Around Christmas 2005, I purchased a purported Tokai Love Rocks from a Canadian dealer, Serial number 050721. I never questioned that it was authentic until recently. The stock pickups were somewhat muddy, and I wanted to install Gibson Classic 57 pickups in the neck position.
After looking over some posts, it looks like my "Tokai" may have been a fake. It has the Tokai logo at the top, but "Love Rock" is not on the headstock. Further, the headstock is kind of an "open book" frame. It is a red sunburst LP style, and it has a stamp "Made in Korea" at the base of the head stock.
I can post pictures once I have a chance to upload them.
Question - I have read several threads on these boards that Tokai is aware of the problem with this Canadian importer. Is there any recourse from Tokai regarding this product? Can I return it to Tokai or exchange it?
The other question is that I actually like the guitar, although it is VERY heavy. I suspect that it has to be solid mahogany. Might it be worthwhile to just keep what I have and upgrade the pickups and the electronics? I know now that it won't be a pure "Tokai", but I just want a good sounding LP guitar.
After looking over some posts, it looks like my "Tokai" may have been a fake. It has the Tokai logo at the top, but "Love Rock" is not on the headstock. Further, the headstock is kind of an "open book" frame. It is a red sunburst LP style, and it has a stamp "Made in Korea" at the base of the head stock.
I can post pictures once I have a chance to upload them.
Question - I have read several threads on these boards that Tokai is aware of the problem with this Canadian importer. Is there any recourse from Tokai regarding this product? Can I return it to Tokai or exchange it?
The other question is that I actually like the guitar, although it is VERY heavy. I suspect that it has to be solid mahogany. Might it be worthwhile to just keep what I have and upgrade the pickups and the electronics? I know now that it won't be a pure "Tokai", but I just want a good sounding LP guitar.