Tokai LS 136 vs LS 192 non-Premium vs Premium - what are the main differences?

Hi,
I am about to buy a new Tokai Love Rock soon, focusing on LS 136F BS, however would like to understand what it is that makes LS 186/196 almost 60% more expensive than LS 136 and if it's worth paying for.
Spec:
LS136: https://tokaiguitarsaustralia.com.au/collections/lp-style/products/tokai-vintage-series-ls136f-bs-flame-top-lp-style-electric-guitar-brown-sunburst
LS186: https://tokaiguitarsaustralia.myshopify.com/collections/lp-style/products/tokai-70th-anniversary-edition-ls186ef-bs-lp-style-electric-guitar-brown-sunburst
LS 196: https://tokaiguitarsaustralia.com.au/collections/lp-style/products/tokai-premium-series-ls196-cs-lp-style-electric-guitar-cherry-sunburst
I am referring to my local distributor's prices and not the ones listed here. For instance new LS136 will cost me 950 USD and LS186 1500 USD.

Differences that I spot (136 vs 186/196):
- BODY: Two Piece Mahogany with Book-Matched Flamed Maple Veneer on Maple Cap vs Two Piece Mahogany with Book-Matched Maple Cap
I guess it's because the F next to model number which stands for Flamed maple top, should not drive the price difference

- NECK: One Piece Mahogany Set Neck vs One Piece Mahogany Long Tenon Set-Neck
What is this Long Tennon about? I guess none of those models have deep neck joint. What difference does the long tennon make?

FINISH: Thin-Skin Polyurethane vs Thin-Skin Urethane
How is urethane better than its poly- version? They shortly discuss it here https://www.harmonycentral.com/forums/topic/968456-polyurethane-vs-urethane-finish/ and looks like they're pretty much the same

BRIDGE: LS-VB Bridge with LS-VT Tailpiece vs HLS-VB (Brass Saddle) Bridge, HLS-VT Aluminum Tailpiece
No idea...

ELECTRONICS: Gotoh and Switchcraft vs CTS and Switchcraft with Orange Drop Capacitors
No idea either. All in all I guess they can be upgraded in the future if needed - btw, Orange Drop Caps discussed here https://pl.mouser.com/applications/audio-gibson-orange-drops/

That's about it. The same body (core), fingerboard, pickups, both come with a hard case. Is the Premium model better crafted than the non-Premium one? Or are the materials better seasoned in the more expensive model?

Best regards, /eltomek

8) sorry if i am wrong something here but .....

the japanese vintage series and the premium series are different. the vintage series love rock has a 2-piece? african mahogany body & a 1-piece african mahogany neck with the regular joint. the finish is poly and the maple top has the flamed veneer. they come with a gig bag in japan. the premire series love rock has a 1-piece african mahogany body & a 1-piece african mahogany neck with the deep joint. the finish is top-lacquer on poly. they have the better parts and come in the brown hard case in japan. the both series love rocks are good/great guitars but its just simply the premium series love rocks are generally better ofcourse. if you want the flamed veneer model then the vintage series are great but if you want the genuine les paul replica spec tokai love rock guitars, then the premium series are the ones. i suggest the vintage series if you want the flamed veneer top but if you want the genuine spec replica, then the premire series. the both series can be heavy cause they are the pure solid body les paul replicas but usually the vintage series are pretty heavy when the premire series are heavy or ok. the inlays on the vintage series are pearl but the premire series have the vintage-style inlays. hope this general info helps you ok. good tokai luck!

Thank you @HAMAMATSU! That explains a lot, however I did not get the inlays difference - is there any?

> the inlays on the vintage series are pearl but the premire series have the vintage-style inlays.

Aside to material differences, shall I expect Premium models to be better crafted (in terms of manufacturing them, practices, time spent, etc.) than the Vintage models? Also, do you think wood quality (seasoning) is better for Premium or rather it's the same wood supplies? Still not decided between Vingate and Premium

8) the inlays on the vintage series are whitish pearl but the premium series has yellowish vintage aged color ones. the both series are made at the same tokai-japan main factory line by the same craftmanship but they use better woods for the premium series than the vintage series. the weight of the premium series are heavy/ok but the vintage series are often very heavy. if you can go, go for the premium series!

eltomek said:

I guess it's because the F next to model number which stands for Flamed maple top, should not drive the price difference


What is this Long Tennon about? I guess none of those models have deep neck joint. What difference does the long tennon make?


How is urethane better than its poly- version? They shortly discuss it here https://www.harmonycentral.com/forums/topic/968456-polyurethane-vs-urethane-finish/ and looks like they're pretty much the same

BRIDGE: LS-VB Bridge with LS-VT Tailpiece vs HLS-VB (Brass Saddle) Bridge, HLS-VT Aluminum Tailpiece
No idea...

ELECTRONICS: Gotoh and Switchcraft vs CTS and Switchcraft with Orange Drop Capacitors
No idea either. All in all I guess they can be upgraded in the future if needed - btw, Orange Drop Caps discussed here https://pl.mouser.com/applications/audio-gibson-orange-drops/

Click to expand...

There's quite a lot in there which would account for the price difference. If they are not things you care about then you will find the less expensive model to be better value for you.

Flame - good looking flamed maple is rare, and therefore expensive. It will actually make for a big chunk of the price difference.
Tenon - This one is worth a google. It's how the neck joint is made. The standard tenon on Japanese guitars is structurally just as good as the long version (and better than non-custom shop Gibsons), but the long version is more vintage accurate and harder to manufacture (hence more expensive).
Finish - it's a mystery to me. Poly is mid-range, normally Nitro is high end, but there's a middle ground where there isn't much info. Acrylic lacquer has been used by Tokai before.
Bridge - brass saddles and aluminium tailpiece are vintage-accurate premium features. How much of a difference they make to the sound is much debated, I say it's subtle but noticeable.
Electronics - CTS & Orange drops are the benchmark for high end guitar electronics. It's more about performance and reliability than sound.