Just got a LS-320

[Roe]

it looks almost too good. here's pics:

http://photos.yahoo.co.jp/ph/j_hisashi_st62/lst?.dir=/deb8&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.co.jp/ph/j_hisashi_st62/lst%3f%26.dir=/deb8%26.src=ph%26.view=t

the guitar is lighter and louder unplugged than my 1993 gibson lp std. it's a 2000 model. serial nr. 0094115

the only issue seems to be fret buzz. the nickel frets and the strings seem to have corroded a little. the action was very low. I raised it quite a bit and put on new strings. it's playable, but the frets should have been worked on a little.

the guitar has fret end binding, duncan seth lovers and bumlebees. fretboard is supposed to be jacaranda, but how do I know this?

 

[meckintosh]

Hi,
i cant help you with the fretboard, but i am thinking about buying a tokai at the same seller. is he ok? did everything went well? did you have to pay extra for anything?

 

[Roe]

he's okai, but didn't inform me about the fret buzz.

 

[Roe]

does the tokais have a treble bypass cap?

 

[Pegcityrocker]

You have to be careful with Hisashi, he often sells guitars as a higher model than what they actually are. I bought a Tokai LS80 from him that he had advertised as a LS120 Prototype. Hi knowledge is very low on guitars or else he blatantly lies to make money. I suspect the later. :-?

Does it have LS320 stamped in the neck cavity? I would want to confirm any guitar that he sells.

 

[Roe]

no, the neck cavity doesn't say anything.

does all the ls320s have ls320 stamped in the nck cavity?

 

[villager]

if its got seths and the solder joints are unbroken then its a 320...however take hisashi's descriptions with a pinch of salt...hes not a bad seller , but has been known to sell guitars with issues..

I have passed on guitars for sale in japan that had problems when sold that I have later seen for sale by him with the problems not mentioned..

buyer beware..

 

[Paladin2019]

The binding and the pickups tell us that it *is* an ls320, and the serial tells us it's a 2000 model.

This means that the fretboard is definately brazilian rosewood (jacaranda).

It won't have a treble bypass cap, but you can very easily add one. You could also try the 50's style wiring scheme which is meant to improve treble response with the volume rolled off.

 

[Roe]

doesn't the tokai have a 50's style wiring?

 

[Pegcityrocker]

He has another LS320 for sale in the Buy It Now section of ebay. That one has LS320 stamped into the neck cavity. Obviously Tokai doesn't always stay consistant with what they do; some will have it others will not. That's what makes this forum so usefull, if it wasn't for it many of us out here would have no idea of what we own.

 

[Paladin2019]

doesn't the tokai have a 50's style wiring?

No. It has standard modern gibson style wiring.

 

[Roe]

the guitar plays well, but needs a fret dress. the bass sounds less muddy than my gibby.

 

[jawilluk]

Looks like a fantastic guitar. I't's a great colour.

I was just looking at Hisashi's other LS320 on *bay and
I noticed what seems like a lot of filler around the inlays.
It's not what you would expect from such a high end guitar.

 

[Roe]

it seems that my guitar has the cheap bridge (not brass saddles) and cheap tailpiece (not aluminium).

I suppose this is not original and that Hisashi has sold cheap parts for a high price.

 

[Felipe Nacif]

To verify a 320, see if it has a long tenon neck. Only the 320s (and now the 380s) have this neck.

I have 2 320s from 2000 and one from 2003. Major improvement is in the inlays. 2000s are greenish, have filler. The 2003 is much better.
But that's pretty much it, because the rest is the same. One of mine from 2000 is actually the best of the bunch.


BTW, 320s are the best thing your money can buy. The 380's with Rolphs are probably great guitars too, but it's only a pickup swap. My 320s have Wagners, which I prefer.

 

[Roe]

shouldn't all the LS320s have aluminium tailpiece and brass saddles?

 

[Pegcityrocker]

Yes it should, I believe everything from an LS125 and up has the brass saddles and aluminum tailpiece. That's according to the catalogue. My LS150 does.

 

[Roe]

well my guitar has a long/extended neck tenor.
everything seems to be in order except the saddles and the tailpiece.

after a fret dressing, the guitar plays great!

 

[TUNAFREAK]

I have an aluminum tail piece that came as an extra when I got my LS320 from a forum member. But you can buy them for about $28.00
If you want it we can work it out.

Mark

 

[Roe]

28$ is not bad.

here's the sellers reply when I asked about the brass and aluminium parts:

"HI,

There is not a problem.

As for LS-320 of these days, brass was normal, but there was not the brass
in those days.
I do not reach two lower addresses either.

http://www.mijguitar.com/GUITAR%20templ/Tokai%20Love%20Rock%20LS-320.htm
http://www.atelierz.co.jp/basiczaiko522.htm



There is a photograph of LS-320 which you bought.Other photographs and a
guitar are the same parts

http://www3.tokai.or.jp/hisashi/guitar/A3_1.htm#2 "