No Tokai Springy sounds mentioned here older than 78

Tokai Forum

Help Support Tokai Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Flash

Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2011
Messages
20
Reaction score
0
I have a 77. Are they rare? Only newer Tokais seem to be mentioned here.Why do the new MIJ Tokais seem to have such a ridculous price tags as opposed to the originals? In fact would anyone pay 3,000$ (as I have seen online) for a MIJ Tokai Les Paul when one can buy a genuine Gibson Les Paul Custom for that kind of money? As well, I saw an Epiphone Elitist Les Paul Custom for 1000$ online, a very worthy challenger.As far as my Toaki "Springy Sound". it's the best Strat I have played since the mid 70's, and the only decent Strat newer than '71 I have ever played. Do any others feel the same or am I jaded?
 
marcusnieman said:
Only newer Tokais seem to be mentioned here.

Are you serious??
Absolutely. Why do you ask? If you have an opinion ,spit it out. Otherwise, are YOU serious? I have read several threads here, and the oldest one I have seen is a 78. I am curious as to why; maybe I have missed something.I am no expert on Tokai guitars, but I have played guitar since 1974, and this guitar in my opinion is superior to any post CBS Strat I have played in several areas,IMHO. As far as paying $3,000 for Japanese Les Paul copies; I actually DO believe it is foolish at best, and ludicrous in general. http://cgi.ebay.com/Tokai-LS350-Love-Rock-MIJ-JAPAN-BURST-LP-AAAA-Solid-/170368256286?pt=Guitar&hash=item27aabd491e
 
Flash said:
marcusnieman said:
Only newer Tokais seem to be mentioned here.

Are you serious??
Absolutely. Why do you ask? If you have an opinion ,spit it out. Otherwise, are YOU serious? I have read several threads here, and the oldest one I have seen is a 78. I am curious as to why; maybe I have missed something.I am no expert on Tokai guitars, but I have played guitar since 1974, and this guitar in my opinion is superior to any post CBS Strat I have played in several areas,IMHO. As far as paying $3,000 for Japanese Les Paul copies; I actually DO believe it is foolish at best, and ludicrous in general. http://cgi.ebay.com/Tokai-LS350-Love-Rock-MIJ-JAPAN-BURST-LP-AAAA-Solid-/170368256286?pt=Guitar&hash=item27aabd491e

The reason pre-78 Springys aren't mentioned might have to do with them being rare.

There are many Strats from post-CBS which are good.
The Fullerton reissues are now nearly old enough to have gained the right mojo and feel. They are far more collectable as well (which is my main interest). Early JV are also nice guitars in general but have to watch out with the ups and downs in the quality.
 
hi
i have never seen any proff that a 1977 springy sound exist :D :D
i do own a 1978 serial nr 8000323 ,,,, with the small neck plate and black bottoms pickups ..... and i have tried to get any one to show one with no luck :D :D ,,,, do you have pictures :D :D
maybe a 1977 is as rare as a 1948 fender telecaster :D :D
won this one

http://imageevent.com/chingo123/april2011/tokaispringyst50ow5848

a 1978 serial 8000677 with u pickups and the big neck plate
all the best
otto
 
Flash said:
marcusnieman said:
Only newer Tokais seem to be mentioned here.

Are you serious??
Absolutely. Why do you ask? If you have an opinion ,spit it out. Otherwise, are YOU serious?

Easy there, sport. I read your comment to say that only newer Tokais seemed to be mentioned on this forum.... apparently you mean newer than 1978 in reference to your Springy.

As I understand, Springy production began in 1977 but very few if any went out as 1977. It's commonly regarded that 1978 was the first production issue year (I have one). That's why 77's aren't mentioned much if at all. If you have one, put up some pics so that we can see the myth.

As for why they command the prices that they do, in a nutshell, they are better guitars than most anything mass produced by Gibson or Fender. The older Tokais (and other worthy MIJ brands) were built of a level of craftmanship that doesn't exist anymore for off the rack guitars. Plus, old wood (20 - 30 years old) and electronics makes a big difference. Collectibility on the old ones adds to the value as well.
 
C:\Documents and Settings\ro307805\My Documents\My Pictures\SSPX0288.jpg
[/img]
 
Flash said:
C:\Documents and Settings\ro307805\My Documents\My Pictures\SSPX0288.jpg
[/img]

Can't post photos directly. You have to load them on a free photo host like www.photobucket.com and then copy/paste the image here. :wink:
 
"Why do the new MIJ Tokais seem to have such a ridculous price tags as opposed to the originals?"
Apparently the gentleman missed my point. It seems that NEW MIJ Tokais are fetching 3 times the money that Vintage Tokais are getting. The link I provided was to a NEW Tokai Les Paul.As to the value itself, If my Tokai is worth more than a Gibson Les paul custom, for example; I would trade straight across right this second.
ro307805
 
Flash said:
"Why do the new MIJ Tokais seem to have such a ridculous price tags as opposed to the originals?"
Apparently the gentleman missed my point. It seems that NEW MIJ Tokais are fetching 3 times the money that Vintage Tokais are getting. The link I provided was to a NEW Tokai Les Paul.As to the value itself, If my Tokai is worth more than a Gibson Les paul custom, for example; I would trade straight across right this second.
ro307805
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/SSPX0291.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/SSPX0290.jpg
http://s1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/?action=view&current=SSPX0289.jpg
http://s1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/?action=view&current=SSPX0288.jpg&
I will take some better pics tommorow including serial number
 
muccax said:
hi
i have never seen any proff that a 1977 springy sound exist :D :D
i do own a 1978 serial nr 8000323 ,,,, with the small neck plate and black bottoms pickups ..... and i have tried to get any one to show one with no luck :D :D ,,,, do you have pictures :D :D
maybe a 1977 is as rare as a 1948 fender telecaster :D :D
won this one

http://imageevent.com/chingo123/april2011/tokaispringyst50ow5848

a 1978 serial 8000677 with u pickups and the big neck plate
all the best
otto
Beautiful guitar, to be sure. I wish I knew where a US Toaki dealer was so that I could check out several and try them out. If the Flying V's and Explorers are the same level of playability as the Springy Sound , I am buying for sure. I never would have bought a Strat style guitar, as I prefer the Gibson sound and sustain, but Bob at "About Music" in Indianapolis convinced me to try this one and I have not been sorry. I usually play one of several Marshall Amps, but I have a little 5 watt Epiphone Valve Junior and a custom 2x12 cab with Eminence "Black Mountain" speakers that seems to be a marriage made in heaven for blues and classic rock sounds with this guitar.
 
in fact, it appears that my Tokai may have been made out of 2 guitars:
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/SSPX0299.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/SSPX0298.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/SSPX0297.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/SSPX0295.jpg
 
hi
i dont think a 1977 tokai exits :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
never seen one ,,,,,,,
so please proffre me wrong :eek: :eek:
all the best
otto
 
muccax said:
hi
i dont think a 1977 tokai exits :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
never seen one ,,,,,,,
so please proffre me wrong :eek: :eek:
all the best
otto
Just because no one on this forum has seen one does not seen one does not mean that one does not exist. This forum is not the end all and be all of Tokai Guitars. In fact, just putting emoticons with rolling eyes validates no one as an expert. I take every submission with a grain of salt due to the various interests of the guitar collectors who seem to dominate these threads. These same collectors are making it tough to play vintage guitars, I would bet the average one rarley plays. There are many sources that show 1977 "Springy Sound" production.
"In 1977, Tokai followed this with the ?Springy Sound?, modelled initially on a 1957 Stratocaster. With this model, the company copied Fender?s famous ?spaghetti? logo (so-called because the script was long, thin and gold) and all other lettering from the Fender headstock. [Picture 002, ?Spot the difference?] ?Fender Stratocaster? became, ?Tokai Springy Sound?; ?Original Contour Body? became ?Oldies But Goldies? and ?With Synchronized Tremolo? became, even more cheekily, ?This is the exact replica of the good old strat?."
There was just one.
http://burningpine.com/tokai.aspx
 
As well, It does have matching serial numbers at the neck and body cavity with the body cavity sn being upside down. It's a great player, but as someone who prefers the sustain and crunchiness of Gibson, I would trade it for an Explorer, either MIJ Tokai, or US Gibson.
 
Flash said:
in fact, it appears that my Tokai may have been made out of 2 guitars:
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/SSPX0299.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/SSPX0298.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/SSPX0297.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/SSPX0295.jpg

From what you are showing, it's a 78. What makes you think it's two guitars?? Why no pics of the body, saddles, pickups, etc? My 78 ST60 is only a few guitars off from your serial number and like mine, yours is a 78 or hey.... maybe it is a 77 too!

028.jpg

005.jpg

004.jpg

006.jpg

003.jpg

002.jpg

001.jpg

029.jpg

030.jpg

031.jpg

033.jpg

027.jpg

032.jpg
 
marcusnieman said:
Flash said:
in fact, it appears that my Tokai may have been made out of 2 guitars:
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/SSPX0299.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/SSPX0298.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/SSPX0297.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/ro307805/SSPX0295.jpg

From what you are showing, it's a 78. What makes you think it's two guitars?? Why no pics of the body, saddles, pickups, etc? My 78 ST60 is only a few guitars off from your serial number and like mine, yours is a 78 or hey.... maybe it is a 77 too!

028.jpg

005.jpg

004.jpg

006.jpg

003.jpg

002.jpg

001.jpg

029.jpg

030.jpg

031.jpg

033.jpg

027.jpg

032.jpg
The rest of the pics are earlier in the thread. The only dissasembly I did was the neck. I will not disssasemble a guitar that is as right as this one, hence no pickup photos. I read one serial number upside down from the body;turns out both are identical. As far as it being a 77', yesterday I grudingly took the neck off, despite myself. I am not a guitar speculator, and the value is not as important as the playability. But, I bought the guitar from a guy I really trust and love (Bob at "About Music" in Indy), and he told me it was a '77. I took his word for it, but obviously we were wrong. No biggie for me; as I bought the axe as a player, trying to move beyond the "metal" phase I have been in since the late 70's.. Your guitar is fabulous, BTW.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top