Ha! Where were you guys when we asked for 1977 models on here?
Post pics of the 1977 models pllllease!!
Peter, my friend took my external hard disc with all the MIJ info with him on his world trip. I won't be able to access it for at least 6 months. So I am missing the complete overview, I do have some pics on this computer though.
I'm sorry, I was mistaken about the blank neck plate type, I should have known that, have plenty of pics of those. But hey, I'm a LP guy..
I believe the way Tokai did it was model stamp on neck pocket of the body and serial number stamp on the butt of the neck.
I know there was an overlap in time of use of neck stamping and neck plate serials, I have found both in non sequential order. I have also found models with a neck stamp AND neck plate serial , even with both being different on the same model. And I believe Marcus owns one with 2 different neck stamp serials.
If we take that in account, I wonder how this fits in the picture:
Peter Mac said:
All stamped serial numbers on Fendoh models were random throughout Tokai's first 10 years - regardless of year.(excludes SS models) On production line, you grab a handful until they're used up and then grab another, and Tokai had up to 8 assemblers so do the math.
Serial number stamping was used on ST models during a tiny part of Tokai production, ie only until the first half of 1978.
How would they have gone about using the neck plate serials. I guess these were pre engraved..
Here are some pics I found;
That's 8000760 & 8000664 on the same neck..
A very early 8000003 according to the seller
What abpout this early neck plate serial with normal width neck plate