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Mono said:If it is Tokai Love Rock and Les Paul shaped and has a poly finish it has to be either a LS60 OR 50.
The fret edge binding you are describing is hard to picture... Can you upload some photos or send some to me and I can upload for you? My junk email address is Brian dot mageel at Gmail dot com
Thanks for chiming in Mono
I don't have any doubt it is a 1981 Tokai LS-60 Love Rock Model:
It has a 1981 serial number.
It has a 2 piece/center seam back, spec for a 1981 LS-60.
It has an ultra thin poly top finish (I tested the finish).
It has the oval sticker just under the seven digit serial number with the number 60.
Those attributes alone pretty much give it away & it was sold as a LS-60 so, no surprise on model number/grade, IMO.
The LS-60 is supposed to have fret ends installed over the binding. The typical method is to radius the fingerboard & the binding @ the same radius. Lots of manufacturers do this and it's not complicated whatsoever, if done correctly. When done correctly the fret seats snugly across the entire radius. I have seen vintage Tokai examples, among many other brands, that have this installation done perfectly. I have never seen this method of installing frets leave remnants of binding that could be confused for remnants of FEB, when done properly.
I can think of only two possibilities that could potentially explain the presence of the binding remnants that look like FEB at the fret ends, on this LS-60.
Neither scenario makes any logical sense but I assume (just about) anything is possible. One scenario makes less sense than the other.
Both scenarios are speculation but I can't think of other scenarios that may explain the situation.
1. The neck originally had FEB. Why would I say that? Obviously because of the binding bits at every fret end that look like the remnants of FEB.
This scenario however seems least likely, IMO. If this were the case the original frets would have to be removed to level the tops of the FEB down even with the fret board height. Then a re-fret would have to be done. Again, this seems highly unlikely, although completely possible.
2. The binding edges were rounded in an over radiused fashion, compared to the fingerboard radius, leaving the binding remnants at each fret end.
IMO this explanation seems the more plausible of the two.
Having said that, why would a manufacturer that has already perfected the fret over binding type installation take such an approach & then follow that up by allowing such an example out the factory door?
So, I'm going with scenario 2, only because that seems more plausible & for no other reason.
AFA my new acquisition, I don't think it will be costly to remedy the high fret ends but it will take some time, as the work will be detailed & tedious.
Most likely scenario will be to use a fret hammer to seat the fret ends & then use an end file to smooth the fret ends & a few of the binding bits at the fret ends.
Still planning to get a minimum of two opinions before I proceed but I will likely do the work myself.