LS-80 Reborn '79 info please

Mono · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 11:57 am Post subject:

Haha. Not my handiwork then

villager · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 12:04 am Post subject:

i have no idea where she came from... apart from Japan!!
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Jonwe · Plucker Joined: 05 Mar 2017 Posts: 14

Someone's handywork with the soldering iron in the body cavity:

Possibly mono's though I know Snakeyhips replaced the pickups so it might be his or his luthier's.

Mono · Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2017 3:22 pm Post subject:

Nope, that is definitely my doing
Good to see it's still going strong

spikeymikey · Guitar God Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 718

Did you get it from me sans bridge pickup, Andy? Cos I had a Duncan there.

Mono · Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 8:32 am Post subject:

I think it came with gotoh pickups in it... long time ago though, really can't recall. Thinking of hunting for an LS80 again!!

villager · Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 9:29 am Post subject:

well you know where to start looking Andy..

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Jonwe · Plucker Joined: 05 Mar 2017 Posts: 14

Sonic monkeys in there now - fitted by snakeyhips. Great sound and aged just the right amount.

Peter Mac · Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 5:43 pm Post subject:

Hi all,
this is a gorgeous LS-80, with"just the right amount of flame".
Your mate Bryn is incorrect about the nitro finish. Ls-50 and LS-60 of the same year (1979) and later are all poly. The LS-80 and higher models sported Nitro finish.
I have had a fair few LS-80's go through my hands over the last 30 years and overall IMO they are usually better than many of the higher price Models. Remember that LS-100's are LS-80 with DiMarzio pups instead of Goto so we can't include them.
All LS-80's have a solid, 2 piece carved maple top on a 1 piece Mahogany body. The biggest difference between the LS-80 and LS-60 (apart from the lacquer)was the quality of the wood used. Whilst the maple on the LS-60 was Regular grade, LS-80 got A-Grade maple - and sometimes AA. I have personally seen LS-80's with birdseye and light quilt tops. This all changed in 1983 when LS-80's were given flame veneer tops.
So you can be sure when we all tell you that guitar is an absolute Gibson-killer, made at a time when Tokai were at the top of the "food chain" with materials and craftsmanship.

Peter Mac
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Jonwe · Plucker Joined: 05 Mar 2017 Posts: 14

Thanks for the info Peter - Tokai forum really is a mine of useful information.

Absolutely loving this guitar. One thing that interests me is the inlaid logo on the headstock - did they really spend time doing that on all the models?