Tokai "LIMITED" SS-70S Gallery

[Sigmania]

Tokai's SS70S

Short lived clone of Fender's "The Strat"

Advertisements in late 1981 indicate the number of guitars made:

MR - 200
LB - 200
OW - 100
WN - 100

Features:

Brass tremolo unit
Brass 7 logo knobs,
Brass jack plate,
3 ply pick guard,
U pickups,
Painted matching headstock
Rotomatic tuners (silver or gold)
Spaghetti logo
2 butterfly style string trees (silver or gold)


Serial numbers:

1016638
1016677
1016768
1016827
1017031
1018297

01123
01155

 

[Sigmania]

From the Spring 1982 catalog:

SS70S ¥ 70,000 (Maple & Rose fingerboard 2 type specifications) Color / MR, LB

SS70S ¥70,000 (Maple & Rose fingerboard 2 type specifications) Color / OW only.
(scheduled to be released on February 1, 1982)

SS70S ¥ 70,000 (Rose fingerboard only) Color /RR only
(scheduled to be released on February 1, 1982)

"Deam super guitar family. Tokai limited products. Limited Products. Limited edition limited production model full of super specs that continue to be produced in parallel with the regular model. These models, which are regularly produced by the Tokai Electric Guitar Project Team, will be sold out immediately after the announcement, but due to special circumstances such as limited quantity, if there are constant purchasers, they will be remanufactured as Angkor products. It is also possible to play the guitar. However, please note that in this case, special services and other benefits will not be attached. After receiving an order, it will be manufactured within 1 to 3 months of delivery. In the past, TE60RR, VS60 etc. have been made into Angkor products. I would like to continue to produce super guitars that reflect the times, which can be called super editions. Thank you for your support."

 

[Sigmania]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265633621085?hash=item3dd8ff645d:g:480AAOSwOMpiTsTr

1981 SS70S OWR

Note that this color was scheduled to be released 2/1/82 and yet this has a 1981 serial number.

*Replaced bridge pickup.

 

[Sigmania]

1981 SS70S WNR

Note that this color, rosewood, was scheduled to be released 2/1/82 and yet this guitar appears to have a 1981 serial number.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1943221986...b_vTl8uRJe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[Sigmania]

1981 SS70S LB

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255457643239

 

[Sigmania]

1981 SS70S LBR

http://japaneseguitars.blogspot.com/2015/10/early-80s-flashback-1981-tokai-ss-70.html

https://reverb.com/item/584432-toka...share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=584432

 

[Sigmania]

SS70S MR

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3540822419..._vTl8uRJe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=EMAIL


*Replaced knobs

 

[Sigmania]

SS70S MRR

SN 01155

トーカイ the Strat コピーモデル Tokai ss-70「中古」の落札価格｜トーカイ｜ヤフオク！ 落札相場- オークファン（aucfan.com）

 

[Sigmania]

http://102studio.jp/

 

[Sigmania]

1982 SS70S WNR

Scalloped fretboard.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/374303410969

 

[Sigmania]

Same guitar as at top of thread, but different seller/pictures.

超希少! Tokai SS70-S Limited Edition ビンテージ

 

[Sigmania]

https://www.pa-kendal.go.id/vahbgmenu-2538956.html

 

[Sigmania]

Tokai Limited ST-70 "The Strat" 1981 | Reverb

 

[Sigmania]

From Iain Black's 2016 factory tour.

 

[Voidoid56]

SS70S MRR snr 1017962

Missing the brass control knobs and trem bar but otherwise in original condition.

 

[Old Puppy]

I am surprised these aren't more popular, I never even knew they existed until I saw this thread. The quality looks very impressive and I love the matching headstocks. Maybe just too rare?

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

Maybe everyone recognizing what those are supposed to be is still having the shock from the brass-clad original CBS "Strat" atrocity in their bones. I know I do.

 

[Sigmania]

SS70s in the footer. Google translation:

"THE SUPER ST'' and ``THE ST WHITE'' that decorate the beginning of '82 - A shocking appearance as a limited edition. Full of super specs such as gold parts & blast tremolo unit, gold rotomatic pegs, limited to 100 pieces each, nationwide release at the same time. Available from February 1 at Tokai product dealers
THE SUPER ST- -SS70S・ WNR (rose fingerboard neck only) ¥70,000/THE ST WHITE- SS70S・OWR (OW) rose fingerboard & maple 1-piece neck ¥70,000"

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

I inclined to think (or I hope) those were in a different way "shocking" than the originals.

 

[Voidoid56]

I inclined to think (or I hope) those were in a different way "shocking" than the originals.

The MR one I had was basically an ST-50 with a bit of extra weight and a butt-ugly headstock shape, so pretty much a fine guitar all around. I'm not surprised that so many are missing their original brass knobs though, it's heavy enough without them...

The kid I sold it to was too young to have been shocked by the originals, he just plain liked it. However, he just sold it on, and it took him like three months to find a buyer, so not exactly a hot commercial property.