Need help for identify guitar

[SLowgun]

Hi,

First time in here. I find one Tokai Goldstar Sound on sale. Pics were little bit bad, but owner write that guitar have 8 digit serial without any letters on it. Can I assume that it's Chinese? Serial is 06120007.

 

[Sigmania]

Need to see pics. Lots of weird stuff out there. A picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[SLowgun]

These are the only ones I have

 

[Sigmania]

Curiously edited photos.

I would avoid this seller simply because of the way they took those pictures. You can’t see the shape of the headstock or the back with the serial number.

I would avoid unless you get more pictures.

 

[Sigmania]

At the least, with that serial number it is not a MIJ Tokai.

It is either Korean or Chinese.

In 2006 it should be Chinese but as I said lots of funky stuff out there. Could be counterfeit as well. That’s why you need pictures showing the serial number, the back of the guitar, and the entire headstock.

 

[SLowgun]

Edit..you just answered this.

 

[Sigmania]

My guess is that it has the modified headstock and is at best an AST33 made in China.

 

[Sigmania]

They didn't show AST models in the Tokai catalogs around this time, 2006.

This was a period of transition from Korea to China, and at the end of Fender production by Tokai in Japan.

Here is a Korean AST33 from 2000



Here is a Chinese AST33 from 2010

 

[SLowgun]

Seller wrote that this is Korean made guitar and I told her I'm no interested anymore.

 

[Sigmania]

OK. FWIW, sellers are often wrong. I would be curious why they are saying Korean rather than Chinese.

My bet would be CHinese with the 06 serial number, but there may be a MIK decal or stamp that they are basing that on.