ST Timeline 1977- Present

[Sigmania]

Rough timeline for ST serial numbering systems:

1977- 1982: Date based serial number system

The Earliest Springys 1977-

1980-1981 Some Tokais models made in Nagano

Tokai In Nagano 1980, 1981

1982- ? Humbucker Telecasters with six digit serial number 10xxxx

Six Digit Serial Numbers Starting with 10xxxx

1982-1986: Fender style model based serial number system beginning in February 1982

Fender Style (Flat Top Series) Serial Number System (1982-1986)

Fender Style Serial Numbers Ended When?



Late 1982-1983: Export logo TST-56 & 62 guitars.

The Export, Transitional or "7okai Fat-Script" Logo

TST-56 Gallery

TST-62 Gallery

Late 1982/83: Script logo appears (outside UK?)

3 Piece Script Logo Goldstar Decals 1982/83

Late 1982: Block logos appear in the UK

1982/83 Block Logo Gallery

Mid 1983 Script logo appears in the UK & new Vintage MKI (V) & MKII (VII) pickups appear

1983 Goldstars Script Logo

VII ( Vintage MKII ) ST Single Coil Pickups

1983- Extra Tokai E.T.

"Extra Tokai" ET

Featured in mid year 1983 catalog



1982 - 1983 Springy to Goldstar transition










1983- Super Edition TSD & ASD

Super Edition TSD & ASD Guitars

1984-85 ? Hard Puncher, etc. six digit serial numbers 10xxxx

Six Digit Serial Numbers Starting with 10xxxx

1984- Limited Edition TST Models

Limited Edition TST Guitars

1985- Custom Edition Models

"Tokai Custom Edition" Guitars

1985-1986: Some five digit serial numbers (2xxxxx) on lefty Goldstars.

Five Digit Non-Fender Serial Numbers On Tokai Strats

1985-1986: Six digit serial numbers appear starting with 11xxxx for non traditional Strat type guitars in the Limited Edition, Super Edition, and Custom Edition, lines.

Six Digit Serial Numbers Starting With 11xxxx

Early 1986: Fender style serial numbers end.

Fender Style Serial Numbers Ended When?

Early 1986 Six digit serial number starting with 2xxxxx

Six Digit Serial Numbers With 2xxxxx 1986 1987 1988

1989: Five digit serial numbers starting with 1xxxx.

Five Digit Serial Numbers 1xxxx 1989 1990 ?

1991-1994 ?: Six digit starting with 01xxxx

Six Digit Serial Numbers Starting With 01xxxx 1991 1992

1994-2009: Big blank spot during Fender production? Low spec Korean models no numbers, Chinese have serial numbers.

Tokai "Made In" & "Crafted In" Fenders

1996-2005 Korean production of most Tokai branded AST models

Korean Stamped Etched Impressed Neck Plate Serial Number Guitars

Early to Mid 2000s: All caps “MADE IN JAPAN” inked on heel of neck, and no serial number.

All Caps MADE IN JAPAN No Serial Number Guitars

2005-2009: Upper and lower case "Made In Japan" inked on heel of neck. No serial number.

Upper And Lower Case "Made In Japan" No Serial Guitars

2005- Chinese AST models

Tokais Made In China

2009- present: date based serial numbers inked on heel of neck similar to Fender.

2009 Goldstars

2009, 2012: Special order Springys commissioned by Faber Germany.

Springy Sound Limited Runs 2009, 2012

 

[Sigmania]

1977

1977 ST42

SN 7000040

(0wner Hiro)

The Earliest Springys

These pots were used on STs beginning at least in 1978.

Note: Above 1977 guitar appears to have replaced pots.






1978

ST80R S/N 8000506

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2656466032...b_vTl8uRJe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[Sigmania]

Nice pics of a super clean 1978 plate stamped ST80GS. Red stamp "ST80"

S/N 8003061

Tokai ST 80 SPRINGY SOUND '54 Strat 1978 2T Sunbursr | Reverb

1979


1979 ST80GSR

SN 9004445

(Cliff)

SOLD: 1979 Tokai ST-80 Springy Sound #9004445

 

[Sigmania]

1981 ST80MRR

SN 1013537

FENDER Serial Number system begins Spring 1982.


1982 ST65 GM

Tokai Strat Springy Sound ST-65 Rare! - Gold Metallic - Custom Ordered finish - Lawsuit era - | Reverb

 

[Sigmania]

Block Logo 1982/83

1983 ST55 SO Goldstar

https://www.adverts.ie/electric-gui...i-tst-55-goldstar-sound-stratocaster/19647617



Export Script 1982/83

TST-56

SN 0977

V neck. TST-62 had a rosewood slab board.

(replaced pickguard)

Tokai TST-56 Vintage Series Stratocaster electric Guitar 1980's 3 tone sunburst | Reverb

 

[Sigmania]

1984 AST Goldstar?

These apparently existed at the same time as the TST/AST-56 and 62 which had a V neck and rosewood slab respectively.

Tokai Goldstar Sound Strat Stratocaster MIJ 1985 1986 Lake Placid Blue w/tweed hard case | Reverb



(Voidoid56's photo)
From a 1985 TST50




Note: Non traditional guitars appear with six digit serial numbers beginning with 11xxxx. Notably Limited Edition, Super Edition, and Custom Edition guitars.







Six Digit Serial Numbers Starting With 11xxxx



Note: Fender style serial number system ends in the spring of 1986.


Note: Six digit non Fender serial number system in the following format (20xxxx, 21xxxx, 22xxxx) apparently dating from the following post 1985 period having the - (hyphen, dash or minus) symbol in the production code. Known examples date from 1987 so far. Likely 1986 and 1988 as well.


Tokai Goldstar Sound TST-60s 1984 Cream White Fender Stratocaster reissue | Reverb UK

Tokai Goldstar Stratocaster Olympic white | Reverb

S/N 209815

Note: Still has brass grounding plate.

 

[Sigmania]

Note: Brass ground plate has been phased out by the time this guitar was made in 1987.

Brass Ground Plate

Voidoid56:

S/N 222587

• V II pickups and Klusons so should be TST-50GS (despite 1954 detail, like a button string tree)
• Pot codes are March 1987
• Final Prospec bridge
• Production codes separated by a dash, not =
• Routs without pickup screw indentations, no control brass plate
• Neck stamp is 5 -17, body stamp lost to screening paint

Actually one of the nicest STs/TSTs I've had.























Six Digit Serial Number Goldstars, Etc. Fender Headstock

Other guitars with the hyphen, dash or minus sign in the production code:

The Mystery Of The - Hyphen, Dash, or Minus Sign

 

[Sigmania]

Note: Yet another serial number system. This is a 5 digit serial number on a guitar with a rosewood board. Obviously no longer the Fender numbering system or this would begin with an L.


ST28 BBR ?

Tokai Custom Edition ST-Style zu verkaufen

1989 catalog

More “Tokai Custom Edition” guitars:

"Tokai Custom Edition" Guitars





SN 12824

5 digit serial number.

Pots date to Sept 1989. (99).

Assembly of guitar in November (11) with 11-14 body code.

Some sort of odd paper label under the pickguard that possibly relates to a re-seller.

84 Goldstar?

 

[Sigmania]

1990 catalog

Only shows ST30/40/50

Low priced models (30,000 - 50,000 yen)

Note: Yet another serial numbering system. This is also 6 digits, but on HSS/SSH models in this period they have serial numbers that begin with 01xxxx and ususally have an "S" pencil ma\rked in the neck pocket.





HSS, Fender headstock, 6 digit SN, - instead of =.

SN 017895

tokai

Help rare Tokai Goldstar Sound

Other HSS Goldstars:

Mystery HSS SSH Goldstars




Circa 1994 AJB55

Same "S" mark in the neck pocket as the above HSS Goldstar.

Similar serial number to HSS Goldstars, six digit number starting with 01xxxx.

SN 015380

Tokai AJB-55 1994 Natural | Reverb UK

 

[Sigmania]

1994 circa AST481

"Tokai Custom Edition" Guitars








1994 catalog:

 

[Sigmania]

1998 catalog

Korean models (28,000 - 33,000 yen)

1998 - 2000 catalogs only show low spec models like AST 25/28/33 which are presumably made in Korea.

 

[Sigmania]

2003 catalog

AST50 are the only ST models shown

Unknown date.

No serial number.

All caps "MADE IN JAPAN"

1985 Tokai Goldstar Sound Seafoam Green > Guitars Electric Solid Body | Thunder Road Guitars PDX

 

[Sigmania]

2009



No serial number.

Date stamped.

'09 9.17 (Sept 17, 2009)
'09 9.24 (Sept 24, 2009)

Assembled October 2009.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/374321545832?hash=item57274d8268:g:U6YAAOSwubpjK8kL&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAAoKq1ysiU0uWqT21QUf05g70hUQbBOeK8shvbZlj3LYFXuIa+HAaRVIvXT8EzCEyaYclZN02MdfA6Kst1v2rqf1Rc0LkiuiCXggoJ4pCWQCo8IrgoKwEJZWIdmIHJu7GzxsT+QLzJZ6pWD6ZveOW6bNw+WNHcvraOCX7r3pbIEOJEoNBMV3M0oyafySKabV0rhz/o1zvfaJsK7D64bufHKnY=|tkp:Bk9SR_KvpvSeYQ



SN 096057

Assembled November 2009.

2009 Goldstar Sound strat, is this one a rarity?

 

[Sigmania]

AST70 & AST100 shown in 2010 catalog

SN 100170

Date stamped neck pocket:

"10.2.28" Feb 28, 2010
"10.3.4" March 15, 2010
"10.3.15" March 15, 2010

AST65 BB/M

Tokai AST-65 Goldstar Sound 2010 Japan Black | Reverb

 

[Sigmania]

2013 TST50A ?

Mary Kay

2009 Tokai Goldstar Sound strat, is this one a rarity?

Special order TST I assume like the one below in 2019.












2014 AST98 BBSR (listed as 118)

SN 140072

2014 Tokai Goldstar Sound AST-118 S-Style Electric Guitar Ash Body Blue Burst, Japan

 

[Sigmania]

2019 TST95

SN 190231

TOKAI Goldstar Sound TST95-A VWH Vintage White / Stratocaster Type / Made In Japan / TST95A | Reverb

 

[Sigmania]

SN 190578 ?

Don''t think it is a TST50 as advertised...

Description

The absolute hammer! After almost a year of waiting, we couldn't wait to receive this Custom Order Tokai. We are presenting the guitar in a small number of pieces and absolutely exclusively for the Swiss market with the following ingredients: Body - light swamp ash with 60's body shape with a beautiful shimmering blonde finish Neck - one-piece fat C-shape neck with 9.5" radius and in flamed maple and beautiful tinted vintage finish and of course with original F***** headstock hardware - from Gotoh and kept in gold throughout. Try it out immediately and give yourself a huge gift is the order of the day. The photos may not correspond to the guitar in stock. Please ask us for photos of the available instrument.

Tokai TST 50 | Reverb

 

[Sigmania]

TST95 GSR

SN 210681

Note the Fender headstock, still available in some markets.

Tokai Goldstar Sound Stratocaster TST95 GS/R 2021 | Reverb

 

[Sigmania]

Rosewood Slab Fretboard Tokais

 

[Sigmania]

There was a period in the early 90s it seems where Tokai was using HSS bodies on traditional style Goldstars.

They seem to have seial numbers starting twith 01xxxx in this period.

See HSS bodies here:

Six Digit Serial Numbers Starting With 01xxxx 1991 1992

And special high spec HSS Goldstars here:

Very Unusual High Spec Goldstar, Custom Build?