This is good news if it's true. It means that Tokai will stay in business plus keep their hand in in building Strat and Tele replicas. Plus maybe I can fly the Fender flag again if it's up to Tokai standards (that is, made by them). :wink:
The current state of affairs at Fender is grim, judging from my recent trip to the local F dealer. American Strat models ($850) with no resonance to them and halfway decent Strat tones in some positions. One out of the two Strat Deluxes ($1200) they had (nice finishes but the maple was so broad-grained I had to look twice to assure myself it really was maple) played well and had some snap to it. There was a Mexican 50s Strat that was good.
I guess you need to buy stuff from their Custom Shop to get a decent Strat, or hope you get a good one from Mexico. Their California production line QC must be a horrorshow. And this ticks me off :evil: because Fender created such fantastic, cheap and durable instruments, in the beginning, that is. I want them to do well, and it's just sad. Man, have I been spoiled by you-know-whats!
From everything I've read, G&L Strats are the way to go for good American Strats. And Reverends are so chimey and fun to play they oughtta be illegal.