RARE! Teisco Del Rey EV3T Crying Phantom Caveman 1968 Japan

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Freak. Beat.

Sometimes, you just get lucky.

Here is a rare gem that just came in on trade. It's a Teisco Del Rey EV3T, but not just any EV3T. Sometimes, you might find one in the wild in the Vox Phantom style or even a Teardrop but not Crying Phantom Caveman with 3 pickups! It's not perfect, there are some scratches and some finish cracks near the neck pocket but nothing serious. It is missing one ferrule and a strap peg. The bridge has been lifted with washers. It's completely original aside from the tuners. All of the electronics work and the action is reasonable so it's a player.

• Make: Teisco • Model: Del Rey EV-3T • Year: 1960s • Fretboard Material: Rosewood • Fretboard Radius: 7.25" • Scale Length: 24.75" • Nut Width: 1.67" • Neck Width at 12th Fret: 2.01" • Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: 0.83" • Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: 1.00" • Made in Japan

Here is an article from Guitar Player Magazine:

It's Cheap, Nasty, and Sounds Terrific: the Silvertone/Teisco EV3T

By Terry Carleton published 16 November 2021

Some 60 years later, Teisco guitars like this have found their way into respectability among not just collectors but also players and session musicians.

We’re still somewhat surprised by just how good some of these Teisco guitars can sound and play. Granted, the 1968 Silvertone/Teisco EV3T shown here was never intended to be a professional guitar, nor was it priced to be, with an MSRP of 50 bucks circa 1968.

This guitar comes from an important transition period in the Teisco story. According to Japanese guitar expert Frank Meyers, this Teisco with the Silvertone branding (the name that Sears put on its guitars) is not exactly a Teisco – it’s a Teisco made by Kawai.

Weirdo Factor

If the loud blue color and faux wood paneling pickguard aren’t odd enough, how about the shape of this beast? It’s like a cross between a Vox Phantom and a Teardrop, hence the model’s Crying Phantom nickname.

The late 1960s marked the end of the golden era spawned by the mid-’50s electric guitar boom. Designers were desperate for new designs that might sell a few more guitars. But other than its shape, this guitar is exactly like the Teisco EV3T, which is shaped like the five-sided Vox Phantom.

Playability & Sound

This guitar plays well, but not great. If you’re a good guitarist, you’ll be able to play it without feeling like you’re wrestling with it. The action is low, the intonation is reasonable, and after you hear how it sounds, you may decide it’s worth sacrificing a little modern playability to cash in on the singularly unique wonkiness of these pickups.

Each of the three single-coils has its own kill switch. The multilaminated neck is slender and easy to play, and it has a truss rod. The rosewood fingerboard has 21 frets, plus a zero fret, and nice cream binding for smooth gliding up and down. The tremolo works remarkably well, but not for much more than half-step bends. The roller bridge is height adjustable, but not individually intonatable. But the EV3T more than makes up for any shortcomings with its sound. The pickups are bright and chimey, with the bridge position possessing the most nasal snarkiness.

The middle and neck positions are great for strumming, but our favorite combo is the bridge and neck pickups together, with just a bit of overdrive, for a full-bodied and outspoken tone.

Like so many other ’60s Japanese guitars, this thing is a screaming banshee with full-on distortion. It’s great fun – unless you don’t like loud, whiny feedback fun!

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