michaeld
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- Joined
- Mar 14, 2009
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I'm brand new here, and will stick around and try to learn or fade away with my head down in shame depending on what I find out from y'all.
I have had a Tokai guitar since around 1988 (give or take a year). Basically, my girlfriend at the time gave it to me on my birthday after I made a comment that I'd like to learn to play guitar, and I knew nothing about it beyond that. It was in a Gibson hard case when I got it, same as now.
The serial number is 4022555, stamped on the back of the headstock. There are no letters or any other designation. But on the back of the headstock, on the machine heads, I saw the name "Deluxe" engraved into the metal.
On the front it says, "Tokai" and "Love Rock Model"
The guitar looks visually identical to the one at the top of this page:
http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDetails.aspx?Item=1926128
with the sole exception being that the pickups are chrome inside the pearl-colored outer section.
Based on what I found here:
http://www.tokairegistry.com/tokai-info/tokai-gibson-models.html
That means it was made in 1984.
* LS models from 1976/77 to 1982/83
* TLS models from 1983 to 1989
* ALS models from 1985 to 1986 or late - US Market only
* LS models from 1995 to present are manufactured in Japan
* ALS models from 1995 to present are manufactured in Korean
* NLS models for North America from 2003 to present
And that means it is a TLS model. But apparently there are several of those, as well.
I hear there are Korean and Chinese versions and knockoffs. How would I know if that's the case with this guitar? Were the knockoffs being made prior to 1988/89? I'll try to take pictures tomorrow and post them if you need to see for ID purposes.
Also, pardon my ignorance (I never DID learn to play, btw, but want to now), but what is so special about these guitars? If mine is some knockoff pos, that's okay. But if it is a piece of art, I'd kind of like to know!!!
Even if it IS a pos, it's still real pretty. The back is clearly mahogany, so the wood is gorgeous, at any rate.
Appreciate anything you can tell me about this guitar.
I have had a Tokai guitar since around 1988 (give or take a year). Basically, my girlfriend at the time gave it to me on my birthday after I made a comment that I'd like to learn to play guitar, and I knew nothing about it beyond that. It was in a Gibson hard case when I got it, same as now.
The serial number is 4022555, stamped on the back of the headstock. There are no letters or any other designation. But on the back of the headstock, on the machine heads, I saw the name "Deluxe" engraved into the metal.
On the front it says, "Tokai" and "Love Rock Model"
The guitar looks visually identical to the one at the top of this page:
http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDetails.aspx?Item=1926128
with the sole exception being that the pickups are chrome inside the pearl-colored outer section.
Based on what I found here:
http://www.tokairegistry.com/tokai-info/tokai-gibson-models.html
That means it was made in 1984.
* LS models from 1976/77 to 1982/83
* TLS models from 1983 to 1989
* ALS models from 1985 to 1986 or late - US Market only
* LS models from 1995 to present are manufactured in Japan
* ALS models from 1995 to present are manufactured in Korean
* NLS models for North America from 2003 to present
And that means it is a TLS model. But apparently there are several of those, as well.
I hear there are Korean and Chinese versions and knockoffs. How would I know if that's the case with this guitar? Were the knockoffs being made prior to 1988/89? I'll try to take pictures tomorrow and post them if you need to see for ID purposes.
Also, pardon my ignorance (I never DID learn to play, btw, but want to now), but what is so special about these guitars? If mine is some knockoff pos, that's okay. But if it is a piece of art, I'd kind of like to know!!!
Even if it IS a pos, it's still real pretty. The back is clearly mahogany, so the wood is gorgeous, at any rate.
Appreciate anything you can tell me about this guitar.