Differences Between LS150 and LS200

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gbo10

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I just recently purchased a 1980 Tokai that was labeled as an LS150 but the seller mentioned it may actually be an LS200. It appears that the guitar has double DiMarzio PAFs rather than the PAF/Super Distortion combo that typically came with the 150s. Do any of you know how to tell whether this guitar would be a 150 or a 200?
 
Here are a few photos of the guitar. Definitely needs some work and it’s not in the best condition, but I’ve always wanted to grab one of the higher end Tokais to go with my LS100!
 

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Congrats on winning that auction. LS200s had a cashew finish which made the binding & inlays appear yellowish. Hopefully it is actually a LS150 and not a LS120 or something else. Good luck!
 
I just recently purchased a 1980 Tokai that was labeled as an LS150 but the seller mentioned it may actually be an LS200. It appears that the guitar has double DiMarzio PAFs rather than the PAF/Super Distortion combo that typically came with the 150s. Do any of you know how to tell whether this guitar would be a 150 or a 200?
I have several LS-200 with stickers that have DiMarzio pickups. The LS-200 is a custom ordered guitar and Dimarzios were a big thing back in the early eighties.
 
Congrats on winning that auction. LS200s had a cashew finish which made the binding & inlays appear yellowish. Hopefully it is actually a LS150 and not a LS120 or something else. Good luck!
Thanks - I feel like I still got a good deal despite the condition of it is actually a 150. I’m fairly certain it is at least a 150 because of the wiring, but definitely not positive. I think 120 and below had the printed circuit board. But the finish info is definitely interesting. I may have to wait to see in person
 
I have several LS-200 with stickers that have DiMarzio pickups. The LS-200 is a custom ordered guitar and Dimarzios were a big thing back in the early eighties.
Do you know if LS-150 ever came with 2 DiMarzio PAFs or did it only come with one PAF and one Super Distortion
 
Congrats on winning the auction, I had a couple of bids on that one myself, I was planning on restoring it and bringing it back to its former glory!
I do own one 1981 LS150 already (have had other models also!) and im 99% sure this is a 150, like you say, none printed circuit board and the pots and caps match what came in mine, from what I can see that top looks solid.
Difference between 150 and 200 is the tops are better on 200, 150 will have 'defects' like unwanted grain, small knots in the wood or tops that didnt quite bookmatch. As Cliff said, the 200's were custom order and the buyer usually chose the pickups, ive seen them with Tim Shaws, Duncans and Dimarzio, Dimarzio were big at the time so some chose them for their 200's. Pretty much all 150's ive seen had 2 Dimarzio PAF's like yours, mine also has this combo, whereas the 100 and 120 tended to have PAF and Super Distortion combo.
Keep us posted on the guitar when it arrives and put some more pictures on! would like to see its journey!
All the best!
Tom
 
Congrats on winning the auction, I had a couple of bids on that one myself, I was planning on restoring it and bringing it back to its former glory!
I do own one 1981 LS150 already (have had other models also!) and im 99% sure this is a 150, like you say, none printed circuit board and the pots and caps match what came in mine, from what I can see that top looks solid.
Difference between 150 and 200 is the tops are better on 200, 150 will have 'defects' like unwanted grain, small knots in the wood or tops that didnt quite bookmatch. As Cliff said, the 200's were custom order and the buyer usually chose the pickups, ive seen them with Tim Shaws, Duncans and Dimarzio, Dimarzio were big at the time so some chose them for their 200's. Pretty much all 150's ive seen had 2 Dimarzio PAF's like yours, mine also has this combo, whereas the 100 and 120 tended to have PAF and Super Distortion combo.
Keep us posted on the guitar when it arrives and put some more pictures on! would like to see its journey!
All the best!
Tom
Thanks so much for the information! I definitely have plans to restore it (especially those horrible scratches that someone made on the headstock). Hopefully when it arrives I can start to bring it back to life
 
Congratulations!

Can you post a good picture of the headstock? As eborej said the LS200 had a cashew finish and the logo will have a yellow tint.

And yes, LS120 had the PCB. LS150 did not.
 
I don’t think the top was refinished but I’ll probably have to check it out more when I receive it. And yeah here’s a headstock pic - note the awful scratching lol.
 

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I plan on probably refinishing that headstock at the very least but I’ll have to see how bad it is in person
 
I was looking for the yellow tint, but it easily could’ve been scratched when they butchered the headstock
 
Yeah, that does not look like cashew finish over the logo, but also possible that the finish has been altered IMHO.

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What makes you say that? Just the chipping and wear? I was thinking it looked a bit thin too
 
There is white crusty finish all over the guitar. Not sure when or why that happened, but that guitar had an interesting life it looks like.
 
Definitely had an interesting life, that’s for sure! I plan to restore it and will have to see how it looks when I finally get it in hand
 
Yeah, looks thin. Like the finish (possibly cashew) was taken down.

Another member with a cashew finish Tokai (ES150) was complaining about the neck being sticky.

Wondering if they didn't like the feel or look of it and wanted a brighter looking guitar? Hard to say with people.
 
It’s definitely possible. Looking at the logo inlay it looks like there could be slight yellowing around the edges but it’s hard to say
 

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