Help needed identifying 2003 MIJ Tokai LS???

[Hag]

Hi everyone, newby here so first off hello!

I recently bought a MIJ Tokai Love Rock and am in the process of setting it up and working out what, if any, upgrades and changes I want to make. However, I'm a bit confused from the starting block about what model it is and what the specs are to begin with! I was thinking it could be an LS65? But I'm not sure what my full reasoning is other than it doesn't have a flame finish so would therefore be a lower end model. (Although funnily enough I'm not a huge fan of flame finishes.)

I can see that it's a 2003 model and has a quite thick 2 piece solid maple top. I think its a poly finish although I'm not 100% how to tell? Inside one of the cavities says E2-22 CS (I assume CS is cherry sunburst) but can't find anything about what that code means.

I've attached some photos which will hopefully be of assistance... Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[ATO]

Looks like an ALS65

https://www.tokaiforum.com/threads/2003-catalog-uk.27957/post-210143

 

[Sigmania]

Edit: Yours is an ALS65 as ATO said becasue of the pickups being MKII and not MK3


That model changed in 2003/4. The LS65 became an LS75.

2003/2004 catalog


VintAxe scan

 

[Sigmania]

By the way, is the MADE IN JAPAN on the back of your headstock an ink stamp or a sticker?

 

[Sigmania]

I just realized the 2003/2004 catalog has MK3 spec'd for the LS75, so that is odd.

So as ATO said, probably the model before the switch (ALS65) as you have MKII pickups made by GOTOH.

I have long suspected these LS55/65 models may be a hybrid production between Korea and Japan. Seeing MK3 pickups listed for the LS75 is very odd. Those are inexpensive pickups you normally see on Korean models.

 

[Sigmania]

Just as a note since you may not be aware. This is a very odd period at Tokai. There were lots of odd periods at Tokai I guess. But this one was odd. They were making guitars for Fender. So lots of secrecy. Lots of production in Korea while the factory in Japan was focused on pleasing Fender apparently. Lots of strange things were going on that we are still not sure about.

But your guitar seems to have been made earlier in 2003 since it has the MKII pickups. Looks like later in the year the models changed and they used less expensive pickups in what was then called the LS75.

 

[Hag]

It's an ink stamp MIJ on the headstock.

 

[Sigmania]

Thanks. This is around when it switched from a sticker to an ink stamp. I am still trying to nail down when it changed. Looks like it was not a smooth transition. Some models into 2004 still did not have the ink stamp.

"Made In Japan" Stamp

 

[Sigmania]

And as for the E2-22, that is hard to say.

On Fender type Tokais with detachable necks, the first number is the month and the second is a type of batch code.

But on Love Rocks it is not as clear. And that E is also a mystery.

 

[Hag]

Well thanks everyone for the help. With the MkII pickups I think it is more likely to be the ALS65.

My first job is to replace the pickup rings which have both snapped in the middle. I ordered both a flat and curved set so let's see which ones fit best. I'm half expecting neither will!

Having searched the internet I came across another post by someone who had a similar code (E2-22). I wonder if that is an internal Tokai model code, or perhaps refers to the factory where it's made?

Edit - in addition I came across a code which was E2-25 and was probably a LS85F from the same year (and both mine and the other E2-22 were probably LS65) - in which case that might imply E2 refers to Love Rock and the -22 or -25 etc refers to the model? Just a guess on my part but might make more sense than having a model number named after the rrp in yen in any particular year.

 

[Sigmania]

I was referring to the E.

The 2 is likely the month as it is for Tokai Fender copies.

The 22 is a batch. That explains why yours is a different number than the 85 and the same as a 65.

 

[Glenno]

After reading through this, I’m impressed with the detective work. I’m learning so much, especially with regards to the fender products made by Tokai. I was always of the opinion that Fujigen made fender in Japan

 

[Sigmania]

After reading through this, I’m impressed with the detective work. I’m learning so much, especially with regards to the fender products made by Tokai. I was always of the opinion that Fujigen made fender in Japan

Not all.

Tokai made a lot of Fenders for the Japanese domestic market (JDM) to help meet the high demand that FujiGen couldn't completely handle. Others did as well. But FujiGen made the bulk of them.

Look here:

Tokai "Made In" & "Crafted In" Fenders

 

[Glenno]

Thanks for the reading material
I almost bought a MIJ active pickup P bass a few years back, I got to play it but the store had displayed it in the front windows too long and the neck was bowed, pity, such a cool looking bass. Wouldn’t it have been amazing if it had been built by Tokai