A factory Springy EVH?

[Fisch]

Posted this on the FB group too. But hopefully you guys can confirm something for me. Especially since the only info I could find was here, lol!

https://www.tokaiforum.com/threads/evh.11267/
http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=19990&highlight=van+halen
I picked up this factory paint EVH body the other day. What little mention I can find here of the B&W Stripe variant Tokai is that it was a ‘Springy Sound’ branded neck. Where the others were mainly ‘Super Editions’. I’ve seen a ‘custom edition’ banana head in red and white and black, and I even have seen what looks like a Silver Star in B&W like this. But with a pickguard. If you have photos of the B&W Springy EVH or a model number or year, please post. Especially the headstock. I happened to have a springy neck that was Floyd modded before me (as was this body.) and the stamps on the neck and body are actually one month apart I think. Pretty cool and if this is a a Springy EVH, it is almost fate, cause I’ve held on to that neck for years. lol!! The other thing I’d like to know is if the Springy variant had octagonal tuners. Because the Supers and the Customs seem to.

 

[Sigmania]

Have you read through this thread?

Production Date Superstrat Bumblebee

 

[Sigmania]

Yours is like an Olympic White. Your code says OW=BB

Wonder if yours is an ST50BBOW instead of a BBYL?

And as for the neck, have you taken it off to check codes?

Body looks like it says 5=9 ?

Neck should have similar numbers.

Let us know.

 

[Sigmania]

And what is the serial number?

Wondering if it’s close to those others?

Edit: nvm, you have a maple fretboard.

 

[Fisch]

Thaks for the help! Alas I only got the body. No neckplate. The neck is a 4=4 stamp, but again, wasn't on it when I got the body. Just cool that if the B&W were 'Springy Sound' branded, this necks 4=4 was made close to 5=9 (At least I think that is what it means?) I have a L2 neckplate so that is what I put on it for now. Because I see that on the 'Super Edition' EVHs. Pot was no help because I don't think it is original, or I am not use to them looking like that! Here are the pics of the other two factory OWBB I've seen on here. Both posts mention they were specifically 'Springy Sound' labeled.

I am just trying to get it as close as possible to original. Though, I have the correct 6-point brass saddle trem seen on the Supers, but I may want to keep the Floyd, since the damage is already done, and after all, it is what Eddie would have done! lol!!

 

[Sigmania]

Ahhh. I missed that part. That you got the body only.

All the complete ones I’ve seen were Goldstars.

I found that one antique white body that was busted up.

The = sign tells us it’s pre 1985 supposedly, but that’s still Goldstar range.

Have you seen one with a Springy neck?

My understanding is these are 1984/85 era which is Goldstar.

I’ll check your links and see if you found a Springy version.

Edit: I see that one when I zoom in. Crazy.

 

[Sigmania]

Just to be honest, I would be suspicious of any Strat type guitar that’s anomalous. I would want to see the codes on those others. They could be Frankenstrats as well.

Only ones I could confirm had Goldstar headstocks.

 

[Fisch]

I know right! That does look like Springy on the headstock in those other photos! And that is what the poster said as well. But thus I would love to see better photos. I am pretty sure the Super edition EVH guitars are pretty well documented though right? Talk to me about the GoldStars though- because I just bought one of those too. Though I was doubting that one more than this one. I just have not seen another that looks like it, but I also have not seen a Goldstar EVH and it sounds like you have! Interestingly other than paint the body looks like the other Tokai EVH guitars. Same control panel. Same white humbucker with black ring. same output jack. Heck it even has the same octagon tuners as the Super Editions. Check out these photos. When it gets here I will check the stamps and stuff and look for evidence of old pots and any trace of a filled neck pickup. But is this the Goldstar you've seen? Have pics? Again my bet is this is not factory, but sure is interesting. Are there any other Goldstar rear rout guitars?

The ironic thing here is I've been looking for a EVH tokai for years, and potentially get two in a week. Too funny.

 

[Fisch]

Wouldn't it stand to reason the paint code OW=BB stands for 'olympic white over black' where as the bumble bee is BBYL because it is reversed and the black that is over the yellow? (And not yellow over black.)

 

[Sigmania]

Weird…. Six digit serial number. 1xxxxx.

There are some weird serial numbers in this period with AST56/62 and lefty ST55s.

Sorry, but that’s what stands out to me.

And yes, Goldstar. Super Editions are basically the same. Might have an HSS body. I guess they came along in 1984?

And when I said Goldstar I was really referring to the script logo period as opposed to the spaghetti logo.

 

[Fisch]

Adding to the discussion, my buddy Jon hooked me up with this scan, looks like there was a Silver Star (or at least a 70's headstock of some sort) EVH too. Some model numbers for you guys. SVH45-OW, SVH60-OR and SVH60-BB Interestingly teh Silver Star has no bullet trussrod, that makes it a SS-60 which is a copy of the 4-bolt CBS strat. Rare to find as a normal guitar let alone an VH. He's gonna try to get me a better scan and dates.

 

[Sigmania]

That’s nuts. And the SS60 is a rare guitar for sure. Crazy.

 

[Fisch]

That’s nuts. And the SS60 is a rare guitar for sure. Crazy.

I have a few ss-60's. Been pretty lucky. Got a better photo of that ad. Man check out the Blackmore factory scallop tokai's! Holy hell, never seen that and if I had I would have assumed they were a home job. So many innoscent guitars in Japan meet that fate... He believes it is an 82 magazine.

 

[Fisch]

Weird…. Six digit serial number. 1xxxxx.

There are some weird serial numbers in this period with AST56/62 and lefty ST55s.

Sorry, but that’s what stands out to me.

And yes, Goldstar. Super Editions are basically the same. Might have an HSS body. I guess they came along in 1984?

And when I said Goldstar I was really referring to the script logo period as opposed to the spaghetti logo.

So is the serial number weird for the guitar it is on? I see that the 11XXXX serials are suppose to be 64-65 copies. I have no idea how that applies to a potential VH, lol. His guitars were clearly 80's! Seems odd, but the Super Edition VH guitars have L+5 digits. Which is 1960? (Another magazine shot from my buddy.)

 

[Sigmania]

No. Totally different deal.

Don’t go by what the Registry says. It seems to create as much confusion as it remedies. Hoping to fix some of it in the not too distant future.

Glad you’re finding info on your guitar. Those were always fairly uncommon.

Interesting to see how many sounds a person can get out of one pickup.

Reminds me of a drummer I was watching on YouTube last night with a 3 pc kit.

I like the guitar picking at 12:24 too.

 

[Sigmania]

Check out this ad I got from Japan from 1982...

Mentions a Van Halen taped model ...



Super Edition Series First
Five Star Appearance

Five star 4 models now on sale

•TFS45 ¥45,000 (IP.U.) TFS50 ¥50,000 (2P.U.)
•TFS60 ¥60,000 (IP.U./with super arm)
•TES70 ¥70.000 (2P U/with suber arm)
•Colors: SW/MR/BM/OR/BB

* Super detachable neck system. Tokai's world-class detachable neck revolution. until now
Unlike the plate method, It Is jointed with 4 screws through a brass nut with a depth of 10m. Outstanding playability, strength, and
and boasts long sustain. (Patent/utility model pending) *22
*Fret neck & super arm. The long-awaited super arm is mounted on the TFS60 and 70. 8 extra-thick strong
want you to expand the new sound area with the rim and 22 fret neck.

*Original New Headstock. Finally. The first Tokal original headstock is here, electric guitar. A sharp and eccentric New Crocian head that symbolizes the new dimension of. Please look forward to the contemporary goods that will appear one alter another in 1982

INFORMATION

The Super Edition series is now on sale. Van Halen model, Tele Humbucker model, Ritchie Blackmore model.

Five Star model, no joke. no joke, no joke.........

*Van Halen model (taping finish) SVH45 ¥45,000/SVH60 ¥60,000 (with super arm)
*Ritchie Blackmore model (scalloped fingerboard) SRB60 ¥60,000 (with super arm)
*Tele Humbucker model THS60 ¥60.000 (with super arm) THS70 ¥70.000 (with super arm)

If you would like a super five catalog or topical excusives. enclose a 500 yen stamp and send it to:
Tokai Gakki. 36 Terawaki-cho. Hamamatsu-shi. 430. Manufacturina Co.. Ltd.

 

[Sigmania]

Note the May 15 release date in this ad. I beleive this is from 1982.

Loved Hero

Eight new friends and the world's hero, Tokai.
●Steve Goodman
●Mark Clark
●David Hansen
●Robbie Alter
●Brenda Ramani
●Rick Derringer
●Elliot Murphy
●Clive Stevens

Dramatic 4 new models released
★Van Halen model
★Five Star Model
★Ritchie Blackmore model
★Tele humbucker model

Nationwide release on May 15th (Sold from Tokai product dealers)
SUPER EDITION SERIES
●Five Star Model: TFS45/TFS50/TFS60/TFS70 (Super Detachable Neck/22F)
●Van Halen Model: SVH45/SVH60 (Taping Finish) TOKAI GAKKI CO. LTD. HAMAMATSU JAPAN
●Tele humbucker model: THS60/THS70 (with super tremolo arm)
●Ritchie Blackmore model: SR60 (scalloped fingerboard)