NGD TLS 80?

wyffa · Post by **wyffa** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:15 am

Hello guys,

I am new to Tokai, this also my very first LP guitar, really excited about this

From the Interwebs infos I have gathered, the guitar seems to be a TLS 80 from 1985, but Im not really sure and will have to ask you guys for the details.

ps: sorry about the poor cellphone camera and bad lighting quality

It looks like one piece back to me, but thinking of it, that is to good to be true for a mid 80s TLS below 100s series.

It still have the PCB pots, but the former owner have replaced the capacitors to a newer one,Sozo

Truss rod cover have been replaced, the hole won't fit because the cover is too long, only 1 screw attached at the bottom side

Sigmania · Post by **Sigmania** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:21 am

Looks like a 2 piece back?

Can you post pics of the back of the headstock?

wyffa · Post by **wyffa** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:28 am

Tokai 57 Pafs

Can anyone tell me what kind of tenon this is? short? medium?long?

On the back of the headstock says 5026***, which indicates a 1985 made

The tuners are kluson model, but only "DELUXE" written on it, no kluson, no tokai, wondering if this is the original one?

wyffa · Post by **wyffa** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:32 am

I really want to know want kind of finish this guitar might have?
my guess is nitro or a thin poly finish, cause I found a very small nicks in the back of the neck on 11th fret low e string, not sure if you guys can see it

Also the bridge, I havent got the time (aka I just want to play it first lol) to see if they are still original or not, but it feels and sounds right to me

wyffa · Post by **wyffa** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:36 am

Sigmania wrote:Looks like a 2 piece back?

Can you post pics of the back of the headstock?

Yea could be, will have to take another pic tommorow with a better lighting, the Japanese surely know how to make the joint not visible

Reborn Old · Post by **Reborn Old** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 1:34 pm

HNGD wyffa

You would need to test an inconspicuous spot like a pickup cavity with lacquer thinner to determine finish type.
Acetone usually won't work by itself and paint thinner wouldn't work at all.

Protect the top with a towel and one small drop of lacquer thinner should melt any nitro formulation
within minutes while not reacting with a poly finish.

Check for wood grain interuption or varying grain direction
at the lower center strap pin to check for a center seam.

A 2 piece back + poly finish => LS-60
A 1 piece back + nitro finish => LS-80

cashcow · Post by **cashcow** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 3:09 pm

Can't tell by the photo but my Burny had a crack just below the binding. May want to get that checked out.

Peter Mac · Post by **Peter Mac** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 10:12 pm

hi guys,

Also check the hardware . . it looks like chrome so it would be a TLS-60.
The veneer top is very lateral, common of the TLS-60 tops also
If it is nickel plate, it could be a TLS-80, but from the photos, I would go TLS-60.
In 1985 both TLS-60 and TLS-80 had the '57 PAF.

Peter

Sigmania · Post by **Sigmania** » Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:07 am

I was thinking a TLS60 also since it looks like a 2 piece center seam back from the photos.

Great guitars and I really like my Tokai 57 pickups in my 1983 LS80.

wyffa · Post by **wyffa** » Tue Nov 25, 2014 11:05 pm

More pictures as promised guys, any help will be much appreciated

[/img]http://imageshack.com/a/img661/8765/2Llw0c.jpg

[/img]http://imageshack.com/a/img907/4769/lHHa9K.jpg

[/img]http://imageshack.com/a/img913/1376/wCElFX.jpg

[/img]http://imageshack.com/a/img674/7210/09WIma.jpg

[/img]http://imageshack.com/a/img537/7946/JYZ2KO.jpg

[/img]http://imageshack.com/a/img537/6771/WBX0nm.jpg[img]

wyffa · Post by **wyffa** » Tue Nov 25, 2014 11:16 pm

hmm any idea why the pics cant be seen guys?
=================================================

Reborn Old wrote:HNGD wyffa

You would need to test an inconspicuous spot like a pickup cavity with lacquer thinner to determine finish type.
Acetone usually won't work by itself and paint thinner wouldn't work at all.

Protect the top with a towel and one small drop of lacquer thinner should melt any nitro formulation
within minutes while not reacting with a poly finish.

Check for wood grain interuption or varying grain direction
at the lower center strap pin to check for a center seam.

A 2 piece back + poly finish => LS-60
A 1 piece back + nitro finish => LS-80

Sigmania wrote:I was thinking a TLS60 also since it looks like a 2 piece center seam back from the photos.

Great guitars and I really like my Tokai 57 pickups in my 1983 LS80.

will do that Reborn old, although I finally see the centre seam, shud be there on the updated pics
.
Thanks Sigmania, I agree seems more like a TLS 60 (being marketed as TLS 80 when I bought it), however its not bad for an entry Les Paul

Peter Mac wrote:hi guys,

Also check the hardware . . it looks like chrome so it would be a TLS-60.
The veneer top is very lateral, common of the TLS-60 tops also
If it is nickel plate, it could be a TLS-80, but from the photos, I would go TLS-60.
In 1985 both TLS-60 and TLS-80 had the '57 PAF.

Peter

Peter,

I really can't tell if it is nickel or chrome, but looks like aged chrome.
Question:

- Does TLS 60 has Fret Edge Binding as well as TLS 80 and above?

- This guitar needs a pickguard, any idea what brand should be a direct replacement for this?

Sigmania · Post by **Sigmania** » Tue Nov 25, 2014 11:22 pm

edited

duff · Post by **duff** » Wed Nov 26, 2014 7:40 am

wyffa wrote:hmm any idea why the pics cant be seen guys?
=================================================

you re using the tag wrong, it should be url[/img], not the other way around. Now the html is looking for a picture between

Peter Mac · Post by **Peter Mac** » Wed Nov 26, 2014 3:38 pm

Hi guys,

With hardware, chrome has a bluish tinge to it where nickel has a yellow tinge.
Before 1987, pretty much every LS/TLS model had fret binding.

I saw the bridge on there. The intonation saddles for the E, B and G need to be reversed. to allow the flat side to go totally to the edge of the bridge cavity on the pickup side. The D, A and E should stay as they are.

Personally, I don't like pickguards on Les Pauls. They obstruct the symmetry of the body. If you feel you must have one, there are many sold on Yahoo Japan or maybe StewMac if you're in the USA.

Peter Mac

wyffa · Post by **wyffa** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 7:27 am

You are right Duff should be the other way round, thanks for that

Peter,
I can not find any bluish tinge anywhere round tailpiece and bridge, so I presume this made out of nickel.
Good idea about saddles intonation, will definitely try that out.
Yeh needs pickguard so bad because first, it will change the look of it, second,personally I am not really into the finish/colour and figured/ flame maple top thingy the guitar has, but since its really hard to find a Tokai LP especially the vintage one round here, I thought this one should be a good start for me

Guys I'm also thinking of replacing all the pots with vintage taper CTS, should I get the long shaft or short shaft ones?
I'm planning to do 50's wiring and get a good pair of capacitors, just to hear how different that would sound, and see what happens.