Tokai 330?

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I played a couple of early 60s Gibson ES330s at Vintage & Rare Guitars in London last week. Very nice too, but so they should be for ?3000 each. :roll:

Which made me wonder, have Tokai ever produced anything like a 330? For those who don't know the model, it's basically a 335 shape but without the solid centre block, & with P90s rather than humbuckers. I tried a few of the Epiphone 330 copies (whatever they're called - Casino?), but they felt & sounded cheaply made and nasty, especially when you consider they sell for over ?500.

I'm sure if Tokai ever made such a guitar it would be better than the Epiphones - but did they? Or was there anything similar - a hollow body with 2 P90s; humbuckers just don't really do it for me.
 
Your best bet for a MIJ of this type would probably be an Epiphone Elite Casino.

I had one but sold it as I realised after a while that I don't really go for P90s. That said, it was an extremely good instrument, well made and equipped (Gibson pickups, etc). I think they sell for around ?600 on eBay, although they don't come up all the time.

Beware that the necks feel very thin and narrow after a 335 or Tokai ES model; this is how they're meant to be but it's not necessarily something that suits everyone.
 
I have an Epiphone 330 (Korean) and it's a great guitar. You so have to shop around to find a good one though as I played some dogs before I got mine...
 
I don't think so.

neither other japanese makers did. Exept for the Epiphone elite casino. ( Aria pro II made copies of the casino with set and bolt on necks, that's the only brand I know who did)
 
OK, not what I wanted to hear, but thanks anyway. I love P90s, and slim necks, but if there's a good Epiphone out there, I haven't tried it. The ones I've tried have all been cheap and nasty sounding and feeling. In fact, the difference between Epiphones generally and Tokais amazes me - even the cheapest Tokais seem to be better than Epiphones.

And that awful headstock. :cry:

Oh well....
 
I have an Epiphone Casino that I put a set of Duncan Antiquities in and it plays and sounds great. Don't give up on the Casino until you try a few. I love mine!

Bill
 
OK, so could you tell me more? What makes a difference to the quality of these Epiphones? Age? Country of manufacture? For example, could you tell me a bit more about your Casino? I don't see many of them in London, and the ones I have seen have seen have been very unimpressive.

Also, how do you fit new P90s inside those shiny metal covers?

Have Tokai made any semi-acoustic guitars with P90s?
 
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