ST-50 with factory Floyd Rose?

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Suki

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Here's a very interesting question for the experts:

I have recently acquired an ST-50 from the 1984 period which has a Floyd Rose trem installed. Initially, I thought this was retro fitted. However, as you can see from the pics, the body has only 2 anchor holes for the trem - if the trem was changed from the standard vintage trem then there would be 6 holes.

I then thought that perhaps the body wasn't original - but on inspection it has the correct markings that match with the neck (doesn't show up well in the pic but I can assure you it's kosher).

Additionally, there are 3 "rounded" router cut-outs in the trem cavity to allow for the Floyd Rose. These were not put in post-maufacture - they are painted over!

Question: Has anyone ever seen or heard of a Floyd Rose factory Tokai ST-50? Are my conclusions correct?

http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/sb-1969/library/Floyd%20Rose%20ST-50


Suki
 
Just did a bit more research - it looks like it's not a Floyd Rose but a Gotoh Wilkinson Tremolo VS100. These appeared on some Tokai Talbo models, so it seems extremely plausible that this was a factory fit.

Still would like to know if anyone else has seen one on a ST-50 before!
 
It`s all very odd Suki,I`m not even sure that the Wilkinson trem was available in the mid 80s.A Wilkinson does not need a locking top nut anyway the 3 screw holes in the neck seem to suggest one had been fitted :-? Gabe
 
Indeed, this trem unit isn't a locking trem - it doesn't have fine tuners. But I have seen this exact same trem on mid-80's Tokai Talbo models, so they were definitely available at that time. They were marketed as high-end vintage style tremolos at the time.
 
http://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/v821.jpg

Hi Suki idon`t think that the Wilkinson was fitted to any Goldies in 84.. However they were fitted with ET, Tokai`s own locking trem. Check the link to the 84 catalogue.I think the Wilkinson is probably a replacement which fitted the existing holes and rout that the original locking trem occupied.I could be wrong of course.Gabe.
 
Thanks Gabe. In my opinion, this body has been routed for this trem - I only say this because the 3 half-moon cut outs exactly match the trem shape.

Very odd.
 
Here's my ST50? aquired from Japan some years ago.
The FR on this one is defenetively original!

http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s437/Vignale1/IMG_1827.jpg
http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s437/Vignale1/IMG_1826.jpg

Cheers!
Chris.
 
Yes I think there's a lot we still don't know about the Japan Tokai market.

I emailed Tokai today asking if they could clarify the Wilkinson question - hopefully they might have an answer.
 
Got a response from Tokai.

Apparently, there are no official records as such - they rely on the memory of staff from the "old days" for this type of information.

According to such a source, no such models with 2 tremolo mounting holes were ever made. I suppose this still doesn't answer the question, since I have a guitar with such a body, and the other 4 holes haven't been filled (you can see from the grain, since it's sunburst).

Sadly, I'm none the wiser!
 
I`m thinking that TrevWilkinson hadn`t invented his trem in 84 Suki ,so I am not thatsurpised at Tokai`s answer.Gabe.
 
Thanks Gabe, I wish I know the answer for sure. When I first bought hte guitar, I thought the trem was aftermarket and was ready to search for a tokai final prospec bridge for it. Since I found just two trem holes, I'm stumped!
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tokia-Goldstar-Sound-Electric-Guitar-/231020979182?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_
Here`s the answer to your mystery st50 Suki .This is what your guitar would have looked like originally, an St50 with an E.T. trem.Gabe.
 
Hi Suki,

The only standard Tokai guitars to have a locking tremolo in 1984 was the SS-80 and most of the Original design models. The vintage replicas are Traditional. The system was named ET-1 (Extra Tokai) and were made in Chrome, Gold or Black. The locking screws were parallel with the base plate and a locking plate after the nut on the head. They were offered as an option to the TST series for 20,000yen extra.

A new 'Floyd Rose' style was released in 1985. Tokai called the tremolo system the AR-V or Ayers Rocker -5. By 1986 they were on most of the Custom and Limited Edition guitars and an option for Traditional series. I think I still have the original press release.

I don't recall any Wilkinson products on Tokai guitars through the '80s.

Peter Mac
 

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