Help Identifying a Love Rock (1977 Vintage) Model

[klaide92]

Hi guys,

Anyone could help me identifying this one?

A friend of mine from Japan is selling this Love Rock guitar to me .. about 1 to 2 years used by him.

He said it's an LS-148 model (SN: 9503084), 1977 vintage, made from Japan, and made by Fujigen (really confused about this). He do mentioned that he did some upgrades/mods for the tuners, inlays, pickups (tesla) - as you can also see from the pics. So i think the untouched one or most original at least from the reference pics are the the ones with the pickguard.

But somehow, as i do my research, I really can't find sufficient and accurate info on this guitar. I tried googling "LS-148" and can't find it anywhere even on eBay. So until I tried looking at TokaiRegistry site and saw that the model number or serial no. of this guitar (see last pic) doesn't match with the 1977 LS models on the site. :O

Based from here:
http://www.tokairegistry.com/tokai-info/tokai-gibson.html
http://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/v1807.jpg

So now i'm really confused. If it is a 1977 model, then the serial must start with a "700" right? The serial no of this guitar starts with a "95". So does it mean that this one's a 1995 model? an LS-50 or LS-65? or maybe a fake? Well, i'd still get this even if it's not a vintage. As long as I can confirm that it's a good quality MIJ guitar and worth the buck.


Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in Advance!

 

[Sigmania]

Hi, I'm no expert, but it's not a 77. There weren't any AFAIK

Looks like a 1995 to me.

Looks alot like this guitar that I just bought btw.

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=21440&highlight=

 

[brokentoes]

Yep, it's a 1995 model, which model though i am not sure, if you can see how many pieces the back mahogany is made of, that is a good clue to higher or lower models. Tokai guitars were never made by Fujigen, as far as i know.

 

[klaide92]

Oh .. i see. Then my speculations are right. **** that liar brat. :x hmph. But can we just tell if this an MIJ model guitar or not instead? And about the back mahogany pieces, if i can have a clear picture of the back of the guitar, do you think it would help?

Thanks for your replies Sigmania and brokentoes

 

[brokentoes]

Its Made in Japan for sure. one piece back means higher model number, multi piece back means lower model. Sometimes it's very hard to see the seam so look closely.... tokai match the seams up very well. The flame on the top is most likely veneer. Even if its a lower model, it is most likely a great guitar. Don't know how much the little things matter to you. Obviously lower model; means lower price tho.

 

[klaide92]

Ah .. orayt. Thanks. Yeah, it's for the price. Im just concerned if it will be worth what i'll pay for this model. I really don't care if it's vintage, hehe. I live in the Philippines, he's selling this to me for just 20,000 PHP (equivalent to $455 USD). It includes a hard case and free shipping. Do you think it's a pretty good deal?

 

[brokentoes]

For me, with a hard case, $455 for a MIJ Tokai is a real nice price. Unless it needs a complete refret or something major.

 

[klaide92]

Hahaha .. Ok. Well i guess you're right. Thanks dude.

 

[Reborn Old]

As you suspected, it's one of those two :
1995 LS-65 has a veneer flame top with a set neck, 2 piece back, no fret edge binding
1995 LS-50 has a veneer flame top with a bolt on neck, 2 piece back, no fret edge binding
Either way, it's definitely MIJ, and not Korea.

Other 1995 LS models are premium solid top models with one piece backs and fret edge binding,
and ALS Korean models with no serial #'s, neither of which match this one.

Good luck !

 

[Peter Mac]

Hi guys,

I notice he's only sent photos of the top from different angles.
I agree about the '95 build also and the impressed serial number means a Japan build. Korean models at the time tend to be inked and have cream coloured back covers - not the dark brown the Japanese ones do.
Ask for a shot of the back.

regards
Peter

 

[klaide92]

Hi guys!

Thanks again for your responses.

Anyway, Peter .. unfortunately, here'e only what i got for the back pic. :/

Hope it's enough ..

 

[Peter Mac]

Hi Klaide92,

I was hoping th covers would be on. The wiring is a different colour to the older LoveRocks but that's not to say it isn't original. I've never owned a guitar built after 1988 . . .and I've owned a lot of guitars over 36 years.
The jack socket is cream, which would indicate cream covers as when I look at my Tokai LP's they have matching dark covers and jackplate.
A headstock shot of the front would help as Korean have 3 screw TRC and Japan has 2 screw.

Peter Mac

 

[marcusnieman]

The fourth photo from the top shows a 2 screw TRC but it's not a correct Tokai TRC - Japan or otherwise.

 

[klaide92]

Uhm, what do you mean by "not a correct Tokai TRC - Japan"?

 

[marcusnieman]

Uhm, what do you mean by "not a correct Tokai TRC - Japan"?

The shape doesn't look right for the vintage bell shape MIJ two screw TRC's (first link below) but the photo isn't clear enough to see it. And it's not the later and current arrow shaped MIJ TRC (second link below)


http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/256/lc003.jpg/

http://www.rockemmusic.com/files/product-images/tokai%20head%20stock.jpg



Obviously not the correct one screw Tokai Korea TRC either (which was my "otherwise" reference). Any word on the color of the body cavity covers? If cream, it'll be Korean made.

 

[klaide92]

.. i see. I'll try to get some pic or info about the cover.

Anyway, here's another pic for the TRC ..

 

[marcusnieman]

The shape looks fine now that I can see it.... it' doesn't have the wider white edge on it that the vintage TRC version does as shown in the link I sent. What it also shows is that it is not a 3 hole TRC guitar - the other two holes would be visible on the bottom along the nut.

 

[klaide92]

Which means? The guitar's most likely MIJ? Oh and btw, he said the cover is black and not cream.. although he has no pics yet to show me, haha