1983 Goldstars Script Logo

[Sigmania]

Documenting these since the Registry says they don't exist.

First script logo I have logged so far was made in December 1982...

Pickups changed to V and VII in model year 1984 (appearing in at least one example made in November 1983).

VS-1 first in use in ST100 & 120 in 1982, and in 1983 shift to TST80 and 100.

First examples of script logo Goldstars are 3 piece decals with the slogan "Made In Japan By Rock And Roll Fanatics".

3 Piece Script Logo Goldstar Decals 1982/83


Serial numbers:

3 piece decal ("Rock And Roll Fanatics")

Maple:
11552
13695

Rosewood:
L12041


1 piece decal ("The Quality Musical Instruments")

Maple:
16721

*0619 (TST80)
*107628 (TST70)

Rosewood:
L09544
L11189
L12968
L13115

 

[Sigmania]

Getting my hands on a TOKAI Goldstar rosewood CAR !

Presumably July 1983 build?

 

[Sigmania]

My 1983 TST70 YSO

TST70 last appears in the 1983 catalog.

June 1983 build presumably.

 

[eborej]

1983 TST-80 YS with E stamp PUs & a V neck:

 

[Sigmania]

Those maple board ones are V necks. I bet it’s sweet. Congratulations!

 

[Sigmania]

Block logo ST100 changed to script logo.

ATO shared this from Facebook.

82/83 ST100

 

[Sigmania]

Sold - Beautiful vintage Tokai ST-60 Strat

Note that it is labeled a "Super Edition"
SN L11189

June 1983 ??

 

[AC10SRT]

Getting my hands on a TOKAI Goldstar rosewood CAR !

Presumably July 1983 build?

View attachment 2887
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I have a late Springy sound that was factory painted MR over BB as well. Interested to see another

 

[Sigmania]

I have a late Springy sound that was factory painted MR over BB as well. Interested to see another

Check this out:

Errors, Odd, Incorrect Or Mismatched Body Codes

 

[mdvineng]

My 81 VSB with a removed Spag and replaced with Script Logo. So I assume it was not shipped in 81 and was possibly modified later in 82?
Plus this odd ball bass that looks more of a 70's made guitar. Did Tokai have this Script Logo all along before the Fender threats etc?

 

[Sigmania]

Yes. That script logo is a recycled logo they used in the 70s on acoustics.

This is something I’ve noticed about Tokai, when they are forced to come up with something new they dig into their archives apparently.

The block logo that they came up with in short order is the logo they had back in 1978 on catalogs and stickers, one of which I believe I’ve seen on their CNC machine back in the day.

What’s old is new. Reborn old.

 

[Sigmania]

August 1983 ?


1984 Tokai Goldstar Fiesta Red in vintage case.

JJ McGregor

 

[Sigmania]

Early script logo

Is that December 1982 ......

Newbie :) Confirmation of my Goldie - 84 TST-50?

 

[mdvineng]

the decal with "made in japan by rock and roll fanatics" came in late 82 and was changed again to " the quality musical instrument of the world" in 83.

 

[Sigmania]

Yep.

Started with Springy block logos.

Note how the word Strat is gone too. This was part of the lawsuit judgment.

 

[bluejeannot]

Documenting these since the Registry says they don't exist.

Pickups changed in 1984 model year, so any script logo Goldstars with E or U pickups would be from 1983 by my estimation.

Script logo was replaced in the UK with the block logo, so all of these are non ULK guitars apparently, and non US guitars since those had the altered headstock by this time (TST-56 & 62).

TST-56 Gallery

TST-62 Gallery

I think that the 7okai spaghetti logo was replaced by the block TOKAI logo in 82/83 and the script logo was introduced on Goldstars in 82/83. interestingly a few block logo Springys and both block logo and script logo Goldstars bore the additional separate decal " Made in Japan by Rock and Roll Fanatics" we can only assume that they changed their mind about this slogan in favour of "The quality instruments of the world" I wish they had stuck with the Rock and Roll fanatics tag.

 

[jim68000]

I think the guitar I got given yesterday lives in this category, but am prepared to be disabused.

The problem I have is that the electrics have gone - it had Iron Gears in it when I got it (now removed). Everything else looks like it came from the same guitar.

What I have is:

Tokai Script Logo Gold Star
- four digit serial number - first number is 3 which made me think it might be 83 but apparently the four digit numbers don’t work like that?
- neck and body have matching codes - 5-18 on both
Maple Neck
- V carve
- single piece of wood
- “Klusons” are stamped Deluxe
- Fender accurate headstock (not US or modern)
Body
- finish does *not* pass the acetone test - so it’s poly, not nitro
- Final Pro Spec bridge, bent steel saddles, big steel block

Until I found my acetone I was excitedly imagining this was the carcass of an ST-80, but it seems that’s no longer possible. So puzzlement. I guess it is possible that the neck plate comes from another guitar - it’s obviously been hacked around at some point - but the rest seem to match.

So a couple of questions:
- is there any way I can date this more accurately than “early-mid 80s”
- any idea which model it might be?

Jim

 

[Sigmania]

Congrats!

Very likely it is a 1986 because of that serial number. It is a high one for a 4 digit.

Fender Style Serial Numbers Ended When?

The serial numbers are not based on the year in this period (Feb. 1982- Spring 1986), they are based on the model.

See chart below from the 1982 catalog.

Note that it is not entirely accurate re: models.... It is saying it is a ST/TST80. TST80 had a V neck, but also it had nitro finish. In fairness, the Tokai cellulose finish can be hard to detect. Also, the neck stamp should have had an A on it for an 80.

TST80's here:

TST80 Goldstars

 

[jim68000]

Sure.

 

[Sigmania]

Can you post a pic showing the wiring and the pots even though the pickups were removed?

I want to confirm the date and if the brass ground plate is still present. It should be.

The pickups would have easily told us what model it was.

If it was a TST80, I doubt they would have replaced them.

VII pickups in the TST50 are often replaced.

V pickups in the TST60 are nice, but I don't know if I have seen a TST60 in 1986. They basically vanished in this period. Lots of TST50 guitars though.