Just got a 1980 LS-50, Questions

[TonyGring]

Recently purchased my first Tokai. It looks great and it sounds great. I do have a couple questions.
It is finished in all black.
Can anyone tell me if Tokai used all one piece necks or did they use scarf joints where neck meets headstock?
There is a very small crack in the finish at that location. Can’t see any woodgrain because of the all black finish.
If it helps, a serial number is
0006859
Thanks for any help !

 

[Sigmania]

Can you post some pics of the guitar?

No scarf joints on any MIJ Tokai LP’s.

 

[TonyGring]

Can you post some pics of the guitar?

No scarf joints on any MIJ Tokai LP’s.

Here’s a quick one
I’ll post more

 

[guitar hiro]

I am not aware of any circa 1980 Tokai LS examples with any scarf joint neck/head stock interface

some of the very early Tokai LS examples have 2 piece/center line necks

all of the inkie examples I have seen have the added neck heel piece = technically a 2 piece neck

if your 1980 LS has an embossed aka stamped serial number IMO it should by odds be a 1 piece neck

cheers ...........

 

[TonyGring]

I am not aware of any circa 1980 Tokai LS examples with any scarf joint neck/head stock interface

some of the very early Tokai LS examples have 2 piece/center line necks

all of the inkie examples I have seen have the added neck heel piece = technically a 2 piece neck

if your 1980 LS has an embossed aka stamped serial number IMO it should by odds be a 1 piece neck

cheers ...........

Thanks man
Yes , serial number is embossed

 

[TonyGring]

More pics

 

[Freebird]

Saw that one for sale.

 

[MarcoXMarco]

More picsView attachment 83816View attachment 83817View attachment 83818View attachment 83819View attachment 83820View attachment 83821

Hi TonyGring, and welcome to the forum.

Though I am, in general, *way over* the "color" black, in any type of fashion sense, your new-to-you LS-50 L P Reborn looks gorgeous, and *incredibly elegant* in its black/cream colorway, IMHO. Cream pot knobs would look great with it, but I don't know if they're "a thing"

¡ Congratulations !

I and I think others of the readers of this forum thread would be interested in your new axe's weight, if you have access to a reasonably accurate scale.

And as a new, *stubbily fingered* member of the forum, I'm quite interested in neck dimension/profile-type info, nut and 12th fret neck widths, and neck thicknesses at at least adjacent to the 1st, and 12th frets, were you to have access to a caliper.

Recently, our most active, dedicated, *and appreciated*, at least by me, forum member, Sigmania, has even found time to start compiling neck data for some of the 7okai models.

Thanks,
- Marco

 

[MarcoXMarco]

Hi Tony,
Marco again.
Those neck measurement positions I spoke of, are what I am used to seeing, when they are rarely stated, by manufactuers and sellers of guitars. Neck thickness *at the nut* would not be as enlightening, as it is swooping thicker into the back of the headstock.

I do see now however, Sigmania and eborej are comparing neck profile and width-thickness numbers, of Tokai STs, at/adjacent-to the 1st, 5th, and 11th fret positions.

Perhaps our moderators can both establish a suggested standard for this here on the forum, *and*, become precipitous in its adoption, and mandate, worldwide !

 

[guitar hiro]

I have been compiling a couple of Word files, for many years, documenting neck thickness measurements at frets 1 & 11; why those frets and why not other areas?

The method to my madness has been based on the idea I stole from the BOTB book, many years ago.
I use a very accurate digital caliper and I measure using standard, not metric.

Measuring neck thickness at frets 1 & 11 isn't everyone's cup-O-tea but it works for me.

Here is a chart based on some examples from BOTB

 

[TonyGring]

Hi TonyGring, and welcome to the forum.

Though I am, in general, *way over* the "color" black, in any type of fashion sense, your new-to-you LS-50 L P Reborn looks gorgeous, and *incredibly elegant* in its black/cream colorway, IMHO. Cream pot knobs would look great with it, but I don't know if they're "a thing"

¡ Congratulations !

I and I think others of the readers of this forum thread would be interested in your new axe's weight, if you have access to a reasonably accurate scale.

And as a new, *stubbily fingered* member of the forum, I'm quite interested in neck dimension/profile-type info, nut and 12th fret neck widths, and neck thicknesses at at least adjacent to the 1st, and 12th frets, were you to have access to a caliper.

Recently, our most active, dedicated, *and appreciated*, at least by me, forum member, Sigmania, has even found time to start compiling neck data for some of the 7okai models.

Thanks,
- Marco

Weight is 8.65 lbs according to previous owner

Not sure of neck dimensions

 

[gtarman59]

I’m usually not a fan of “plain” black LP Standards, but that is an elegant beast of a guitar. The double cream pickups really set it off. Good score!

 

[TonyGring]

I’m usually not a fan of “plain” black LP Standards, but that is an elegant beast of a guitar. The double cream pickups really set it off. Good score!

Thanks man

I agree it looks great

Sounds great as well.

That said, frets on it were not great.

Looked like someone flat filed frets near headstock pretty low

Mid and higher frets were a bit taller but not much

Tried but could not deal with it.

It is at my luthier now

Getting a complete re fret

 

[gtarman59]

Thanks man

I agree it looks great

Sounds great as well.

That said, frets on it were not great.

Looked like someone flat filed frets near headstock pretty low

Mid and higher frets were a bit taller but not much

Tried but could not deal with it.

It is at my luthier now

Getting a complete re fret

What does a refret cost these days?

 

[TonyGring]

What does a refret cost these days?

It depends who does it. And who you trust .
I’ve taken it to a second guy now. The first guy promised it in two weeks and after a month hadn’t even started on it. His quote was 400 bucks. I took the guitar to another well respected guy in Los Angeles.
I didn’t even ask him what he was going to charge. I just want it done and done right and I know he will.

 

[Tsjackson]

I didn’t even ask him what he was going to charge. I just want it done and done right and I know he will.

Baller move, but I really respect this mentality. Not everyone wants everything done as quick and cheap as possible, do it once and do it well.

I’m a chippy and it’s rare but I love working for people that want things done WELL over cheap.

 

[MarcoXMarco]

Hi Tony,
- Marco
I really enjoy, when I've found someone I believe I can trust, leaving work with them, on the basis you've mentioned, and usually quite happy with the results. Though in general, wish to do everything myself, to a fault.

I've found myself living in Pasadena Cal foor the last couple of years, and have been pleasantly surprised chatting with the head tech, and one of his assistants, at the Pasadena Guitar Center, with their knowledge, but haven't entrusted them with any work.

I'd love to know who you've entrusted with "Excaliber", fot its refret, and how it comes out.

BTW, i've in the last few months found a great pub to catch R&R performances, "Ireland's 32", in Van Nuys.

They have a pretty great "Jam Night", on Tuesdays, and the great pleasure of catching "The Long Shadows" perform there one Friday night.

*And*, to my great surprise, even found a pretty cool scene happening on a Friday night, a couple of weeks back, smack-dab in the center of Old Towne Pasadena, the Old Towne Pub.

-Cheers