Sorted thanks

[normskinormski]

Hi there.
Tokai LC136SW 2020 Les Paul Custom Made in Japan.
Has anyone got the specific model noted above? If so could you do me a favour please?
Would you happen to know where the pots were made?
Japan/Korea
Kind regards

 

[bblooz]

Pix please - especially of the control cavity showing the pots in question!

 

[normskinormski]

Unfortunately I'm not at home at the moment. I'm on holiday.
I was hoping someone would actually own one and just have a quick look in the control cavity to look at theirs.

 

[Sigmania]

Are you sure about your year of mfr and model number?

LC136 I beleive is older than 2020.

2019 catalog:

 

[Sigmania]

2018 catalog:

 

[Sigmania]

A MIJ Tokai would not have Korean pots. I have not seen that.

Seems like there were two levels of MIJ Customs. The higher end ones I have seen 2018-2020 seem to have CTS pots. Not sure about the 130/140 level LC.

Here is a 2010 LC with the GF pots. Not sure if the model number is right. Probably an LC98.

Tokai LC 142s / 2010 /Made in Japan | Reverb




2010 catalog

 

[normskinormski]

Thanks very much for the reply. The one I have was bought new from a dealer and has Korean pots.
I was hoping someone who ACTUALLY has one wouldn't mind opening it up as i know these were the cheaper end of the spectrum.
Everything else points toward it being a legit Japanese LC136SW. Along with the correct case, certificate of authenticity and two screw trc.

 

[Sigmania]

Hmmmm. "S" model. I believe that means it has a maple top.

And I'm surprised to hear that a new MIJ Tokai would have Korean pots.

Can I ask why you are asking about the pots in the first place? Are you having issues with them?

 

[normskinormski]

Hmmmm. "S" model. I believe that means it has a maple top.

And I'm surprised to hear that a new MIJ Tokai would have Korean pots.

Can I ask why you are asking about the pots in the first place? Are you having issues with them?

No not whatsoever. I had it up for sale and the guy queried why it had Korean pots. To be honest I haven't even looked but I gave him a refund immediately. I've never had the need take the cover off as im not a tinkerer. I'll have to wait until I'm home to have a look myself.

 

[Sigmania]

I wonder why that mattered to the buyer? You have a COA so it is definitely a MIJ Tokai if your serial number matches it.

The real question is why Tokai would have put Korean pots in there, but probably just a supply issue at Tokai and not an issue of the guitar's authenticity.

 

[normskinormski]

I wonder why that mattered to the buyer? You have a COA so it is definitely a MIJ Tokai if your serial number matches it.

The real question is why Tokai would have put Korean pots in there, but probably just a supply issue at Tokai and not an issue of the guitar's authenticity.

That's exactly what I said to him pretty much but he was worried.
I'd be worried too I suppose.
It's a lot of money to be dropping on a guitar that you're not 100 percent on.

 

[normskinormski]

Are you sure about your year of mfr and model number?

LC136 I beleive is older than 2020.

2019 catalog:

View attachment 22343
All I can go by is the serial number and what the guy in the shop told me. The serial number is the same on the headstock as the c of a.

Again I'll need to wait until I get home to check.
I kind of regretted actually selling it to be fair as its wonderful so maybe it's a good thing he questioned it as its back in my hands again.

 

[Sigmania]

The COA looks legit and has the model number and serial.

By 2019 the LC136 was replaced by the LC142.

That may be part of the confusion.

It may be a non catalog item with less expensive electronics or something?

6,000 yen differenece is roughly $42.

Always these curve balls with Tokai. Gotta love it.

 

[normskinormski]

God only knows mate. There seems to be quite a few floating about. Just nobody who's got one has read my post.

 

[Sigmania]

Have you seen an LC136 made after 2018? That would be the key. And if so what electronics do they have?

What pickups are in yours? Do they have a white paper label that says MK2S ?

 

[normskinormski]

Have you seen an LC136 made after 2018? That would be the key. And if so what electronics do they have?

What pickups are in yours? Do they have a white paper

As mentioned, I'm not at home at the moment and that's where the guitar is so I won't be able to check anything unfortunately.

 

[normskinormski]

So I've had a reply from tokaigakki this morning and these models were in fact fitted with Korean pots as standard.
It puts my mind at rest that I wasn't trying to sell a fake.

 

[normskinormski]

I had to ask in Japanese before they'd respond then use Google translate to get it back to English for me but they pretty much responded immediately. Well done Tokai.