Difference between ST70s and ST60/80s

GeorgeF · Apr 5, 2011

Hi,

I'm new to the forum and looking to get my first Tokai Strat. As well as the Tokai Registry's own guide on Fender copies I found S-Blues' post from this thread very helpful in identifying different models:

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2823 (bottom half of the 1st page)

I noticed the ST70 isn't listed here so I was wondering what the difference is?

I'm not particularly fussy about which model I go for at the moment, this is more out of curiosity than anything.

marcusnieman · Apr 5, 2011

Could be that the ST70 was the same as the ST60 but reflected a price increase.

Koubayashi · Apr 5, 2011

marcusnieman said:
Could be that the ST70 was the same as the ST60 but reflected a price increase.

Could be. But my ST70 has a one piece body for some reason.
I never had an ST60 with one piece.

marcusnieman · Apr 5, 2011

Interesting... I don't know much about the elusive ST70 nor what the specs are. Were they ever listed and shown in the catalogs? What year(s) were they produced?

Koubayashi · Apr 5, 2011

marcusnieman said:
Interesting... I don't know much about the elusive ST70 nor what the specs are. Were they ever listed and shown in the catalogs? What year(s) were they produced?

I don't know much about them either.
Probably not more than you.

GeorgeF · Apr 5, 2011

I was looking at this table:

http://www.tokairegistry.com/tokai-info/tokai-fender.html

And saw that a 6 digit serial number can indicate an ST70, then saw this 1982 catalogue which on the top right shows an"ST70" as a new product:

http://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/volume534.jpg

It was available at the same time as the ST60s. So if it cost ?70,000 it must be somewhere representative between an ST60 and ST80? I think I can just about read something like "1964 RARE MODEL" in the catalogue.

I can't read the proper detail as I can't read Japanese!

marcusnieman · Apr 5, 2011

Interesting... it does look like it says 1964 rare model in the catalog... whereas the other just say 1964 model.

If someone could translate the specs and description along with the ST60 and 80, we'd have a clue.

DaveWW · Apr 5, 2011

You might find this 1984 catalogue with English translation and catalogue pages you can zoom in on.

It gives the spec for the ST70 as a 1964 model etc.

http://brochures.yokochou.com/guitar-and-amp/tokai/1984/en_05.html

Dave

bluejeannot · Apr 5, 2011

The st 70 had a separate maple laminated fingerboard glued to a maple neck,like some Fenders and their finish was poly unlike the the st80 which was nitro.Gabe.

settebello · Apr 5, 2011

Rosewood ST70's are the only ones with a slab board.

Volker

Koubayashi · Apr 6, 2011

marcusnieman said:
Interesting... it does look like it says 1964 rare model in the catalog... whereas the other just say 1964 model.

If someone could translate the specs and description along with the ST60 and 80, we'd have a clue.

I tried to read the catalogue but the solution is too bad,
Ny ST70 has E-pickups, one piece body and poly.

Koubayashi · Apr 6, 2011

bluejeannot said:
The st 70 had a separate maple laminated fingerboard glued to a maple neck,like some Fenders and their finish was poly unlike the the st80 which was nitro.Gabe.

Poly indeed.
Also E-pickups and one piece body. Well, my ST70 has that.
Will check the neck and see if that is coherent with what you say.

GeorgeF · Apr 6, 2011

Is a laminated maple fingerboard any different to a one piece maple neck other than just aesthetics? I imagine a one piece will probably be slightly more desirable because of the "mojo".

I have a Hondo II Pro copy of a Fender Lead II (allegedly made by Tokai) which has a laminated fretboard and is a wonderful neck but was made at a much lower price point than the ST range so is it a cost thing or does it really not matter?

Koubayashi · Apr 6, 2011

Here is my ST70 Goldstar?
Nearly min condition with original hardcase.

bluejeannot · Apr 6, 2011

I`m sure it makes no difference sonically at all,but from a practical point of view if your maple fingerboard wears out you can just replace it.One of Jimi`s strats had the separate maple fingerboard .It`s not a budget feature.Gabe.

GeorgeF · Apr 6, 2011

That's what I thought looking at the ST range. It doesn't seem to represent cost.

Koubayashi, that looks lovely. Does it have a glued on fingerboard or a skunk stripe on the back?

Koubayashi · Apr 6, 2011

I don't have a pic of the back.

Got this for now.

Koubayashi · Apr 6, 2011

Further, my ST70 is a 58ri Strat.
Three tone burst with maple neck.

GeorgeF · Apr 6, 2011

Ah okay - I guess I didn't know the ST70 was a 58RI, I thought the catalogue just said '64. Definitely looks laminated though. Must be a nice guitar!

marcusnieman · Apr 6, 2011

Were the ST70's only in the Goldstar line and not the Springy's?

Difference between ST70s and ST60/80s

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