Tokai Goldstar Model? Pickups? Year?

[AvJoe]

Hi
I just bought a Tokai Goldstar which is supposed to be from the early 1980ies.
But no Serialnr., no stamped pickups, no modelstamp.

Would be very happy if someone could help me out. Especially the pickups and if it is a St 50 or higher. Its a two piece body and maybe a c shape neck.

Here are some pics.

Thanks in advance

 

[ATO]

Body and neck are from first half of the 80s. Is there a number on the neck plate?

The hardware in the pickguard are not tokai.

The pots and switch in the last pic are tokai, black bottom pickups in the last pic don't look like they would be original to the guitar, are the pole pieces flat or staggered? They look like Seymour Duncan SSL-1 with the 1R sticker.

What pickups are in the pickguard? Pic of the headstock? What's stamped on the saddles?

I'd say T/ST50 or 60 based on images so far

 

[AvJoe]

Hi ATO
yes the pods where wrong, they belong to the now installed bill lawrence ref pick ups. sorry for that.

the ones you said are supposed to be SDs are the one which the owner before changed out for the BL Refs, when he bought the guitar second hand in the eighties. 2 have 1R and 1 has 5R on the sticker. And the polepieces are staggered and there is no RWRP. No Serialnr on the neckplate and no number on the neck. On the saddles/bridge is the "tokai/ final prospect" stamps. Only those markings on the pics. first I was hoping the pups could be DiMarzios but there is no name on inside of the pup-covers. i recon if the pups are SDs its not bad either. I m still not 100% sure about the finish, but I think its poly and not nitro and there is no V in the neck, so probably a ST-60, because its a 2 piece body but who knows.

If I take of the paint from the backside of the neck, is this a no go for these old japanese tokais? considering the vintage part and also "resell value"? I really prefer no paint.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Sigmania]

If it's a Goldstar it dates from 1983-85 with the = sign in the code.

The original serial number would have been a 5 digit. Strange that someone would remove that and replace it with a generic plate...

The body and neck seem to go together so that's good.

And even ST80 had a 2 piece body, so that doesn't tell us much.

The finish can be hard to tell if it is nitro or poly.

And what were you saying about removing paint on the neck? Like sanding off the finish?

That would ruin its value in my opinion, and I wouldn't do it.

Can you post more pictures showing the whole neck and in particular the headstock?

 

[Sigmania]

The red and blue wire from the pots to the switch on your original harness suggest a lower end model in my opinion.

TST60 and up had vintage cloth wire I believe. Need to verify that.

 

[Sigmania]

I would be leaning towards a TST50 at this point (U neck and that wiring harness).

Can you post pics of the headstock?

1984/85 catalog

TST-50 (M) 1958 MODEL PHOTO 1
•Solid alder contoured body
•Neck: (M) Maple one piece neck ('58U)
•Single-coil ST-Vintage MK II pickups
•A single-layer white pickguard
•1 volume, 2 tone controls
•5 position PU selector switch
•Traditional style hardware
•With tremolo unit
•Finishes: (M) GS, YSO, OW, BB, MR

 

[Sigmania]

See this 1983 TST50

Blue plastic wire to switch.

Again, a pic of the headstock will help date it.





Newbie :) Confirmation of my Goldie - 84 TST-50?

 

[Sigmania]

So the original pickups would have been U or VII if it is a TST50.

 

[Sigmania]

The Goldstar decals went through changes and that could help with the date.

 

[AvJoe]

Thank you Sigmania.
I am still at work. As soon as I am home, around 17:00 MET, I will post more pictures. Yes, its a blank neckplate.

So if the Pick ups not original and the rest of the electronics are from a lower end model, maybe i just keep them, but put some new higher class electronics, full new wirering loom, new pups( Kloppman, Lollar etc) in? Or do u know these pups? the Bill Lawrence are just not peride correct and i think they are humbuckers in single coil size, unfortunately the previous owner has too many guitars and the strat is his least favourite one, so he couldnt really remember much, he bought it over 30 years ago second hand, and changed the pups because every boutique strat back then had these BL ref pups. Btw the Strat was in avery strange set up, the neck hat a ig bow and the tremolo was set up like a floyd rose, totally loose screws and the screws on the back plate wher very off set.

i think the strat is in a very good overall condition, the hardwear is shiny and works flawlessly, very nice sunburst and super thin finish, good wood and around 40 years old.
I really just would like to have it in nitro, so the finish would wear a bit off over time.

Fun fact is, that I got that top end case from that time with the guitar. I just dont care about it.

 

[AvJoe]

So here are some more

 

[Sigmania]

OK. That looks like a replaced switch.

I still think it is a TST50 based on the U shaped neck.

bluejeannot pointed out that the butterfly string tree in this period also differentiates a TST50

The decal is after mid 1983.

My guess is late 1983 to 1984 TST50GS.

The date code on the body and neck (6) is June, so assembled June 1983 or June 1984.

And sweet case! Those are hard to find.

 

[Sigmania]

Your case is older than the guitar I think.

Here is the case in the 1981 flat top catalog.



By 1982 it is changed it looks like?

 

[bluejeannot]

OK. That looks like a replaced switch.

I still think it is a TST50 based on the U shaped neck.

bluejeannot pointed out that the butterfly string tree in this period also differentiates a TST50

The decal is after mid 1983.

My guess is late 1983 to 1984 TST50GS.

The date code on the body and neck (6) is June, so assembled June 1983 or June 1984.

And sweet case! Those are hard to find.

+1 But I think that the switch is original. The pots and wiring etc are fine on this period of Tokai. No need to upgrade. BTW in my experience Tokais just love Duncans of this period They are great handwound pickups.

 

[Sigmania]

1984 catalog

TST50 is a '58U
TST60 is a '54V

 

[Sigmania]

+1 But I think that the switch is original. The pots and wiring etc are fine on this period of Tokai. No need to upgrade.

Good call.

I just looked at my late 1983/84 TST70 and it has that same switch. I had not noticed it before.

 

[Sigmania]

I wonder if the code I am seeing on our switches tells us anything about when the switch was made?

Again, never noticed that before.... The wonders of Goldstars. Love 'em.

35 1
26 3

 

[bluejeannot]

Good call.

I just looked at my late 1983/84 TST70 and it has that same switch. I had not noticed it before.

View attachment 8444

And a **** fine switch it is too!

 

[Sigmania]

No kidding. Look at all of the metal and the mass of it.

Compared to the modern switch I recently put in my ST70R.

 

[ATO]

It's just missing the correct case for the period! just so happens I've got one here that I can swap with you