1980 LS-120 LPR germany

[trebletool]

https://www.faberguitar.com/Tokai-LS120-OS-LPR-1980-M68
beside the(imo) unrealistic price
i´m quite sure that 120 is not Nitro...the cracks are (nor really good) made with razor blade -

 

[Sigmania]

https://www.faberguitar.com/Tokai-LS120-OS-LPR-1980-M68
beside the(imo) unrealistic price
i´m quite sure that 120 is not Nitro...the cracks are (nor really good) made with razor blade -

In 1980 the LS80 and above had lacquer/nitrocellulose finish (except LS200 which was cashew finish).

A 1980 LS120 with a solid flame top is actually pretty rare and they get big money these days.

LS120 Gallery

Gotfried (togps) is a longtime member here as you are. I'm sure he would be happy to answer questions about that guitar.

 

[Sigmania]

1980 Vol. 3 catalog

 

[Sigmania]

LS120 is actually a model that didn't appear in a catalog until the 1981 catalog I believe.

So that one was made late in 1980 and has 1981 specs I believe.

 

[Freebird]

That’s definitely one that I would be interested in if I had unlimited funds. That’s a beauty.

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

So far (and I just re-checked (no pun intended) a few on Reverb) I have never seen such a checking on any of the NC-finished Tokais? This looks indeed a bit like e.g. this:

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/my-reliced-burny-mij-les-paul-nrgd.2016952/
The difference is that the Tokai in question looks like has the checking exclusively on the top, nothing at all on the back or on the headstock. AFAIK the "natural" cause for this kind of checking is taking your old Gibby out of the case near the fireplace right after you drove 8 hours through freezing cold winter to that place. Also AFAIK (not sure, picked that up somewhere) this kind of nitro wasn't sold much after the 1960s. I think some questions as to why this guitar looks like this could be justified.

 

[Sigmania]

I agree that it looks weird and that I have never seen that on a Tokai. Quite possibly altered.

But my original point is that a 1980 LS120 does have a lacquer finish when it leaves the factory. After that, I have no idea what happened to this guitar.

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

But my original point is that a 1980 LS120 does have a lacquer finish when it leaves the factory.

That was understood (I hope) and a known fact. However, the condition of all these nitro guitars (it's not only 40 years old Tokais, count in all the Grecos, Navigators and whatnot or Fenders and Gibsons from the time they jumped on the bandwagon) seems to confirm my suspicion that - besides all the "breathing wood" cork sniffing contests - the aging effect people are hoping for when they spend $$$ on NC finishes isn't quite what people are hoping for. AFAIK only Van Zandt applies this kind of classic (?) nitro finishes that rub and chip off by looking at them too much and get checking by eating ice cream near them... but that's probably stuff for another thread.

 

[Sigmania]

That was understood (I hope) and a known fact.

Read the original post in this thread.....

"i´m quite sure that 120 is not Nitro..."

 

[eborej]

I've never seen an '80's Tokai LS with that amount of finish checking. Funny how the headstock and back of the guitar seems to have no checking at all.

I also don't understand why sellers claim their Tokai LS has a solid top but don't bother to post the pictures to prove it. Although the subtle flame top on it does suggest it's plausible.

Just noticed that all the LS120's on that site has body top listed as solid maple which is vague enough that it could go either way.

 

[Sigmania]

Preserving the pics.

 

[Sigmania]

And here's the completed guitar with new Faber bridge and tailpiece and a set of Monty's PAFs. The knobs are just temporary while I wait for the ones I ordered.

Relic'd LS196... Just the top.