Tokai made Greco SA ES 335 Model

CliffsComicWorld · Guitar God Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 968 Location: U.S.A.

Aloha Crew,

Been wondering what model this guitar is and think I know now. i understand that Tokai made some Grecos in the 1980’s but I did not know they made some SA Models. Here is the run down.
No label or serial number
Stripped Ebony fretboard
Fret end bindings
Square routes for the pickups
Off center center block
Flamed maple top
Birdseye back
Gold bottom unmarked pickups

Anyone else?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/147832065@N08/albums/72157667453940008

Untitled by Cliff Jordan, on Flickr

Paladin2019

CliffsComicWorld · Guitar God Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 968 Location: U.S.A.

It’s known that Tokai made Les Paul type guitars for Greco in the 1980’s. The hints are offset neck tenons and square routing for the pickup up feet in the body’s. These are Tokai construction traits.

Here is the pickup cavity routes on the Greco SA Model

Untitled by Cliff Jordan, on Flickr

villager · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 11:31 pm Post subject:

well documented i have a few of them.. even have the tokai stamping in the cavitys sometimes..
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CliffsComicWorld · Guitar God Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 968 Location: U.S.A.

The pickups are a mystery.... will have to break out my meter and measure them... they actually sound pretty good. I think I’ll pull a pot and see if there is a date on them.

Untitled by Cliff Jordan, on Flickr

villager · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 12:53 am Post subject:

dont think the pu are original cliff, all the tokai made used the braided wire greco pus of the day...
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_JDZ · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 8:18 am Post subject:

First post for me here...

I have one just like Cliff's.

Pickups are the same:

3 by JDZ, on Flickr

Cavity routing is the same as on my 81 Tokai ES-150. Fujigen made Greco's don't have the relief in bridge PU cavity either, just a hole for the wire:

BridgeCavity_s by JDZ, on Flickr

BridgeCavity by JDZ, on Flickr

DSC01534 by JDZ, on Flickr

DSC01532 by JDZ, on Flickr

DSC01517 by JDZ, on Flickr

DSC01511 by JDZ, on Flickr

DSC01498 by JDZ, on Flickr

John

_JDZ · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 8:47 am Post subject:

Here's one of the POTs from mine

Given the open O on Greco (Mint Collection) and that Tokai was making Greco's in late 80's/early 90's, the pot would be FEB 1991?

20180323_221306 by JDZ, on Flickr

villager · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 1:15 pm Post subject:

interesting.. wonder why they used those pu and not the greco ones...
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http://www.japanguitars.co.uk

_JDZ · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 1:56 pm Post subject:

Do you know what kind of pickups they are?

wulfman · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 4:29 am Post subject:

I don't think you can be sure the pots are also original if it had a pickup change. Beautiful guitar regardless of the year.

_JDZ · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 5:20 am Post subject:

Thanks!

Both Cliff's and mine have the same pickups.
Assumed they were original to the guitars since they look to be the same?

villager · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:38 am Post subject:

duff · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 3:14 pm Post subject:

build by tokai, painted by greco?

CliffsComicWorld · Guitar God Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 968 Location: U.S.A.

I’ll pull a pot and take a picture of the pot codes....both of our guitars have this in common.
Tokai built
Stripped Ebony fretboard
Gold bottom pickups
Neck pickup has black wire lead
Bridge pickup has Gray wire lead

To be continued.....