Friend has acquired a Tokai acoustic. I would like help identifying it.

[Frank Farrell]

Tokai acoustic, Steel strings, Adjustable action. S/N ? 740143, Tokai Gakki Hamamatsu Japan.
Year unknown. Attaching photos. Thankyou. I have not found catalogue reference for this guitar. I hope you can help. Cheers.

 

[Sigmania]

Those are tough to completely identify.

It was made in the 70s for sure. May be from 1974 with that serial number?

Wondering if that says DR7? If so, that model number system was used when Tokai made Sigmas.

D means dreadnaught shape.

R means rosewood back and sides.

7 is the level of features.

Just guessing, but it may be close to accurate.

I can look for an old Tokai catalog later for this period.

Hope that helps.

 

[Frank Farrell]

That helps heaps. Thank you

 

[Sigmania]

I looked and can't find a catalog in that period. I wish.

If it does say DR7, hard to tell in the photos, then I would wager that is the model number, and mid 70s is safe for the age.

Can you post a picture of the back to confirm it is rosewood?

There was a lot of Brazilian around back then. Would be cool if it was Brazilian rosewood.

It's looking like Indian rosewood in the pic of the soundhole.

 

[Frank Farrell]

I looked and can't find a catalog in that period. I wish.

If it does say DR7, hard to tell in the photos, then I would wager that is the model number, and mid 70s is safe for the age.

Can you post a picture of the back to confirm it is rosewood?

There was a lot of Brazilian around back then. Would be cool if it was Brazilian rosewood.

It's looking like Indian rosewood in the pic of the soundhole.

Not sure, but the DR could be PR, But here are the pictures of the back

 

[Sigmania]

It's a dreadnought shape no matter what.

And that grain looks very interesting. Features of both Brazilian and Indian rosewood.

Does it have a sweet smell inside?

Cool guitar. Hopefully you can find a tuner on eBay or something to restore the guitar.

 

[Sigmania]

Music store label?

 

[Sigmania]

Here's a 1974 Tokai Hummingbird with a similar serial number, so that is very likely the year.

1974 Tokai W-250 Humming Bird Custom Acoustic Folk Guitar | Reverb

 

[Frank Farrell]

Here's a 1974 Tokai Hummingbird with a similar serial number, so that is very likely the year.

1974 Tokai W-250 Humming Bird Custom Acoustic Folk Guitar | Reverb

View attachment 7378

Yes, so close

 

[Frank Farrell]

Thank you very much Sigmania. I did a little more research and found a youtube vid of a 1973 model. Sounds not bad. The owner oppinion is that these Tokais are tops. So, it might get a trip to my luthier. ( Here is a link to the 1973 Tokai ....... )

 

[Frank Farrell]

Thank you very much Sigmania. I did a little more research and found a youtube vid of a 1973 model. Sounds not bad. The owner oppinion is that these Tokais are tops. So, it might get a trip to my luthier. ( Here is a link to the 1973 Tokai ....... )

Thanks again for your help

 

[Sigmania]

Yeah. There are probably some sleepers in there.

One of the best Sigmas I ever had, and wish I still had, had the truss rod cover and dated to a little after your guitar.

It was a DR9 or 11? I can't remember.

Label and gold paint "SIGMA" label were removed long before I got it.






I am betting your label says DR7 and it may be handwritten which would account for it looking odd.

Congrats, and please share what you learn. Not much is known about these.

 

[Sigmania]

Hard not to notice the similarities.

Same truss rod cover.

Both bound headstocks with face laminate of rosewood.

Both gold paint brand name that wears off (SIGMA on mine was completely gone).

Paint on top of finish?

 

[Frank Farrell]

Ok, again, thanks. The guitar is not with me. It is in the city. 300km away. As soon as I can get my hands on it I will give you more information..

 

[Frank Farrell]

I will also test its aroma

 

[Sigmania]

"Brazilian Rosewood has a very admiring smell for me. You can feel this if you are in the same small room with it. I heard that some companies used to make a perfume from Brazilian Rosewood too. (I don't know how)"

Brazilian Rosewood Smell? - The Acoustic Guitar Forum

 

[Sigmania]

A year later, 1975, they were making these in association with Martin.

 

[bluejeannot]

The Tokai is identical to the Sigma DR7 I used to own and features a laminated Indian rosewood back and sides, a nato neck and a solid Ezo spruce soundboard. It's performance should be enhanced by the removal of the tone robbing adjustable bridge and the fitting of a bone nut with correct radius.