Tokai Goldstar Tele - legit or fraud?
"OK, MIJ Tokai have always used the name Breezysound for their Telecaster copies (great guitars, especially the early ones 1978-83ish). The Korean operation seems to have some sort of legal agreement with Japanese Tokai, but otherwise appears unconnected. And now seems like some Korean makers are building guitars just according to requests from individual small dealers/shops, which seems to me unlikely to be sanctioned by MIJ Tokai … heaven knows who’s building the recent so-called MIK “Tokais” now on sale in Canada. I think that’s where the confusion arises & where the Goldstar name has appeared quite wrongly on Telecaster copies … it’s like someone in Nigeria copying Fenders and putting name Stratocaster on Tele shaped guitars. Does that answer the question?
The current genuine MIJ Tokai are very good guitars … the old MIJ Tokais are as good as it gets … serious rival to any Fender or any Gibson at fraction of the price (but old ones now becoming collectable & prices increased accordingly).
Strange thing about Tokai Teles though – they almost never use the correct vintage style 3-saddle bridge.
Summary – buy a Tokai Tele by all means, but make it MIJ Breezysound, & preferably pre 1983 (pre 1982 “7okai” label if possible).
Ian.
Tiddles, Jul 8, 2005 #6" From the Telecaster forum.
