Help me to ID my 85 goldtop Love Rock

[Totoro]

Hi,
I'm new here but I'm not exactly new to MIJ guitars.
I am the happy owner of a nice vintage Burny Super Grade that I bought about six or seven years ago directly from Japan.

I recently had an oportunity to grab a 1985 Tokai Love Rock.
Honesltly I wouldn't have bought it if it wasn't for the sound.
I'm not a huge fan of the goldtop finish and I would have prefered an older model (especially a LP Reborn or Reborn Old) but not only this one was in great overall condition, came with an original hard case, was reasonably priced and immediately available, but the sound made my jaw literally drop.
I made a direct comparison with a high end Gibson Les Paul R8. Guess who won.
(I've been playing for twenty years so believe me, I know what I am after)

Only thing is I am left wondering what exact model it is. My guess would be a simple LS-50 but I haven't enough experience to ID it properly.

Original pickups have been replaced with seymour duncan's so I can't base my judgement on that.
The truss rod cover has been replaced.
The nut has been replaced (with earvana which is a nice feature btw)

Serial number is 5023944.

Body looks like two or three pieces back.

It's surprisingly light weight compared to my Burny (but the wood is most definitely mahogany)

Anyway, here are some pictures:

 

[jacco]

There are only 3 1985 goldtop types; LS50, LS60 & LS80.
LS 50 & LS60 have a 2 piece back, LS80 a 1 piece back.
LS50 has a 3 piece top, LS60 & LS80 a 2 piece top.
LS50 & LS60 have a poly finish, LS80 a nitro finish.
LS50 & LS60 have no fret edge binding, LS80 has feb.
I don't know for sure if in 1985 still there's a difference in headstock angle between the models but if there is;
LS50 LS60 have a 14 degree headstock angle and a LS80 an 18 degree headstock angle.

1985 is a strange year where specs are all over the place. So there are 2 piece top LS50s, LS60s with nitro finish and LS80 without feb.

So if you found a 2 piece back it's a LS50 or LS60.
Look if it's a 2 or 3 piece top to see if it's a LS50 or LS60
And while your at it check the finish for nitro in a pup cavity with acetone to see if your lucky

 

[DaveWW]

Nice Guitar! If it's a trhree piece back it's most likely an LS50

Have a look here - http://brochures.yokochou.com/guitar-and-amp/tokai/1984/en_02.html

Dave

 

[jacco]

or here:

http://www.tokairegistry.com/tokai-info/tokai-catalogs.html#1985Cat

 

[Totoro]

Thank you guys.
Upon further inspection, it's a 3 pieces back. No feb, poly finish. So LS50 indeed...
:wink: