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Fender32

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Having searched through every single post on the bass section of the Tokai forum, looking for photos to learn from (and drool over), I have to admit to being a little disappointed in the very small number of (very small) images that I came across :( .

Tokai made utterly wonderful basses, back in "the day", which are well worthy of celebrating today, IMHO. If you're lucky enough to own one (or more :D ) of these instruments, I think that you'd be doing the world in general a big favour if you were to post some pics of it here (preferabley in the form of an embedded image from a photo hosting site, so that we can all see it without having to leave the thread :wink: ).

I'm making this request because the level of information about the history and development of Tokai's basses available on the Internet is quite pitiful and I, for one, would like to know more about the different models of basses that they made in the '80s. Perhaps the best way to do this is by studying actual images of basses that are currently in circulation, rather than relying on grainy scans of old sales brochures :-? .

Anyway, the invitation is here and the gauntlet has been well and truly thrown down :lol: . Even if you've posted a pic of your bass here before, please don't be shy to do so again (it'd be great to have them all in one place). Let's face it, this part of the Tokai forum gets so little use that a little bit of duplication isn't going to cause any band width/storage concerns :wink: .

I should have many pictures to post myself, in a few weeks time, but for now I'd like to see what you folks have in your arsenals (ooh err Missus :p )! Also, if you want to add a bit of info (serial number, model number, date of purchase etc.) that would be even better.

Let the flood of images .... COMMENCE !!!..............























:D
 
Some I had, some I still have

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:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

WOW! What a response! Thanks, Koubayashi :D !

There are more Tokai bass pictures in your one post than I have been able to find after weeks of Googling around the Internet. I hope that you don't mind me adding those pictures to my "Bass Porn" folder :wink: !?

I especially like the one of the black and white Hard Punchers together - classic colourschemes, both 8) . Do you still have those two?

Also, as you must be something of an expert on Tokai basses by now, how heavy are the Hard Punchers, usually, and how does the tone compare to a '70s Fender?

I have three Jazz Sounds (pictures to follow :wink: ), but I've never tried a Hard Puncher and would be happy if I could replace my Fender Custom Shop P Bass with one that cost a fifth as much :lol: .


If anyone else has any pictures to add, please feel free, as this is really stirring up my Tokai GAS (in a good way).

Thanks!
 
That's a real gem, Mike! Thanks for posting the pics :) . Those block decals seem to be very rare indeed - I don't think that I've seen another one (outside of a Tokai catalogue :wink: ).

I must organise some decent pictures of my OLW TJB45 and post them up here shortly.

Looking forward to seeing what else people have to show us :) ....
 
Fender32 said:
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

WOW! What a response! Thanks, Koubayashi :D !

There are more Tokai bass pictures in your one post than I have been able to find after weeks of Googling around the Internet. I hope that you don't mind me adding those pictures to my "Bass Porn" folder :wink: !?

I especially like the one of the black and white Hard Punchers together - classic colourschemes, both 8) . Do you still have those two?

Also, as you must be something of an expert on Tokai basses by now, how heavy are the Hard Punchers, usually, and how does the tone compare to a '70s Fender?

I have three Jazz Sounds (pictures to follow :wink: ), but I've never tried a Hard Puncher and would be happy if I could replace my Fender Custom Shop P Bass with one that cost a fifth as much :lol: .


If anyone else has any pictures to add, please feel free, as this is really stirring up my Tokai GAS (in a good way).

Thanks!

The Hardpunchers are normally under 4kg. Say 3.8kg.

I would pick a puncher before a 70's Fender at any time.
Fender from the 70's are too up and down in the quality but Punchers deliver. basically, the variation is quality is bigger on 70's Fender.

The black and white were sold as a pair.
The guy who bought them asked me for months to sell them to him.
Finally I gave in, sold them and bought me an ice blue and a candy red Puncher.

Instruments are instruments and I suck playing no matter what you put in my hands :D
 
Koubayashi said:
The Hardpunchers are normally under 4kg. Say 3.8kg.

I would pick a puncher before a 70's Fender at any time.
Fender from the 70's are too up and down in the quality but Punchers deliver. basically, the variation is quality is bigger on 70's Fender.

The black and white were sold as a pair.
The guy who bought them asked me for months to sell them to him.
Finally I gave in, sold them and bought me an ice blue and a candy red Puncher.

Instruments are instruments and I suck playing no matter what you put in my hands :D

:lol: I bet that last sentence is not completely true.

Anyway, thanks for the info about the Hard Punchers. I ask because I owned, until recently, a 1975 Fender P Bass (black with a maple neck), which I loved the look of, but couldn't get on with the 11.2lb weight and the slightly thin and clanky tone :( . I think that I will start keeping my eyes open for a maple necked Hard Puncher (black or white, like yours :wink: ), as I quite fancy a maple board in my collection again.

Could you recommend a good place to shop for '80s Tokai basses, apart from eBay?
 
Fender32 said:
Koubayashi said:
The Hardpunchers are normally under 4kg. Say 3.8kg.

I would pick a puncher before a 70's Fender at any time.
Fender from the 70's are too up and down in the quality but Punchers deliver. basically, the variation is quality is bigger on 70's Fender.

The black and white were sold as a pair.
The guy who bought them asked me for months to sell them to him.
Finally I gave in, sold them and bought me an ice blue and a candy red Puncher.

Instruments are instruments and I suck playing no matter what you put in my hands :D

:lol: I bet that last sentence is not completely true.

Anyway, thanks for the info about the Hard Punchers. I ask because I owned, until recently, a 1975 Fender P Bass (black with a maple neck), which I loved the look of, but couldn't get on with the 11.2lb weight and the slightly thin and clanky tone :( . I think that I will start keeping my eyes open for a maple necked Hard Puncher (black or white, like yours :wink: ), as I quite fancy a maple board in my collection again.

Could you recommend a good place to shop for '80s Tokai basses, apart from eBay?

You could buy one of mine :D
Send me a PM and I will mail you a list.
 
So, as promised, I finally got my camera (and tripod) out and took a few pics of my (1985?) Olympic White Jazz Sound bass.

I do (technically) own another two Tokai Jazz Sound basses, but they are both in England (where they were delivered to after being purchased on eBay UK) and I won't get my hands on them until either I go and collect them, or until my brother brings one (or both) over when he comes to Germany to visit me at Xmas.

I'll post some pics of them, once they arrive and I've had a chance to clean them up. For now though, here is my pride and joy :D . All original, apart from the chrome control plate, which is now a Fender one, as the Tokai one was rusting and flaking :-? .

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Thanks for looking :) .
 
Blimey! I'm not going to have to be carrying three of them over to you at Christmas am I? :lol:

I reckon I can just about do it on luggage allowance if I tuck a spare pare of pants and a toothbrush in my pocket!

Edit: Just seen that Ebay listing. ?650 OPENING bid?? :eek:

He's having a giraffe, isn't he?

Also, Fender32 has seen this, but some of you four-string guys might like to watch it too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_3Jc54k1Es
 
I know prices have gone up a bit, but ?650 opening bid? :eek: Wow! Surely nobody will bid that much?
 
Well, I didn't want to say too much about the optimistic opening price, in case it belonged to someone here :wink: .

Still, when you look at what else 650 quid would buy you (a mid-90s Fender American Standard Jazz bass, the pre-amp and pickups from a Sadowsky Jazz etc. etc.), then even that price doesn't seem too unreasonable :-? .
 
my three JV basses:

first: 1982 Tokai JB60
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one of the best jazz bass i ever played, especially with flatwounds: think herbie flower on Melody Nelson, and you're really close to hear its sound!
I really love that figured rosewood fingerboard and the thin C profile neck.

2nd: 1982 Tokai PB80

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a really nice precision, lighter than the jazz sound and a true vintage style (birdeyes mapple neck, laquer finished).

Third: not a Tokai but also a nice japanese vintage bass, 1981-83 Fernandes RJB75

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this is my main bass (the jb60 needs some frets repair), one of the lightest bass i ever played, 3kg!!
2 pieces alder body, lacquer finish and an awesome sustain!
totally a different animal than the jazz sound, not as bright with its slab board.
Between the precision and the traditionnal jazz bass sound!
 
:D Excellent pictures, excellent basses and excellent post !!!

It's really interesting to hear your opinions on the tones of the three basses, doudoubass - thanks for sharing!

You're fortunate to have three such 'high-end' models (a '60', an '80' and a '75') - they don't seem to be as common as the TJB45s and TPB40s.

Also, you probably don't need me to tell you this (although somebody is bound to :wink: ), but you've got the neckplate on upside down on the TJB60 :lol: .

Thanks again for adding to the thread.
 
Even a humble guitarist can appreciate that little collection. Very nice & very cool. The rosewood on the white one is gorgeous, & I only ever see that on early 80s Tokais.

Beautiful.
 
Hi All.
Just registered and found this thread. Dribbling at the jazzers. Would a picture of a Tokai made Sigma ric copy fit in this thread?
 

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