My first Springy... How'd I do?

[RyanC]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300442280881

A bit of an impulse purchase I admit, but the '64 Fender case seemed to be worth almost what the BIN was, making the guitar practically free.

Any info from the Springy experts would be great. The serial number of F791038 seems odd, but the controls and body stamps look legit to me.

Thanks fellas.

Ryan

 

[wishbonz]

Known in marketing speak as BOGOF (buy one get one free) I'm no Springy expert but thats irrelevant - the case was worth what you paid. Well done you!

 

[RyanC]

I'm a huge fan of BOGOF!

:lol:

 

[Anonymous]

It looks good to me, but that serial number doesn't make sense. Do you have any pics of it?

ST70? I would have guessed ST60 from the E pickups. I wonder what was different about the ST70?

Nice colour too.

Mike

 

[JohnA]

It looks good to me, but that serial number doesn't make sense. Do you have any pics of it?

ST70? I would have guessed ST60 from the E pickups. I wonder what was different about the ST70?

Nice colour too.

Mike

ST70's came with either rosewood slab boards, or maple capped boards (no skunk stripe)

 

[RyanC]

Hmmm, very interesting. I would have thought the E pups leaned more toward an ST80 than a ST60 (weren't they normally U's?) if it is in fact not a ST70.

I'll be sure to post more pics when I get it. Thanks for the info fellas!

 

[Anonymous]

80s always (as far as I know) had Es, 60s could have either Es or Us. An ST80 also has a V profile neck (even the RW versions) and a nitro finish - anything below 80 level was poly.

 

[Anonymous]

ST70's came with either rosewood slab boards, or maple capped boards (no skunk stripe)

That looks like a typical Tokai cap board, not a slab board.

 

[RyanC]

Thanks Mike - it must be a 60, as the neck looks like a C in the pics and the headstock isn't ambered like I'd think it would be if it was nitro.

Either way, not bad for a free guitar! :lol: I'll probably end up keeping the Fender case and flipping the Springy once I get it checked out and set up.

Cheers.

 

[jacco]

the only thing that doesn't look original at first glance is the neck plate. And why does the serial looks like it has been scratched completely?

The serial seems to be a Greco serial. If it's from 1979, like the serial dictates, it should have the model type imprinted in the fret board.

 

[Anonymous]

It can't be from 1979, it must be from between late 1980 to 1982. 1980 was the transition year for rosewood boards - earlier ones had the skunk stripe & headstock plug. By the end of 1980 Tokai were doing them properly (like this one) and mounting the truss rod from the top.

The bridge saddles should help to narrow down the date - if it's from 1980 they will be stamped TOKAI. If it's an '82 they should say FINAL PROSPEC & the serial number should begin with an L. I'm not sure about 1981.

 

[jacco]

like this?
http://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/volume535.jpg

 

[Anonymous]

like this?
http://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/volume535.jpg

Probably, though I have never found catalogues in Japanese to be much use to me. What year is that catalogue from?

 

[jacco]

1982

 

[Anonymous]

1982

In that case, yes. The final year of the spaghetti decal.

 

[RyanC]

like this?
http://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/volume535.jpg

thanks so much for posting that! it would still be poly though, correct?

 

[Anonymous]

like this?
http://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/volume535.jpg

thanks so much for posting that! it would still be poly though, correct?

If it's a 60 or 70, yes. The model number would originally have been on an oval paper sticker on the neck heel.