Tokai Love Rock with 6 Digit Serial Number on Headstock. Some info needed pls.

[qguguitars4life]

Hello Tokai Guitar Fans and Owners. I bought this Tokai Love Rock Model recently but I do not have any info on where or when it was made. 6 Digit Serial Number I090847.

 

[Sigmania]

Hi,

Your guitar was apparently made in 2009.

That serial number is one of a group of suspect serial numbers in my opinion.

Possibly made in Korea and unauthorized after Tokai moved operations to China.

See these threads for more info:

Tokais Made In China

Tokais Made In Korea

Fake, Unauthorized or Counterfeit Tokais Gallery

 

[Sigmania]

Adding your guitar to a thread on these.

09 Six Digit Serial Number Korean

I have not seen a 2009 one yet I don't think. This is well into the Chinese era. Probably one of the last one s oout of Korea if they are in fact Korean.

 

[qguguitars4life]

Hi,

Your guitar was apparently made in 2009.

That serial number is one of a group of suspect serial numbers in my opinion.

Possibly made in Korea and unauthorized after Tokai moved operations to China.

See these threads for more info:

Tokais Made In China

Tokais Made In Korea

Fake, Unauthorized or Counterfeit Tokais Gallery

Hi thank you for the quick reply. That could mean that this a Copy or a Counterfit right? I should have checked before I bought it as looked nice from the photos. It plays very nice and sounds quite decent so not sure If If its worth it the price of a pre owned Epiphone Les Paul. Cheers.

 

[Sigmania]

It could be unauthorized/counterfeit. Or not. Just not enough info on the Korean and Chinese builds and Tokai has never been very helpful with that info.

From what I have pieced together it is most likely Korean and unauthorized, but I am still looking for more examples to help pin that down. I have found at least one guitar with this type of gold six digit serial number from 2008 with what looks like a Made In Korea sticker. That is outside the window of known production in Korea, but the jury is still out. Hoping to find more examples like yours.

When you are goinfg through it, notice if any of the hardware is stamped Korea or China. The tail piece or bridge may have a stamp under it.

 

[Sigmania]

The logo may hold some clues too.

The "a" in your logo is mostly but not completely closed.

"Tokai" Headstock Logo Variations

 

[Sigmania]

For comparison on the logos, here is a Chinese 2009 guitar.

Tokai Love Rock unknow by me

 

[qguguitars4life]

The logo may hold some clues too.

The "a" in your logo is mostly but not completely closed.

"Tokai" Headstock Logo Variations

View attachment 16108

Took some more photos. I couldn't see anything with Korea markings.

 

[Sigmania]

Fascinating. I’ve seen that exact tailpiece that was apparently on a 2012 Chinese Tokai LP.

Maybe these are Chinese after all?

 

[qguguitars4life]

Yeah It's a gamble between China and Korea but edging toward China after taking a closer look at the headstock and other things but interesting to get these examples and show them for others to see. I wasn't expecting much when I bought it and wouldn't be anything WOW about it. Bought it mainly out of curiosity. Thank You for all the links and everything. Hopefully in the future I can get my hands on a Japanese version as I heard they are amazing.

 

[Sigmania]

Agreed. Thanks for asking the question! Your guitar is another puzzle piece that helped tilt this towards Chinese mfr. for me.

Check out this 8 digit Chinese guitar with a very similar font and color serial number.

Tokais Made In China



And yours:

 

[Sigmania]

Note that the dimple shape is different however. Grrrr