Newbie and Blackie

[McKinley60]

Hi Folks

New to this forum, so go easy on me....

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/3219245074_30e78223dc.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/3218392823_f925c6605d.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3504/3218392251_155f4e8cdf.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3453/3218390993_1ebe8268cf.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3346/3219241722_8e35e7c094.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3503/3218390449_354c577900.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3502/3218391635_e3a6c9ff7b_b.jpg

I'm posting pics (or links to) of a Goldstar I've just bought (arrived today!) somewhat dangerously on spec in the hope that some of you can shed some light on its background -- it's almost certainly a TST40, neck is a very amber one-piece maple (with jumbo frets), tuners are the cheap Gotohs, scratchplate is w-b-w three-ply 11-screw but isn't necessarily original as there looks to be an extra hole or two in the body beneath, saddles are vintage-style stamped "Tokai" and the trem block is cast with "Made in Japan". PUPs seem to be what I understand to be TST40 standards with the strip magnet on the back, and I have no clue about what pots/switches/wiring are or, indeed, should be. BUT... there's no serial number on the neckplate!

The neck is stamped 4=2 and the body cavity is '?'=7=BB. Can't see the first numeral as the paint partially obscures it. It may be a 3 or a 2.

So.... I'm a little puzzled about the saddles, the mismatched codes and the lack of a serial number. Any ideas?

It feels genuine enough to me, nicely worn in and battle-scarred, although doesn't seem to have that same bell-like resonance my last Goldie had. I think that was a 50 or a 60. Maybe I'm imagining it. Anyway, those Gotohs will have to go although I'm reserving judgement on the standard PUPs.

It was a comparative cheapie, so what do you think?

 

[Goestoeleven]

Looks very similar in build quality to my 80's Jap Fenders.

Not sure on the model I'm afraid but it looks like a nice guitar to me. Changing the pickups would cure the sound almost certainly. Given that it's not a high-end one I'd have no qualms about sacrificing originality for a better sound. You can always keep and refit the original bits later anyway.

If you want tuners then go for Kluson Deluxe. They're a good price (especially if you buy from Ebay in the U.S.) and they make a massive difference.

I've found a really good guitar parts Power Seller in the U.S. who ships worldwide and very quickly, so PM me if you want the details.

Graham.

 

[AlanN]

Excellent UK parts websites:

http://www.axetec.co.uk/

http://www.axesrus.com/

 

[Goestoeleven]

www.guitarpartsworldwide.com

Used and recommended. Mark is the guy to talk to.

 

[Anonymous]

I reckon it's an ST40 with a few changes, which isn't a problem if you got it for a good price. Don't worry if the neck & body codes don't match - they often don't. I would guess that the neck plate has been changed, which is slightly strange, but nothing to worry about. Tokai stamped saddles? Presumably from a Springy? Unusual, but not a problem.

What's the sound like acoustically? If it's nice and resonant, it's probably worth upgrading the pickups. You can get a set of Seymour Duncans or Kent Armstrongs fairly cheaply on eBay, if you're patient, & they should be just fine.

Mike

 

[ochay]

I'd say if it's a Early eighties GoldStar Sound and the numbers on the Neck Butt and the control Cavity don't match-it's not original-anyone that says it's not uncommon for a mismatch on Goldstar Sounds are delusional ? Then you have a springy Saddles and the early 90?s pickups-
It?s a Mutt-
It may be a Springy with a Golstar Neck and Cheap pickups??

 

[the_man]

Hi Mike!
Are you sure that ST40-60s had foils beneath the electronics? For me that's a GS elec.

An ST should have copper shielding.

Cheer

 

[the_man]

dont' know any more how pics work in here ...

<img src="http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s253/rgrafend/1981%20ST80%20FR/IMG_1706.jpg">

 

[the_man]

oh. they just dont.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd say if it's a Early eighties GoldStar Sound and the numbers on the Neck Butt and the control Cavity don't match-it's not original-anyone that says it's not uncommon for a mismatch on Goldstar Sounds are delusional ? Then you have a springy Saddles and the early 90?s pickups-
It?s a Mutt-
It may be a Springy with a Golstar Neck and Cheap pickups??

Ah, ochay is back with his strange theories on the Tokai Strats, even though he doesn't actually own one! So on what evidence do you base your claim that if the numbers on the Neck Butt and the control Cavity don't match-it's not original-anyone that says it's not uncommon for a mismatch on Goldstar Sounds are delusional? Can you point us to any evidence to back up this assertion?

Remember, this is the guy who insisted that he wanted to buy a Springy, but only if it had the model number stamped into the fretboard (1978 or 79) and also with FINAL PROSPEC saddles (post 1981).

:roll:

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Mike!
Are you sure that ST40-60s had foils beneath the electronics? For me that's a GS elec.

An ST should have copper shielding.

No, I'm not sure, I've never owned an ST40, so I might be wrong about that. Maybe one of our ST40 owners can help here? I've only seen the foil shielding on Silver Stars.

To embed pics, click the Img button, right click the link to the hosting site, then click Img again. You were the master of pics on this site Rup!

 

[MIJvintage]

IMO, the bar mag' pups indicate a lower than 50 grade model.

I would guess the tuners are correspondingly lower grade also?
what do the tuners look like, on the head stock back?

 

[settebello]

I've only seen the foil shielding on Silver Stars.

My SS60 have the copper shielding,maybe lower end SS and ST's have only the
foilshield.

Volker

 

[McKinley60]

Thanks to all for their input! The conclusion seems to be TST40 with just a few doubts hanging over the issue of the serial-free neckplate.

My own theory is that it's possibly a mongrel, hence the neckplate, the mismatched body and neck codes -- the body showns signs of originally having had an 8-screw scratchplate (not consistent with 40s if I understand correctly?) and no-one seems to be 100% happy with the foil, albeit the 250k pots look right.

The important thing is it's pretty much all Tokai; suffice it to say I rather like its partscaster and roadworn feel; means I'll be guilt-free when I start work on it.... ;-)

PS> Sorry, never got round to posting full size pics.

 

[mrsuspend]

The body and neck codes DO NOT have to match.
Mismatches are so common it would've been an industry in itself just swapping the parts around! :lol:

/Magnus