Info about a Tokai Love Rock (Japan)

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gingerbbm said:
Thanks Jacco. Is it the condition it's in, or is there some other obvious sign? I'm looking to learn :)

Truss rod cover, serial number starting with two zeros. Generally for late 70s-early 80s first digit of the serial number would mean the year of manufacture but in 1980 there were no Love Rocks yet. It was the only year when Reborn Olds were made. Seeing that this blackie is Love Rock with that 00***** serial number which makes it a 2000 model.
 
Not quite Vladim.

The most obvious is the serial number.
In 1980 the serial range for Les Paul models starts around 0006500, therfore this one can't be from that year.
The range ~6500 to ~7500 will have the Reborn script, ~7500 to ~9500 Reborn Old script and after that Love Rock. So there are 3 script types in 1980.
Then the thickness of the Love Rock script is of the later type and it's not faded as the old ones have.

Things that could have been changed later but are not thpical for 1980:
-Dome shaped truss rod cover, I believe introduced in 1999. Reborns and most of the Reborn Old had the Gibson style trc, the Love Rocks after that the pointy style (except for export models to GB during the mid 80s, these had Ginson style trc).
-An early 1980 serial Tokai should have double ring Kluson style tuners, gold bell hat knobs and a white switch tip.
-The hardware of older Tokais looks far more aged.
 
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