1980 Tokai Love Rock

Phantom · Guitar God Joined: 10 Apr 2010 Posts: 659 Location: Canada

What model would you say this is guys?

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/280936865434?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619#ht_720wt_1397

villager · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 1:44 am Post subject:

probably a 120 could be veneer or solid
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Phantom · Guitar God Joined: 10 Apr 2010 Posts: 659 Location: Canada

Thanks Mark.

Peter Mac · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 3:53 am Post subject:

Hi guys

if both pickups are DiMarzio then it's an LS-120, if they are both Gotoh then it would be LS-100
regards
Peter Mac
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Phantom · Guitar God Joined: 10 Apr 2010 Posts: 659 Location: Canada

Thanks Peter

jacco · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 5:59 am Post subject:

You mistake the 80-100 difference for the 100-120 difference Peter. Both the 100 & 120 have DiMarzio PAFs, the 80 has the Goto PAFs.
I've got the feeling this one has a solid top, based on nothing really..

Phantom · Guitar God Joined: 10 Apr 2010 Posts: 659 Location: Canada

You can never deny the master Jacco. thx J

luis · Guitar God Joined: 15 Sep 2001 Posts: 2305 Location: Spain

I have tried recently a 1980 LS-100 with a solid plain top, no flame there. Very good guitar, those old Tokais have something special. I do love that neck profile in 80s and up.
We are looking for a soft case for it, it seems it was missing on the process of buying.

Peter Mac · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:21 pm Post subject:

Hi guys,
Whilst you are correct about the pick-ups (PAF for LS100 and LS120V) this didn't happen until 1981 when the LS-120V was released on the market.
Reborn Old stopped at around 0009570 and was then Love Rock. This serial number 0011181 means it was made in the latter part of 1980, it is not conclusive that it is an LS-120V - it could in fact be a very fine LS-100
as Tokai still had access to some awesome lumber because they hadn't signed the CITES treaty yet. This could be an LS-100 with a flamed top getting ready to become the LS-120 model in a few months.
Vol 3 (1980) was released Nov 1979 but Vol 4 (1981) was in March 1981 so there is quite a gap compared to other catalogs and there is no model LS-120 in the 1980 catalog. It is listed as a new product in the 1981 catalog
Hope this helps the discussion
Peter Mac
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The world will not end today...because it is already tomorrow in Australia.

jacco · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:59 pm Post subject:

Hi Peter, I don't always understand what the catalogs say for they are in Japanese. I do however know that none of the LS100s I have logged from 1978 to 1980 have Goto pickups. Do a search and you will see all of them have DiMarzio PAFs.

villager · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 4:23 am Post subject:

Peter Mac · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 4:35 pm Post subject:

Hi Jacco
I have already conceded the point between Gotoh and DiM pups on the LS-100 - I was thinking of LS-80 to LS-100.
I did study Japanese at school and can understand bits of script but this LS-120 really has me puzzled. It shows up in 1981 Vol 4 as a new product which generally means "Just Released" however villager has a 1980 LPR with stamped fretboard and 0007400 ser.#, placing it before Reborn Old.
This is one for further investigation.
Peter Mac
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The world will not end today...because it is already tomorrow in Australia.

jacco · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 12:10 am Post subject:

Do you mean that the LS120 was released in 1981 according to the catalogs?
The alledged 1981 arched top and flat top catalogs don't say 1981 on front & back or anywhere inside so far I can see. Only on the bottom of the next to last page there's 810340C in the arched and 810360C in the flat top catalog. The same page features a large Reborn Old Tokai logo, so maybe that's a 1980 catalog? Can you shed some light on this?
BTW I have logged 6 1979 LS120s all in the 9005xxx range.

luis · Guitar God Joined: 15 Sep 2001 Posts: 2305 Location: Spain

Peter you have a PM....

greco_burst · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 7:57 pm Post subject: