Recent content by cheshirecatsmile

It's been ages (at least 5 years) since I've been on this forum. Hi to any old-timers who remember me! I ended up with top bid on this Tokai Golden Era. When I first saw the listing, I was concerned it might be a fake, albeit a really good one. However, it seems as if there are a few Golden...

Hi all, I have a few Tokais I've posted on my local Craigslist, but I would be willing to ship to Forum members in most places. I have a black Goldstar ST-40, a black tele--TTE45 most likely, with a Fender neck humbucker added (also neck logo is missing), and a 1995 Japanese Love Rock...

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I sadly need to downsize my guitar collection (tax season). I thought I'd list my Tokais here before I put them up on ebay or Craigslist. I'm in Toronto, Canada--if you're nearby you can come and inspect in person. If you're interested in a specific guitar, please email me and I can send photos...

Hi, With the single-ply binding on the pickguard I think that's a '59 model (3-ply would make it a '64 model). According to the Japan Vintage article on Breezys (pg22-23) they have TE-Hot pickups and a bone nut and were made with 2 piece bodies of either sen or alder. Stock colours were...

Looks nice and as John says better played than sitting in its case. If you do ever want to make it original I'm sure a Tokai neck will turn up at some point. ________

Yer darn right! Chingo didn't disappoint--his shipping was "bombproof" as usual, and as reported is indeed nitro finished-both neck and body, with a pretty sharp V neck. I usually don't take a guitar apart the minute I get it, but this was shipped with strings off (and a fresh set in the...

Nice find--and worth a fair bit more than an ST-50! ________

http://brochures.yokochou.com/guitar-and-amp/tokai/1981/en_06.html There's one on here in the 1981 catalogue. Usually natural finish models were Y5000 more than regular models (same as custom colours, or matching headstock paint) --thus SS-85 means the original price was Y85,000. It would be...

Diodibuh, Are the pickups on your sunburst staggered pole? From the photo they look like they could have flat poles--you'll be able to tell better than I can. This would match with not having the brass ground-plate, and would suggest the whole pickup assembly might have come from...

Hi Ramblin, Did you manage to confirm whether or not this is nitro-finished? Just curious... Thanks, Chris ________

It's probably a TE-50. If it were a TE-80 it would have a nitrocellulose finish and a V-shaped neck, and most likely brass bridge saddles. The graphite nut is not original, but shouldn't radically add or detract from the value. If he claims it is nitro ask if he's confirmed it by testing with...

I'd guess SS-60 from a quick look. You can test for nitro--if it's poly then it's not SS-80. I have an SS-50 with grey backed pickups (no stamp, but staggered-pole)--not sure what SS-60s are supposed to have but that could be the same. Both of mine (1979 and 1982) have diecast blocks reading...

I was a bit puzzled by them at first, and I'll admit I actually took them out for about 3 months when I first got it and replaced them with a spare set of Tokai "U" stamped PUs I have. I finally put them back in and decided I really like them. They have much higher gain than a regular Tokai...

Thanks all! Looks like Tokai saddles and tuners. I'm crossing my fingers!! ________