Pick up query - LC85

[R?ckson]

Hello Tokai Experts,
I bought an LC85 from a reputable dealership in the UK a few years back and had recently decided to remove the pick up covers to give it that Steve Jones look....but when I did, I find that the bridge is marked up as 'BC Rich'....see attached pic....has anyone else seen this on a factory guitar or is mine a 'friday afternoon' job?? Either way, it plays and sounds as good as any Gibson [ or any other for that matter ].
Thanks

 

[Koubayashi]

And what do the solder joints look like?

 

[R?ckson]

Like solder?? It came from the factory like this, what has the solder got to do with anything? I'm confused.....by your comment, not my understanding of how guitars are made...

 

[JVsearch]

The solder joints on the back of the pots in the control cavity are relevant for checking whether the pickups have been changed.

If the joints look intact and old then the pickups have probably not been changed.

You didn't mention whether the guitar was brand new from the dealer in your first post, so it could have been a case of a second hand guitar that had been modded by the previous owner.

 

[Diamond]

I'll go for not the original pickup.
The Tokai solder joints are so neat & perfect that chances are you'll easily see the difference if the pickup has been changed.

 

[R?ckson]

The guitar was brand new from a well known Southern Yorkshire based firm....boxed and still wrapped when I took delivery, so I doubt very much that anyone had changed the Pup's.....its strange to think that Tokai use other companies kit in the maufacture of their own....ah well, thanks anyway

 

[Amo]

I'd be amazed if those are factory fitted, is the neck pickup the same?

 

[R?ckson]

No, the neck pick up is unbranded....I just found it strange that a new guitar would carry someone else's hardware...it's no biggie honestly...just wondered if anyone else had a similar experience that's all.....as for being amazed by it, imagine how 'amazed' I was ?

 

[JVsearch]

The guitar was brand new from a well known Southern Yorkshire based firm....boxed and still wrapped when I took delivery, so I doubt very much that anyone had changed the Pup's.....its strange to think that Tokai use other companies kit in the maufacture of their own....ah well, thanks anyway

Tuners, bridges, tailpieces, switches, pots, knobs, fret wire is all made by companies that specialise in that stuff. I don't believe Tokai make pickups either - they may have pickups exclusively made for them by some other company that are branded as Tokai, but I doubt they make them.

They used to use Gotoh humbuckers on the early lower model LPs, then Dimarzios and others on higher ones.

Still, the BC Rich logo'd bridge pickup on your LP is a strange find. Is it a hot sounding humbucker?

I wonder if the company that made pickups for Tokai also supplied BC Rich's pickups?

 

[R?ckson]

Yeah, it sounds awesome...that's more than likely the reason i'd agree.

 

[Diamond]

Have you checked the solder joints?

 

[R?ckson]

The guitar was imported by Richtone Music in Sheffield, when they dealt in Tokai, so it was not that long ago....shipped, still in it's wrapping and boxed....now, unless someone at Richtone changed the pickups and re-soldered them with replacements, like why?? Therefore, that is exactly as it was manufactured......I don't understand why you keep asking if I've checked the solder joints???
When I changed the strings out and removed the pickup covers, I didn't notice anything that stood out and said 'Hey!! Replacement pickups Here!!!' and i've had Tokai's and Burny's since the 80's....I would have instantly noticed that....but that would be fine if it wasn't a brand new guitar....this was/is!

 

[marcusnieman]

I don't understand why you keep asking if I've checked the solder joints???
When I changed the strings out and removed the pickup covers, I didn't notice anything that stood out and said 'Hey!! Replacement pickups Here!!!' and i've had Tokai's and Burny's since the 80's....I would have instantly noticed that....but that would be fine if it wasn't a brand new guitar....this was/is!

Relax man, people are just trying to help. Seeing BC Rich should have "stood out and said Hey!! Replacement pickups Here!!" (especially since you've "had Toaki's and Burny's since the 80's).

I've never seen them in a Tokai (or Burny, Greco, or Orville for that matte) EVER and the first thing I would have looked at are the solder joints to see if they are new and shiny compared to that of the other pickup..... that's why people are asking.

 

[DaveWW]

Sometimes the pickups do get replaced on a new guitar for some reason or other. A few years back I bought a brand new ES120 from a shop that had the guitar supplied by tokai uk. The pickups had been replaced with Wilkinsons and bob of Tokai UK confirmed this to me.

Dave

 

[R?ckson]

I guess, like their competitors, they too will 'cut the odd corner' and have 'friday afternoon' moments too......remember, I too, would have been non the wiser if I hadn't opened that casing in the first place...thanks for your all of your input, case close, [and relaxed!]

 

[Mojo Pin]

It's just four screws man, are you interested in knowing if it's a factory installed pickup or not? That was your original question after all.
Sounds to me like your music store needed a low output humbucker for a BC Rich!

 

[JVsearch]

Yeah, pop that back cover off - do it for us!

We have to know... :lol:

Good to hear that the pickup sounds good.

 

[pedro:estranho]

That same thing happened to me a while ago, in my case it was with a SG 45 (MIC). At the time I complained to the dealer (total legit), he got me another pup and said he was going to complain to Tokai, end of subject.

 

[chu71]

that is weird ...also because i think bc rich has been using rockfield pups for a while now (both brands i believe are owned by the same parent company).