Cat's Eyes Made In Korea

[Sigmania]

Just documenting these.

 

[Sigmania]

SN 007262

Tokai "Cat's Eyes" CE-30T-N - July 2000 - Free Ship

 

[Cellarstrat82]

Hi, this guitar looks like mahogany back and sides not rosewood like my guitar ...but interesting find none the less....

 

[Sigmania]

Yep. And I am not seeing a scarf joint on your CE70T, so still quite possibly made in Japan.

Tokai CE70T

 

[themaninblack]

Here is one for you Sigmania, I gave up researching this guitar just after i got it I just appreciate it for a good guitar.I have a few ideas on year and specs but give us your thoughts. Sorry for all the pics took em ages ago but thought small details help

 

[Sigmania]

Beautiful guitar!

I noticed the scarf joint. I don’t know of any MIJ Tokais that had scarf joints.

And if it’s not made in Japan, note that Korea and later China tended to use serial numbers that indicated year of mfr. while Tokai Japan had not since February 1982 and would not agian until 2009, at least on their electric guitars.

So if that serial number (029239) is indicating a 2002 mfr date, then that is the period of Korean mfr. for Tokai.

I know that’s a lot of "if’s", but try looking for catalogs from that period for a CE37T if you can find them.

There was a CE35T in the 2000 catalog.

Looks like the “T” indicates an 000 or OM body shape?

BS is obviously brown sunburst.

They aren’t exactly the same though. 2000 catalog says the CE35 had snowflake markers. Yours are dot.

Also says walnut back & sides which it looks like yours could be?

Guessing price went up and they tried to cut some costs with the dot markers and probably other things thus the change in model name.

Unfortunately, I don't have access to a 2001 or 2002 catalog if one exists.

2003/04 (Vol. 22) catalog shows more expensive MIJ models (150,000 - 500,000 yen) and am wondering if this was part of the transition away from Korea and ultimately to China?

 

[Sigmania]

CE35T
Y 35,000
TOP / Spruce
SIDE & BACK / Walnut
NECK / Mahogany U Shape
FINGERBOARD / Rosewood
BRIDGE / Rosewood
MACHINE HEADS / FG2-DG
HEAD STOCK INLAY / Flower Pot
POSITION MARKS / Snowflake
PICKGUARD / Black or Tortoise Shell Pattern
FINISH / Polyester Top Gloss, Side & Back Matte
COLOR / N, BS, BLS, BKS

2000 catalog

 

[Sigmania]

Here's one getting a bridge repair in Japan.

TOKAI Cat’s EYE CE37T-N - ブリッジ剝がれ


Google translation:

TOKAI Cat's EYE CE37T-N bridge removal

Acoustic guitar cat's eye series from Tokai.

It is a high quality acoustic guitar called domestic Martin.

This repair request is one of the most common acoustic guitar repair requests in Okinawa.

A case where the bridge has completely peeled off. The adhesive is peeling off cleanly.

Remove the adhesive on the ground surface of the body and the bottom of the bridge to flatten it. vinegar.

Positioning with adhesive while keeping it from slipping with a fixing pin.

Wipe off the excess adhesive and fix it with a special clamp.

I fixed it for a few days and it was completely fixed.

Tighten the string and check the condition.

There is a slight bulge at the bottom of the body, but after adjusting the neck, the string height has become moderate.

It's a perfect fit.

Acoustic guitars in Okinawa are managed differently depending on the conditions of each living environment.

Be sure to measure the humidity that will be the "reference value".

Based on that humidity, if it is put in a case, will the humidity inside the case go down?

Proper storage is not possible without measuring how much the humidity difference changes throughout the year.

Humidity can be measured with just one hygrometer.

First of all, from knowing the current humidity!!

 

[Sigmania]

That's a lot of guitar for less than $300 !

 

[Sigmania]

And then sometime after 2005 presumably production of many Cat's Eyes shifted to China.

And I had heard that Cat's Eyes are no longer made in Hamamatsu, but that is unconfirmed.

Cat's Eyes Made In China