What model is this Tokai Strat - Springy Sound ????

What model you do you guys consider this Tokai Strat to be?



2 Piece, Ash Grained Body. thin, Nitro Paint



Stamp on Neck end states 10=11 A



Stamp in Neck Pickup Cavity States 10=11



Base of Pickups Stamped 'E'



Serial Number 009340



Tokai Stamped Bridge Saddles



Tokai stamped on the rear of the kluson style tuners

Headstock waterslide decal on headstock is missing

Is this a 1980 Springy Sound '54 Copy ?

Please make a comment

Thanks

Can anyone help out here !! :-?

I hardly know anything about Tokai Strats, but the hardware looks artificially aged to me. Why is the logo gone?

It's difficult to know really - I think springy sounds before 1981 had the model number on the last fret. Is there anything there. Could well be ST-50.

Tony o'Riordan
I think springy sounds before 1981 had the model number on the last fret

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There isn't an impression number on the last fret at all !!

I've looked at the catalouges in the dating section of the registry
and used the search function on this Forum.

The E - Stamp Pickups were only fitted to ST-80's and above

The paint is Nitrocellulose - again only applied on high end models

ST-50's were Alder 3 piece bodies. This is definitely Sen Ash the grain
pattern is too tight for Alder.

hans-j?rgen

but the hardware looks artificially aged to me. Why is the logo gone?

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I'm of the opposite opinion Hans-Jurgen

The hardware is original and the knobs and 5 way switch tip cover are newer !!

The neck has had another coating of varnish applied to it - with a brush !
I've run my thumb nail across the gap between the fret and the additional varnish flakes off.

Beneath it is the original laquer. I can the tell additional layer of varnish was applied was applied whilst the neck was still on the body. When I've taken the neck off the extra layer isn't present in the neck pocked area.

Again the 10=11 marking at the end of the neck is beneath the original laquer. Hence I feel the body and the neck are original brother and sister.

As to why the original headstock logo was removed is a mystery. I suspect someone in the 1980's put a Fender logo on it.

The tuning keys are genuine Tokai stamped Kluson copies.

I can understand your concern Hans-jurgen, the photo's I took do look a bit strange. That's because I took them last night and forced the digicam to 400 ASA and no flash.

I'll take more pictures in daylight.

ok, without the number on the last fret it should date it to 1980/1 or after '00' on the serial number mean 1980?. I'll check my springy sound (which I believe is an st-50) when I get home. Mine looks like a 2 piece body and is 1981 - looks like ash to me too but then I'm not an expert on these things but it's got nice grain, will let you know what the pick-ups are stamped. I think the hardware on yours looks original - nothing dodgy about that, just good honest wear! Can you imagine a '54 strat looking nice and clean in 1979?

There are many more knowledgeable than me on this forum though that may be able to assist.

Tony

Here an ash body of my ST50

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46647&item=7342890002

Interesting this '54 body and the '62 neck!

togps Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 9:21 am Post subject:

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Here an ash body of my ST50

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What pickups are in your ST50 togp ?

Thanks

U-stamped. More I don't know.

togps Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 9:38 am Post subject:

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U-stamped. More I don't know.

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So the difference between mine and yours is the quality of the pickups

So yours ST-50 has the 'U' Stamped pickups my guitar has the 'E' Stamp

Research on here shows these were in fact made by Dimarzio - their VS-1 model.

The paint on mine is definitely nitrocelulose based. What type of paint do you have on your guitar togps ?

Chris, nitro finish + E stamp pickups take you to a ST-80 model.....

chrisheyes, the paint on all my ST50 is polyester.
Luis, I agree.

Thanks togps and Luis for all your help

I can now put on a replacement Tokai Spingy Sound headstock decal, safe in the knowledge that it truely is a 1980 ST-80 Model

Cheers Guys 8)

It was not so uncommon scrapping out Tokai logo and place a Fender one in Japan,I've seen several like that.So it would devaluate the guitar so that you can get it cheaper....

Serial number take you to a '80 one.

Luis - I totally agree

I think I may have picked up a little gem of a bargain here :wink:

Just thinking outloud-what good is a COA if it doesn't have a date on it??

Hmm.., ochay. Clever guy.
Do you think, the S/N changes from time to time? :wink:

If there is a need from you side, should I pass your claims to the president of Tokai?

Apart from the missing spaghetti logo on the headstock it looks exactly like my ST-80. My serial number is 0000013 - so it is a bit older.

ochay Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 10:53 am Post subject:

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Just thinking outloud-what good is a COA if it doesn't have a date on it??

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Apologies for my ignorance Ochay What's a COA ?? :-?

Thanks

Hi chrisheyes,

Erm, that would be Certificate Of Authenticity....