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SOLD 1993 Tokai ES 90 (MIJ 335 copy)

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guitarsammy

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I didn't think I would do this, but I would like to sell my 1993 MIJ Tokai ES 90.

I've had a few Gibsons and other ES 335 copies and this is the nicest of the lot. However, I need something with single coils for a new project and my other electric also has humbuckers and was a gift from my wife. I have no cash to put into a third guitar at the moment, so selling the ES 90 is the only option really.

It's cherry red, with flamed top, back and sides. The flame is very subtle in person and not at all OTT like it is on some guitars. It also has a wonderfully bookmatched centre seamed top and back, which I've only seen on these early 1990s ES 90s (and is quite sought-after in original 1960s Gibson ES guitars).

There don't seem to have been that many ES90s made; I've found them in a Tokai catalogue but very few available online.

Also has the long 1950s pickguard.

Has the 'correct' Gibson-style truss rod cover. Only 1980s and early 1990s Tokai ES copies come with these, later ones have a different style cover.

Also has the 'correct' Gibson-style headstock. Later guitars have a strange 'dimple' in the middle, which may or may not bother you.

The guitar is also by far the lightest 335 I've ever held at just a hair over 7 lb.

Condition-wise, I bought the guitar 6 months ago from a guy based in Wales who'd bought it new and was selling a large collection of guitars to pay for a new house he was building. He was, I believe, a jazz and blues player and had gigged this guitar a fair bit in the 90s. It's therefore got various small marks, a few dings around the headstock, and some scratches here and there. Nothing untoward, but it's obviously been played and loved and is in very good condition for a 25 year old guitar that hasn't been sat in its case.

When it came to me, the nickel pickguard bracket and tuners had a nice, dull patina, but the bridge, tailpiece and pickup covers were shiney chrome. I replaced the pickups with some Tonerider Alnico II I already had (these are my favourite PAF clones, including more expensive pickups I've tried). I had already had the pickup covers replaced on these Toneriders with aged nickel.

I also replaced the bridge and tailpiece with aged Gotoh (the new tailpiece is lightweight aluminium).

The aged nickel pickups and hardware really do make the guitar look superb. (Note that the photos below are from when I first bought the guitar, so they still show the old chrome pickups and hardware - I'll endeavour to get some more up-to-date photos in the next few days).

I still have the original Tokai Vintage PAF MK1 pickups, and the chrome bridge/tailpiece.

The guitar also comes with a nice hard case.

Neck measurements taken with my digital callipers:

Nut width 1.65" / 41.91 mm
Width at 12th fret 2.06" / 52.34 mm

Depth at 1st fret 0.85" / 21.5 mm
Depth at 12th fret 0.935" / 23.75 mm

I'm in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Can courier if you pay for it.

I suppose there are a few pricing options on this:
- I paid £750 for the guitar as stock, so if you want it returning to stock without the Toneriders/aged Gotoh bridge/tailpiece, that's what I'd like to get back.
- The Toneriders were £80 and the aged bridge/tailpiece was £60. If you want it with these (and the original pickups/bridge/tailpiece) I'd like to get £850.
- If you want it with the Toneriders/aged bridge/tailpiece but without the original pickups/bridge/tailpiece, I'd like to get £800.

Trades-wise, I'd like something of equivalent value (or something cheaper with cash my way). Must be single-coils only. A Strat or something Strat-like would be ideal. Not interested in anything with humbuckers, or anything pointy.


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