A
Anonymous
Guest
I am going to put my Springy Sound ST60 on sale on eBay in a few days, but I?m offering it to forum members in advance. It?s a 1980 (possibly 81?) model in 3-tone Sunburst with a rosewood cap board, & the original E pickups that are so sought after by many Tokai fans. This is one of the guitars featured in the July 2008 edition of Guitar & Bass magazine.
The real selling point of this guitar is the gorgeous grain of the two-piece (centre joined) Sen Ash body. Have a good look at the other Springys you see here on the forum ? the grain on this body is more figured and attractive than most ST80s and ST100s. Check out what Fender has to offer too ? it?s very rare to find highly figured ash even on the Custom Shop models.
It?s in great condition for a 28 year old guitar, but it?s not mint ? there are a few small knocks, and a scratch about 1cm long on the back of the body. There is also a small ding on the back of the neck that is just a bit bigger than the dot position markers. Detailed pics are here:
http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x153/stratman323/Tokai%20ST60%20Springy%20Sound%20Sunburst%201980/
I would imagine that is enough for anyone, but if anybody wants any other pics, let me know.
The neck is straight & true, and everything works just as it should do. I had a professional fret dress and set-up done a few months ago, and it?s currently set up with 10-52 gauge strings. The action is medium to low on the top strings, and medium to high on the bottom strings, which is the way I like Strats to be. The action could easily be lowered on the bottom strings for a more traditional action. The top strings will bend easily without choking, which isn?t always the case with vintage radius Strats.
The sound acoustically is loud and resonant ? the best test of any Strat or Tele. The E pickups and thin cap rosewood board mean that this guitar sounds closer to a typical 50s maple neck Strat than a 60s model ? bright and ringing. It sounds great, it plays great, and it looks great.
As far as I can tell, all the pots and other electronics are original. I have replaced the standard .047 capacitor with an Orange Drop .022 cap, and the middle knob is now a master tone for all three pickups ? the best way to wire a Strat in my opinion (well the pickup most in need of a tone control is the bridge pickup, isn?t it?). I will include the original cap with the sale, or even replace it and put the tone control wiring back to original condition if the buyer prefers this.
I will sell it to a forum member for ?650, including the Hiscox hard case shown in the pics. This assumes that payment is made without using Paypal ? either direct bank transfer, or cash on collection. If anyone wishes to try it first, and can get to North London, drop me a line to arrange something. I am sometimes in Brighton too, so I could take it down there with me if that is more convenient. If anyone is unsure of my integrity as a seller, please check my eBay account (same user name) where my feedback score is 100% after 333 transactions.
I know this isn?t the cheapest ST60 ever to be sold, but I will be making a loss selling it at ?650, so it doesn?t make sense for me to let it go for less. It cost me nearly ?750 in total, without a case, so I?m sure you can see why I won?t sell it for less. Compare the quality of the body wood to other Springys on sale ? this one is special. If I can?t get a decent price for it now, I?ll just hang onto it.
Postage will be at cost price ? for quotes outside the UK, let me know where you are, and I?ll get a price.
Mike
The real selling point of this guitar is the gorgeous grain of the two-piece (centre joined) Sen Ash body. Have a good look at the other Springys you see here on the forum ? the grain on this body is more figured and attractive than most ST80s and ST100s. Check out what Fender has to offer too ? it?s very rare to find highly figured ash even on the Custom Shop models.
It?s in great condition for a 28 year old guitar, but it?s not mint ? there are a few small knocks, and a scratch about 1cm long on the back of the body. There is also a small ding on the back of the neck that is just a bit bigger than the dot position markers. Detailed pics are here:
http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x153/stratman323/Tokai%20ST60%20Springy%20Sound%20Sunburst%201980/
I would imagine that is enough for anyone, but if anybody wants any other pics, let me know.
The neck is straight & true, and everything works just as it should do. I had a professional fret dress and set-up done a few months ago, and it?s currently set up with 10-52 gauge strings. The action is medium to low on the top strings, and medium to high on the bottom strings, which is the way I like Strats to be. The action could easily be lowered on the bottom strings for a more traditional action. The top strings will bend easily without choking, which isn?t always the case with vintage radius Strats.
The sound acoustically is loud and resonant ? the best test of any Strat or Tele. The E pickups and thin cap rosewood board mean that this guitar sounds closer to a typical 50s maple neck Strat than a 60s model ? bright and ringing. It sounds great, it plays great, and it looks great.
As far as I can tell, all the pots and other electronics are original. I have replaced the standard .047 capacitor with an Orange Drop .022 cap, and the middle knob is now a master tone for all three pickups ? the best way to wire a Strat in my opinion (well the pickup most in need of a tone control is the bridge pickup, isn?t it?). I will include the original cap with the sale, or even replace it and put the tone control wiring back to original condition if the buyer prefers this.
I will sell it to a forum member for ?650, including the Hiscox hard case shown in the pics. This assumes that payment is made without using Paypal ? either direct bank transfer, or cash on collection. If anyone wishes to try it first, and can get to North London, drop me a line to arrange something. I am sometimes in Brighton too, so I could take it down there with me if that is more convenient. If anyone is unsure of my integrity as a seller, please check my eBay account (same user name) where my feedback score is 100% after 333 transactions.
I know this isn?t the cheapest ST60 ever to be sold, but I will be making a loss selling it at ?650, so it doesn?t make sense for me to let it go for less. It cost me nearly ?750 in total, without a case, so I?m sure you can see why I won?t sell it for less. Compare the quality of the body wood to other Springys on sale ? this one is special. If I can?t get a decent price for it now, I?ll just hang onto it.
Postage will be at cost price ? for quotes outside the UK, let me know where you are, and I?ll get a price.
Mike