Well the guitar just arrived at the warehouse so I got a few more pics of the guitar. Here are some of them:
Differences Between LS150 and LS200
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Homer J. Simpson
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Well...(biting my tongue, it never gets old)
If Jacco's theory is right, the 06 code would check out as June 1980. The problem is that we can at best assume that the scheme was used by all Japanese pot manufacturers (and there were a few) the same. Jacco was investigating pots in Burnys, with an unidentified manufacturer other than Noble (which seem to have no visible date code). Tokais have what looks like Matsushita pots and my attempts at finding some kind of datasheet or other reliable source confirming that the Japanese adopted the US date code scheme failed so far.
Homer J. Simpson
Well-known member
Well, that's the (bridge) vol pot, the tone pot looks like it has the code 65 (or 85, hard to see), which would mean May 1976 or 1986 (or 78/88) if the code works and that would throw up questions. Fun watching this unfold indeed!
Ok the 65 code is actually consistent with the codes on Cliff’s CB LS-150. There are a few better pics of that guitars pots and it looks like it matches mine.
LOL. Typo. I meant pots.
Yeah, these are a different format than I am used to.
Voidoid56 may be able to help with the code?
He knows a lot about different types.
Dating Pots
Voidoid56 may be able to help with the code?
He knows a lot about different types.
Dating Pots
Homer J. Simpson
Well-known member
Even harder to see on Cliff's guitar but 85 could just mean old stock from 1978 (not THAT old in 1980) for whatever taper/resistance Tokai used at that time for tone pots. If i interpreted the position right, the other tone pot looks like it's a 06 again on both guitars.
First time I (consciously) see Matsushita pots in a guitar and like I said, for all I know dating Japanese pots in general is based on empirical evidence so far. If you take a look at those (assumedly older, based on their other logo looking more modern ) Matsushita pots, both sold as NOS from 2 different sources, very different looks but same code... I'm having doubts:
Edit: For the matter of identifying the guitar in question, it's seems to be a good thing that they even share whatever the codes are at the same places tho!
First time I (consciously) see Matsushita pots in a guitar and like I said, for all I know dating Japanese pots in general is based on empirical evidence so far. If you take a look at those (assumedly older, based on their other logo looking more modern ) Matsushita pots, both sold as NOS from 2 different sources, very different looks but same code... I'm having doubts:
Edit: For the matter of identifying the guitar in question, it's seems to be a good thing that they even share whatever the codes are at the same places tho!
Last edited:
Homer J. Simpson
Well-known member
321 is just the foolproof pin numbers they kindly stamped over the pins.
Jacco's scheme for that one (and luckily ubiquitous) type of pots is described here and I just saw you applied it in the past in another thread. That scheme (=Year, Month, Type) seems to check out well for that type of pot.
On these newer looking Matsushita pots, the same YM scheme seems to check out with the guitar's production year as well but there is less empirical evidence to back that up - maybe I'm wrong but most Tokais do not have Matsushita pots? So that could also be coincidence.
On the older Matsushita pots, 'I' could mean the type or just about anything and seems to be common for the (assumedly) old style Matsushita pots I could dig up, if the numbers mean a date in the assumed scheme, that would be '69, '79, '89 etc. so maybe that doesn't check out at all. The number could as well mean a code for the taper (like the "15A"(/B/C)" on the Noble pots, one of the very few interpretations I've seen backed up by a data sheet), but the scheme obviously changed with the new pot design, we're just not sure in what way.....
So applying a general scheme may not be possible with Japanese pots.
Jacco's scheme for that one (and luckily ubiquitous) type of pots is described here and I just saw you applied it in the past in another thread. That scheme (=Year, Month, Type) seems to check out well for that type of pot.
On these newer looking Matsushita pots, the same YM scheme seems to check out with the guitar's production year as well but there is less empirical evidence to back that up - maybe I'm wrong but most Tokais do not have Matsushita pots? So that could also be coincidence.
On the older Matsushita pots, 'I' could mean the type or just about anything and seems to be common for the (assumedly) old style Matsushita pots I could dig up, if the numbers mean a date in the assumed scheme, that would be '69, '79, '89 etc. so maybe that doesn't check out at all. The number could as well mean a code for the taper (like the "15A"(/B/C)" on the Noble pots, one of the very few interpretations I've seen backed up by a data sheet), but the scheme obviously changed with the new pot design, we're just not sure in what way.....
So applying a general scheme may not be possible with Japanese pots.
These higher end LS models were wired differently it seems. Lower models using the PCB and presumably these ones were wired by hand and parts possibly came from a different supplier? I have not seen these pots in other Tokais.
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well, lots of suspense here; I'll be glad to see the OP get the guitar he was hoping for and also seeing the 'money shot' from the purchase
Me too. If it's a solid top with as much flame as it has, It is definitely a 150. The pots and caps can be changed, though unlikely, but the top will be the main factor in identification. Along with any stamps in the cavity and the routing. I'm dying to see pics like the one you posted here. Praying it is a real 150.well, lots of suspense here; I'll be glad to see the OP get the guitar he was hoping for and also seeing the 'money shot' from the purchase
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CliffsGuitarWorld
Well-known member
I don’t know if we covered this yet…. But the LS -200 “Tokai” logo would be amber colored.
OP… Our LS-150 tops looks close to the same. Do you have a serial #?
My pots date to June 1980.
Here’s a look… 1980 Tokai LS-150 CB #2
OP… Our LS-150 tops looks close to the same. Do you have a serial #?
My pots date to June 1980.
Here’s a look… 1980 Tokai LS-150 CB #2
Yeah I was looking at that one you have and saw a lot of similarities including similar codes on the pots. Serial number is 0010080. I’m leaning towards it being the LS-150 that it was described as. The headstock did have a bunch of scratching which may have resulted in removal of the amber finish over the logo though. When I get it in hand I’ll probably have a better idea
When is it due to arrive?
Hopefully by the end of the week but not positive. Once I get it in hand I’ll post some pics of the cavities to see if it’s a solid top or not
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