average Price: $300

Budget/Beginner

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

In the Solid Body Electric Guitars category, Teisco ET-220 is priced in the Budget/Beginner range. This is great gear to get started with or for creators on a budget.

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Description

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Deluxe two pick-up electric guitar with tremolo tailpiece and hinged cover. Extra large contoured body. The pick-ups have individual string adjustment screws, and are controlled by their own separate volume and tone controls. There are individual, noiseless, velvet touch ON/OFF switches for each pick-up. The steel reinforced adjustable neck is removable.

The rosewood fingerboard is inlaid with 8 position markers. Protective pickguard is satin finished metal. Chromed adjustable bridge.

Product specs

Brand	Teisco
Model	ET-220 Spectrum
Finish	Sunburst
Year	1960s
Categories	Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Shape	Double Cutaway
Body Type	Solid Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type	Tremolo Tailpiece
Color Family	Brown
Finish Pattern	Sunburst
Fretboard Material	Rosewood
Neck Construction	Bolt-On
Number of Frets	22
Number of Strings	6-String
Offset Body	Offset Body
Pickup Configuration	SS
Right / Left Handed	Right Handed

FAQs

What is the neck profile of the Teisco ET-220?: The Teisco ET-220 features a slim neck profile that is typical of 1960s Japanese guitars, making it comfortable for players with smaller hands or those who prefer faster necks.
What type of music is the Teisco ET-220 best suited for?: The Teisco ET-220 is well-suited for surf rock, garage rock, and experimental music due to its unique tonal qualities and vintage single-coil pickups.
Does the Teisco ET-220 have a tremolo system?: Yes, the Teisco ET-220 is equipped with a tremolo tailpiece, allowing for expressive pitch modulation.
Is the Teisco ET-220 a good choice for beginners?: While the Teisco ET-220 can be played by beginners, its vintage character and unique design are often appreciated by more experienced players looking for a distinct sound.
What is the pickup configuration on the Teisco ET-220?: The Teisco ET-220 features an SS (single-single) pickup configuration, offering a bright and clear sound typical of single-coil pickups.

Videos

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1970 Teisco ET-220 Electric Guitar Demo

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Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Teisco ET-220.

Build quality

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The Mohawk pre-catalyzed lacquer finish is noted for its hardness, with 15 coats applied for durability, though minor orange peel may occur around edges.
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The neck is often described as "like a baseball bat," which might affect playability for some users.
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The guitar is praised for its smooth playability despite being a mass-produced, inexpensive instrument.
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Setup and maintenance

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Refretting the Teisco ET-220 is a complex, time-consuming task, indicating the need for patience and skill, especially for those new to guitar refurbishing.
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Mods and upgrades

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Angelus leather dye and Liquitex transparent black spray paint were used for a unique blue/black burst finish, suggesting creative customization options.
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Some owners successfully replaced original pickups with hot rail style pickups hidden under the Teisco covers to maintain vintage aesthetics while improving sound.
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Wax potting the original pickups is recommended to reduce microphonics without changing the guitar's original parts.
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User experience

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The project highlights a rewarding experience in refurbishing, encouraging enthusiasts to explore restoring vintage Japanese guitars for both aesthetics and function.
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Owners have expressed mixed feelings, with some loving the quirky tones and others finding them reminiscent of a toy in terms of aesthetic.
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The ET-220's original pickups are reported as microphonic, capable of picking up ambient noise like string jingle and even spoken words.
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Features and functionality

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The Teisco ET-220 is noted for having highly desirable gold foil pickups that can sometimes be worth more than the guitar itself.
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Value and pricing

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Vintage Teisco guitars, especially with gold foil pickups, can fetch $400-$500 if in excellent condition, though opinions vary widely on their worth.
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Comparisons

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Some owners liken the tonal character of the Teisco's pickups to that of early Jazzmasters, with a roaring quality despite the guitar's toy-like appearance.
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The ET-220 is compared to dynamic microphones due to its microphonic pickups, suggesting a unique, albeit unintentional, tonal characteristic.
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Use cases and applications

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The ET-220 is noted to have been used by Josh Homme during Era Vulgaris sessions, highlighting its potential for unique sound in professional settings.
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Critic Reviews

Rex and the Bass: 1960s Teisco Del Rey ET-220 Electric Guitar Review

rexbass.com

The Teisco Del Rey ET-220 offers a quaint vintage charm but is weighed down by several drawbacks. Although it boasts a fun playability and a warm, gritty tone, the guitar suffers from poor quality hardware, particularly the tuners and bridge, which affect tuning stability. The large neck pocket limits access to higher frets, and the overall construction feels cheap, with pitted chrome and questionable craftsmanship showing its age. While some may appreciate its unique aesthetics and quirky features, it's a gamble—play it first to avoid a potential dud. In short, it's a nostalgic piece for collectors, but not a top choice for serious musicians.

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Artist usage

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Thurston Moore

Singer, Guitarist

Sonic Youth

Verified

Used by Thurston: 1985

1985 -- F#F#F#F#EB (Brave Men Run, Death Valley '69, World Looks Red) NOTES:

I've only ever seen Thurston use this at the 10/10/85 Bremen show. It seemed to replace the blue Jazzmaster for the F# songs -- possibly because they'd moved "Brave Men"/"Death Valley" into the encore and it was easier to use a different guitar than try to tune the blue Jazz after the drumstick abuse it received during "I Love Her All The Time" and "Ghost Bitch" in the main set. I suspect that they may have covered it in duct tape (?) as a sunburst finish can be seen peeking through this guitar's odd coat. It appears to be very similar to a Teisco ET-220.