Over the past several years the gold foil pickups used by the Japanese guitar maker Teisco in the mid sixties have been gaining what could be described as cult status. Though Teiscos were inexpensive guitars sold during the period these pickups have become famous for their unique sound especially among slide and blues guitarists. Hound Dog Taylor played a Kawai (Teisco) with gold foils. Ry Cooder has used the gold foils extensively for many years for slide either on Teisco or related brand guitars or has installed the pickups on Fender models in particular Stratocasters . Among aficionados Ry's hybrid models have been given the nicknames of "Frankenstrat" or "Coodercaster"It is important to note that there are several versions of the gold foil. One has the large screw pole pieces running along the center with a chrome surround. Another type has smaller pole piece screws and a chrome surround with four fixing screws somewhat like a Rickenbacker toaster or a DeArmond. The magnets in these two types as explained by Jason Lollar, renowned pickup designer, are actually magnetized rubber. A third type has small pole piece screws along the edge and are the type used by Ry Cooder. These are pictured at the top of this post on a Teisco SS4L. The third type is considered by many to be the best sounding of the three with a slightly higher output, roughly 5.6k ohms, and alnico magnets in the pole pieces.
As the gold foil phenomenon grows these pickups are becoming more valuable. Whether you are a collector or just a lover of slide guitar or blues in general, check out the gold foils. You won't be sorry you did!
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