Wow, looks like you've been busy Sigmania!
mdvineng said:
Flamingo Orange was available as a custom colour too.
Could it be a Tokai made Fender, see page 5 https://www.vintagejapanguitars.com.br/en/fender-japan-1984-catalogue/
Remember catalogues came out in October, so an 85 cat was available Oct 84 etc.
8 screw plate is for maple necks
Metal finish on the hardware can help identify model I.e. chrome or nickel finish.
This is what my father though, but I don't think it's possible. I cannot imagine Fender ever selling Strats with Tokai hardware. Tokai never produced guitars for Fender until 1997 even though they were in talks during the 'law suit era'. In my original post I did link to a story of Fender apparently using a Tokai guitar with their own headstock decals for 1982 advertisements for their 57' reissue Strat. I've tried to find it and see for myself with no luck.
Sigmania said:
So the question about the tuners saying “Deluxe” was you asking if it was a branded Tokai or Fender?
Some Tokai STs had Kluson style tuners stamped “Deluxe” and some stamped “Tokai”. Not sure if that correlates to specific dates?
I was wondering because most of the Strats I've come across have DELUXE written. In the earlier catalogues around 81/82 they have hand written and hand drawn information on all the different parts. It's difficult to figure out, but there's mention of different neck shapes, string trees, pickups, etc. They also have hand drawn tuners that feature 'Tokai' on the back. I just have no idea if these are model specific or date specific. My dads guitar has Deluxe.
You can see what I'm talking about on page 4
here.
I don't know what the term block is made from. Is there an easy way to tell?
The bridge saddles have Final Prospec written on them, but I'm not sure it's an 84 model. I would need to go back and look at the catalogues but I think I remember seeing "Final Prospec" earlier that 84 publications.
Sigmania said:
And what is the “R” in ST50R and ST60R?
R means Rosewood. Those were on the 62' style Strats.
I took a look at all the guitars you link for sale. I wonder how they are coming up with the model and year too, although the Australian shop explains their logic. The guitar has a 55 sticker on the neck, however they try to claim it's a custom red paint when really the stamp inside notes it's FO. There's no date on the pots from what I can remember and I can't see any when checking other pictures I took. I have noticed that the stamps on the pots seem to vary, so I wonder if theres a way to date guitars based on that alone.
Another thing I find interesting is that if you check the serial numbers Tokai used they actually vary. For example, some of the guitars you shared have 1957 serial numbers. My dads has a 1956, along with the last few guitars you posted. I also noticed that Tokai actually changed what they referred to the guitar as. I need to check the catalogues again, but I think the earlier ones say they are coping a 54' and the later are 58' - I have no idea what differentiates these models.
I think this is important to note, because in 1982 Fender released the very first reissue guitars; a 57' Strat and a 62' Strat. Tokai copying this era of guitar is what prompted Fender to bring them back. So I wonder if after 1982ish Tokai decided to use 57' serial numbers since that's what Fender went with. I could be completely wrong with this theory but you can find serial number info here: https://www.guitarinsite.nl/serienummers-fender_eng.php
What's the difference between a Goldstar and a Springy Sound?
