Telestar Hollowbody

I just found out that my guitar was, in fact, a Telestar, so that prompted me to fill this out... its an odd 335-shaped semi-acoustic from the 60s or 70s, although it actually doesnt look much like a 335 at all. A Gibson-style bridge, 21 frets on a heavily varnished neck, strat-style tuners which can't hold tune for sh*t with a strat-shaped headstock. Not sure of the type of wood used for the body or neck, but I don't think its mahogany somehow. 2 raised single coils, one of which doesnt allign over the strings. One volume and tone control along with switches for each of the pickups and a bigsby style tailpiece. Made in Japan, of course.
All in all, it's a bit of a mess.

But the guitar redeems itself wonderfully here by making an absolouely brilliant sound, both unlpugged and when plugged in. It has a rich, bright sound with the bridge pickup and a bassy, mellow sound with the neck. Only trouble is, if you put both pickups on at the same time you seem to get the worst of both. Oh well... I use it with a 12w 80s Marshall and a recent 80w Marshall. It is quite noisy, with the pickups being pretty microphonic, but it's still a great sound. It sounds great with a fat load of gain shoved on top and sparkles on a clean channel, but you get something special if you turn the gain to just above the point at where it starts to break up, crank the EQ to full and turn it up.

Hahaha. I bought the guitar off Ebay and the guy claimed that the guitar recently had a very thorough set-up. Riiiiiight... the pickups weren't at their correct height, the string intonation was absoloutely terrible, the neck pickup switch doesn't work properly and leads wouldn't fit properly into the socket. Having said this, the only thing that is Telestar's fault is the neck pickup not being alligned with the strings, but you can tell that it's always been an uphill struggle with this guitar.

Okay, I can't really comment on this. Two of the screws holding the input socket in have fallen out, a screw came out of the bridge and the whole thing feels like it should be binned. And yet, it's never felt like it would actually stop working. The finish is showing no signs of wear, apart from the normal scratches and the guitar hasn't ever crapped out on me. I played live with it and lord knows the whammy bar shouldn't be used if you want to keep it in some sort of tuning (which is hard enough anyway), but I would be happy to use this in full concerts and gigs. Though if anyone gigged this without a backup, they'd be insane.

Considering it was made before I was born and the company went bust in the 70s, I haven't tried ringing customer services.

I've only ben playing for a few years but I know quite a lot about guitars already, I'd say. The only pedal I've used with this has been distortion, so I can't say how it fares in that department.

The point of old, vintage guitars is not for them to be super-sustain, perfect tuning, shredding guitars. Go get an Ibanez if you want that. This thing is pretty hard to play well, but it's actually made me a better guitarist because of it. I love the sound that this guitar gives out and I bought it knowing that reliability wouldn't be its strongest point.
I would be pissed off if it was lost or stolen, but I wouldn't bother hunting down this specific guitar again (mainly because that would be so hard to do); I'd just get another vintage semi-acoustic similar to it.
My rating is ignoring the poor reliability and problems with the guitar; if you buy one of these, you should be expecting a few problems with it. I havent had any problems so big that I've had to go and pay to get it repaired or looked at.

I recently got one of these hollowbody Telestar (Tele-star) guitars and I really like it.

Mine has three really large chromed pickups, a prominent whammy bar, and a basic red/orange sunburst color scheme. A control volume for each pickup, a tone and an overall volume. Plus a three way switch. Thin neck is sweet for playing.

Really good Beatles / brit rock sound.

It suits early 19060's sound styles. I do surf guitar rhythm with it and it work great. Lead also sounds very good with a mellow note to it. I hook it up to a Line 6 Spider II and even work some Cream with it (distortion). It does have a buzz, but that may be a gounding or vinration feedback issue as it stops whem I put my hand on the strings.

Frets are worn but the guitar plays easily and smooth. Bridge is adjustable, and is a replacement. I have original but previous owner said it didn't really work that well. Fretwire has come up on one fret so that when I bend the high E string too much it can get caught under the string fret. Need to work that out. Other wise great.

I hammer it regularly. It is dependable and has lasted all these years. The frets are worn pretty flat so this axe has seen its time on the job.

N/A

I have been playing for maybe 3 years. I would buy another one if it came up at auction. It is light and has a really good rhythm sound.

The Telestar Dove was manufactured during the '60s and '70s in Japan (which most of you already know. I have NO IDEA what this thing was made out of or the component listing as information on the guitar is non-existant. Anyone with information on this model would be helpful.

It's great in it's original configuration for Rock-a-billy and brit-rock sounds. I've swapped out the face plate for a custom made one with humbuckers and advanced electronics because I love the feel of the guitar.

By today's standards this guitar is trash... unless you're LOOKING for that nostalgic sound/look/feel. I've beat the crap out of it and it's still going strong.

It will withstand just about anything except constant tremelo. After about 2 pushes it's completely out of tune. String/neck bends, no problem, just don't use the tremelo bar. It's a solid rhythm guitar.

Non-existant

Please, if you've got any info on this guitar or the company/manufacturer, please let me know.

The closest thing I could find is here
http://www.tradingmusician.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=122&id=4059#

The only difference is mine has 3 pickups instead of one.

Just an update on my previous submission here- mine is the over-the-top glowing revies. My current email addy is threehundredmusic@yahoo.com All Telestar owners and others with interest are welcome to contact me, as I am trying to build a Telestar registry (Hey, Taylor, Martin, Gibson and Guild registerys are already taken!)

Steve

First, If you can get your hands on one of these guitars, "DO IT", but I have yet to find another one. I've had mine for eight months, and have been searching pawnshops and used shops to find another one.
My guitar from what I know about it is a Telestar Hollow body that was made in Japan in 1968, by Telestar, These guitars were shipped to the states through some company in new york from 1967-1970 I bought it at a consignment Music shop here in Memphis,TN. It has a pearl finish, a very low action, two single coil pickups, two volume and tone controls, and it was outfitted with a tremelo or Whammy bar at one time (can some one tell me where I can find a replacement for it. or even tell me what it looked like, if you have seen a picture of one somewhere, please send one my way.)

The neck appears to be made of Mahagony laminated over maple, it has 22 and 1/2 frets, with little pearl(or faux pearl)inlays...the frets are very low, and this thing is extremely easy to play. The neck is very small, (above the tuners there is a big telestar logo. ) my guitar overall kind of looks like an Epiphone I guess would be the best way to say it, but it also has this Batman/Speedracer look going on,) The neck is rather thin and rounded, which is great for me because I have little hands and short stubby fingers. So I need all the help I can get. (I don't have hands and fingers like Robert Johnson)

The paint scheme or finish, is a pearl color, with two sets of black racing stripes around the outside edges, it has a black pick guard. I have no clue as to what the body of this guitar is made out of, but the guitar has a really cool look, it is outfitted with tons of what looks like Chrome, Chrome pickups, chrome Volume control, chrome Tone nob, Chrome plate that the volume control and tone nobs sit on-2 of each by the way...double everything on this guitar. and a two way selector switch (toggle style)
The original tuners were replaced by some previous owner, they changed the old ones out for gotohs. I'd like to find out what the old tuners look like as well.

There are some small cracks in the finish, and around the seams of the guitar, it ain't perfect, and I don't think the previous owner really cared about it that much, but the thing is 33 years old, hell I'm thirty six, and I show more wear and tear than this thing does.
For a guitar this old it has held up well, and it sounds awesome. I play it through a Peavey amp, but have plugged it into a Crate all Tube amp, and let me tell you, this thing was made to be played through an all tube amp. it sounds warm there is no fuzz...my only complaint is this, if you are trying to play below the 17th fret, there is very little clearance between the strings and the pickups, and sometimes if you hit a note hard enough, the string will bump the pickup, and deaden the sound, but anywhere above the 17th fret, and you get incredible sound, I could get the pickups changed out, but refuse to do so because they are chrome and appear to be the original ones.

I also have nicknamed my guitar, since she's black and white and Beautiful...the only colors that pearls come in.

this Guitar is so wide, I couldn't find an Electric case to keep it in, so I bough a used Gibson acoustic case that keeps it protected.
Every tim I open the case up. People go "dude that guitar is so cool...what the hell is it." I've had several people offer to buy it off of me, but that is not going to happen.

This guitar is perfect for me, (Except for below the 17th fret) I would change out the pickups, but don't want to ruin the look.
overall, the guitar It has an incredibly rich and warm sound, easy to play chords on, any heavy metal is cool...and blues. I like the fact that the neck is so small, that's cool for chords, but It can be a bit tough for string bends, you don't have much room to work with unless you push one string up under the other. I haven't heard any guitar out there that sounds like it, it has just aged well. I think the amp that it sounds best through is a crate CR508 all tube amplifier these older guitars were built to be played with tubes, and if you don't believe me, just plug into one.

This is a hard category to judge, my guitar is 33 years old, I don't know it's complete history, and don't know how much it has been adjusted over the years, I like the action, I like how it was when I got it...like I said before the pickups can be trouble below the 17th fret, but other than that, it's a great guitar. The Telestar company that made this guitar is no longer in business. There is a company making Telestars out of Nashville now, but they aren't the same group.

For 33 years, she's withstood several owners, Pearl is obviously a survivor, someone changed out the Tuners, and took off the Tremelo, but other than that, this guitar is rock solid (minus a few cracks in the finish) you could probably tour the world with it, and it wouldn't be any worse for the wear.
There were alot of guitars that came out of Japan that were just JAP CRAP....but I don't think Telestar was one of them, atleast mine isn't. I love it, I really do...

The Japanese based Telestar company went out of business in 1970,and I'm afraid 30 years or more might be a bit long for a warranty (although this guitar is worthy of it). So, there is no company support, just other Telestar owners to talk to. I'd love to find some original tuners for my guitar, and a Tremelo. If anyone can hook me up, I would appreciate it.

I have played on and off for over 25 years, I used to Own a Yamaha acoustic Guitar, that I bought when I lived in Japan back in the 70's, I didn't like the action on that guitar, and eventually quit playing because of it. One day, I just decided what the heck, I'm going to find a new guitar, so I went to Consignment Music here in Memphis, I spent weeks checking out every guitar in the shop, both new and used, and finally settled on this old telestar. I looked at the guitar, Didn't buy it, Drove back home, broke a sweat, got nervous, and was afraid someone else would buy it, So I drove back and bought it.
The only other guitarS that I saw that I really liked and that had an action that was suitable for me was an Eric Clapton Telecaster, and a new Accoustic Dean Guitar, I'll eventually wind up owning those guitars as well. But my Telestar is great, I don't think there is anything out there like it, If it was stolen, I'd cry, and go search for another one.
The one thing I wish I had was a tube amp, a friend of mine has one, and while this guitar sounds okay through any amp, it sounds really good through a Crate tube amp, I believe the model is a CR508, it's just a little studio amp.
I play this guitar every day...I love it...and I can't get enough of it.

I love this guitar so much I gave it a name- Lisa, after a high-school girl who wouldn't have anything to do with me- I was love-sick, what can I say? don't know- don't care- what became of her, but I'll always have this guitar. Cool (and yet warm) jazz or BB King blues sound, I think from the wood part of the bridge and the seasoned, 30-year-old hollow body. Did I tell you how much I love this guitar? Sure, its basic, but I just get weak in the knees every time I play it. Like eating honey and melted butter on hot pancakes- heaven!!My folks gave me this guitar as a birthday present when I was 12- bought it from Gibson's Discount City- sort of the Kmart of the day. Nice red/honey burst finish, with book-matched maple back- beautiful! Laminated neck- about 30 strips make up the neck- cool boat-deck look. 2 single coils, although I have seen a 1-pickup model- selling for almost 4 times what my folks paid for mine. Hollow-body, sort of a 335 type. Movable metal-over-rosewood bridge. Rectangular pearl inlays on fretboard. Strings run thru a top-mounted tremolo- I lost the spring and handle for, and never used the tremolo.

This guitar played thru any descent reverb could talk you into stepping in front of a train for it! Sure, it's got a bit of hum- sounds so nice deep inside my ear. So rich, so creamy- like Jiffy extra smooth peanut butter!

How well was it set up at the factory? I can't remember- It's been 30 years, and I was 12- what did I know? As I recall, the strings were so loose, the bridge just flopped around- my guitar teacher set it up for me, I think. Mr. Jenkins, thank you, where ever you are!

After years of indifferent or downright mean, neglectful treatment, I now baby this guitar- I've got lots to make up for. Rating is true_ worry about this guitar all the time, like a jealous lover. Sure, it would withstand live playing- if you pamper it, and I do. It is dependable- 30 years and it's getting it's secone-ever setup- and hasn't needed any repairs otherwise. Backup? Where would I find another guitar I could love like this one? Isn't that called polygomy- illegal in all 50 states?

What company? I haven't a clue- no documentation even came in the box, as I recall.

STOLEN??!?? I'd be crushed! If some dude stole her away from me, I'd shoot them both!
All glowing praise aside...aw, hell, I can't really be objective about this guitar- it's really special to me. I guess another player would say it's a middle-of-the-road Jap scrap guitar that has somehow survived long enough to sound pretty good. Now you'll have to excuse me- I hear Lisa calling me back to bed...
(If there are any other Telestar owners out there, I'd love to hear from you- even if you DON'T love your guitar like I do mine.)