AST-56 Gallery

[Sigmania]

Collecting examples of these.

These seem to have been made primarily in 1985/1986, but extend into 1987 at least.

AST56
• Solid 2 pcs. contoured alder body
• One pce hard rock maple neck
• Vintage style 4 bolt neck
• 25.5" scale length
•"V" shape neck contour
• Vintage style tuning machines
• 3 single coil C.A.R. (California Accurate Reproduction) pickups
• 5 way selector, vol. 2 tone
• Vintage style single layer pickguard
• Variable tension 2 pcs vintage vibrato. Chrome plated
• Finishes: BB, BL, CR, FO, GM, GS, LB, MR, OF, OR, OW, SW, YSO
• Available left handed same finishes
• Tweed case



“V” marked pickups = C.A.R. (California Accurate Reproduction) pickups.

Serial numbers:

4 digit:
0800
1214
2607
2657
2678
3091
3121 (lefty)
3173
3825

6 digit:
222938 (lefty)


1985/86 catalog.

 

[Sigmania]

希少 Tokai ストラトキャスター ヴィンテージシリーズ AST-'56

This has to be rare. A lefty AST-56!

Six digit serial number similar to others that begin with 2xxxxx and date to early 1987.

SN 222938

 

[Sigmania]

Bird's Eye Neck and a Fender Shape!!

Tokai AST-56 1985-86 Blonde | Reverb

 

[Sigmania]

SN 0800 TST-62
SN 2045 AST-56

A couple of the most expensive Tokais ever?

This is an auction for one of the guitars given to him in 1985.

https://bid.gwsauctions.com/auction/60/item/stevie-ray-vaughans-stage-used-tokai-ast-56-guitar-9945/


(*Note the error where the auction listing says 1993. I assume that is supposed to be 1983?)

Stevie Ray Vaughan's Stage Played 1985 Tokai AST-56 Electric Guitar Featured on Catalog & Poster W/Extensive Documentation -

This 1985 Tokai AST-56 electric guitar was an endorsement guitar played on stage and pictured on print advertisement by iconic blues musician Stevie Ray Vaughan. Stevie Ray Vaughan had a relationship with International Music Corporation, the U.S distributor of Tokai Musical instruments made in Japan, since 1993 when they sold him two demo guitars for less than dealers cost.

Stevie Ray and Tommy Shannon were approached in 1985 by Tony Dukes, who was a friend of Stevie Ray's and worked for IMC, to see if they would be interested in an endorsement deal.

After the deal was made they gave the musicians 5 guitars and 2 basses over the next few months, including this AST-56, which was played by Stevie Ray on stage in Worcester, Massachusetts on March, 24th 1985. Stevie Ray Vaughan was also featured with this guitar in a photoshoot for the Tokai 1985 catalog with the artist on the cover and a large poster with multiple images including Stevie Ray and Tommy Shannon.

This guitar comes with a notarized letter of authenticity from Tony Dukes, who set up the endorsement deal, a copy of the endorsement contract, and a letter of authenticity from the collector who acquired it from Dukes. Serial No. 2045.

Stevie Ray Vaughan is considered to be one of the most iconic and influential musicians in the history of blues music, and one of the greatest guitarists of all time. After quickly becoming one of the leading figures in the blues revival of the 1980s, Vaughan and four others were tragically killed in a helicopter crash in 1990. Vaughan's music continued to achieve commercial success with several posthumous releases and has sold over 15 million albums in the United States alone.

PLEASE NOTE, PRE-AUCTION SALES: GWS reserves the right to sell any Lot(s) through a negotiated transaction at any time prior to the conclusion of the auction. If a Lot is sold through a negotiated transaction, it will be withdrawn from the auction. Please email [email protected] to submit a pre-auction offer.

 

[Sigmania]

https://bid.gwsauctions.com/auction/60/item/stevie-ray-vaughans-stage-used-tokai-ast-56-guitar-9945/

Sold for $12,000?

The trans red sunburst sold for $20,315. Maybe the most expensive Tokai ever actually sold?

 

[Sigmania]

https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-4417853/?intObjectID=4417853

Sold for $20,315

SN 0800

STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN OWNED AND USED TOKAI GUITAR 1980s

A Tokai Stratocaster-style guitar, Serial No. 0800, natural cherry to black sunburst finish, double cutaway body, 21 fret fingerboard, with three standard Stratocaster-style single coil pickups, selector switch, three rotary controls and black pickguard, owned and used by Stevie Ray Vaughan on stage and in the studio. Vaughan also used this guitar in a Tokai promotional poster in which he can be clearly seen holding the instrument, a copy of which is also included. Also present is a letter of authenticity and an original hardshell case.

 

[Sigmania]

SN 2607

 

[Sigmania]

SN 3825

Tokai AST-'56 - 1984 Made in Japan ! MINT CONDITION! | Reverb

 

[Sigmania]

SN 2657

Tokai AST-56 Mid 80's Beautiful Fiesta Red with Flamey V-shaped Maple Neck | Reverb

Some mods. Guitar was routed to accommodate a single humbucker in the bridge position.

Ceramics pickups are surely not original.

Pots date to 1990. May not be original.

dot symbol in body is something I have seen in 90s Goldstars...

 

[Sigmania]

https://www.digimart.net/cat1/shop5190/DS07987428/

 

[Sigmania]

SN 3091

Tokai AST-'56 1986 Lake Placid Blue | Reverb

 

[Sigmania]

SN 3173

Used Tokai AST-56 Vintage Series Electric Guitar Sunburst

 

[Sigmania]

...

 

[settebello]

AST-56 OF Orange Finish Transcluent SNr.2678 Year '84 or '85

 

[Sigmania]

Very cool. And based on the 1985/86 catalog it looks like that color was not offered in the rosewood version, AST62.

And super cool that you found that TST-56 version of OF as well.

1986 Tokai TST-56 Strat Trans Orange > Guitars Electric Solid Body | Thunder Road Guitars

 

[Sigmania]

SN 2607

Tokai AST-56 Stratocaster MIJ 1985 Arctic White MINTY Collector Grade! | Reverb

 

[Sigmania]

SN 1985

V marker

Mixed codes. (- body code & = neck code)

Have seen this in 1987 guitars in the opposite direction. = on body and - on neck.

Mixed Symbols = & -

Pots are from March 1985 (53) and 1986 (62).

Production codes say it was assembled in April.

AST 56 - Looking for info

 

[Sigmania]

AST-56 OF Orange Finish Transcluent SNr.2678 Year '84 or '85
View attachment 1734View attachment 1735View attachment 1736View attachment 1958

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Your pots are dated May 1985. Neck and body codes are August. Looks like probably made August 1985

 

[Sigmania]

Tokai AST-56 レフティ ネック ストラト用 - ヤフオク!

 

[Sigmania]

SN 222584

Pot dates March 1987

Surprised to see VII pickups in this one and not V.

Odd mix YSOR color with a maple neck. Possibly swapped neck?

Tokai VINTAGE SERIES AST-'56 EXPORT MODEL | eBay