Flametop Reborn

[Sigmania]

This one is confusing me....

First off, look at that top on what the seller is saying is an LS60. If it is a 60 I would think it has to be a veneer. There are other early veneers. currypowder had one on an early LS80 as I recall.

Second, the serial number. Hard to see but looks like 9000164. That is a very low number count for 1979 and seems like it makes more sense if it is a 1978 serial, but sure looks like a 9.

Odd.

TOKAI LS-60 REBORN 1979 electric guitar | eBay

 

[guitar hiro]

looks like a solid top to my eyes based on what veneer tops typically look like; my money is on solid ......

 

[frehley76]

I have a LS60 solid flame top but it is a 1981. It is hard to make the fretboard stamp out.

 

[guitar hiro]

I have a LS60 solid flame top but it is a 1981.

There are subtle similarities between your (my former) LS-60 and the LS-60 in the OP but opposed.

The LS-60 in the OP has a top which is flat sawn at the center seam on the bass side top half, nearly perfectly flat sawn at the bass side stop tail stud and the treble side top half is quarter sawn at the center seam.

Your LS-60 is just the opposite as the bass side top piece is quarter sawn at the center seam and the treble side top half is flat sawn at the four knob area and transitions to rift sawn at the center seam.

The top in the OP exhibits attributes of a solid top and basically no attributes of a typical veneer top.
The maple top is quite attractive; too bad they chose the CRS for the top color.

 

[Freebird]

Looks like a solid top to me also. Agree, cherry finish is a waste on that top.

 

[Sigmania]

I have been fooled before with veneers looking like solid tops, so I would reserve judgement on that one.

The bigger question is how that top would have ended up on an LS60? I see the mineral streaking but I have a solid flametop 1982 LS80 with mineral streaking.

And of course I’m aware of guitar hiros LS60.

I would like to see a picture of the end of the fretboard with the stamp. So frustrating all these listings that obscure or omit critical pictures.

 

[chuckyz2]

Looks like it could be a one piece back.

 

[Sigmania]

chuckyz got me to look at the back for a seam and what I see is a big "defect" that I don't normally see in mahogany. Maybe this is part of why it may be an LS60?

 

[guitar hiro]

Looks like it could be a one piece back.

The @frehley76 LS-60 looks like a 1 piece back.
You have to look at the end of the hog body to confirm a join.
Looking at the hog back on this example it was pretty much impossible to locate a seam because (1) both halves were nearly perfectly quarter sawn (2) the grain in both body halves were basically joined parallel at the point of join contact the entire length of the join (3) there was no typical visual join 'dimple' which in my experience is quite uncommon.


the below are not great photos but these are all I have

in this YJ seller photo a ~40 year old 1981 LS-60 body back in near new condition





again, not a great photo but inspecting this hog back in person it was basically impossible to be certain there was a seam; very unusual




but then, who cares about the girl's rear end? Here's the real attraction

 

[Sigmania]

I have to wonder if that body is maple...