matching headstock tokai goldstar

[turntheteleup]

Hi

I have acquired this old goldstar, unfortunately I havent collected it yet so these are the only pics I have at this stage....more to follow when it comes home! any info would be gratefully appreciated. This will be my first Tokai so my knowledge amounts to .... bugger all!

Thanks very much

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4415925107_6a9914147a_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4416691586_44484aa707_o.jpg

 

[Peter Mac]

hi turntheteleup

The guitar is a TST-55 made in late 1983. Logo gives us that year as the block logo was only used then and the first part of 1983 were still called SpringySounds and you say this is a Goldstar.
In terms of construction, it has all the features of a TST-50 ( Lxxxxx serial number, 'U' pickups,) but the painted headstock added an extra 5,000yen to the price. Colour code is MR = Metallic Red and the body cavity should have a stamp on the wood similar to 13=10 MR.
Could you please confirm the numbers and codeds once it arrives ?

regards
Peter Mac

 

[Anonymous]

And post some more pics please, when you get it. As Peter said these block decal ones were only made in 1983, & I don't recall ever seeing one with a matching headstock before, so it's fairly rare.

It should be a very nice Strat, nice catch.

Mike

 

[turntheteleup]

Thats good to know, Thanks!

any idea of value? and what case would it have come in originally?

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

If you add your location to your profile

like this
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we'll know where you are & we might be able to answer questions like that.

:wink:

 

[turntheteleup]

Its Added!

 

[Anonymous]

any idea of value? and what case would it have come in originally?

That's better. 8) I can talk in ?s now! I thought you were probably in the UK with a profile name like that. :wink:

Value? Goldies can sell (on eBay) for anything between ?300 & ?500, both extremes of that range are a bit unusual. Usually upper ?300s, lower ?400s, depending on what it is.

It's hard to say what yours would sell for. On the one hand the matching headstock should command a premium, but on the other hand some people think the block decals are uglier than the script decals, so that might detract a touch from the value.

As for the case, lots were sold without cases, I bought one new in December 1983 for ?189, & I didn't even get a free gig bag! But my green one came in a case which I believe is original. They are tweed & look similar to the Fender vintage re-issue cases, but they are a little bit smaller, & a bit more flimsy. This is the only pic I have of the case.

 

[turntheteleup]

Hi Again
well, i collected her from Manchester and just got home. Its a lovely thing, I took these pics of the numbers I could see inside the body and on the end of the neck and the pickups and pots. The serial number is L11236. Its got a few nasty dings and gouges here and there, but nothing major. What does it say on the saddles?? I can make out FINAL? i think?

Just strung up with some 11s and played little wing, the strat test! and it sounds ace, the p/ups are superb. Very pleased with it.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/4420680018_fb2a921805_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4420684314_25b60b56e4_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4420660094_05e514066e_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2776/4419891835_35a27587eb_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4419889505_8e8f1e1037_b.jpg

 

[Anonymous]

Everything looks exactly like it should do, unmolested by idiots. FINAL PROSPEC on the saddles, pre '81 or so they said TOKAI, but yours is an '83. The only thing that's unusual is the colour code - MR - on the neck butt, that's a new one on me, but no problems, the stamps are all Tokai standard stuff otherwise. The colour code is usually only stamped in the body, it's a shame they didn't stamp the neck with the colour more often - makes it easier to ensure the neck & body belong together. Another great idea Tokai tried & then dropped!

So this was an easy one to ID, for once - it's a late 1983 ST55 in Metallic Red with matching headstock, all original. Great stuff.

We now have a set! Iain has an almost identical Springy a year or two older, & I have this, a year or two younger.

 

[iainblack]

Can't wait to see all three back to back in the book! Maybe we could hold a northwest tokai club too? I'm in Liverpool.

 

[turntheteleup]

yeah man, that'll be something. These must be the classics of the future? A northwest tokai club? ha ha, my missus is laughing her head off calling me a geek! Next sunny day, I'll take some good pictures and email

em for the book

all the best

 

[iainblack]

Don't let her see the photos of the last convention then! What is the collective noun for a group of geeks? A font of geeks? A pedant of geeks? An encyclopedia of geeks, an enthusiasm of geeks!

 

[Anonymous]

It's a gaggle of geeks, surely?

 

[Peter Mac]

Hi turntheteleup,
What can one say . . outstanding.
This is the first Goldstar neck with a colour code on that I've seen. I would venture to say the code MRH stands for 'Metallic Red Headstock'
The numbers also match the body code so it is definately all original 'transition' model absolutely unmolested by idiots.
It would make quite a photo of the 3 logos on matching headstock.
Congrats on a fine score
regards
Peter Mac

 

[turntheteleup]

Hello again,

Thats great, not only does it sound and play great...its something of a rarity! I have just sold a friends 79 Fender Antigua strat and had it to play for a week and without doubt,.this beats it hands down. And for that matter, most Strats I've owned. Whats the deal with those pickups?!? jesus... more vintage than vintage,

Been looking for a case..what do y'all think about this?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300404659714&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
All the best
Danny

 

[Anonymous]

'79 was probably the lowest point in Fender's long history, so it's no surprise to us that your "cheap old Japanese copy" (as some Fender snobs used to call them) is a better guitar.

The pickups divide opinion - lots of people love them, personally I don't, I find them a bit thin & bright, but the Us are the best of the lot. If you like them, that's perfect.

 

[turntheteleup]

Hi again

Just picked up the seemingly original tweed case for my goldie, I was told the trem arm was in the case but unfortunately its not. I tried a generic trem arm I had lying about but its way too big. Is there a particular size/make of trem arm that will fit? The big one was off a Korean squier I think.

Thanks in advance

Danny

 

[iainblack]

Danny if you use the search function there are loads of threads on trek arms.