Tokai Goldstar Japan vs Korea - Can you help identify?
Tokai Goldstar Japan vs Korea - Can you help identify?
Hello,
Can you please help me identify if the tokai is a japanese or korean one. It has kluson type split pole tuners ( which as I found in other posts suggests mij) but has 2 string trees which suggests mik. Can you help?
https://ibb.co/XzpBmgN
https://ibb.co/fSg85Dj
https://ibb.co/yXHjLL8
Can you please help me identify if the tokai is a japanese or korean one. It has kluson type split pole tuners ( which as I found in other posts suggests mij) but has 2 string trees which suggests mik. Can you help?
https://ibb.co/XzpBmgN
https://ibb.co/fSg85Dj
https://ibb.co/yXHjLL8
Re: Tokai Goldstar Japan vs Korea - Can you help identify?
2 trees are mid to late 80's and it is model level dependent.
Ser#?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133445833254.
11 screw pickguard is K
Ser#?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133445833254.
11 screw pickguard is K
Last edited by mdvineng on Tue Jun 23, 2020 2:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
Tokai VSB80 OF, Michael Kelly Patriot custom, Epiphone Elite SG & EB3. 

Re: Tokai Goldstar Japan vs Korea - Can you help identify?
There is no serial number. But I understant you are convinced it's an MiJ Tokai?
Re: Tokai Goldstar Japan vs Korea - Can you help identify?
Not sure. Ser# would help but it's probably in the neck pocket. Neck radius will confirm, flatter =K 7.25=J
I'm still looking for more info. I edited an above post and now fairly sure 90's Korean. The pictures on Ebay show what looks like a flatter radius fret board and 11 screw PG.
I'm still looking for more info. I edited an above post and now fairly sure 90's Korean. The pictures on Ebay show what looks like a flatter radius fret board and 11 screw PG.
Tokai VSB80 OF, Michael Kelly Patriot custom, Epiphone Elite SG & EB3. 

Re: Tokai Goldstar Japan vs Korea - Can you help identify?
I asked the seller about the radius i'll see if he knows. One thing i'm wondering - it's a 60s style strat... didn't those have 11 screws anyway?
Re: Tokai Goldstar Japan vs Korea - Can you help identify?
The seller confirmed the radius is 9.5 inch, so that would be MiK. Thanks for your help 

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Re: Tokai Goldstar Japan vs Korea - Can you help identify?
This is interesting. If it is eighties, then I don't think Korean manufacturing had started by then. So is it MIJ? If the string trees were transitional then it could be. It does have a flat board, but then again there are spit tuners, but they don't say deluxe??? No idea...
Re: Tokai Goldstar Japan vs Korea - Can you help identify?
Not 80's but 90's. I corrected that in a later post.
Tokai VSB80 OF, Michael Kelly Patriot custom, Epiphone Elite SG & EB3. 

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Re: Tokai Goldstar Japan vs Korea - Can you help identify?
Did they make any MIJ guitars like that at all?
I remember my friend buying a MIJ guitar in 1989 that looked similar. Only thing is it does have a very flat fret board. All MIJ tokais I’ve played have a rounder radius.
Did they make any MIJ guitars like that.
I remember my friend buying a MIJ guitar in 1989 that looked similar. Only thing is it does have a very flat fret board. All MIJ tokais I’ve played have a rounder radius.
Did they make any MIJ guitars like that.
Re: Tokai Goldstar Japan vs Korea - Can you help identify?
You can tell the difference looking at neck construction, near to headstock.
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Re: Tokai Goldstar Japan vs Korea - Can you help identify?
His Everyone.
Thanks for reply. I actually bought it. Plays nice and sounds good but looks very basic... I've had the whole thing apart...
Body is a lighter wood but not not ply/composite and routed for a HSS configuration?? (go figure?)
Neck is flat and truss rod is at body end, no volute at headstock. Scratchplate has yellowed allot so late eighties to mid eighties I'd say. Seller said late eighties.
There is no identification mark anywhere!!! PUPs don't like MIJs either.
I'm a bit gutted it's not MIJ tbh. I saw 'late eighties' IN TITLE and knowing all late eighties Tokais were MIJ put in an offer. I then saw the text on listing and saw the MIK possibly.
Still great guitar and nice neck so will probably update HW. Anyone got any suggestions for a good replacement bridge/trem?
Cheers
Thanks for reply. I actually bought it. Plays nice and sounds good but looks very basic... I've had the whole thing apart...
Body is a lighter wood but not not ply/composite and routed for a HSS configuration?? (go figure?)
Neck is flat and truss rod is at body end, no volute at headstock. Scratchplate has yellowed allot so late eighties to mid eighties I'd say. Seller said late eighties.
There is no identification mark anywhere!!! PUPs don't like MIJs either.
I'm a bit gutted it's not MIJ tbh. I saw 'late eighties' IN TITLE and knowing all late eighties Tokais were MIJ put in an offer. I then saw the text on listing and saw the MIK possibly.
Still great guitar and nice neck so will probably update HW. Anyone got any suggestions for a good replacement bridge/trem?
Cheers