1981 LS80

[Sigmania]

Looks like someone was a heavy smoker.

Needs alcohol and a Q tip?

SN 1013926

Tokai/Tokai LoveRock 80 Electric Guitar (422 1013926/LS-80?/Les Paul Type

 

[eborej]

Looks like someone was a heavy smoker.

Needs alcohol and a Q tip?

SN 1013926

Tokai/Tokai LoveRock 80 Electric Guitar (422 1013926/LS-80?/Les Paul Type

Why not stick with the natural cashew finish rather than cleaning it up?

Do you think that the writing on the top has gone through the finish or could it be cleaned off?

 

[chuckyz2]

Why not stick with the natural cashew finish rather than cleaning it up?

Do you think that the writing on the top has gone through the finish or could it be cleaned off?

That is not Natural. It is also not a Cashew finish. Tokai only used Cashew on their very High end guitars. This is some type of stain.
Where it is written on, it doesn't appear to have just wiped the stain off or it wouldn't be bright yellow. It almost looks like it was painted on or they used a lacquer to burn it in past the clear and first coat of brown. Who knows.

 

[ATO]

I think the writing has definitely gone through the finish.

 

[julian]

I guess that the "writing" was done using glue and mirror tiles? 80s vibes

 

[Sigmania]

Why not stick with the natural cashew finish rather than cleaning it up?

Do you think that the writing on the top has gone through the finish or could it be cleaned off?

Hard to know. The writing might be on the surface.

There is a lot of something on this guitar. I was assuming cigarette tar, but who knows? It may be superficial.

Would be rewarding to try and bring it back to its glory.

 

[eborej]

Does anybody think it might have had a neck break repair? Hard to be certain from the pictures of the upper neck considering the grime.

 

[solderjunkie]

I’ve sourced a number of guitars (Fender Japan and Tokai) that had a heavy residue on the finish like this, which I believe was the result of long-term exposure to the heavy salt air of a marine environment. I removed with a citrus-based cleaner and a lot of elbow grease.
I kind of like the writing, btw ; )

 

[Sigmania]

Was it yellowed like this? I assumed it was from cigarette smoke.

 

[solderjunkie]

Yes, a bit sticky and yellow. Could have also been exposed to cigarette smoke. All just a guess of course.