Tokai 38 special gun series

amcfad · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 12:13 pm Post subject: Tokai 38 special gun series

I just picked up a 38 special, it's in pretty good condition if a little grubby and in chrome red i believe.

The serial number is 2024162,i reckon from what little information i can gleen it dates from late 70's to early 80's. I should get time to strip it down to give it a clean and get some pics of it tomorrow.

Finding information on them is proving difficult, any info would be great. Here is an image of one the exact same from the net.

amcfad · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 10:08 am Post subject:

Ok managed to get some pics while stripping this down, it's my first time doing this so apologies if anything goes awry !

I will update with bits and pieces i have picked up from the web, general feedback is very good. I had a play around with it before stripping and i am impressed,plays very well, great neck . A little crackly but i will get that sorted out.

Any info on the parts used etc. would help me to build an overall picture of this guitar.

Thanks

mirrorboy · Guitar God Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Posts: 491 Location: U.K.

Hi there, I can't tell you much I'm afraid but welcome to the forum anyway.

Those pickups stamped H just stands for HOT. I suppose that is in keeping with the rest of the instrument. Nice guitar you have and I should imagine that is fairly rare. It's definitely 80's.

Thanks for posting the pics, surely someone else has some more skinny on these Special 38's. After all, they are a Tokai original and not another clone of a famous American guitar

amcfad · Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 1:22 pm Post subject:

I read somewhere that an H stamp on the pickups was not conclusive as being for Hot.It really is a bit of a minefield trying to piece together any info on this.

Hopefully someone can tell more about this guitar and the parts used, i must say it is really well built for what seems to be a budget guitar !

It definitely seems to be quite a rare model, that was only available in Europe, and a bit shunned because it was an original design as opposed to being a direct copy.

Thanks for the welcome and reply mirrorboy

Here is a link to some reviews on Harmony central

http://www.harmonycentral.com/products/86670

iainblack · Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 3:37 pm Post subject:

I think the MRH on the base of the neck is metallic red and the H is Headstock painted. i think we saw this on one or two of the guitars in my Tokai photobook.
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Please check out my Tokai Strat Book: http://www.blurb.co.uk/my/book/detail/2060524

amcfad · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 11:02 am Post subject:

Ahh , that would make sense ! cheers ,now were getting somewhere !

Any idea what the numbers before the MRH signifies ? I would really like to try and put a date to this guitar if possible.

Hopefully i will get it cleaned ,serviced and rebuilt for the weekend, going to start polishing the brightwork and oiling the fret board tonight

bruceboomstick · Guitar God Joined: 21 Dec 2005 Posts: 391

I can't add too much - but I had one of these from new back in 1984. Mine was blonde and the grain visible through it. I think in terms of budget I paid about ?150 - which was upper end budget guitar price at the time iirc squires were pitching in at around ?200.

Very good guitar as I recall - it's only failing was not being a springy or a breezy.

They are pretty rare these days and a great find

iainblack · Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 1:08 pm Post subject:

Here is another MRH code:

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Please check out my Tokai Strat Book: http://www.blurb.co.uk/my/book/detail/2060524