1980 LS120

[Sigmania]

Tokai／LS-120 Sunburst【3.8kg & 1P-Mahogany Body】 1980／中古／¥699000／状態：A

Seller's description:

Pretty lightweight 3.8kg & 1P-Mahogany Body. It is a Tokai LS-120 Sunburst made in 1980, which is the early Love Rock Model, which is said to be a complete copy of Gibson Les Paul. Tokai still has many fans today, but this machine is the most popular in Tokai's history and is said to be a good one. It is made with excellent woodworking technology, from the internal structure to the shape of the arch, and is truly a "perfect copy". It is an individual suitable for being praised as a so-called Japan vintage.

This machine uses Flame Maple for the body top, Mahogany for the back and neck, and Rosewood for the fingerboard. The pickup uses Dimarzio PAF Set (Original) for both front and rear.

There are dents from normal use and irregularities in the head due to changes in warp knitting, but even though it has been over 40 years since it was manufactured, it still retains a solid sense of gloss, and the fret and nut have less wear and tear, making it an individual with little usability. It seems. The neck is in good condition, the truss rod has plenty of room in both the forward and reverse warp directions, and the electrical system is in good condition.

Body: Figured Maple / 1P-Mahogany
Neck: Solid Rosewood / 1P-Mahogany
Fingerboard Radius: 12inch
Fret: 22F
Pickups: Dimarzio PAF Set (Original)
Control: 2-Volume, 2-Tone, 3-Way PU Selector
Date: 1980
Weight : 3.8kg

 

[jselect]

Great, but veneer top...... too expensive for me.....

 

[Sigmania]

How do you know it is a veneer top?

Many LS120s are solid flame tops. I own one.

Flame veneer on Tokais is typically over the top flame in my experience.

I suspect it's solid myself.

 

[eborej]

I think the solid flame top LS120s from the '80s are more the exception than the rule. Congrats if you managed to pick one up when they were still available for a reasonable price.

I have 2 1980 LS-120s that have very nice flame tops but neither appear to be solid top.

The one that is for sale by Hybrid Guitars better have a solid top for the price that they're asking but since they don't provide the money shot of the PU cavities I would assume it has a veneer top. I think this is the most expensive LS-120 I've ever seen listed. There are a lot of other nice options at that price point.

 

[Sigmania]

Yeah. But like I said the famed veneers are usually spectacular. The real/solid flame tops often have more subtle flame and/or mineral streaking.

There’s a whole thread on these that reborn old started almost ten years ago. Two of my guitars are in it. One is even an LS80 solid flame top.

1978-1985 vintage LS solid flametop gallery

And I have also had a veneer 1981 LS120 so I’m familiar.

 

[jselect]

How do you know it is a veneer top?

Many LS120s are solid flame tops. I own one.

Flame veneer on Tokais is typically over the top flame in my experience.

I suspect it's solid myself.

Because I asked the shop.

 

[Sigmania]

What did they say?

 

[Sigmania]

Do you speak Japanese?

It seems there is a lot of confusion in translations. Solid tops translate as veneer in English.

"Veneer" vs. "Laminte" In Japanese Translations

 

[jselect]

What did they say?

This guitar has not solid top.

 

[jselect]

Do you speak Japanese?

It seems there is a lot of confusion in translations. Solid tops translate as veneer in English.

"Veneer" vs. "Laminte" In Japanese Translations

I understand that.

 

[Sigmania]

I would want to see pictures. I can’t tell you how many guitar dealers I’ve run across that have no idea what they have.

I still think it’s probably solid.

And the price is insane. Even for a solid flame top. But it is clean and the DiMarzio sticker is very rare. Cool to see it.

 

[jselect]

The shop also said,"We can not say this has solid top."

 

[jselect]

I wanted the shop to remove the front pickup and to see the image taken inside the pickup cavity,
but they refused to do so. So I gave up the purchase.

 

[Sigmania]

Yep. It’s extremely expensive. They should absolutely do that if they want to sell it.

 

[jselect]

Yep. It’s extremely expensive. They should absolutely do that if they want to sell it.

I think so,too.