Help needed to identify which model Tokai

[TonyC]

Hi - I just registered as I want to find out what model Tokai I have. Its a 1998 Blue 'Les paul'.
The serial number is 9803552 and i bought it probably in 2014. Is it possibly a 'Love Rock' model or something else?
Would be grateful for any info.
Thanks
Tony

 

[Sigmania]

Can you post pictures?

Serial number sounds like it was made in 1998.

Indigo Blue was an option on some models that year.

 

[TonyC]

Can you post pictures?

Serial number sounds like it was made in 1998.

Indigo Blue was an option on some models that year.

View attachment 33023

View attachment 33022

 

[TonyC]

Hope this is clear enough? thanks

 

[Sigmania]

Can't see much from that photo.

Can you post more pictures with a flash showing the grain in the body front and back and the headstock front and back?

Thanks

 

[Sigmania]

Looks like blue sparkle paint. Definitely need better pictures.

 

[TonyC]

Hi - I have it listed on Reverb with several photos
Tokai Les Paul 1998 - Indigo Blue | Reverb UK

Can you check out these photos? If still not ok, I will take some more photos...
Thanks
Tony

 

[Sigmania]

That is a very unusual guitar.

It's not in any catalogs I know of. It closely resembles some Korean Tokais from around that period, but it has a Japanese serial number. Very curious.

Have you removed the pickups to look under them? If not, the model number may be stamped under the neck pickup on the body along with the color code. If you do that, take lots of pics including of the back side of the pickups.

Preserving your pictures here.

 

[Sigmania]

Btw, I don't think that color is Indigo Blue. IB is a stain as far as I know. Your guitar is a metallic sparkle paint. Very unusual.

 

[Sigmania]

And I can't help but wonder if this is an example of a hybrid production that I have wondered about for some time. Tokai did this with a partial Chinese production for the Heritage Series. So it is possible.

Heritage Series?

Here are some of my ramblings on the subject.

Hybrid Japanese/Korean Production?

 

[Sigmania]

This is what I am referring to. This is a Korean built Tokai with similar paint job.

It was likely made between 1995 and 2000 just like your guitar.

This particular one is suspect because of the logo.

The Korean ones are the only ones I have seen with this all over blue sparkle paint job. The all over paint is generally a technique to hide lower cost woods.

But yours has the face of the headstock painted which I have never seen.

Yours may be a prototype of some sort, special order, or a one off?

TOKAI エレキギター LoveRock トーカイ ラブロッ... - Yahoo!オークション




Yours

 

[TonyC]

Thanks for continuing information. I'll try and get more photos for you (pickups etc) asap.
Do you have a view on a selling price for this guitar?

 

[Sigmania]

No idea on price.

You need to sort out the model first. That means pulling the neck pickup to look for a code.

It probably won't be a big number as I said because it is painted wood which typically means lower quality material. Maybe something similar to an LS55? If so, that sold for 55,000 yen new. Which in today's money is $371.

So pull the pickups first and try to figure out what you have.

See this thread for reference on LS55/65 models and what to look for as far as a model code.

LS55 and 65 Mid 1990s

 

[Sigmania]

1998 catalog

Japanese:




Korean:

 

[TonyC]

No idea on price.

You need to sort out the model first. That means pulling the neck pickup to look for a code.

It probably won't be a big number as I said because it is painted wood which typically means lower quality material. Maybe something similar to an LS55? If so, that sold for 55,000 yen new. Which in today's money is $371.

So pull the pickups first and try to figure out what you have.

See this thread for reference on LS55/65 models and what to look for as far as a model code.

LS55 and 65 Mid 1990s

When you say $371 I assume you mean US dollars. That equates to £293 so as I paid £490 for it about 8 years ago I'm thinking I was ripped off. I'll attach 2 photos of the pickups but can't see any Model number., just the GOTOH pickups Japan text.

 

[Sigmania]

Well that number I gave is not corrected for inflation.

 

[Sigmania]

Those look like LP-H GOTOH pickups. I have seen these in a 2002 LS70F.

Do you have photos of the cavity with a flash?

 

[Sigmania]

It’s hard to see the cavities with the pickups in the way in these pictures.

I think I see square pickup tab route which looks like Tokai Japan construction.

 

[TonyC]

Hi - 3 more photos for you.... hope this helps

 

[Sigmania]

Hmmmm. Well, it’s definitely a Tokai, but my concern is that it is an over paint or a repaint.

Normally there would be an area that wasn’t painted inside the pickup compartment. That’s where a stamp with a model number etc might be. But it’s completely painted. And it looks bubbly and rough in places.



I would look very closely at areas where screw holes penetrate the paint and see it you see a shiny finish under it. Under the truss rod cover and around the logo on the headstock are good places to look. Use a loupe if you have one. I’ve never seen the face of a headstock painted on a Love Rock. I would look very carefully at every edge and opening that I could. Tokai paint jobs should look impeccable.




Good luck!