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Sigmania said:
....

Reviewing new instruments for you guitar buffs out there is not quite the easy, pleasant task you may imagine it to be. By and large, there is more to depress the budding muso than there is to impress him, But once in a while along comes something that really catches your eye. The something that caught my eye is the new Tokai range of guitars from Japan, and the reason for this is Tokai made a 'new line' of instruments that are closer to forgeries than copies, so closely do they resemble the real thing.

The Tokai factory in Hamamatsu, just outside Tokyo, has for some time now been producing instruments under license for some of the major names including the Yamaha company. The factory is huge, ten times the size of either the Gibson Kalamazoo or Fender Fullerton plants. Word has it that Tokai owner Mac Seshimoto has done a deal with Fender, and he will now be producing instruments for them at his factory.

The distributors in the UK for Tokai (pronounced tock-aye) are Blue Suede Music of Lancaster, and initially they will be importing around 55 of the 100 or so models in the Tokai range; they've already sold the first shipment. Amongst these will be an amazing copy of a 1958-1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard, complete with tiger stripe top. Though this is more expensive than Gibson's Own ill-fated reissue, the Heritage series. It is a much more accurate copy, the pickups don't sound mushy and the neck angle is correct. If bass is your thing then Tokai have several choices for you, six variations of the Precision Bass (more of these later) and a choice of nine Jazz basses, three of them fretless. If dot fret board 335's are your turn on take your pick from four of these. You may have had trouble finding one of those beautiful old Custom Telecasters, the type with the double binding that Andy Summers uses. Tokai have one of these too. Where these Japanese 'pirates " are really going to score is with their range of Stratocasters which number around two dozen. Tokai have copied the neck profile of the 1964 Fender Stratocaster (pre CBS of course) and come up with the ST 64 range. They've also copied a 50s maple neck Strat and given us the ST 54 range, which to my mind is the biggest thrill in guitars since way back when.

....

Max Kay
E & MM
FEBRUARY 1982


http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=26140
 
Fascinating now to read this in context.

This article was written in February 1982.

Refer back to the letter to Leo Fender in April 1982 where it states that Tokai had been building acoustics for Fender beginning in 1980, so they had a partnership already.

Sounds like they were working on a deal, word was getting out, and then as the letter to Leo Fender states, CBS/Fender wanted more concessions/control from Tokai than the folks at Tokai, Mac Seshimoto presumably, were willing to give them.
 
Further connecting dots...

1980

Tokai begins making Fender acoustics (per letter from Tokai to Leo Fender in April, 1982)

October 1981

"In October 1981, Blue Suede Music launched the now legendary Tokai vintage series of guitars on to the UK market"
(From 1986 Tokai ad "Beware of Imitations").

Note: This timing roughly coincides with printing of Spring 1982 catalog including new models and an announced planned change to a Fender style serial number system in February of 1982.

December 1981

Relationship and business partnership between Tokai and Fender sours. Per letter from Tokai to Leo Fender dated April 8, 1982: "In 1980 we started making "Fender" Acoustic Guitars for CBS and up until last December, 1981, C8S and we were on very good (friendly) terms, and then they wanted the entire distribution of our "Tokai" made "copy" models with "Fender Japan" brand. Our talks came to a deadlock when we knew they wanted to control this Japanese market but did not want to market our products in USA (possibly because our products oversell their "CBS's Fenders")."

January 1982

Jan. 21, 1982. CBS/Arbiter sends letter titled "URGENT - PRESS RELEASE" giving notice to Tokai dealers in the UK of potential legal action, injunction.

Jan. 25, 1982. Blue Suede Music Ltd. consults Ratner & Cave attorneys as counsel and sends its own letter to Tokai dealers in the UK.

February 1982

Rumor published in an article by Max Kay that Mac Seshimoto had done a deal with Fender to make their guitars in Japan.

Previously planned Fender style serial number system set to take effect.

March 1982

The new company of "Fender Japan Co. Ltd." is announced.

April 1982

Tokai sent letter to Leo Fender. Lots of info in there as to the genesis of the conflict with CBS.

May 1982

UK Customs seizes Tokai guitars being imported including 205 guitars bearing the word "Strat".

CBS/Arbiter (Fender UK distributor) sought an injunction in the UK of the importation of Tokai guitars claiming Tokai was "passing off" guitars and claiming that was a copyright infringement.

June1982

Blue Suede Music Ltd. petitions court re: seizure, etc.

Judge rules that the use of the word Tokai could not be an infringement on Fender's rights.

"I held that the particular form of the word "Tokai", which was being used on the defendants' guitars, was not an infringement of the registered trade mark of the plaintiffs, "Fender". The plaintiffs, however, alleged infringement of other registered trade marks, of which one was "Strat". I dealt also in that judgment with the questions of infringement of copyright and passing off. What has happened is that, before I heard the motion the plaintiffs had served on the Commissioners of Customs & Excise certain notices in relation to guitars to be imported by the defendants..."


Ruling on guitars with the word "Strat" on them:

"In effect what the notice of motion asks is that I shall make a mandatory injunction against the plaintiffs to withdraw the notices which they have served. So far as concerns the notice in respect of the largest proportion, numberwise, of the guitars which have been seized by the Customs, namely, the so-called "Vintage Stratocaster", of which there are 205, I would not under any circumstances consider making the order asked for, because it is conceded that those carry the trade mark "Strat" and are infringements."

"... in so far as the defendants now wish to try to secure the release of those 205 guitars bearing that infringing mark "Strat", possibly on the basis of being able to delete the infringing mark, they must follow the procedure which is set out in the appropriate statute relating to the position"



July 1982

Melody Maker article on July 10, 1982 touting the new Squires available in the UK.

October 1982

Block logo guitars in shops in the UK

1984

CBS sells Fender

Tokai is allegedly sued by Fender in the US for "manufacturing counterfeit products". (Still have no documents to support this claim)

Tokai allegedly files for bankruptcy under the "Corporate Rehabilitation Law". (Still have no documents to support this claim)

1985

Modified head stock American market ST, AST, appears.


Curious timing for the AST redesign.... Possibly related to alleged lawsuit in the US by Fender the previous year claiming Tokai was "manufacturing counterfeit products"? (Still have no documents to support this claim)

1986

Tokai emerges from bankruptcy and reorganizes as "Tokai Gakki Mfg. Co., Ltd."
 
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Further connecting dots...

1980

Tokai begins making Fender acoustics (per letter from Tokai to Leo Fender in April, 1982)

Tokai uses first of its kind CNC machines to build guitars (photographed in the 1981 "Flat Top", and the Spring 1982 catalogs.

October 1981

"In October 1981, Blue Suede Music launched the now legendary Tokai vintage series of guitars on to the UK market"
(From 1986 Tokai ad "Beware of Imitations").

Note: This timing roughly coincides with printing of Spring 1982 catalog including new models and an announced planned change to a Fender style serial number system in February of 1982.

December 1981

Relationship and business partnership between Tokai and Fender sours. Per letter from Tokai to Leo Fender dated April 8, 1982: "In 1980 we started making "Fender" Acoustic Guitars for CBS and up until last December, 1981, C8S and we were on very good (friendly) terms, and then they wanted the entire distribution of our "Tokai" made "copy" models with "Fender Japan" brand. Our talks came to a deadlock when we knew they wanted to control this Japanese market but did not want to market our products in USA (possibly because our products oversell their "CBS's Fenders")."

January 1982

Jan. 21, 1982. CBS/Arbiter sends letter titled "URGENT - PRESS RELEASE" giving notice to Tokai dealers in the UK of potential legal action, injunction.

Jan. 25, 1982. Blue Suede Music Ltd. consults Ratner & Cave attorneys as counsel and sends its own letter to Tokai dealers in the UK.

February 1982

Rumor published in an article by Max Kay that Mac Seshimoto had done a deal with Fender to make their guitars in Japan.

Previously planned Fender style serial number system set to take effect.

March 1982

The new company of "Fender Japan Co. Ltd." is announced.

April 1982

Tokai sent letter to Leo Fender. Lots of info in there as to the genesis of the conflict with CBS.

May 1982

UK Customs seizes Tokai guitars being imported including 205 guitars bearing the word "Strat".

CBS/Arbiter (Fender UK distributor) sought an injunction in the UK of the importation of Tokai guitars claiming Tokai was "passing off" guitars and claiming that was a copyright infringement.

June1982

Blue Suede Music Ltd. petitions court re: seizure, etc.

Judge rules that the use of the word Tokai could not be an infringement on Fender's rights.

"I held that the particular form of the word "Tokai", which was being used on the defendants' guitars, was not an infringement of the registered trade mark of the plaintiffs, "Fender". The plaintiffs, however, alleged infringement of other registered trade marks, of which one was "Strat". I dealt also in that judgment with the questions of infringement of copyright and passing off. What has happened is that, before I heard the motion the plaintiffs had served on the Commissioners of Customs & Excise certain notices in relation to guitars to be imported by the defendants..."


Ruling on guitars with the word "Strat" on them:

"In effect what the notice of motion asks is that I shall make a mandatory injunction against the plaintiffs to withdraw the notices which they have served. So far as concerns the notice in respect of the largest proportion, numberwise, of the guitars which have been seized by the Customs, namely, the so-called "Vintage Stratocaster", of which there are 205, I would not under any circumstances consider making the order asked for, because it is conceded that those carry the trade mark "Strat" and are infringements."

"... in so far as the defendants now wish to try to secure the release of those 205 guitars bearing that infringing mark "Strat", possibly on the basis of being able to delete the infringing mark, they must follow the procedure which is set out in the appropriate statute relating to the position"



July 1982

Melody Maker article on July 10, 1982 touting the new Squires available in the UK.

October 1982

Block logo guitars in shops in the UK

1984

CBS sells Fender

Tokai is allegedly sued by Fender in the US for "manufacturing counterfeit products". (Still have no documents to support this claim)

Tokai allegedly files for bankruptcy under the "Corporate Rehabilitation Law". (Still have no documents to support this claim)

1985

Modified head stock American market ST, AST, appears. (This happens earlier than 1985)

Curious timing for the AST redesign.... Possibly related to alleged lawsuit in the US by Fender the previous year claiming Tokai was "manufacturing counterfeit products"? (Still have no documents to support this claim)

1986

Tokai emerges from bankruptcy and reorganizes as "Tokai Gakki Mfg. Co., Ltd."
 
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2003 catalog

"Shocked into submission

In 1982 the western guitar market was shocked into
submission. Never before had it seen instruments of
such quality from a Japanese builder. Tokai had come
to town and had changed the entire perception of the
quitar world forever!

Their arrival brought about a knee jerk reaction
from the world's existing major manufacturers.
However by this time, Tokai had firmly established
itself as a builder of unquestionable reputation and
precision. Unlike many of ils competitors,
Tokai, founded by Tadayouki Adachi in Hamamatsu in 1947,
still remains a genuine family concem. Now headed
by its current President, Shohei Adachi. Tokai still
retains the philosophy of absolute
commitment to quality.

The majority of its current workforce are the same
skilled craftsmen who created the now highly
collectable eighties classics. 2003 is an exciting year
and we are proud to make available once again this
stunning range of instruments.

But this year is also a remarkable year for the
company itself. History has proved that Tokai do not
produce guitars without total conviction to their art,
So we were overwhelmed to be able to announce the
launch of the stunning 2003 Love Rock II. This guitar
combines 50 years of guitar making tradition, together
with the application and versatility required by today's
players. The Love Rock Il is the epitome of
contemporary craftsmanship in guitar building.

R.K. Murdoch (Managing Director)"


5rJlE8z.png


PbNVgIr.png
 
Another MG has just come up on FB - block logo with an 81 serial. Could be one of the 205?
Late 81 guitar seized by customs spring 82, returned to Japan and sent back with a block logo?



MxytIcq.jpg
 
Ok. So that’s bizarre on many levels. January production stamp.

My ST70R is serial number 1024448.

Production month is 12 (12 = 9)

So I’m wondering why a guitar made in January 1982 has a 1981 serial number?

Seems like the neck and body stamp would happen before the neck plate and final assembly?

One added weird note. My ST70R was a prototype apparently and has a code in the body written in the MG paint and no actual 12 = 9 sort of code like the neck does. Never noticed that before.
 
I was just writing that when you posted - Jan 82 guitar with a 81 Serial - did the L serial start 01/01/82 or weeks later? Maybe had some 81 plates left to use up and the new stamp wasn't ready in the first few weeks.
 
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February 1.

I think you’re right. Quite possibly one of the actual guitars seized in the UK.
 
Also solid evidence in favour of the first stamped number being the month.
 
Good job spotting that. I’ve been hoping one day one of these would pop up.

Seems like this could very well be a legit lawsuit guitar if there ever was one.
 
I also have to mention another piece of this puzzle.

After all the issues with the word Strat in the spaghetti logo and subsequent re design in the UK producing the block logo, there was a mis-step apparently.

The earliest block logos still used the phrase including Strat. The examples I’ve seen have that word cut out.

But somehow someone didn’t get the memo when they were creating the block logo. So this is the second iteration of the block logo.

Here’s that version including the problematic phrase.

Serial number 12633, Fender style system for maple board neck.

45B79096-208D-42E6-8851-63AC67C67B4B.jpeg

1982/83 Block Logo Gallery
 
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If this was one of the seized Springys then maybe by the time it got back to Japan they'd ironed that issue out.
 
Here’s another block logo Springy omitting the word Strat. It’s the one you posted from Facebook with the October 1982 original invoice.

Not sure of the serial number. Probably 5 digit Fender style number.

Guessing it was one of the first imported after the seizure?

1982/83 Block Logo Gallery
 

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