Oscar Teller 8/A Guitar (1971) / Oskar Teller (Tellson) 7/P (1963)

 

Presented here is a completely relaquered Oscar Teller 8/A

The prefix "A" stands for ahorn, probably better known as

maple. As maple was readily available in those days this

model, executed in maple sides and back, was cheaper than

its' counterpart, the model 8/P in rosewood. Nowadays it

would have been different as the lighter hardwoods are

quite popular at this moment. But let's not forget also

Antonio de Torres already used maple for his premium

models in the 19th century and so did several French

guitar builders.

A closer look at the back is possible just by clicking on these pictures.

The scale is 645 mm and the bodies' own frequency is around the note 

G# which means 104 Herz. Width of the topnut 52 mm. The intonation 

is really good. Due to some top cracks the price would be 1/3 of the 

price what this guitar would be new: 700 Euro's. The 8/P made by 

Wolfgang Teller (still in business) now costs € 3000,- As for the 

cracks: Everything is repaired and stable now.

The top has been French polished but keep in mind that not

all damages can be treated as then you are obliged to sand down

the soundboard. The top will be thinned then and is more prone 

to deformations and might even possibly collapse.

And its' label that says Model Nr. 8 / A Anno 1971.

Oscar Teller wasn't alive at that time anymore but

his son Horst kept the same label and name.

Hardly any fretwear. Someone must have did a job not that long ago.

The tuners were lost but these ones do the job really well.

The head often is a victim of damages from setting the guitar 

against a stone wall or knocking it against that wall. As the

back of the head was severely damaged I figured it would be 

nice to add a maple back plate the way later often has been

done by this company and its' builders. Moreover, maple is

much harder than the most of the time used cedar wood for

the necks.

 

The rosettes from those times on their premium guitars

were immediately recognizable. As for sound: the Teller

guitars tend to sound a bit dark and with this maple for

sides and back the sound is clearer and perfect to my

opinion. Anyway, I like it even better compared to the

rosewood version I have. On the right you can observe

the older rosette on a 1963 model 7/P.

Oskar Teller 7/P 1963

No, not a mistake in the announcement of this guitar.

Before the more common labels, the name Oskar was 

spelled with the prefix "K". Moreover, the later guitars

most of the time were offered without the addition

"Tellson" as that name merely was used for the steel-

strings and jazz (f-holed) models. Horst was at

the time already director of the company, due to

the untimely death of his father.

And here the rather "unique" Tellson - Oskar Teller

label. That states the guitar to be built in 1963. As I

already "stumbled" onto two model 8 Oscar Teller

guitars in the past, I figured I would give it a try. And

also regarding this model, some details have been

simplified during the timeline: Same model - less

elaborate details on these guitars. The back inlay

in the neck later was a single one as opposed to this

1963 model. In comparison to the 8 models, the tuners 

are also Rubners but executed in metal and not "gold"

From old pricelists and catalogues one should read 

8/P  and not 81P as sometimes is suggested.

This guitar was available in an auction house that is not 

specialized in musical instruments. Therefore a bargain 

can be had here and there. Remarkable remains that

damages such as a crack on the right below the bridge

hasn't been mentioned in the catalogue. Being an auction

online a lot of potential buyers maybe are not taking the

effort to visit the auction house in person but it is ob-

vious that it remains very important to do so.

Same as on the 8 models is the rich rosette and

the ebony bridge with the two plastic strips on

the edges of the string tie block though also the

inlay of the rosette has been changed, maybe

to speed up building processes?

On the front the two inlays recognizable on the 8 model 

is not present here. The double maple strip inlay in the 

neck disappeared later on the 7 models. As you can see

the axe holds are riveted onto the plate and the knobs

themselves are also clinched on the axes.

The rosewood used for the back and sides are showing 

a lot of similarities with the 8/P model. Question remains

wether if they have been using Brasilian rosewood for 

their top models back then.