Genuine LS or Love Rock pick guard?

[ElectricJam]

Okay, so I recently purchased what was presumed to be a vintage era LS model pick guard. Seeing as my guitar was purchased without one, I’m unfamiliar with the specifics of a Tokai guard. Could someone whom owns a known original pick guard please help ascertain its authenticity. Thank you!

 

[ElectricJam]

Here’s the mounting bracket that was supplied with the guard, along with all the mounting hardware. My concern is that, to my eyes, the aging presents as being artificial. It does not appear to be congruent with the age of the instrument it supposedly came off of.

 

[Sigmania]

I’ll share some pics of some of my guitars. Hope it’s helpful.

Not the clearest photos.

1979 LS80 GT



1981 LS100 S





1983 LS80

 

[ElectricJam]

Odd that none of plastics seem to be of the same mixture. The guard that I received has more of a pinkish hue than in the above. That said, the sharp 90 degree break angle of the mounting bracket does seem to be exactly like those seen in above.

My initial thought was this was a poorly artificially aged cheap Chinese part… now I am not sure

 

[Sigmania]

Where did you find it?

 

[Sigmania]

And I seem to recall something about color of the pickup rings on Tokais having a pink tone at one point. Wondering if it depends on the age? What year is your guitar?

 

[Sigmania]

Where can I get those pickup rings? Mine are the salmon pink type and I've never found a cream replacement that 1. fits and 2. is not cheap garbage.

 

[ElectricJam]

And I seem to recall something about color of the pickup rings on Tokais having a pink tone at one point. Wondering if it depends on the age? What year is your guitar?

I bought the pick guard off a Reverb vendor I thought credible, as they had a brick and mortar music store in the UK.

The gold top shown above is a 1979, taken from a current Reverb listing. Which I assume is unmolested and a good basis for comparison.

I’m still not certain this is a vintage part at all, much less a Tokai product. Which is worrying, as I have paid 100 GBP for what maybe a ten dollar part.

 

[Sigmania]

Here are some pics from my 1982 LS120. I assume it is original.

 

[Sigmania]

I'm assuming your guitar is already drilled and that the spacing on the PG fits between your pickup rings.

 

[ElectricJam]

Those pictures are great. Thanks!

The pick guard shows the same tooling mark along the cut edge as yours. Gives the appearance of being two-piece laminate construction. The hardware all seems to be correct Japanese screws and I can’t differentiate the mounting bracket. And it does fit between the rings, as if it was meant to.

I now suspect that it is actually a genuine Tokai guard. Most likely from a nineties model and not a lawsuit era guitar, as advertised. I think maybe the seller got a bit overzealous by attempting to clean it up, prior to posting. It looks to been savaged with a harsh scourer, stripping off most of its desirable patina. Leaving with deep swirled scratches incommensurate with play wear.

Can’t say I wasn’t warned about Reverb. Hahaha!

 

[ElectricJam]

The above genuine Gibson guard aligns perfectly!

Notice the extreme misalignment on fake Tokai guard

Fake guard needed to be forced to into gap to fit this poorly

Gibson guard happily at home resting right in place

The difference is clear as day, when the Gibson guard is overlayed ontop the fake.

 

[ElectricJam]

After a failed attempt to fit this pick guard, I am 100 percent certain it is not a genuine Tokai part. It was not possible to properly install the guard between rings, nor does either hole align with the factory fixing points. I even tried troubleshooting this by loosening and reconfiguring both rings to better accommodate this variance. It was still not possible. Genuine pick guards from lawsuit era LS models were 1 to 1 reproduction of a “vintage fit” Paul guard. This, sadly, is not that. Notice how tight the tolerances are on the genuine vintage Gibson guard for comparison. Shame. I was really hopeful I had finally reunited my guitar with its long lost mate.

 

[Sigmania]

Can you send it back?

Have you checked with Faber?

 

[ElectricJam]

I’m still trying to resolve things on reverb. Hopefully, I can get something back for my lost time.

I had noticed there were a couple of guards currently listed for sale on Faber website. Have you had any experience buying from the site?

 

[Sigmania]

Faber is run by a long time member on here from Germany, togps or Gottfried. You can try messaging him here or on his website. Probably hear back faster through his website.

 

[chuckyz2]

I fabbed one from a chibson to fit my 80. Because I like pickguards and it didn't come with one. For me, it isn't that big of a deal. And I can't find a real one. It looks good enough and protects the top where the pick can damage it. It maybe an issue when these guitars start skyrocketing in price. But not having a pickguard won't effect the price to much, if at all. It wouldn't deter me if I wanted an otherwise nice Vintage Tokai.