Debranded Tokai TE-80? Telecaster

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Udonitron

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Hey Guys

So this arrived yesterday but not 100% on what model it is?
No logo, removed (why god...why!?).
Tokai tuners, neck heel stamp 12=7 A, Tokai pickups and electronics are all original with untouched solder.
1 piece body covered in a super thin checked to hell lacquer.
I would assume a TE-80 but did they have a tiny contour on the back?
Serial looks to be from 1980?



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My rough guess is that it is a refinished TE-85.

It has a brass bridge and one piece figured ash body like a TE-85... BUT it should be natural/light butterscotch finish.

It looks like it was stripped and stained brown to me.
 
Ah nice call, thanks man.
Were they slightly carved ont he back or did the previous owner in Japan do that?
I just bought a decal from a UK seller to bring her back to previous glory.
Would this be a 78 or 88 then?
No stamp on the fretboard however
:-?
 
hi, looks like some changed parts? usually expect to see the TOKAI stamp on the brass bridge plate, maybe in 78 it was not there? I have not seen another 78 TE85.
the missing stamp on the fretboard could also be a 1978 spec, but this one has the wider neck plate with serial, so would expect a stamp of model number on last fret, however, could have also had it ink stamped in neck pocket as well, with the likely refin, could have been removed. Or also, if the fretboard was taken right back due to warping previously etc etc... and refretted...but the neck is Tokai, for sure.
i am not a expert with the TE models, just some idea's. :wink:
 
No carve that I am aware of. That was added.

The bridge plate should have Tokai stamped below the pickup.

That's obviously a 1978 serial number but the plate is likely off a Springy Sound. I don't think they made Breezysound in 1978. First year was 1980, right? First in the catalog in 1981?

So very hard to say exactly what this is. Would help to have some shots of the electronics and cavities.
 
Yeah no stamp on the bridge stood out for me as well but the bridge looks identical.
I noticed yesterday that the TE's didn't start until 81 via the catalogues on the site so I was stumped.
Weird thing is, this one seems to have untouched solder on the electronics and they are Tokai pups.
Weird thing is the 1 meg pots, was that normal?
I could say it is a Tokai neck and parts with a different body but the body would have to be old looking out the neck pocket routing...pre-CNC or hand done.
Prototype lol?



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If it was refinned then it was done with all the electronics intact as the solder is all untouched and no lacquer on any of the wiring etc.

Jacco made some good points on the MLP forum stating that they really started in 79 but didn't appear until until 81 in the catalogues.
The plate was thought to be from a 78 ST but looking at the guitar it has all Tokai parts, pups, pots, caps, tuners, etc it is quite plausible that is really is a 78.

What is very interesting is the point of no logo on the headstock or stamps in the cavities.
It is a Tokai neck 100% but no logo and no sign of the neck being refinished to me states a possible early model from 78, maybe a prototype, where the logo had not been created yet nor model # decided upon thus no stamps etc on the body.
Same goes for the unstamped brass bridge
 

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