LS-80 with XLR jack??

aroomstudios · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 8:53 pm Post subject: LS-80 with XLR jack??

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tokai-LS-80-Love-Rock-Custom-Shop-Flame-Maple-Cap-MIJ-Japan-Les-Paul-Lawsuit/362101172083?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Can anyone explain this? It looks factory and the edge of the guitar on the plug side is flat then finished over. Also, what is up with the 103th where Tokai should be? I have no interest in buying this guitar as I already have 4 older LS series guitars. I just think it is really strange and have never seen anything like this before. Anyone have any ideas?

brokentoes · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 7:18 am Post subject:

Hard to say for sure what's going on there. Could 103rd be some kind of military
Dealio ? 1992 is vintage for 1992 but not what we here consider vintage as far as ls80 go. If that's not a veneer top I'd be very surprised. The cavity shot that proves it's solid does nothing but prove it's a tokai.

Highly doubt the xlr Jack is factory

aroomstudios · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 8:23 am Post subject:

Look at picture 6. The guitar is flattened down at the xlr jack and is then stained/clear coated to blend. The top binding is also flat. I doubt someone did this later and re-finished the guitar to match that would cost too much money. If someone did this later there would just be a curve at the jack like any other guitar. That is the reason it looks factory to me Very strange.

Paladin2019 · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 11:09 am Post subject:

I agree the jack looks factory. A refinish would destroy the flame veneer.

I also agree that it's a '92 LS80 but I have no idea what's going on with the 103. Again, a refinish would have destroyed the Love Rock Model text.

aroomstudios · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 11:29 am Post subject:

An XLR jack on a guitar is very strange. I wonder if it is actually wired like a normal 1/4 jack just to not get pulled out. Like maybe the owner used the guitar live with a wireless and preferred the XLR as it would not get pulled out. Very strange though and I have never seen anything like this on any guitar from any manufacture.

wulfman · Guitar God Joined: 07 Feb 2010 Posts: 886 Location: Ottawa

Here is an interesting one I had for a while, a Good Times Tokai. My guess is that 103 is just another example of a custom-order from Tokai.

Good Times (1 of 23).jpg by Harold Wulf, on Flickr

Loudmouse · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 9:25 am Post subject:

The old 1970's Gibson Les Paul Signature hollowbodies had an XLR out for low impedance right in to the recording console, as well as a standard 1/4 jack.
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I heard they threatened Tokai with a lawsuit, but they never got to Cort?

aroomstudios · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 9:31 am Post subject:

That actually makes a bit of sense. So, basically just a passive DI box built into a guitar. Weird, but I can see the point of that.