Made In Korea Stamp

Sigmania · Sep 20, 2023

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Based on looking at the etched serial number Korean examples I have found it seems this ink stamp began sometime in 2000.

Also note this other thread with letter prefix serial numbers stamped as well as the MIK stamp.

Letter Prefix Serial Number Korean

Also, this TRC come in sometime in 2000 and is used on the Gibson clone version with the ink stamp.

Sigmania · Sep 20, 2023

Tokai トーカイ ALS-36 レスポールエレキギター... - ヤフオク!

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Jiffie · Sep 21, 2023

Hi, this is my first post on this forum. I recently bought a Tokai Love Rock Les Paul MIK, browsing this forum and the links to the various catalogues helped me identify the guitar before buying it and make an informed decision whether to go for it. Bit of a stranger to Tokai previously, though my friend has a Tokai Tele from the 80's or 90's and it's a great guitar, was one of the reasons I decided to check Tokai out for a Les Paul.

I am pretty sure the guitar is a ALS48 MIK probably between 2003 and 2005(6), it is in good condition, well made, it's set up beautifully and is a joy to play. Only problem was I discovered on closer examination a previous owner had replaced the stock pickups with a couple of unknowns, that was OK as I was probably going to change them anyway, from what I can gather they would have originally been MK4's, which don't seem to get much love here. I put in a set of Gibson Burstbuckers 1&2 and so far am happy with the sound. I'm in the UK, so it will be an export model.

Anyway, here's some photos including the MIK stamp on the headstock.

Sigmania · Sep 22, 2023

Tokai 330 Rickenbacker Style Semi-acoustic Guitar Black Made In Korea | eBay

2000 catalog:

Sigmania · Sep 23, 2023

Made in Korea PR50

Sigmania · Sep 28, 2023

ALS48?

Sigmania · Nov 13, 2023

【a2】 Tokai レスポールカスタムタイプトーカ... - Yahoo!オークション

Sigmania · Nov 16, 2023

From what I am seeing, it looks like the MADE IN KOREA stamp in all caps is a thing of the 2000s.

From 1997-2000 or so they used gold foil stickers.

Korean Stamped Etched Impressed Neck Plate Serial Number Guitars

Made In Korea Sticker

This ink stamp is concurrent to the all caps MADE IN JAPAN stamp it would seem.

Korean Stamped Etched Impressed Neck Plate Serial Number Guitars

All Caps "MADE IN JAPAN" No Serial Guitars

The only dates I have as yet for the MADE IN KOREA stamp are 2005 but they probably occurred a couple years earlier than that as well. Need more data points.

Sigmania · Nov 16, 2023

This would be either 2000 or 2001 ?

SN 018399

ES60 SB

Also, 1 screw TRC like the Fakais.

Tokai ES-60 - Made In Korea Comes with Tribal Planet Case | Reverb