Tokai & Greco

[Sigmania]

So I was just looking at pictures of a guitar I bought about ten years ago from Cliff, a Mint Collection EG59 I believe, and saw a code that looked very Tokai, then realized it was actually marked as an LS-70F!

SN 9 3957

I thought it was from 1989, but I don't see an LS70 mentioned in a Tokai catalog until 1994, and the LS-70F is not mentioned until 1998.

There was a TLS65 in 1989 but doesn’t look like there was an LS70.

And I don't see any Gibson style open book copies by Greco after 1991.

Anyone know what this is and anything more about the relationship of Greco and Tokai?

It has the Tokai style routs, Tokai model number, but Greco name on the headstock and Greco serial number...

I knew there was crossover around 1980 with Greco and Tokai re: the Nagano builds with the doweled neck tenon, but was not aware of this.

This is obviously a Tokai in my book, but I'm unclear as to when this was actually made.

 

[Sigmania]

1998 catalog.

LS70F
¥ 70,000
BODY/Flamed Sycamore Laminated Top,
Mahogany back
NECK/Mahogany Set-Neck
FINGERBOARD/Rosewood
BRIDGE/LS-VB Bridge.
LS-VT Tailpiece
PICKUP/PAF-Vintage MK2
CONTROLS/2V. 2T 3way-SW
COLOR/CS, VF, IB, SDR

 

[Sigmania]

Tokai made ES Mint Collection guitar in 1991.

Identifying a Tokai Made Greco

 

[Sigmania]

1990 Tokai made EG59.

Greco Eg 59 60 Les Paul Tokai made in Japan | Reverb

No body code in the pickup cavity.

 

[Sigmania]

Another `1990 made by Tokai?

Greco Les Paul Custom Black Beauty 1968 Reissue Fret Edge Binding Tokai Made | Reverb

No body code.

 

[CliffsGuitarWorld]

The big hint if the Greco is made by Tokai .... Offset neck tenon.

 

[Sigmania]

Thanks Cliff. That one I got from you in 2013 in the first post. Have you seen others with what looks like a Tokai model number stamped in it. I didn’t pay any attention to it at the time. Sold it years ago.