what you think of " TOKAI " honestly?

[VINTAGE JOE]

http://www.theguitarshop.jp/catalogue/catalogue.html

the current tokai-japan catalogs! click on the covers!

[VINTAGE JOE]

the info is that most of the old LS120s have the veneer fugured top
actually unlike we hoped its the solid figured top. many veneer figured top
models around 1983~1985 but those veneers were only a few mm thick
so it was untra thin and it didnt bother the overall tone of the guitars.
basically,

LS50......3 piece back / poly
LS60......2 piece back / poly
LS80......solid / lacquer
LS100......solid / dimarzio / lacquer
LS120......veneer flamed top / dimarzio / lacquer
LS150......solid figured top / lacquer
LS200......solid flame top / lacquer

LS150&200 were the special orders back then.

[VINTAGE JOE]

TOKAI-UK seems to be updating their site lately
so wait for their new stuff! tokai-uk is a good dealer.

[VINTAGE JOE]

TOKAI GUITARS have the stamp marks on the guitar bodies & necks
like FENDER guitars have. they are a manifacturing infomation in this form.

X = Y

X is the NC routing pattern #.
Y is the lot #.

so if its 2 = 3 then
it means,

this neck or body is routered by #2 pattern.
and the 3rd lot of it all.

for years and years, there was a misinformation
about this from TOKAI-FORUM, by TOGPS that
he was told by TOKAI CEO that it means X = Y
form is MONTH = DAY that the neck or body was
made in the manifacturing year. he is a german
tokai distributer so we believed his misinfo badly.
i get the official proofs from the old tokai employees
laters.there are still some good old tokai ex-employees
around the factory who are doing their guitar business
since then. i try to get more than a few proofs so its
sure and good finally. been wrong too long but now OK!

TOKAI JOE

[VINTAGE JOE]

http://www.k4.dion.ne.jp/~yjibika/index.html#top

this collection includes some great old tokai guitars!
especially the LS200 model is marverous. their best !!!!!!

[VINTAGE JOE]

http://www.tokairegistry.com/tokai-info ... ticle.html

a great introduction article about TOKAI here, from TF.
i hope TOKAI will be understood better now in the world.
they make good stuff like their motto, quality before quantity!

TOKAI JOE

　

[guitslinger]

Although I have never owned a Tokai,my buddy has recently bought two Tokai Strats,one being a 60s copy and the other a 50s copy.They are incredible guitars and I was especially impressed with the 60s one because since I own an original '65 Strat,I am quite familiar with how a 60s Strat should sound and feel.The Tokai 60s Strat sounds and feels so much like a genuine Fender 60s Strat that it's uncanny,it's simply an incredible guitar and for the equivalent of about $800, my buddy got a guitar that could go toe to toe with any custom shop reissue of a '60s "L" series Strat.

[VINTAGE JOE]

http://tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2 ... 16e9c56dc8

the very important official letter from TOKAI to LEO FENDER of G&L in 1982 here. this letter is explaining many things that were going on around TOKAI back then in 1982. FENDER JAPAN chose FUJIGEN for their manifacture and began in 1982. ( this from TF )

[VINTAGE JOE]

new tokai LS340 premium guitar!

http://www1.odn.ne.jp/tokaigakki/produc ... ls340.html

[VINTAGE JOE]

http://www.theguitarshop.jp/catalogue/catalogue.html

the new tokai-japan catalogs from 2013/2014~
click on the covers to see their copies to replicas to the originals!
made in the custom shop & japan & china now.
when only a gibson isnt good enough!

tokai joe

[VINTAGE JOE]

http://www.cats-eyes.biz/catalogue/tokai/1982/1982c.htm

the 1982 tokai catalog!