TOKAI AMPS

Stereohigh · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 4:46 pm Post subject: TOKAI AMPS

Anybody played one ? what are they like, would love a nice tweed fender style one, there is one on ebay, but its not a tube amp

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Sold my Greco wish I hadnt so need another.
or something similar, late 70s early 80s for around ?400

JohnA · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:00 pm Post subject:

They are amazingly good! Great cleans, great reverb and surprisingly giggably loud! The overdrive channel, engaged by pulling the volume knob is awful though

chrisheyes · Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 12:33 pm Post subject:

JohnA · Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 2:27 pm Post subject:

Cali Girl · Guitar God Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Posts: 545 Location: USA

I say it's a must have. Even though it's solid state, still very good tone in a small package. It's even got reverb and it looks so cute. Makes the matching set with your Springy Sound!

marcusnieman · Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 3:02 pm Post subject:

stratman323 · Guest

Is it spring reverb?

JohnA · Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 6:19 pm Post subject:

t.olsen · Guest

But hard to find,unfortunately

Cali Girl · Guitar God Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Posts: 545 Location: USA

Jockai · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 11:23 am Post subject:

Hi Folks it was me that bought it !!!!

it arrived this morning ....it's a beautiful little thing ...i've been using it with my 1983 red TOKAI springy strat ....they look so good together....

thanks and no thanks for the tip off about the pull switch ..... you're right it dosen't seem to do anything at all !!.....

sounds kind of how i expected ...decent Fendery Tweedy tone ....reverb sounds a bit more boingy than i would've liked

but i've got a couple of questions for you .....

why the high and low inputs ??? am i right in thinking high equals humbuckers low equals single coil ?

why does reverb only work in high input ??

does the BLOCK logo on the badge mean that it was made in 1983 like BLOCK "TOKAI' guitars??

thanks in advance for any answers .....

as usual with small combos the speaker is usually the weakest link ....so i've splashed out and ordered a Jensen P8R Alnico speaker to see what it really can do .....

i'll keep you posted .....Twang crash boooinngg !!!

Cali Girl · Guitar God Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Posts: 545 Location: USA

I think block logo was made later. The script logo would be earlier production.

schoey · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 2:02 pm Post subject:

Evening all
Now I am ready to get shot down here but I DO know there are some very small wattage Tokai amps out there. How do I know ? I have seen them personally at the factoey where they were made (Matamp). The amps had been (I belive) made for the UK importer ?? and had the Tokai logo on them
I am not sure of the wattage (around 2 or 3 watts) if memory serves me right and the circuit was housed in a tweed covered box with an 8" speaker.
As a fairly new member here, if this is common knowledge please ignore me. If its not it's at leastsomething to keep your eyes open for
As and add on Matamp have released an almost identical product to some of there selected retailers recently at around ?300 a pop,so something else to watch out for........

JohnA · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 3:05 pm Post subject:

Jockai, congratulations on your new amp, cute aren't they!

The pull -switch on the volume knob should definitely do something, IMO the distortion isn't too good, but it very noticeable. Also, I'm pretty sure the reverb should work on both channels, Don't actually have mine any more, sold it to forum member Chipps, he might be able to confirm.

Will be interesting to hear if the Jensen P8R Alnico makes a difference, I actually think the stock speaker is pretty good, I have another in bits that I'm repairing, I was thinking about re-housing it in a bigger cab with a 12" speaker.

Jockai · Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 1:54 pm Post subject:

i put the Jensen speaker in today

i know they're quite expensive for an 8'' speaker but it does make a big difference ...lots more body and bass ....

i really like this little amp it's great for jazzy bluesey sounds

i've been using it with my Tokai semi acoustic and a boss reverb pedal and the sound is quite sublime .....

could probably do with a service though