SS80 SS85 (and TSS80 & TSS85) Gallery

Sigmania · Nov 1, 2021

1979 ad

SS-80
The power, response, and quality long-awaited by professional guitarists.

A shocking debut featuring Texas Pickup's "Super Susie", a top-quality pickup that meets the sound creation demands of professional guitarists, mounted on a yellow sunburst body. Maple piece U-shaped neck with smooth finger work. Brass nut, fretting, long suspension

The delicate craftsmanship techniques shine in the tin plastic bridge. The waist cut body is an old type with an emphasis on playability. half toe

A newly developed 3-stage 5-position selector switch that allows you to reliably select the Arming sound with a certain pitch. Guitarists aim for a wide range of expression and power up

A long-awaited one.

New electric guitar catalog VOLUME3
Tiger stripe LS-200 and LS-150
Old Strat's ST series including the added LS series.
Leeds Even more complete SS series and PB series
The high-grade content overwhelms others. 300 yen stamp
Enclose it and clearly write your number, address, name, and TEL.
Tokai Musical Instrument Manufacturing Co., Ltd. 36 Terawaki-cho, Hamamatsu-shi 430
TEL (0534) 41-3137 Attack on "Target ML8"
Maybe you should try the big sticker double
There are also presents. Powerful and soulful Sau
I'm running and barking! I'm waiting.

New Series
Old model ST series that revitalized the town
-Model SS series LINE UP!
Tokai Strat model is complete.

Sigmania · Nov 23, 2021

From the 1981 catalog

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=26104

Sigmania · Jun 27, 2022

1979 SS85N

SN 9007765

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2657547944...b_vTl8uRJe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Brass nut, brass saddles.

Sigmania · Oct 8, 2022

1981 SS80

SN 1012478

https://reverb.com/item/15701677-to...ece-body-dimarzio-fs-1-1981-located-in-the-us

Tokai SS-80 was the top of the line copy of large headstock Strats originally offered at 80,000 Yen. They are extremely rare, very well appointed and built to Tokai's consistent high quality.

So what makes these so special - quite a bit actually.

Modeled on a 1966 Strat, the Silver Star line was Tokai's large headstock Strat model. These models were introduced in 1979 and offered until 1984. The SS-80 was the only Silver Star model to come finished in nitro cellulose lacquer and featured a brass nut and brass key-hole bridge saddles.

Additionally, this was the only model to come equipped with special DiMarzio high output FS-1 "Fat Strat" pickups, which are still made and described as offering a higher output, with smoother and fatter sound over stock.

This SS-80 has a one piece Sen body finished in three tone sunburst (YS). Sen is a Japanese ash which is known for its intricate grain patterns. Unlike the ST-80 Springy Sound, it appears that all SS-80's may have come with one piece bodies. Stamps on the neck and body confirm they came together from the factory and show the YS color code. Neck is maple and the tuners are Schaller type.

When I purchased this guitar, it had brass saddles installed on the original bridge, but not the original key hole saddles. I was able to track down a set of vintage Japanese key hole saddles which I installed and fit much better than the saddles the guitar came with. Additionally, one of the pickup covers was too short, so I installed a DiMarzio cover which fit perfectly.

Other than the saddles and one pickup cover, as best I can tell the guitar appears to be all original, including the DiMarzio FS-1 pickups which make all kinds of serious 70's Strat sounds.

Condition overall is excellent, but there are bumps and scratches as you would expect given its age. The leather case it had been stored in had a nylon lining which has made some light impressions on some of the finish which can only be seen holding it under the light a certain way. I included one photo you can see this.

SS-38 and SS-40's regularly come up for sale, whereas the Tokai SS-80's are quite rare.

I have four of this model and they are all awesome. Here's an opportunity to get a very rare Tokai, built to the same high standards as the Springy Sounds, but with the big headstock and all the attitude many bands favored in the the 70's. Give the age of this guitar, it is a true vintage Japanese model from one of the top manufacturers.

I'm a serious collector of vintage Japanese guitars with a heavy focus on 70's & 80's Greco, Tokai, Burny, Navigator and Yamaha, regularly buying and selling and do my best to ensure descriptions and pictures are detailed so you know what you are buying. Feel free to ask any questions.