The Checkmate brand was owned and imported by WMI Corporation. These serial numbers have been recorded up to 600,000 on various brands. Around serial number 120,000 would have been the first lot of Taiwan Teisco / Checkmate guitars, built in Taiwan. The serial numbers even continued from the Teisco serial numbers. Kawai used the templates and styles acquired from the acquisition of Teisco and used them to make other brands like the Checkmate. The wood is rather soft for a guitar neck. These are very noticeable as the neck changed from ply to a solid one piece neck. In the early 70's Kawai built Teisco branded instruments in Taiwan. The Teisco Company as such no longer existed and the Teisco brand was now owned by Kawai. In 1967 Kawai took over the Teisco plant. Kawai actually owned several guitar plants. This would end up being a significant guitar factory running into the late 70's, if not longer. Sometime around 1965-67 era, Kawai had acquired a guitar manufacturing plant in Taiwan. Because of this it is often thought that Teisco built check mate guitars. This was the first time the brand name was used. Around 1965 Teisco had a range of amplifiers with the Checkmate brand.

Hence they are not a 1960's Made in Japan guitar and this section is limited as it is outside our site’s scope. The guitars are made in Taiwan and Korea in the early 70's. For players seeking genuine vintage mojo on a budget, it's hard to beat the funky guitars and basses put out by Japanese maker Teisco guitars.Ĭheckmate (By Jimmy Noise / July 2013) Checkmate guitars have an interesting storey, because of the confusion associated with its origins.

Teisco serial number lookup