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This is kind of what I had been thinking, that this was a Chinese guitar and with Chinese guitars all bets are off.

Not sure when production of Cat's Eyes went to China, but by 2021 it was there.

See this from 2021:

wulfman:

"Hello and welcome to the forum!
I'm in the middle of Tokyo which is rather dangerous for temptation in guitar stores.
Those Tokais you saw are actually made in China under Tokai instruction (whatever that means) and probably are pretty decent guitars.
https://www.amazon.co.jp/Tokai-（トーカイ）-CATS-EYE-キャッツアイ/dp/B01N7UZW7Q"

Drag&Fly:

"...Yes, I actually contacted Tokai and was chatting with Shohei Adachi and he confirmed that those Cat's Eyes are made in China...

New Cat's Eyes Guitars in Japan (June 2021)

O9xsUuq.jpg
 
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As of 2010 Cat's Eyes were apparently made in China.

"I just had a message back from Bob (his seems to be the only shop selling these models that I can find) and he confirmed that they are actually made in China. He says they are made under strict supervision of the Japanese craftsmen and from the best woods...."

New Member with Cats Eyes Quries
 
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Maybe it’s as the seller said “odd” and “unique” at the end of the day, to me, it’s worth the £350 paid (hopefully)
 
Sure. Absolutely worth that price I would say.
 
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This is from February 2017.

Note that it says the CE190 New Yorker listed for £1,495.



Tokai Guitars launches Cats Eyes acoustic range
2017-02-07

New line-up features 25 models of acoustic guitars, ukuleles and basses.

Tokai Guitars has announced a brand new acoustic line-up, featuring travel guitars, ukuleles, and high-end dreadnought models.

The Cats Eyes acoustic range features 25 new models and each one comes with either a padded gig bag or hard shell case.

The range starts with the TAG OOO at £139.99 and goes through to the CE190, which has an RRP of £1.495.

Check out the full list of models and their RRPs and specs below:

CE200E

Super folk cutaway

TOP: Solid Cedar
SIDE: Amara
BACK: Amara / Spalted Mango
NECK: Nato
FINGERBOARD: Sonokeling
BRIDGE: Sonokeling
COLOR: Natural Gloss
EQ: Fishman SON-GT2

爱音乐，寻设备，悦生活 - 米饭星
 
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And to answer your original question about when it was made, it was made in 2016.

The Chinese serial numbering system is pretty rational and starts with the year made in most cases.

Hope this was helpful. I learned a lot doing the research.
 
And crazy how many species of wood are in this one guitar:

Cedar top
Amara ebony back & sides
Mango back center strip
Sonokeling fretboard & bridge
Nato neck
Koa binding?

aL36Cwn.png


P63XAj3.jpg
 
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And I take back whatever I said about pricing.

These Chinese Cats Eyes may use a different system? Particularly these new models.

Maybe based off the Chinese Yen rather than japanese Yen, or maybe totally unrelated to price?

That may be where the confusion was for me. I wasn't accounting for it possibly being an entirely different system since these are Chinese guitars and not Japanese.
 
Feb 2017

Note that it's not competely accurate. Seem to be typos on price and types of guitars. Translation issues? But specs are helpful.




爱音乐，寻设备，悦生活 - 米饭星


New line-up features 25 models of acoustic guitars, ukuleles and basses.


Tokai Guitars has announced a brand new acoustic line-up, featuring travel guitars, ukuleles, and high-end dreadnought models.


The Cats Eyes acoustic range features 25 new models and each one comes with either a padded gig bag or hard shell case.


The range starts with the TAG OOO at £139.99 and goes through to the CE190, which has an RRP of £1,495.


Check out the full list of models and their RRPs and specs below:



ModelCategoryRRPBagsSpec
TAG OOOTraveller Guitar_OOO139.99SoftcaseTOP: Spruce

SIDE&BACK: Sapele

NECK:Nato

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Satin
TAG DNTraveller Guitar_Dreadnought179.99SoftcaseTOP: Spruce

SIDE&BACK: Sapele

NECK: Nato

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Satin
TAG DNETraveller Guitar BIG BABY229.99SoftcaseTOP: Spruce

SIDE&BACK: Sapele

NECK: Nato

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

EQ: 7545

COLOR: Natural Satin
TTG6Big travel guitar Right and Left249.99SoftcaseTOP: CedarSIDE&BACK:Mahogany

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE:Rosewood

EQ: PS900

COLOR: Natural Satin
TAB1Acoustic Bass399.99SoftcaseTOP: Dao

SIDE&BACK: Dao

NECK: Nato

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Satin
TTG12Traveller Guitar_12th Strings299.99SoftcaseTOP: Cedar

SIDE&BACK: Mahogany

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

EQ: PS900

COLOR: Natural Satin
SJ299Acoustic Jumbo399.99SoftcaseTOP: Spruce

SIDE&BACK: Flamed Maple

NECK: Maple

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Gloss
TBSUUkulele_Soprano99.99SoftcaseTOP: Butterfly Wood

SIDE&BACK: Butterfly Wood

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Satin
TBCUUkulele_Concert129.99SoftcaseTOP: Butterfly Wood

SIDE&BACK: Butterfly Wood

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Satin
TBTUUkulele_Tenor139.99SoftcaseTOP: Butterfly Wood

SIDE&BACK: Butterfly Wood

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Satin
TBBUUkulele_Baritone149.99SoftcaseTOP: Butterfly Wood

SIDE&BACK: Butterfly Wood

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Satin
CE25TAcoustic OOO type229.99SoftcaseTOP: Spruce

SIDE&BACK: Mahogany

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Gloss
UJ-47Acoustic J-45Type399.99SoftcaseTOP: Solid Spruce

SIDE&BACK: Mahogany

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Vintage Sunburst Gloss
CE83TAcoustic OOO type699.99HardcaseTOP: Solid Sitka Spruce A

SIDE&BACK: Solid Mahogany

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Gloss
CE118Acoustic Dreadnought899.99HardcaseTOP: Solid Sitka Spruce AA

SIDE&BACK: Solid Rosewood

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD:Ebony

BRIDGE: Ebony

COLOR: Natural Gloss
CE118TAcoustic OOO type899.99HardcaseTOP: Solid Sitka Spruce AA

SIDE&BACK: Solid Rosewood

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Ebony

BRIDGE: Ebony

COLOR: Natural Gloss
CE185Acoustic Dreadnought1395.00HardcaseTOP: Solid Sitka Spruce AAA

SIDE&BACK: Solid Rosewood

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Ebony

BRIDGE: Ebony

COLOR: Shaded Top Gloss
CE120ESuper folk cutaway299.99GigbagTOP: Spruce

SIDE&BACK: Mahogany

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Satin

EQ: Fishman ISY-101
CE140ESuper folk cutaway349.99GigbagTOP: Spruce

SIDE&BACK: Mahogany

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Satin

EQ: Fishman ISY-501
CE160EMAHOGANY gloss449.99GigbagTOP: Solid Mahogany

SIDE: Mahogany

BACK: Solid Mahogany

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Satin

EQ: Fishman ISY-501
CE160E-SFMAHOGANY satin449.99GigbagTOP: Solid Mahogany

SIDE: Mahogany

BACK: Solid Mahogany

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Satin

EQ: Fishman ISY-501
CE170ESuper folk cutaway489.99GigbagTOP: Solid Spruce

SIDE: Mahogany

BACK: Mahogany / Quilted Ash

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Gloss

EQ: Fishman SON-GT2
CE170E-SFSuper folk cutaway489.99GigbagTOP: Solid Spruce

SIDE: Mahogany

BACK: Mahogany / Quilted Ash

NECK: Mahogany

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

BRIDGE: Rosewood

COLOR: Natural Satin

EQ: Fishman SON-GT2
CE190Esuper folk cutaway489.99GigbagTOP: Solid Cedar

SIDE: Amara

BACK: Amara / Spalted Mango

NECK: Nato

FINGERBOARD:Sonokeling

BRIDGE: Sonokeling

COLOR: Natural Gloss

EQ: Fishman SON-GT2
CE200ESuper folk cutaway549.99GigbagTOP: Solid Cedar

SIDE: Amara

BACK: Amara / Spalted Mango

NECK: Nato

FINGERBOARD: Sonokeling

BRIDGE: Sonokeling

COLOR: Natural Gloss

EQ: Fishman SON-GT2




For more information visit tokai-guitars.co.uk
 
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Thank you for all the effort it’s really appreciated.

Looks like my Tokai is the last on the list.

Wonderful information.

Merry Christmas
 
You’re welcome. It was fun uncovering info about it. Not a common guitar.

And that price in the linked site can’t be right. Probably around 1,500 pounds?
 

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