Tokai Humbucker Models & Resistance

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I think this is fascinating. You were mentioning the LS Dynamic from a couple years before.

Now I’m wondering what the readings were on the first Humbuckers listed in catalogs as MKII specifically. They were in the 1981 and then 1982 LS60 models. I looked and I don’t have readings for them.

Your pickups appear to be the next version of MKII if they are what the catalog lists as ‘57 PAF Vintage MKII.

The LS Dynamic were in the LS50 and are what I’m now thinking of as possibly the first MK3 pickups essentially.
I just snagged a pair of MKIII (MK3) pickups from a 1984 SD40, white lead wires, 19.1k and 18.8k, 50mm pole spacing, silver baseplates, black bobbins, square window, but no covers, and no PAF sticker. So they look almost exactly like the MKII, except the covers. I wonder if the early MK3 were essentially just MK2 without the covers - if it was as simple as that?

I also wonder if they really only had 2 pickup versions during this time (which they called many different things) - 8k alnico grey wire, and 19k ceramic white wire, and the wire colours were used in the factory to tell them apart.

Once I receive the MKIII (probably in a couple months), I'll do a comparison, and post some updates.
 
They sound amazing through my Maz 38. I use this guitar for one of my bands that has some pretty heavy parts. Great rock pups. Not PAFs though 😂
I love the sound of mine too , especially for heavy stuff. Even with lots of gain, and low tunings, the strings/notes ring through better than any other guitars I own. I love my LC60.
 
Interesting... You git me curious again. I did find MKIII listed in a table in a 1984 Vol. 9 catalog for TSD40. Crazy.

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Was the Fresher from around 1980?
Very likely. Although I don't know for sure. There was no serial number on it, and the pots were Noble pots, and I wasn't sure how to read the codes on them, or if they even have date codes. The pot code was 05A300Kohm, on the side of the pot, so maybe May 1980 Audio taper 300k ohm? Not sure.

So if it wasnt from 1980, it was very likely from around that era. It was a set neck Fresher Les Paul from the 3rd generation logo.
 
I am not sure if you can read dates from Noble pots? I haven't had any luck with it. But Noble pots are quality pots and Tokai used them in their LS models in the early 80s. Very cool.
 
I am not sure if you can read dates from Noble pots? I haven't had any luck with it. But Noble pots are quality pots and Tokai used them in their LS models in the early 80s. Very cool.
Those Freshers are built very well with quality parts for sure. It had a all brass bridge. And it sounded fantastic.
 
These are supposedly out of a 5 Star?

トーカイ ファイブスター ピックアップ 80年代 ... - Yahoo!オークション

This is a pickup removed from a TOKAI Five Star.

This was originally attached to the Five Star (2 hams, synchronized tremolo, 1 volume, Rose fingerboard with 22 frets) that I acquired 20 years ago.

According to a serial search on the internet, it seems to be made in 1982, but I don't know the model number.

I was using it until this month, but the condition of the guitar itself was at its limit as a musical instrument, so I decided to retire it, so I removed it.

When I measured the resistance value with an analog tester, both were about 8KΩ. Is it PAF type?

Both are 2 core wires and are approximately 33cm long.
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Not sure which model I was talking about re MKII.

TLS50 and TLC60 had MKII.

TSG50 had MKIII

1984 catalog

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I looked back at this. I must have misread the table.

Edited previous posts so I don’t confuse people more.

TSG50 had MKIII not MKII.

Thanks!
 
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I need to go back through all of our posts and separate the MKII and MKIII and their readings and fix the specs on page one of this thread. I’m out of town so may be a bit before I can correct it all.

Thanks for the heads up! 👍🏼
 
The MKII pickups in ATO’s LC60 read very close to the MKIII in your TSG50.

I wonder if they are the same pickups?

ATO, do you have a picture of the top of your pickups showing the pole pieces or are they covered?
 
The MKII pickups in ATO’s LC60 read very close to the MKIII in your TSG50.

I wonder if they are the same pickups?

ATO, do you have a picture of the top of your pickups showing the pole pieces or are they covered?
Yes, exactly - I'm not sure if there is a difference between the MKII and MKIII's.
 

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