Don?t wish to perpetuate this discussion but I can?t believe the bad blood displayed here and on other forums. I?ve owned dozens of guitars by many manufacturers made in the US, Japan, UK, Taiwan and Korea and as far as I?m concerned brand loyalty only extends to the next purchase.
Having said that my small collection currently contains three Tokais and I am very happy with them for what they offer. I also admit that I haven?t owned a Gibson but I?ve played many of them. Fact is I?ve always been more of a Strat player and while I could justify ?500 to have a LP in my collection I would prefer to spend my ?1200-?1500 on a guitar I would play more - like a second hand Tyler say.
Some say Gibson are better than Tokai and vice versa. The reason these comparisons crop up is that people have chosen to buy one or the other (or both) LP types and must have their own reasons for their choice. I have to admit that there is a little bit of a ?cheap? thrill in believing that your ?cheap Japanese copy? is as good or better than the ?real thing?. But which is better? That depends on your criteria. Build quality, materials, sound, vintage accuracy, value for money, cachet?
Any company can build a lemon - as we?ve seen recently - so its possible for a given Tokai to be ?better? than a Gibson and vice versa. All I know is that the three Tokais I have have no issues. They are well built solid instruments.
My Love Rock LS65 cost ?500 - a comparable price here in the UK to a LP Special faded. For that I got the spec of a LP Standard including solid 2 piece maple plain top.
My Love Rock LS150 comes with one piece mahogany body; one piece deep tenon neck; solid AA/AAA flame maple top; nitro finish; lightweight ally tailpiece; Switchcraft jack; CTS pots; Sprague condensors; Western Electric wiring etc. All for ?650 - the price here of a LP studio. What would I have to pay for a similarly spec?d Gibson?
Who builds the ?best? LP. I?ll leave that to the real aficionados to decide whether a Gibson Historic is better than a LS380 or whatever. There are members here with both and I?m sure they?re very happy with them.
My argument is that Tokais provide good value for money. Would I prefer it if my Tokai copies were the real thing? If they were of the same quality - of course I would. But the Tokais allow me to have a wider range of guitars for the expenditure I could justify. I can afford to buy the originals but I?m just a weekend hobby player and my wife and I have other priorities for the money.
Having said that my neighbour?s 18 year old Slash fan won?t even look at my Tokais because they?re not Gibsons - so no cachet there.
As for SGRocks - the Tokai Forum members have always come across to me as a very helpful level headed bunch. Enthusiasts yes - but definitely not blinkered. As I said many are just LP fanatics and are prepared to pay for the best - from whatever manufacturer.
Don?t get hung up on blind loyalty to a particular brand. Buy the guitar that fits your needs - whether its the price, quality or the name that gives you a warm feeling inside. But having made your decision don?t slag others off for making a different one. After all - how can you hate a guitar?