Can you help identify the model of Tokai Goldtop i bought?

Tokai Forum

Help Support Tokai Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
M

metrofox3000

New member
Joined
Feb 21, 2018
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Hello all
I bought a Tokai Love Rock Goldtop with p90s from a Reverb seller in Japan (I’m in the UK). The serial number puts it at 1985 (5031800), and in the seller’s photos the headstock shows a ‘60’ model sticker. I can’t find a ¥60,000 model from 1985; the catalogue spanning late 1984-1985 features a GT with p90s but it’s a TLS-70, ‘56 model. I need to work out how to post the pics can anyone help with what model it is? Thanks! Simon

6043533-excellent-1985-tokai-love-rock-gold-top-vintage-electric-guitar-ref-no-121028
 
I would say it is a LS60s. Three piece back no FEBs (fret edge binding). Makes it not a high end model like a ls80 or above. Only choices it could be is a LS50s or a LS60s. Maybe a LS70s but since it has the 60 sticker I would say LS60s. Does it have orange drop caps? I do not think they put the orange drops in the 60s. Not sure if they put them in the 70s maybe.

It is defiantly a s model. The s after the LSxxs means it has p90 pick ups. I have a few guitars from Tokai that are not in the catalog. One from 2010 that has upgraded factory electronics and two I just bought brand new that are high end models far above the catalog numbers. These were guitars they made and brought to NAMM. So, they are custom one offs.

To post images you need the .jpg link like:


https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--V5BAignu--/a_exif,c_limit,e_unsharp_mask:80,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_south,h_620,q_90,w_620/v1500454036/gippragowmrrfxtnsu2t.jpg

Then add the Img before and after like you did with the other link.
 
gippragowmrrfxtnsu2t.jpg


ga340kqkbxgfwp5ravk0.jpg


trpwyuojo3iklyhpini7.jpg


Thanks very much. ‘LS60s’ was my first guess too, it stands to reason. But in the catalogues of that time (1984-1985), there isn’t an LS60s, only a TLS60 (not Goldtop) and the TLS70 GT. Would there have been other models that just didn’t make it into the catalogues? I can’t find another GT model from 1985.

Cheers, Simon
 
It depends on what country the catalog was for. I wanna say it was LSxxs for Japan and TLSxxGT for other places in the world. Or something like that. In America right now the Strats are called ASTxxx then Goldstar. In Japan they were called TSTxxx Goldstar. Same guitar different name depending on what country.

https://reverb.com/news/a-strat-by-any-other-name-the-tokai-springy-sound
 
Nice Goldtop !!!! I always wanted one with P90's. Hard to beat really. Still on the hunt !!

Catalogs are only a guideline, not a rule with pretty much all MIJ guitars.
 
brokentoes said:
Nice Goldtop !!!! I always wanted one with P90's. Hard to beat really. Still on the hunt !!

Catalogs are only a guideline, not a rule with pretty much all MIJ guitars.
Click to expand...

I know, right?!! 8)
Good price at the start, but the Import and VAT to get it into the UK are gonna add a couple of hundred £

I saw they make modern day Goldtops in Japan, with choice woods etc, but they’re a little more pricey, with the taxes on top of that.
https://m.ebay.com/itm/Tokai-LS125S...original-LP-OLD-PU-6String-Gold-/263462216009[/url]
 
I have one of those from 2010 with P90s. All my other Les Pauls are from the late 70 or early 80s. I wanted a P90 one from that time period but could not find a single piece back one. I think most of p90s are multi piece backs so I just got a never one. Though I paid much less for mine that the asking on the Ebay one. I think I have seen a solid back one but it was 3 times the price of the Ebay one you posted. Not worth it for me.

By the way I think the new Ebay one is a fake Tokai. No SN on the head stock.
 
Looks real enough to me, i think sometimes they blur out the serial numbers. Too rich for my blood. Adding taxes, duty, and exchange on the dollar brings this to well over $2000 Canadian and it doesn't even come with a case.

I wish Gibson would go under so Tokai could come to Canada !! We are such a small market they probably wouldn't even bother though.
 
Gibsons new President really screwed up their company. I heard they are in serious financial trouble. I do not think they would go out of business. Some Chinese company would buy them. They are their guitars would be made even crappier in China.

There are a lot of fake Tokais on Ebay like a lot. Not necessarily fake but Korean or Chinese made Tokais passed off as MIJ ones. A blank serial number is a trigger of maybe that. Could be wrong though.

If you are in Canada this guy from the US sells some of his stuff to Canada. Brand new and good prices. But only the Fender copies not Gibsons.

https://drowninginguitars.com/store/new-tokai-guitars/
 
Good prices only if you are in the States. Add an extra 40% to the price and its not so good. I prefer to buy used anyway. I wish i had a wraptail Goldtop with P90's but i'm doing o.k. by Tokai.

27yve48.jpg
 
Well, the worst has happened. The Tokai Goldtop finally came to me by courier this morning and... the neck has broken in transit. I’m going to have to try for insurance compensation, first step I guess contact the seller through Reverb.com. It may be irreparable, so if anyone comes across an early ‘80s MIJ Goldtop with P90s, I’m a buyer :-/
 
Yeah, that sucks. Talk to Reverb about this. They have a really good policy about a lot of problems. A few months ago I bought a Eventide h3000 that had problems with it. The seller would not budge or respond to any messages. Reverb said I could send it back they they would fully refund me. Reverb ended up giving me about half my money back and I kept it as is. Either way talk to them they should give you a label to sent it back to the seller. Then the seller can deal with the shipping company directly about this.
 
metrofox3000 said:
Well, the worst has happened. The Tokai Goldtop finally came to me by courier this morning and... the neck has broken in transit. I’m going to have to try for insurance compensation, first step I guess contact the seller through Reverb.com. It may be irreparable, so if anyone comes across an early ‘80s MIJ Goldtop with P90s, I’m a buyer :-/
Click to expand...

Horrible.... so sorry to hear that. Out of curiosity, where are you located and where did the guitar ship from? Who was the carrier?
 

Similar threads

M
Help identifying Tokai LS P90s GT MIJ
Replies
13
Views
858
mauro
M
N
Tokai Flying V - please help to identify
Replies
8
Views
229
Nalewa1
N
L
Need help finding the specs of ALC70 2012.
Replies
7
Views
386
lexx770
L
D
What Tokai model?
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
ayrguitarist
ayrguitarist
Regan
Need help dating a 1982-1985 Tokai Strat
Replies
15
Views
719
Peter Mac2
P

Latest posts

Back
Top