1981 TE120

Sigmania · Post by **Sigmania** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 6:34 am

I just bought this insane TE 120 from Cliff. Christmas present for myself.

I couldn't resist after getting that 1979 TE80 and playing it. If this guitar sounds as good I may have found my dream guitar. I can't believe how full and resonant the TE80 is.

Just wondering how many of these are out there and if anyone has more info?

Thanks!

felixcatus · Post by **felixcatus** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 1:04 pm

Nice one, Sig.

duff · Post by **duff** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 1:26 pm

Sweet! Merry Christmas

Reborn Old · Post by **Reborn Old** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 1:35 pm

Lovely grain on that one Geoff. Congrats !

I've seen about a dozen examples with that edge binding, so not very common.

Lucke Luke · Post by **Lucke Luke** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 1:44 pm

I really love the binding! Especially the colour.

Sweet 3 tone burst.

Tell me something. What is the reason that out of several el. guitars one might be particularly loud/resonant (not sure how to describe it correctly)?

I've got an SG, LP and EX. Out of em all, to my surprise, the SG which is the thinnest and smallest is the loudest.

Now, where's my present

Sigmania · Post by **Sigmania** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 2:33 pm

Thanks guys and Cliff!

Luke, I'm sure everyone has theories. I noticed that guitars that resonate well do it unplugged also. My alder TE80 does. My 2 cents.

Sigmania · Post by **Sigmania** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 6:49 pm

I should add sustain as well. 😉

Udonitron · Post by **Udonitron** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 7:06 pm

Nice, I know that guitar well as I pointed Cliff to it on Yahoo for a BIN and told him to nab it before I did.
Glad it is in good hands

Peter Mac · Post by **Peter Mac** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 8:28 pm

Nice score, Sigmania

I also owned an '81 back in '84 except it was GS (two-tone) and had a rosewood fingerboard. The neck was a 'V' shape and highly flamed but it was an awesome guitar.
I didn't appreciate the Breezy (I'm mainly a Les Paul player) and ended up selling it to buy another Les Paul. I heard that Tommy Emmanual owns it now...
Love to get it back though....

Peter Mac

Sigmania · Post by **Sigmania** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 8:32 pm

Thanks guys. I've had a few Teles tho I was never much impressed and prefer a Les Paul typically, but that 1979 TE80 with the two piece alder body made a believer outta me. 😃

Udonitron · Post by **Udonitron** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 8:38 pm

Teles are pound per pound the best all arounders you can play.
They do it all.

Sigmania · Post by **Sigmania** » Thu Dec 11, 2014 7:50 am

Totally agree Udonitron after playing the TE80. What an amazing rage of tones!

Glad you pointed it out to Clif, otherwise I may have never ended up with it.

When you google TE120 you only see a handful of examples, and the grain pattern on this one really stands out.

Here are some pics from Japanese sites of the same guitar.

Suki · Post by **Suki** » Thu Dec 11, 2014 8:37 am

I'm not hugely into Telecasters, but that is awesome! Love the binding.

felixcatus · Post by **felixcatus** » Thu Dec 11, 2014 9:42 am

What's the tone pot value?

Sigmania · Post by **Sigmania** » Thu Dec 11, 2014 4:26 pm

suki, I have never been either. Mainly a Strat guy and lately Les Pauls (Tokais), but the 1979 TE80 is a beast. Has an amazing Stevie Ray Vaughan blues tone IMHO. Was very surprised, but it was my first Tokai Tele. Heck they could all be like that.

Felixcatus, I don't have it in hand, but Cliff took pics of the electronics. I'll switch over to my computer in a sec.