Help with Love Rock ID

[scrumpymanjack]

Hi all,

I bought this guitar yesterday on a bit of a whim - I got trigger happy on an auction site and, well, the rest is history. Anyway, no regrets since I've always wanted to try one of these. But I'm not sure exactly what I bought. What I do know from the auctioneer's info is that it's MIJ and that it's from 2002. From the pics, I also think that the SN is 0205601. But if anyone can help me pin down the model, I'd be super grateful.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sigmania]

It may be an ALS/LS53L ?

I don't know. I would have guessed these were made in Korea. It is rare to see a lefty MIJ Tokai LP.

Once you get it, remove the neck pickup and there may be a model number or other info stamped in the cavity.

2000 catalog

 

[Sigmania]

This was a very odd period for Tokai and lots of mystery around production.

I have believed for some time that they may have done some hybrid production during this time where some aspect of the build was done in Korea and finished in Japan where it got a Japanese serial number stamp like yours seems to have.

 

[scrumpymanjack]

This was a very odd period for Tokai and lots of mystery around production.

I have believed for some time that they may have done some hybrid production during this time where some aspect of the build was done in Korea and finished in Japan where it got a Japanese serial number stamp like yours seems to have.

This is so helpful. Very grateful indeed. When I get it, I'll do exactly as you say. In general, are these good guitars? I have a 79 springy sound, and it's to die for. I understand that this is a different era etc but wondered whether these instruments retained any of the earlier magic. Thanks.

 

[Sigmania]

Not sure. It may have been made in Korea?

Let's see what you find when it shows up. Hard to say from those photos.

 

[Sigmania]

Here is a Korean one on Reverb made between 2000 and 2005.

Tokai Love Rock - Left Handed - Single Cutaway - Made in Korea | Reverb

 

[scrumpymanjack]

Hi again.

Finally got my hands on this guitar. Under the bridge pick-up, it says s-59 and then 14 or 74 followed by something I can make out. Perhaps you can.

Under the neck pick-up, it just has C5 written in marker pen. Maybe it's CS, but I'm not sure. Finally, I included a pic of the label on the underside of the bridge pick-up.

Thank you very much in advance.

 

[scrumpymanjack]

Oh, and here is a pic of one of the pots.

 

[Sigmania]

Wow!

So the pickups are Gotoh MKII from that period so that it consistent with a 2002 MIJ Tokai.

CS= Cherry Sunburst

Pots are period correct

And I can't translate all the written stuff.

Looks like S-59. I still haven't sorted out these S codes. Seen many in Love Rocks. I should focus on that and see what it might indicates.

And looks like it may say "UK" ? and something I can't translate.

 

[scrumpymanjack]

Wow!

So the pickups are Gotoh MKII from that period so that it consistent with a 2002 MIJ Tokai.

CS= Cherry Sunburst

Pots are period correct

And I can't translate all the written stuff.

Looks like S-59. I still haven't sorted out these S codes. Seen many in Love Rocks. I should focus on that and see what it might indicates.

And looks like it may say "UK" ? and something I can't translate.

View attachment 39325
View attachment 39326

I bought it from a UK auction so UK would fit/make sense. From your reaction, I'm assuming all of this is good news? It's a lovely guitar. Haven't plugged it in yet but feels great, finish (frets etc) is excellent.

 

[Sigmania]

Yeah, it is just a mystery though.

Non catalog as an MIJ piece. Those pickups put it on par with an ALS70.

 

[scrumpymanjack]

Yeah, it is just a mystery though.

Non catalog as an MIJ piece. Those pickups put it on par with an ALS70.

Thank you so much for this. I love this forum, and your expertise - and your generosity in sharing it - restores my faith in the human race. Thank you thank you. BTW, I'd be happy to contribute something to support what you do here. Do you have merch or a donations page?

 

[Sigmania]

You’re welcome. I’m a volunteer, but there is a link to donate at the top of each section of the forum. Anything you contribute is appreciated. The only way the folks that own this site make money otherwise seems to be pop up ads, so thank you!

https://www.tokaiforum.com/threads/...unity-become-a-supporting-member-today.27066/