Burny Les Paul with VH-1 vs. Tokai LS75 - which to choose?

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andrews

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I am going to be choosing between two guitars:

* a brand new Tokai LS-75 made in Japan (it's probably from 2009 or 2008, but who knows, maybe it can be older - I don't really know, since the store that sells them started importing them only in December 2010 - , but it does not appear in 2010 catalogue). Original price at the store is about 1,126.69 USD (728.41 GBP), but it's on sale now, so it would cost me 992.43 USD (641.75 GBP). But the prices in my country (Lithuania) are usually higher than in the USA and Europe, so it's probably more expensive than in more developed countries (what's its normal cost, by the way?)...

* Burny Les Paul. It has a bell-shaped with wings tross rod cover (like this: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R3CbA8LeiUw/ThYHBypT_QI/AAAAAAAAENM/myUdtC4_f2g/s400/Burny%2BLes%2BPaul%2BCustom%2Bin%2BSan%2BDiego%2Bfor%2B%2524600%2BB.jpg , except that one has two screws, not three). Here's the poor photo of the actual thing: http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af71/tufffta/Atvaizd0052.jpg

As you can see, no text on the headstock (except Burny, which is not in the photo), has a diamond logo on the headstock.
It does not have a serial number on the headstock nor anywhere else (I did not try taking out the pickups).
Gotoh tuners (or was it Greco? - they sound a similar to me, so I forgot).
Single piece neck, if I'm not wrong.

Here are two other low quality photos:
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af71/tufffta/Atvaizd0051.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af71/tufffta/Atvaizd0050.jpg

There are small stickers on the tops of the pickups saying VH-1, but these are just stickers- anyone can put them... You can see those stickers right next to the screws that hold the pickups to the body.

The price of this guitar is approximately (converted to various currencies via www.xe.com):
666.12 EUR
884.90 USD
574.30 GBP
68,075.40 JPY

From what period could it be? Is it worth that price?

What do you think I should better buy?

Can it be better than Tokai LS75?



BTW I can't buy off the internet, so I have to choose between these two.
 
I wonder whether that Burny is of a higher class than that Tokai. Or are they close to each other and the difference is mostly in subjective perception of the guitar (whether I like it or not)? The prices are pretty similiar, but the Tokai is new, which means if it was used, its price was smaller... And I wonder
 
I think we need pics of the Burny to determine the model.
The information on the site you quoted is a bit outdated on some parts. The 70s Burny's are Terada made, the same one that made 1980/81 Burny's and did some of the Orville/ObG production in the late 80s & 90s. The construction & wood is very good, the hardware is mediocre, but that can be changed of course. 70s Burny's do not have VH1s. There's different types of VH1s btw.
 
I'm afraid it's going to be very hard for me to find out what model/year that Burny really is and I probably won't be abel to take photos of it. But given what you generally know about Burny from 1975 to 1990 (I mean, let's suppose it's one of the "worse" Burnys with VH1), would you say I should better go for it rather than LS75? Or would it then be no real big difference?
 
You're asking the wrong person, I would always choose a vintage MIJ over a recent build MIJ.
 
I assume to change hardware would cost a lot, wouldn't it? I mean, the hardware alone, plus I'll have to find it somewhere...

Also, will the pickups be good, if they are 30 years old? I recently read someone saying (in discussion about Burnys) something like pickups wear with time. It's a suprise to me (I'm young) - I always thought pickups are eternal...
 
No not really, were talking about a bridge & tailpiece, maybe tuners. First 2, 100 euro max.

Magnets will weaken over time and most of us find those better sounding; rounder tone. Many boutique pickup producers degausse the magnets because they want them to sound more vintage.
 
Got to see the Burney guitar. It has a bell-shaped with wings tross rod cover (like this: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R3CbA8LeiUw/ThYHBypT_QI/AAAAAAAAENM/myUdtC4_f2g/s400/Burny%2BLes%2BPaul%2BCustom%2Bin%2BSan%2BDiego%2Bfor%2B%2524600%2BB.jpg , except that one has two screws, not three). Here's the poor photo of the actual thing: http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af71/tufffta/Atvaizd0052.jpg

As you can see, no text on the headstock (except Burny, which is not in the photo), has a diamond logo on the headstock.
It does not have a serial number on the headstock nor anywhere else (I did not try taking out the pickups).
Gotoh tuners (or was it Greco? - they sound a similar to me, so I forgot).
Single piece neck, if I'm not wrong.

Here are two other low quality photos:
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af71/tufffta/Atvaizd0051.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af71/tufffta/Atvaizd0050.jpg

There are small stickers on the tops of the pickups saying VH-1, but these are just stickers- anyone can put them... You can see those stickers right next to the screws that hold the pickups to the body.

The price of this guitar is approximately (converted to various currencies via www.xe.com):
666.12 EUR
884.90 USD
574.30 GBP
68,075.40 JPY


So from what period could it be? Is it worth that price? Should I try to persuade to sell it for less? How's it compared to Tokai LS75 (pre-2010)?
 
That's a 1989 or younger RLC.
In 1989 it's called RLC60 with maple OR maho top & VH3 pickups.
In 1990 RLC65 with maho top & VH1.
From 1991 it's RLC70, due to price increase but the same specs as 1990.
Possible pot codes can determine year of manufacture thus if it has VH1 or VH3.
 
Price depends on where you are, in Europe that's very reasonable. Always try to get it for less..
 
I have almost the same dillemma right now, LS95F (or LS92F as it is made in 2008) w/ hardcase vs 1990s RLG-70(should be, with VH-1) w/o case.

Price is being tokai little more expensive. condition wise both are pretty good.

Just wonder what you guys would take over which one.
 
They both have almost identical specs. The only differences are that the Burny has feb, most likely a slighter thicker neck & the VH1 is hotter than the MKII.
I personally don't like hot pickups but those can be swapped. I'd go for the Burny.
 

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