Tokai Love Rock - MIJ/MIK/Fake?

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WHAT!
Let's have a closer look on the TOM! Most japanese models I know have the gibson look alike ABR-1 which sports small posts, while korean such as korean epiphone les paul, have large "screwable" posts.
The TOM of your ALS has nothing to do with a nashville TOM.

Korean Bridge:
EPIB4BRIDGE.jpg


Abr1:
30U-14093_bridge-tailpiece.jpg


And Nashville which is 'higher' allowing more intonation settings.
LPSTDHS_Les_Paul_Std_08_HP_BR.jpg
 
Looks like a fairly normal scarf joint at the neck:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_yHGyBJlpprA/STqa4WAv-fI/AAAAAAAAAvw/xdq-QHpfpJY/s400/042.JPG

Also, you don't have a Nashville bridge - yours is a standard ABR bridge. Nashville looks like this:

http://www.elderly.com/images/accessories/GEPT/BR030.jpg
 
Tomcat_UA said:
cosmitron 2 said:
Btw, the name ALS seems alright as far as I know.
Click to expand...
According to TokaiRegistry ALS were MIJ for USA market until beginning of 90'. Did that export models have serials?

http://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/tokai_85-86_electric_p7.jpg
Click to expand...
but if it's a 90's als, it's probably a korean one.
http://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/v1808.jpg
from 1995 catalog.

There's something wrong.
It's not a ALS60 (according to my poor personnal knowledge) as if it's a korean (large screw for posts, TOM) it can't cost 60000Y. So it should be a ALS48 or something cheaper.
If it's a ALS60 from the mid 80's then it should sport a abr1 'vintage style bridge'.
 
marcusnieman said:
Looks like a fairly normal scarf joint at the neck:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_yHGyBJlpprA/STqa4WAv-fI/AAAAAAAAAvw/xdq-QHpfpJY/s400/042.JPG
Click to expand...

What guitar is that from Marcus?
 
Definitivela a MIK Tokai.
pre 2000
Probably a 3 pcs. neck - at least you see on the 2nd pic a 2 pcs. neck.
Try always - before you buy! - to ask the forum or/and use the search button.

Just got aware:
stratman323 said:
Is that a joint in the neck below the headstock? (2nd pic).

Mike
Click to expand...
Good eyes, Mike!
 
settebello said:
Please have a look to this thread in the japanaxe forum,written by our forummember japanstrat.
http://forum.japanaxe.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1509

Volker
Click to expand...
oh! That's nice! But you can't always check this! Especially in a guitar store, most of guitars have their strings on, don't they?
 
"Sam Sung" pickups were used in mid-late 90s Epiphone LPs - all made in... yep, Korea. Sam Sung are based in Seoul - see here:

http://www.fattonepickups.com/

They're a bit pants to be honest - get yourself a good replacement set!
 
cosmitron 2 said:
settebello said:
Please have a look to this thread in the japanaxe forum,written by our forummember japanstrat.
http://forum.japanaxe.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1509

Volker
Click to expand...
oh! That's nice! But you can't always check this! Especially in a guitar store, most of guitars have their strings on, don't they?
Click to expand...
True..looking inside the pickup cavities would be near impossible in a store..but the bridge being sleeved rather than screwed straight into the wood is a giveaway.
 
My guess is this guitar is an ALS48 rather from 95 than 85. Just a matter of only ten years mistake. :D

Anyway, this guitar may be korean and made with muddy cheap pickups.. But if I remember it well, one page ago, Tomcat_UA, you said something like 'But it sounds great'.
Now you know what your guitar probably is. Don't let it spoil your enjoyement playing it.

...Or sell it before you hate it too much to breack it and find a good old MIJ for the same price.
(you'll find plenty of good wood sticks for 700$ such as Epiphone japan, Greco, Burny, Orville, JAPANESE Tokai... I'm sure you'll find plenty of informations right here in this forum :wink: )
And please don't buy anything from the seller of your ALS again.

Some example on a famous bidding website:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Japan-made-Epiphone-by-Gibson-lespaul-custom-long-tenon_W0QQitemZ120381311508QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item120381311508
http://cgi.ebay.com/Burny-Late-70s-Early-80s-LP-Custom-Burst-MIJ_W0QQitemZ190287508633QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item190287508633
 
stratman323 said:
marcusnieman said:
Looks like a fairly normal scarf joint at the neck:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_yHGyBJlpprA/STqa4WAv-fI/AAAAAAAAAvw/xdq-QHpfpJY/s400/042.JPG
Click to expand...

What guitar is that from Marcus?
Click to expand...

It's from a Renaissance RS-6 acoustic (pinched this photo from the Taylor forum)
 
It's not a MIJ Tokai.
Rectangular shaped pickup cavity holes means that it's not a MIJ.
 
I visited last week in London Denmark street to find a Tokai guitar. This is the quality I found all over the place. Looks more like a fake from China, comments...

http://www.dvdplaza.fi/galleria/showphoto.php/photo/17819/ppuser/748

Matti
 
What makes you think it's a fake? To be fair, Rockers is a dreadful shop, aimed at the kiddies who want to play loud heavy metal riffs all day. :evil: Regent Sound is a much better shop, but Tokais are not their speciality.
 
stratman323 said:
What makes you think it's a fake? To be fair, Rockers is a dreadful shop, aimed at the kiddies who want to play loud heavy metal riffs all day. :evil: Regent Sound is a much better shop, but Tokais are not their speciality.
Click to expand...

I have seen quite many Tokais during last years, and those I found in many shops is Denmark street have been by far the lousiest, and also cheapest I have seen (300 ?). This picture is the only picture I was allowed to take in the shops. Look at the logo font, too thick and too vague to my opinion. I hope these are fakes, since if they are not, Tokai is just another brand ; - ) I found only one Japanese Tokai in Denmark street and it was allready reserved...

Matti
 
mattim said:
stratman323 said:
What makes you think it's a fake? To be fair, Rockers is a dreadful shop, aimed at the kiddies who want to play loud heavy metal riffs all day. :evil: Regent Sound is a much better shop, but Tokais are not their speciality.
Click to expand...

I have seen quite many Tokais during last years, and those I found in many shops is Denmark street have been by far the lousiest, and also cheapest I have seen (300 ?). This picture is the only picture I was allowed to take in the shops. Look at the logo font, too thick and too vague to my opinion. I hope these are fakes, since if they are not, Tokai is just another brand ; - ) I found only one Japanese Tokai in Denmark street and it was allready reserved...

Matti
Click to expand...

Where's the picture? :eek:
 
Well that's quite a scandal if you're right. Apart from Wunjo, Vintage & Rare & Chris Bryant, all the shops in Denmark Street are owned by one big company, whose name I forget now. Maybe it's worth dropping a line to Bob @ Tokai UK to tell him what you think?
 
Music Ground is the name you're searching for.

I've not been impressed with Rockers. They've lost at least 2 expensive purchases from me in the last year due to their "Take it or leave it Guv - I couldn't give a monkey's'" attitude.

"Vintage and Rare" and "Regent Sound" are very good however. Well worth a visit and a chat. :D

But if you're looking for Tokais, Denmark St. is a dead loss. Anyway, who cares when we have such excellent Tokai dealers on this forum?
 

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