So The “T” Stands For…

[Sigmania]

I guess the “T” stands for Traditional Series?

I had always thought it stood for Tokai.

Last one to the party?

Tokai 1984-1985 Traditional Series Catalogue - Vintage Japan Guitars

 

[mdvineng]

Yep, late.

 

[Sigmania]

Not so fast.... As with anything Tokai...

The TST-56 and 62 in 1983 and 1984 were definitely not “traditional” headstocks.

And then the name changes by 1985 to AST-56 & 62 and conforms to that scheme. Same guitars.

Grrrrrrrr.......

1983 catalog:



1984 catalog:



Then by 1985 these same guitars change to AST-56 & 62...



Maddening.

 

[chuckyz2]

I'm happy with my modern Fender CS guitars, but there is one of these for sale locally. What are they worth?

 

[Sigmania]

A TST/AST-56 or 62?

Not sure about price, check Reverb, but the necks are the selling point. V on the 56, rosewood slab on the 62.

I would guess that most people want the Fender headstock shape, so you could probably get a deal on one.

 

[Sigmania]

Looks like this one just sold. Rare color, gold metallic (GM).

Mid 1980s Tokai TST-62 Stratocaster in Aztec Gold, with OEM hard case | eBay

 

[chuckyz2]

Thanks. I guess they are not pulling anywhere near the money of the LS/ES. The one for sell locally is an AST and pretty beat up for 500.
And yeah, the headstock is not appealing to me. But if they were worth more.... What Tokai Strats are the most collectable?

 

[Sigmania]

No idea. I think these 56 and 62 models are sleepers. Great guitars for players.

One of the fanciest Strats I ever had I sold on eBay to a guy who told me as I was shipping it that it would be hanging on his wall in his office. I almost didn’t ship it.

If you are looking to make money there are better ways to do it. If you’re looking for a good deal, these may fit your needs or a Goldstar? They still make them with the Fender headstock.

If you want to know more there’s plenty of reading to do on here.

Enjoy.

 

[Sigmania]

Sounds like Peter Mac is saying that the AST/TST 56 & 62 were made simultaneously for different markets??

Hi guys,
just a quick sorting here...
ST models are Japan only
TST models are export models from 1981 - including U.S.
AST models are U.S. models from 1984 onwards
US models are noticable by the altered headstock and the actual year being replicated - TST-56 & AST-56 : TST-62 and AST-62.
Build specs for the US models did differ slightly to other export models but the major componants like body and neck were the same for all ST/TST/AST guitars, and they were all Made in Japan.

regards
Peter Mac

 

[Sigmania]

So many exceptions to these rules....

Can drive you nuts.

Case in point... An AST-56 with a "traditional neck...

Tokai AST-56 1985-86 Blonde | Reverb

Stunning bird's eye neck too.

 

[Sigmania]

You are correct about the AST / TST designation regarding export and domestic models...American STrat / TokyoSTrat Some TST's have come home with Tourist's. I bought a TST in 97' from just such a person. Regarding the Kahler...Can it be removed and broght back to spec? A TST is a great guitar, a quality peice, just enjoy it. If she can rock your world, who cares How Old She is?

Everyone has an opinion I guess...

 

[Sigmania]

Current TST/TTE/TJB models. Those guitars are(was until this year) made for Japanese market and for countries which do not have problems with Fender regarding headstock design.


TST50A-2 GS(2tone sunburst) Maple 1 pcs. neck, Swamp Ash 2 pcs. body
TST50A-2 YSOR(3tone sunbrust) Rosewood Fingerboard, Swamp Ash 2 body
TST50A-3 FRR(Fiest Red9 Rose Fingerboard, Swamp Ash 3 pcs. body
TST50A-3 SOBR(Sonic Blue) Rose Fingerboard, Swamp Ash 3 pcs. body
TST50A-3 SOB(Sonic Blue) Maple 1 pce. Neck, Swamp Ash 3 pcs. body
TTE70A-3 (Union Jack top) Rosewood Fingerboard, Swamp Ash 3 pcs. body
TTE50A-3 CARR(Candy Apple Red) Rosewood Fingerboard, Swamp Ash 3 pcs. body
TTE50A-3 CAR Maple 1 pce. Neck, Swamp Ash 3 pcs. body
TTE50A-2 BL (See-through Blond), Swamap Ash 2 pcs. body
TTE50A-2 YSOR, Rosewood Fingerboard, Swamp Ash 2 pcs. body
TTE70A-3 PR(Paisley body painting) Maple 1 pce. Neck, Swamp Ash 3 pcs. body
TTE70A-3 UK(Union Jack body painting) Maple 1 pce. Neck, Swamp Ash 3 pcs.body
TTE70A-3 RR(Rosewood) Rosewood Fingerboard, Swamp Ash 3 pcs. body
TTE55A-3 CAR, Body Top&Back Binding, Swamp Ash 3 pcs. body
TTE55A-3 CARR, Body Top&Back Binding, Swamp Ash 3 pcs. body
TTE55A-3 GS, Body Top&Back Binding, Swamp Ash 3 pcs. body
TJB55A-2 YSOR, Swamp Ash 2 pcs. body
TJB55A-3 VWHR(Vintage White), Swamp Ash 3 pcs. body
TJB55A-3 VWHR(Vintage White), Swamp Ash 3 pcs. body, Matching headstock.
TJB55A-3 CARR, Swamp Ash 3 pcs.body

The difference between AST, ATE, AJB, APB (Export) and TST,TTE,TJB is as follows.
AST70, ATE78B, ATE82 and AST100 have 22
frets, original headstock, trusrod adjustment on the headstock.
TST50A/TTE50A/TST70A/TTE70A Ash body, 184mm
radius neck, bottom trussrod adjustment, 21 vintage frets, old vintage
headstock (2 means 2 pcs. of Ash body, 3 means 3pcs. of Ash body)
Steel block, CTS pot 250k, CRL switch - optional, by dealers request.
The spec. for TST50 is more high-grade than AST70, just the model number is small.
This is not all modification.
Personally, I do not really like the pickups. They still use Gotoh pickups and current ones sounds very thin.

 

[Sigmania]

Tokai guitars produces some strats with original fender style headstock for domestic market. Most dealers outside of Japan can not sell them because of copyright issues with Fender. Those guitars are known as TST50 Goldstar sound.
Body is from 2 or 3 piece swamp ash, neck is '60 style with rosewood or maple fingerboard, 7,25 radius and 21 frets.
BRIDGE: GOTOH Vintage Custom Tremolo ? PICKUPS: Tokai Vintage ST ? CONTROLS: 1 x V., 2 x T., 5-way Switch

They are made in Japan. Depending on the dealer wishes they could be provided with CRL Switch, CTS Pots and Switchcraft output jack.

 

[Sigmania]

So I am re-thinking this again.

I just came across a Grandy by Tokai from 1985 stamped GLS65.

Now I am wondering again if T stands for Tokai in periods of production when Tokai was making other brands like Grandy and later fender where they for sure stamped T and F to differentiate parts. See thread on Fedners Crafted by Tokai for examples.

Here is the Grandy from 1985:

Grandy - Love Rock - GLS-65 - Single Cut - by Tokai - 1985 | Reverb

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

Theory: 'A' and 'U' was obviously used to cater for actual differences on the American and UK markets, starting with the 1983 events in the UK.

'T' was introduced for the domestic (and the other, not so lawyer-infested export markets ) to stay clear of similar trouble because Fender Japan came into existence in 1982/83 and used the 'ST'- prefix for their models?

Signed, Cpt. Obvious

 

[Sigmania]

I am even more convinced now that the "T" stands for Traditional after translating this catalog:

1980s - 1987 Vol. 13 U.S. Masters and Tokai Catalog

See the "Traditional Version" sections for Strats, Teles, Basses, and Les Pauls. All have the T model prefix and Traditional in the section heading.

Note the AST Nile Rodgers model is simply called an ST-NR, not TST in the catalog.