I am going to try to piece together the puzzle that is the Cat's Eyes serial numbers.
There seem to be different numbering systems over time as with other Tokais.
This will take some time. Please share what you have noticed along the way.
Classicals & Slotheads 1960s - early 1970s
1960s and Early 1970s Tokai Classical Gallery
Song Lai Classic Guitars
Franciscan Label Tokai Classical Guitars
Domino By Tokai
Slothead - Tokai "Steel Guiltar" (Redhead)
Slothead - Tokai "Gut Guitar"
Slothead - Tokai "Carefully Finished"
All Caps TOKAI Logo Classical Guitars
7 Logo Paper Labels
Early 7, Export, or Transition Logo Gallery
1969-1972 Early Zero Fret Hummingbird Guitars
Zero Fret TG Metal Truss Rod Cover Humming Bird Folk Guitar Gallery
Zero Fret Script Logo Hummingbird Folk Guitars
Zero Fret All Caps Tokai Triangular Truss Rod Cover Hummingbird Folk Guitars
Zero Fret Artist Ltd. Label Acoustics
Script Logo
Early Script Logo Acoustics
Early Script Logo Acoustics "Guitar of Quality" Imported By G.M.C. Cleveland Ohio
Early Script Logo Acoustics "Guitar of Quality" No Serial Numbers
Early Script Logo Korean Tokais In The 1970s
1972 Martin Japan formed
"CF Martin Japan", The Partnership of Tokai and CF Martin Co.
1972 Humming Guitars
"Humming" Guitars
1972 ? Humming Bird
"Humming Bird" Intermediate Logo
1973- "HummingBird Custom" Labeled Guitars
"Hummingbird Custom" Labeled Guitars
1973-1974 E Series Acoustics
"E Series" Acoustics 1973-1974
1974 "Tokai Gakki" Logo Acoustics
"Tokai Gakki" Martin Style Logo "Folk" Guitars 1974
"Tokai Gakki" Martin Style Logo "Classic" Guitars
1974 Hummingbird Snowflake Inlay Headstock Models
Hummingbird Snowflake Inlay Headstock
1975 Cat's Eyes Line Begins
Origin of the Cat’s Eyes Name
1970s - 1975 Tokai Cat's Eyes Catalog Hi Res Scans
1974-1975 Yamauchi Signed Guitars
R. Yamauchi Signed Label Cat's Eyes & Classicals
1975- Terashima and Terawaki Cat's Eyes Factories
Terashima and Terawaki Cat's Eyes Production
Cat's Eyes Models Table
1975 1976 Upper Case Cat's Eyes
1975 1976 Upper Case Cat's Eyes
1975- Model based Cat's Eyes serial numbers. Production models with scarf joints (Terawaki)
Cat’s Eyes Model Based Serial Numbers (Terawaki Factory) Production Guitars, Scarf Joints
Cat's Eyes "Inspected By" Label - Terawaki Factory
1975- 1981? Date Based - Serial number ending in year made. (Terashima)
Cat’s Eyes Serial Numbers Ending in Year Made 1975-1981 (Terashima Factory)
1977 Hay Wagin Guitars By Tokai
1977 Hay Wagon Catalog by Tokai
1981 Serial numbers beginning with 10xxxx
1981 Cat's Eyes Serial Numbers 10xxxx
1981 Serial number beginning with 130xxxx ?
1981 CE280D and CE320 D The Mysterious Cat's Eyes
1982- ? Date based - Serial number beginning with year made
"Tokai Acoustic Guitar Since 1947" Headstock
Date Based Cat's Eyes Serial Numbers 1980s
Date Based Serial Numbers Tokai Branded Acoustics 1980s
1990s Date based - Serial number beginning with year made
Date Based Cat's Eyes & Tokai Acoustic Serial Numbers 1990s
2000s Date Based - Serial number beginning with year made
Cat's Eyes 2000s Japanese Builds
Cat's Eyes Made In China
Cat's Eyes CE-118 Made In China
Cat's Eyes CE-150J Made In China
Cat's Eyes CE-185T Made In China
Cat's Eyes CE-190J Made In China
Cat's Eyes CE-190 Made In China
Humming Bird Custom Made In Korea ?
Humming Bird Custom Guitars Made In China 2005-2007
Humming Bird Custom HBD80 & HBT80 Made In China
Humming Bird Custom CJC Made In China
Open Book Tokai Acoustics Made In Korea
Open Book Tokai Acoustics Made In China
Tokai Tokai Acoustics 2017 Tokai Acoustics UK Price List
Higher End Chinese Built Tokai Acoustics
Cat's Eyes Line Over Time
What Cat's Eyes Were Made In Japan?
Cat's Eyes Cases, Straps & Case Candy
Cat's Eyes Guitar Cases
Cat's Eyes Hang Tags & Case Candy
Tokai & Cat's Eyes Guitar Straps
Cat's Eyes Ads & Catalogs
1970s - 1975 Cat's Eyes Ad
1970s - 1975 Tokai Cat's Eyes Catalog Hi Res Scans
1970s - 1979 Cat's Eyes Catalog Hi Res Scans & Translations
1980s - 1980 Cat's Eyes Acoustic Catalog Vol. 3
There seem to be different numbering systems over time as with other Tokais.
This will take some time. Please share what you have noticed along the way.
Classicals & Slotheads 1960s - early 1970s
1960s and Early 1970s Tokai Classical Gallery
Song Lai Classic Guitars
Franciscan Label Tokai Classical Guitars
Domino By Tokai
Slothead - Tokai "Steel Guiltar" (Redhead)
Slothead - Tokai "Gut Guitar"
Slothead - Tokai "Carefully Finished"
All Caps TOKAI Logo Classical Guitars
7 Logo Paper Labels
Early 7, Export, or Transition Logo Gallery
1969-1972 Early Zero Fret Hummingbird Guitars
Zero Fret TG Metal Truss Rod Cover Humming Bird Folk Guitar Gallery
Zero Fret Script Logo Hummingbird Folk Guitars
Zero Fret All Caps Tokai Triangular Truss Rod Cover Hummingbird Folk Guitars
Zero Fret Artist Ltd. Label Acoustics
Script Logo
Early Script Logo Acoustics
Early Script Logo Acoustics "Guitar of Quality" Imported By G.M.C. Cleveland Ohio
Early Script Logo Acoustics "Guitar of Quality" No Serial Numbers
Early Script Logo Korean Tokais In The 1970s
1972 Martin Japan formed
"CF Martin Japan", The Partnership of Tokai and CF Martin Co.
1972 Humming Guitars
"Humming" Guitars
1972 ? Humming Bird
"Humming Bird" Intermediate Logo
1973- "HummingBird Custom" Labeled Guitars
"Hummingbird Custom" Labeled Guitars
1973-1974 E Series Acoustics
"E Series" Acoustics 1973-1974
1974 "Tokai Gakki" Logo Acoustics
"Tokai Gakki" Martin Style Logo "Folk" Guitars 1974
"Tokai Gakki" Martin Style Logo "Classic" Guitars
1974 Hummingbird Snowflake Inlay Headstock Models
Hummingbird Snowflake Inlay Headstock
1975 Cat's Eyes Line Begins
Origin of the Cat’s Eyes Name
1970s - 1975 Tokai Cat's Eyes Catalog Hi Res Scans
1974-1975 Yamauchi Signed Guitars
R. Yamauchi Signed Label Cat's Eyes & Classicals
1975- Terashima and Terawaki Cat's Eyes Factories
Terashima and Terawaki Cat's Eyes Production
Cat's Eyes Models Table
1975 1976 Upper Case Cat's Eyes
1975 1976 Upper Case Cat's Eyes
1975- Model based Cat's Eyes serial numbers. Production models with scarf joints (Terawaki)
Cat’s Eyes Model Based Serial Numbers (Terawaki Factory) Production Guitars, Scarf Joints
Cat's Eyes "Inspected By" Label - Terawaki Factory
1975- 1981? Date Based - Serial number ending in year made. (Terashima)
Cat’s Eyes Serial Numbers Ending in Year Made 1975-1981 (Terashima Factory)
1977 Hay Wagin Guitars By Tokai
1977 Hay Wagon Catalog by Tokai
1981 Serial numbers beginning with 10xxxx
1981 Cat's Eyes Serial Numbers 10xxxx
1981 Serial number beginning with 130xxxx ?
1981 CE280D and CE320 D The Mysterious Cat's Eyes
1982- ? Date based - Serial number beginning with year made
"Tokai Acoustic Guitar Since 1947" Headstock
Date Based Cat's Eyes Serial Numbers 1980s
Date Based Serial Numbers Tokai Branded Acoustics 1980s
1990s Date based - Serial number beginning with year made
Date Based Cat's Eyes & Tokai Acoustic Serial Numbers 1990s
2000s Date Based - Serial number beginning with year made
Cat's Eyes 2000s Japanese Builds
Cat's Eyes Made In China
Cat's Eyes CE-118 Made In China
Cat's Eyes CE-150J Made In China
Cat's Eyes CE-185T Made In China
Cat's Eyes CE-190J Made In China
Cat's Eyes CE-190 Made In China
Humming Bird Custom Made In Korea ?
Humming Bird Custom Guitars Made In China 2005-2007
Humming Bird Custom HBD80 & HBT80 Made In China
Humming Bird Custom CJC Made In China
Open Book Tokai Acoustics Made In Korea
Open Book Tokai Acoustics Made In China
Tokai Tokai Acoustics 2017 Tokai Acoustics UK Price List
Higher End Chinese Built Tokai Acoustics
Cat's Eyes Line Over Time
What Cat's Eyes Were Made In Japan?
Cat's Eyes Cases, Straps & Case Candy
Cat's Eyes Guitar Cases
Cat's Eyes Hang Tags & Case Candy
Tokai & Cat's Eyes Guitar Straps
Cat's Eyes Ads & Catalogs
1970s - 1975 Cat's Eyes Ad
1970s - 1975 Tokai Cat's Eyes Catalog Hi Res Scans
1970s - 1979 Cat's Eyes Catalog Hi Res Scans & Translations
1980s - 1980 Cat's Eyes Acoustic Catalog Vol. 3
Last edited:
