1960s Teisco MJ-2L Vintage Electric Guitar Japan, Guyatone Pickups

Up for sale, a 1960's Teisco MJ-2L electric guitar in excellent condition and in perfect working order. Made in Japan, this small solid bodied Teisco is a well-built quality instrument boasting a pair of coveted Guyatone pickups, the same style now replicated by Curtis Novak and brought to prominence by Blake Mills. These pickups have a broad tonal palette, with a deep, rich full spectrum quality in the neck position and a present, open and articulate bridge pickup with plenty of attack. Featherweight at only 6lbs 7oz, this Teisco has been professionally setup here at Mike and Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings and comfortable action.

The neck has a soft V shape profile at the nut that transitions into a hearty C shape with full shoulders and ample chunk in the highest registers of the fretboard. The profile measures .935” deep at the 1st fret, tapering to .980” at the 12th. The 24 3/4” scale rosewood fingerboard features slender inlays on the bass side edge of the board, and the stock slender fretwire is in great shape with its full factory height, showing only light wear on frets 1-3 mostly beneath the plain strings. There's virtually no wear further up the fretboard, and the guitar plays cleanly in all registers. The nut measures 1 11/16" in width. The headstock matches the body with a shade not dissimilar from Fender's Dakota Red, and the stock open back tuners with white plastic buttons and ferrules are present. The original chrome Teisco “T” badge is intact too.

On the body, all of the stock electronics work as they should, with an individual on/off switch, Volume, and Tone control for each of the two pickups. The spring loaded vibrato is intact, yet the centrally mounted vibrato arm is no longer present. The barrel knobs are a vintage set, and while not original to the guitar, match the aesthetics well.

Cosmetically, the hardware and plastic parts are in great shape, and the two-tone metal pickguard has some light scratches yet still retains both pickup stickers just south of the large white rocker switches. The original vibrant red finish has its fair share of scuffs and tiny dings, and there is one slender, yet stable and professionally addressed split in the back of the body extending towards the rear strap button.