Most Expensive Tokais

[Sigmania]

Highest realized values and asking prices


SOLD:
$31,250 Ron Wood’s 1980 ST85N ?
$20,315 SRV’s TST62
$12,000 SRV’s AST56

ASKING:
$22,000 Steve Marriott’s 1980 ST100

 

[Sigmania]

$31,250

RON WOOD STAGE PLAYED AND PAINTED GUITAR


Auction description:

"A Tokai Fender-style electric guitar, serial number 0015609, played by Ron Wood on the Rolling Stones American Tour 1981, used at Wood's home, Sandymount in Ireland, and hand painted and signed by Wood. The mixed media painting reads "Black and Blue" and is signed on the body of the guitar "Ronnie Wood" in blue paint medium."

 

[Sigmania]

A couple of the most expensive Tokais ever?

This is an auction for one of the guitars given to him in 1985.

https://bid.gwsauctions.com/auction/60/item/stevie-ray-vaughans-stage-used-tokai-ast-56-guitar-9945/


(*Note the error where the auction listing says 1993. I assume that is supposed to be 1983?)

Stevie Ray Vaughan's Stage Played 1985 Tokai AST-56 Electric Guitar Featured on Catalog & Poster W/Extensive Documentation -

This 1985 Tokai AST-56 electric guitar was an endorsement guitar played on stage and pictured on print advertisement by iconic blues musician Stevie Ray Vaughan. Stevie Ray Vaughan had a relationship with International Music Corporation, the U.S distributor of Tokai Musical instruments made in Japan, since 1993 when they sold him two demo guitars for less than dealers cost.

Stevie Ray and Tommy Shannon were approached in 1985 by Tony Dukes, who was a friend of Stevie Ray's and worked for IMC, to see if they would be interested in an endorsement deal.

After the deal was made they gave the musicians 5 guitars and 2 basses over the next few months, including this AST-56, which was played by Stevie Ray on stage in Worcester, Massachusetts on March, 24th 1985. Stevie Ray Vaughan was also featured with this guitar in a photoshoot for the Tokai 1985 catalog with the artist on the cover and a large poster with multiple images including Stevie Ray and Tommy Shannon.

This guitar comes with a notarized letter of authenticity from Tony Dukes, who set up the endorsement deal, a copy of the endorsement contract, and a letter of authenticity from the collector who acquired it from Dukes. Serial No. 2045.

Stevie Ray Vaughan is considered to be one of the most iconic and influential musicians in the history of blues music, and one of the greatest guitarists of all time. After quickly becoming one of the leading figures in the blues revival of the 1980s, Vaughan and four others were tragically killed in a helicopter crash in 1990. Vaughan's music continued to achieve commercial success with several posthumous releases and has sold over 15 million albums in the United States alone.

PLEASE NOTE, PRE-AUCTION SALES: GWS reserves the right to sell any Lot(s) through a negotiated transaction at any time prior to the conclusion of the auction. If a Lot is sold through a negotiated transaction, it will be withdrawn from the auction. Please email [email protected] to submit a pre-auction offer.

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[Sigmania]

https://bid.gwsauctions.com/auction/60/item/stevie-ray-vaughans-stage-used-tokai-ast-56-guitar-9945/

Sold for $12,000?

The trans red sunburst sold for $20,315. Maybe the most expensive Tokai ever actually sold?

 

[Sigmania]

https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-4417853/?intObjectID=4417853

Sold for $20,315

SN 0800

STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN OWNED AND USED TOKAI GUITAR 1980s

A Tokai Stratocaster-style guitar, Serial No. 0800, natural cherry to black sunburst finish, double cutaway body, 21 fret fingerboard, with three standard Stratocaster-style single coil pickups, selector switch, three rotary controls and black pickguard, owned and used by Stevie Ray Vaughan on stage and in the studio. Vaughan also used this guitar in a Tokai promotional poster in which he can be clearly seen holding the instrument, a copy of which is also included. Also present is a letter of authenticity and an original hardshell case.

 

[Sigmania]

Asking $22,000

1980 ST100

SN 0000591

Owned by Steve Marriott

Interesting story. Especially the newspaper clipping re a $45,000 Japanese guitar. :lol:

Rock and Roll History Tokai Springy Sound 1979 Sunburst, Gold-plated Hardware, Owned By Steve Marrio | Reverb