Tokai springy sound 1983 block logo ST50?

[Big-O]

Good morning,

I am new here and I would like some help please.

I recently bought a Tokai springy sound 1983 block logo. I bought it through EBay and took a risk.

It has a 50 sticker on it, so I would assume it is an st50. I had a look inside the body last night but I can not understand the codes. Would anybody be able to tell me if what I have here is the real deal?

Any help would be appreciated, I just want to know if what I have is the correct neck and body (matching). Then I can move forward and get the guitar set up.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sigmania]

Welcome.

I can see why you have some concerns.

On the code stamped on the body, is there possibly a very faint “1” to the left of the “2”? If so, they are clearly matching.

The oddity for me is that if it truly is a “2”, that combined with the serial number indicates it was made February 1982 and may have been one of the guitars seized in the UK during the lawsuit. Those guitars apparently got re-labeled in the fall/winter of 1982/83 as block logos.

The neck has a December code which would be December 1982.

Member ATO has been logging these production codes. He may have some insights into how this all fits together.

Also, the model with that paint should be 55, but I’ve seen inconsistencies with the oval sticker in whether it reflects that.

Hopefully ATO will chime in soon with his observations.

 

[ATO]

Congratulations, I was bidding on this one too. It's all original, this guitar was actually built at the end of 1982.

12=6 means the sixth build or batch of December. We know it's 1982 from the 11278 serial crossed with the body stamps that we have been logging.

The neck clearly shows 12=6, the body is not as clear as I can't see the 1 but it will be there, maybe very faint.

12=6 was a large order of ST50/55/60 by the UK importer, so there are quite a few block logo guitars out there with the 12=6 stamp.

Here's the list of guitars by body stamp so far, yours has been added:

https://www.tokaiforum.com/threads/list-by-1st-body-code.28672/

 

[ATO]

Crossed with your post Sigmania - I think the body is definitely 12=6

 

[Sigmania]

Cool. I just spotted these in your list.

I think I’m seeing the top of a “1” on the body. It’s a little further from the “2” than you would expect.



Very cool. Good job with your list. That solved it.

 

[Big-O]

Thanks for all your help chaps, I do really appreciate the help.

Looks like I’ll be getting it set up and keeping it. Hopefully it’ll play lovely once the tech has finished with it.