Kenny337
Member
Well I never play it....and I hope it goes to a good home....
Maybe You KNow More ABout This Guitar Than I Do
The readers on this forum may be interested in knowing that such a guitar is up for grabs - and while I am getting rid of it - I would ask anyone with knowledge about this guitar to maybe tell me a little bit more about it - as I have never seen another one quite like it in terms of colour....
I have loads of High RES photos of this guitar (the ones on eBAY are small) - including macro fotos of bridge saddles etc...
Maybe someone on this forum can tell me a lot more about a guitar I have owned for 23 years and had in stirage for most of that time, I have no idea even what the official colour is....
Price
The price is (I think) reasonable - starts off at ?100 and I have asked for a BUY IT NOW price of ?230
Up for sale a Tokai on Ebay UK site.
Item number: 290129009336
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=290129009336&rd=1&rd=1#ebayphotohosting
Vintage Tokai 'Law Suit' Springy Sound Strat early 80's
NOTES
Description
It?s an electric guitar.
A six stringed electric guitar.
It was made by the Japanese company Tokai
It is a replica of a Fender Stratocaster ? in fact from what someone has told me Tokai replicas (of this age) are considered to be pretty **** amazing guitars.
It was made in Japan.
It?s colour I think is described as ?Candy Apple Red? (though I have seen other ?Candy Apple Red? Strats from Tokai and some are pinker), this guitar is quite beautiful (honestly ? it really is) it looks almost semi-metallic finish.
Note on colour: I have never seen another Tokai quite the same colour as the one I have. SO it might not be classified as above but something else.
It has three pick-ups
It has a five-way pickup selector
It has a Maple Neck and fretboard
Saddles have ?Final Prospec? on them, there is a thread on a web site about Tokai guitars saying that the some Springy Sound models have these. (I have no idea what this means)
Machine Heads have ?DELUXE? written banner style on them (the letters on their side)
Headstock ? I have no idea if it is a big headstock or a small one ? I am not into electric guitars that much - but would guess small. Please see pics. (If anyone can help date this from the photos and the details I have)
It has a Serial Number on the neck plate on the reverse of the guitar: the number is 11085.
Note on the Serial Number
Seemingly this means (five digits on the neck plate) that it is a replica of a 1956-1960 Fender Stratocaster. I believe these replicas were subject to lawsuits between Fender and Tokai at one point, hence the lawsuit reference. Someone told me once that it is copy of an 1958 Fender but I do not know for sure. Perhaps some expert could tell me?
However, let's be honest about this - the info on the web isn't that good.
Manufactured
I tried to track down when this guitar was manufactured but there is nothing clear ? I simply do not know.
Known History
Bought as a trade-in by Sound Control in December 1983.
I bought the guitar on Monday 9th January 1984 from Sound Control a music shop in the then Gallowgate in Glasgow (the shop is now long since moved to Jamaica Street). It was second hand and my impression was that the guitar was already a few years old. Certainly the dents and bumps were on the guitar prior to my buying it.
1984 ? early 1986 I played it occasionally.
1986 until 1990 it was stored in a hard case in Glasgow.
1990 until 1994 stored in a hard case in a loft in Manchester
1994 until now in storage in a hard case in a cupboard in Glasgow, but loaned out once for a recording session.
I put strings on it a few weeks ago ? it plays better than I do.
Condition
This is not a brand spanking new shiny out-of-the box guitar, if you want one of those look elsewhere.
Never been refurbished or professionally serviced, but as it has been cared for and stored safely over the years and is playable now.
I have not polished the guitar ? I have wiped it with a cloth and it may have been polished by me at one time using beeswax bit not in the last twenty years.
Ultra-low action ? that I can vouch for.
Few belt marks on back (however nothing compared to Rory Gallgher?s), couple of insignificant dents below the bridge ? these were on the guitar when I bought it.
Saddles have lost a bit of chrome (still work though) this is probably because of sweat.
Screws are a bit de-chromed as well but this might just be grime.
Knobs and tremolo arm nicely yellowed with age.
Electronics work ? I?ve checked. But as this has been in storage such a long time buyer should check this out for themselves because fluff might have accumulated inside the cavities for the pickups. I have not opened the guitar up.
Bit of wear and tear on the metal on the neck plate (see pic).
It has a couple (well five) glow in the dark stickers I stuck on when I bought it) on the back which I will not remove but will peel off readily enough if they annoy anyone.
The important thing is ? this is not a new guitar so buy as is from the photos ? scratches, dents and all. You might have to spend a few hours cleaning it up. If you want a new guitar ? buy a new one.
Note on the LOGO
Original logo was Tokai on the headstock ? but I do not remember exactly which ? I do not think it was the one that looked like a Fender logo I think it looked like TOKAI - I took the logo off pretty much the same day as bought it as I did not like the idea that someone thought I could not afford a ?real? Strat. Madness.
Still has the original ?oldies but goldies? logo. (see pic)
However anyone concerned about this ? replacement Tokai Logo transfers are available (on the web) for anyone who cares about such things and wants this guitar as an addition to their collection, ideally though I?d like this to go to someone who is into playing ? this guitar has never really been played. Guitars should be played and I have not played this? much.
Viewing
Anyone wanting to see the guitar ? NO PROBLEM - contact me.
If you want a high res image of the pics e-mail me.
Summary
In short ? great looking, stylish and aged guitar, and as guitarists know they always sound better, been in storage most of its life, now time for someone who wants to PLAY a replica vintage guitar to buy it and give it a good home.
Note for Tokai Forum
If anyone wants to ask any questions - just ask - I will be happy to help.
Cheers
Kenny
Glasgow
Maybe You KNow More ABout This Guitar Than I Do
The readers on this forum may be interested in knowing that such a guitar is up for grabs - and while I am getting rid of it - I would ask anyone with knowledge about this guitar to maybe tell me a little bit more about it - as I have never seen another one quite like it in terms of colour....
I have loads of High RES photos of this guitar (the ones on eBAY are small) - including macro fotos of bridge saddles etc...
Maybe someone on this forum can tell me a lot more about a guitar I have owned for 23 years and had in stirage for most of that time, I have no idea even what the official colour is....
Price
The price is (I think) reasonable - starts off at ?100 and I have asked for a BUY IT NOW price of ?230
Up for sale a Tokai on Ebay UK site.
Item number: 290129009336
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=290129009336&rd=1&rd=1#ebayphotohosting
Vintage Tokai 'Law Suit' Springy Sound Strat early 80's
NOTES
Description
It?s an electric guitar.
A six stringed electric guitar.
It was made by the Japanese company Tokai
It is a replica of a Fender Stratocaster ? in fact from what someone has told me Tokai replicas (of this age) are considered to be pretty **** amazing guitars.
It was made in Japan.
It?s colour I think is described as ?Candy Apple Red? (though I have seen other ?Candy Apple Red? Strats from Tokai and some are pinker), this guitar is quite beautiful (honestly ? it really is) it looks almost semi-metallic finish.
Note on colour: I have never seen another Tokai quite the same colour as the one I have. SO it might not be classified as above but something else.
It has three pick-ups
It has a five-way pickup selector
It has a Maple Neck and fretboard
Saddles have ?Final Prospec? on them, there is a thread on a web site about Tokai guitars saying that the some Springy Sound models have these. (I have no idea what this means)
Machine Heads have ?DELUXE? written banner style on them (the letters on their side)
Headstock ? I have no idea if it is a big headstock or a small one ? I am not into electric guitars that much - but would guess small. Please see pics. (If anyone can help date this from the photos and the details I have)
It has a Serial Number on the neck plate on the reverse of the guitar: the number is 11085.
Note on the Serial Number
Seemingly this means (five digits on the neck plate) that it is a replica of a 1956-1960 Fender Stratocaster. I believe these replicas were subject to lawsuits between Fender and Tokai at one point, hence the lawsuit reference. Someone told me once that it is copy of an 1958 Fender but I do not know for sure. Perhaps some expert could tell me?
However, let's be honest about this - the info on the web isn't that good.
Manufactured
I tried to track down when this guitar was manufactured but there is nothing clear ? I simply do not know.
Known History
Bought as a trade-in by Sound Control in December 1983.
I bought the guitar on Monday 9th January 1984 from Sound Control a music shop in the then Gallowgate in Glasgow (the shop is now long since moved to Jamaica Street). It was second hand and my impression was that the guitar was already a few years old. Certainly the dents and bumps were on the guitar prior to my buying it.
1984 ? early 1986 I played it occasionally.
1986 until 1990 it was stored in a hard case in Glasgow.
1990 until 1994 stored in a hard case in a loft in Manchester
1994 until now in storage in a hard case in a cupboard in Glasgow, but loaned out once for a recording session.
I put strings on it a few weeks ago ? it plays better than I do.
Condition
This is not a brand spanking new shiny out-of-the box guitar, if you want one of those look elsewhere.
Never been refurbished or professionally serviced, but as it has been cared for and stored safely over the years and is playable now.
I have not polished the guitar ? I have wiped it with a cloth and it may have been polished by me at one time using beeswax bit not in the last twenty years.
Ultra-low action ? that I can vouch for.
Few belt marks on back (however nothing compared to Rory Gallgher?s), couple of insignificant dents below the bridge ? these were on the guitar when I bought it.
Saddles have lost a bit of chrome (still work though) this is probably because of sweat.
Screws are a bit de-chromed as well but this might just be grime.
Knobs and tremolo arm nicely yellowed with age.
Electronics work ? I?ve checked. But as this has been in storage such a long time buyer should check this out for themselves because fluff might have accumulated inside the cavities for the pickups. I have not opened the guitar up.
Bit of wear and tear on the metal on the neck plate (see pic).
It has a couple (well five) glow in the dark stickers I stuck on when I bought it) on the back which I will not remove but will peel off readily enough if they annoy anyone.
The important thing is ? this is not a new guitar so buy as is from the photos ? scratches, dents and all. You might have to spend a few hours cleaning it up. If you want a new guitar ? buy a new one.
Note on the LOGO
Original logo was Tokai on the headstock ? but I do not remember exactly which ? I do not think it was the one that looked like a Fender logo I think it looked like TOKAI - I took the logo off pretty much the same day as bought it as I did not like the idea that someone thought I could not afford a ?real? Strat. Madness.
Still has the original ?oldies but goldies? logo. (see pic)
However anyone concerned about this ? replacement Tokai Logo transfers are available (on the web) for anyone who cares about such things and wants this guitar as an addition to their collection, ideally though I?d like this to go to someone who is into playing ? this guitar has never really been played. Guitars should be played and I have not played this? much.
Viewing
Anyone wanting to see the guitar ? NO PROBLEM - contact me.
If you want a high res image of the pics e-mail me.
Summary
In short ? great looking, stylish and aged guitar, and as guitarists know they always sound better, been in storage most of its life, now time for someone who wants to PLAY a replica vintage guitar to buy it and give it a good home.
Note for Tokai Forum
If anyone wants to ask any questions - just ask - I will be happy to help.
Cheers
Kenny
Glasgow
