apmechling
Active member
Hey guys -
I've been in the market for the finest, highest-quality Japanese Les Paul Replica I can find, and, naturally, Tokai was up there on the top of my list.
So I went to a shop I know that has the best selection of Japanese Les Pauls and I saw a 2000 Tokai LS-350. I was REALLY excited, so the guy handed it to me and I did a quick inspection and was amazed at how poor the quality was on it.
The neck looked like a 2-piece mahogany neck, for one thing. I wouldn't believe it was true, so I asked the store manager and he, along with about 4 other store workers, inspected it for 5 minutes, all scratching their heads, trying to figure out if it was 1-piece or 2.
There was a big seam running down the middle of the neck and it was too straight to be just a detail of the wood, so I picked up one of their LS-320 models and I found the same thing. And these are JAPANESE LS-320s and LS-350s!
What the heck are they doing in the Tokai plant now!? Most of their older models - even LS-50s from the early 80's, had one-piece mahogany necks, MAYBE an extra piece of wood for the wing of the headstock, but that's it.
Nowadays, the Japanese Tokais I see have 4-piece necks, with one piece for the bulk of the neck, 2 wings on the headstock, and an extra chunk for the heel. This just ticks me off. Even my LS-75Q was like that, which was the ultimate reason I sold it, even though it looked great from the front.
Why do you think Tokai is making a mockery out of their Love Rocks these days? I wouldn't pay $1,500 for a new LS-320, but I would still shell out $1,500 for an older 80's LS-100, if it was just right.
Just venting, as I was hoping in my search of the ultimate new Japanese 50's reissue LP, I would end up with a Tokai. Now I think I am going with Navigator or History, which, compared to new Tokai stuff, just buries them in no contest.
Just wondering what you guys think is going on there with this 20-piece neck crap coming out of the Tokai plant.
I've been in the market for the finest, highest-quality Japanese Les Paul Replica I can find, and, naturally, Tokai was up there on the top of my list.
So I went to a shop I know that has the best selection of Japanese Les Pauls and I saw a 2000 Tokai LS-350. I was REALLY excited, so the guy handed it to me and I did a quick inspection and was amazed at how poor the quality was on it.
The neck looked like a 2-piece mahogany neck, for one thing. I wouldn't believe it was true, so I asked the store manager and he, along with about 4 other store workers, inspected it for 5 minutes, all scratching their heads, trying to figure out if it was 1-piece or 2.
There was a big seam running down the middle of the neck and it was too straight to be just a detail of the wood, so I picked up one of their LS-320 models and I found the same thing. And these are JAPANESE LS-320s and LS-350s!
What the heck are they doing in the Tokai plant now!? Most of their older models - even LS-50s from the early 80's, had one-piece mahogany necks, MAYBE an extra piece of wood for the wing of the headstock, but that's it.
Nowadays, the Japanese Tokais I see have 4-piece necks, with one piece for the bulk of the neck, 2 wings on the headstock, and an extra chunk for the heel. This just ticks me off. Even my LS-75Q was like that, which was the ultimate reason I sold it, even though it looked great from the front.
Why do you think Tokai is making a mockery out of their Love Rocks these days? I wouldn't pay $1,500 for a new LS-320, but I would still shell out $1,500 for an older 80's LS-100, if it was just right.
Just venting, as I was hoping in my search of the ultimate new Japanese 50's reissue LP, I would end up with a Tokai. Now I think I am going with Navigator or History, which, compared to new Tokai stuff, just buries them in no contest.
Just wondering what you guys think is going on there with this 20-piece neck crap coming out of the Tokai plant.