Help to indentifu tele model

[19chrissheppard86]

Hi all,

I am wondering if anyone can help identifying what model tele my dad has. He has kindly said I can trade the guitar in against a Gibson Les Paul . I know that it is obviously a Breezeysound, but there are no serial or ID numbers visible. I have also scoured about for info and cannot find another that is the same colour as this one. It seems to be a different burst. Is there anywhere they specifically put the serial numbers? Base/back of neck or under the scratch plate for example? Thought I would ask before starting to undo bits and bobs on it.

I have sent a picture into my local guitar shop who have valued it to sell at around £230 as they have presumed with there been no visual serial numbers it would be Chinese made. I kbviously want to be sure as I know he paid around £600 for it. That was probably 8 to 10 year ago I think.

Thanks in advance

Chris.

 

[Sigmania]

Hey there.

The thing about bolt neck guitars is that parts can be changed and swapped out.

Your neck looks like a Tokai AST (Edit: ATE) neck from a distance, but that body is probably not a Tokai body.

Would help to have more pics. Can't tell much from that one. Pics under the pickguard and neck pocket would help immensely.

 

[19chrissheppard86]

Hi,

Thanks for your quick response.

So you think the neck is from a Tokai strat?

He's just gone on holiday until Friday so I won't be able to get any more pics until the weekend. That's why I only have the one at the minute as I asked him to send me one before he went.

I'll deffo do some investigating and get more pics on here as soon as I can.

It would explain why I can't find another one that is like it if it is the case of a DIY guitar.

Much appreciated.

Chris.

 

[Sigmania]

Sorry. I meant ATE.

 

[Sigmania]

(EDITED, this guitar actually has a “MADE IN JAPAN” stamp, see below)

So at present I am leaning towards partscaster.

Also, there have been lots of counterfeit Tokais made over the past 20 years or so. Could be one of those as well. Many were made without authorization and were sold through otherwise legitimate dealers. Those dealers then got in a lot of hot water as you can imagine.

Post pics when you can.

 

[19chrissheppard86]

Brilliant, thank you.

This is good to know ( or not, depending)

Gives me some good grounds to go anyway and a pretty good idea of what it actually could be.

Fingers crossed its not counterfeit.

I have to say, if it is a counterfeit it has been made really well as it's a lovely guitar to play.

I have a squier classic vibe 60s telecaster and it's much nicer to play than that.

He put a lace pick up in the bridge which enhanced its sound a lot too.

Again, thanks for your help and I shall update when I have more info/pics.

 

[19chrissheppard86]

Just come a across this while looking for more info.

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/116739/help-identifying-a-tokai
My dad's is the same colour as this one. It looks darker in the pic I sent but it is the same as the one in the link. My dad's has the original white pick guard, this one states it was changed to black by the previous owner.

I'm still none the wiser though until I can get into the guitar.

 

[Sigmania]

Interesting... That code written on the neck is similar to MIJ no serial Tokais made in the period of mystery when they apparently were making guitars for Fender.

All of the MIJ ones I have found had a "Made In Japan" stamp of some kind.

All Caps "MADE IN JAPAN" No Serial Guitars

Upper And Lower Case "Made In Japan" No Serial Guitars

And I must be tired, got up at 4 am, because I said all MIJ Tokais have serial numbers. That is definitley not true. None of the Fender clones have serial numbers between roughly 1992 and 2009.

By around 2003 the have all caps "MADE IN JAPAN" stamps. Later upper and lower case. Serial numbers return by the end of 2009.

So your guitar may be another piece of a very confusing puzzle.

When you can, please take pics under the pickguard and preferably remove the neck and take pics in the neck pocket and end of the neck.

 

[Sigmania]

Really looking forward to seeing what you find under the hood and on the neck.

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

Those usually have the black stamped, uncoded pots, right?

 

[Sigmania]

If it is after 1992 and before 2009 or so then yes.

Will be interesting to see what is under the hood.

 

[Sigmania]

This is what I have seen.

Dating Pots

Examples of Tokai 250k ST pots.




Seems like these pots spanned the period of all Springys into Goldstars,

I have seen these on Tokai ST/TST/ASTs from 1978-1984 at least?

Not sure who made them.


1978 & 1979 catalogs.


1979 ST100



1981 ST80 MRR




1983 TST70 Goldstar.


AST-56. Those pickups introduced by late 1983/1984. Used Tokai AST-56 Vintage Series Electric Guitar Sunburst

"YM X"



(Voidoid56's image)
Then after that the "YM X" codes that I have seen on Goldstars starting in 1985.




From Voidoid56's post above on a 1985 TST50.

I think these "YM X" pots were made until 1991or 1992?

A250KOhm
MADE IN JAPAN



(also B of course)

And then by the mid 90s we see these ones.

Value of the pot over MADE IN JAPAN (2 lines)



(eborej's photo "Tokai Custom Edition" Guitars)




All Caps MADE IN JAPAN No Serial Number Guitars

They seem to extend into the early 2000s at least on no serial all caps MIJ Tokais.



GF



GF by 2009



Tokai Goldstar Sound"1965 Stratocaster" 3 Tone Sunburst, Alder Body,The best Strat You'll ever Play | Reverb

And continuing on into 2014 at least



2014 Tokai Goldstar Sound AST-118 S-Style Electric Guitar Ash Body Blue Burst, Japan

 

[19chrissheppard86]

Hi all.

I didn't realise all this other info had been put on here.

I have finally got the guitar and been able to take more pictures. From what you all have been saying it seems to be from the no serial number made in Japan era.

See the pictures.

If this is the case, do any of you know roughly what they are worth?

Thank you all for this. You all seem very knowledgable on your Tokai guitars.

 

[Sigmania]

So it does have “MADE IN JAPAN” stamped on it…

These seem to date from early 2000s up to 2008 or so.

No idea on price.

 

[19chrissheppard86]

Hi,

Yes it does. I didn't know this until gettin the guitar as my dad didn't say, and somehow missed it .

Wouldn't this have been an easy thing to copy though making the counterfeits still? Wouldn't take much to stamp it on.

I presume the internals also confirm its definitely a made in Japan one?

Many Thanks.

 

[Sigmania]

It's a made in Japan Tokai.

And yes, you can copy anything if you are motivated, but more likley this was made by Tokai on the "up and up".

It's not in any catalog though, and there are probably not many examples of these.

There was a double bound version in the catalog around this time that looks to be a similar model without the quilted veneer top and the binding is plain white celluloid It’s called an ATE55.

For some reason the one they show in the catalog is a lefty, but there are lots of right handed versions out there.

2003 catalog:



Tokai 2003 Catalogue - Vintage Japan Guitars

 

[Sigmania]

I am going to add your guitar to the all caps "MADE IN JAPAN" thread.

All Caps "MADE IN JAPAN" No Serial Guitars

 

[Sigmania]

I would look at early 2000s ATE55s as a rough guide for pricing it.

 

[Sigmania]

BTW, the "GS" is the color code, golden sunburst. Also known as a 2 tone sunburst (no red in between the yellow and black).

 

[Sigmania]

Some interesting info on the one you linked above.

It was apparently sold and the new owner dug up some stuff by contacting Tokai:

mototech:

Tokai Breezysound, made in Japan 2005.
I had real difficulty dating this guitar, as there is no serial number, so contacted the factory & they said 2005.
It is very unusual in that it has a quilted top & is double bound with mother of pearl look binding.
The electrics were changed for CTS pots, orange drop capacitor & a quality switch, the tuners were also replaced & the saddles are now brass compensated type. The original pickguard was white & will be included.
It has obviously been well used throughout it's life & there are a few marks on the body, but nothing major & otherwise it is in very good condition.
It comes with a hard case.

£495 delivered in the UK.

SOLD: Tokai Breezysound Japan. - Guitars £ Discussions on theFretBoard