Hi Strat
Your offer of $1200 for the LS98F was correct, the shop would have taken it and no one would have been embarrassed.
The Gibbo Std street price, $2995, was 33% off the RRP, $1250 would have been 33% off the LS98F RRP.
So, the LS98F is almost a third of the price of the Gibbo Std, yet guys say the Tokai prices are approaching Gibson prices?
The majority of guitarists around the world can't compare Tokai VS Gibbo in a music store, so they'll argue that you have to have a LS260 to compare to a Gibbo Std.
They're wrong, a LS92 plaintop is what you compare to a Gibbo Std plaintop...and even then the 92 specs are better.
Solid body and medium neck tenon VS chambered body and short neck tenon.
I'll change the pickup switch on an LS92 to a switchcraft, and change the pots to CTS, why would I need an LS260 to go head to head with a Std?
Or, if solid maple flame top is the criteria, I'll take an LS160 solid flame top (LS150F), which is still half the price of a Gibbo Std, and less than half the price of a Custom shop R8.
The Tokai prices are only approaching the prices of the lowest end bottom of the range half finished, not painted, no body or neck binding, Gibbo's.
Tokai don't make any models with those specs and finish.