List by 1st body code

[ATO]

This one's a head scratcher.

I don't think it can be 1984 cos 3=4 in 1984 was not a left hand guitar build. Also this is 3-4.

The visible pot code is 1984 but it's hard to see the month number, however it doesn't appear to be 1,2 or 3 therefore it would have to be 1985.

However the serial is earlier than the two lefties in 2=5 which I think are 84s

https://www.tokaiforum.com/threads/metallic-green-gallery.26372/post-208170
1984
3=4 TST40 OW script L22701
3=4 TST BB L23512


Also has anyone seen a definite 1985 guitar with a matching neck/body = stamp? (not mixed)

 

[ATO]

Look at 1980, throughout the year

All the ST100s are less than 0001000 (granted there's only two in the list)

All the ST80s have serials between 0006000-0007000

All the ST50-60 serials are 0014000 to 0015000

All clearly on their own track, each model got allocated a block of serials unrelated to the other model.

 

[Sigmania]

Here is another head scratcher...

The neck code is bizarre. I have seen another one like this somewhere. As if it were scrambled.

Body: 8=15 BB
Neck: 051 BB

貴重 TOKAI ST-80 BB 81年製 オーダーMODEL 【... - Yahoo!オークション

 

[ATO]

Odd looking too with the maple neck and black painted head.

 

[Sigmania]

So that would be August 1981. Not sure when the earliest matching headstock examples we have seen are from but I would bet this is pushing that limit.

 

[Sigmania]

Now I know where I had seen that before....

Hard to believe someone would scrap this guitar.

Interesting situation with those codes.

Tokai ST-80 BB 1981 Matching Head Order Made SALE ¥38,000 OFF | eBay

View attachment 20372
View attachment 20375
View attachment 20376

 

[Sigmania]

Dizzying crossovers with the J stamp examples and the JB120’s

6=10 in the neck pocket of one guitar and on the neck of another.

Same situation with the JB120 thread and 4=3.

J Stamp

JB120 Stamp Oddities

 

[ATO]

Here's another with odd stamps.
1983 TST50 with fender decal
sn 189#4 (seller wouldn't give me the full #)

Body 11=4 in control cavity
9=4 neck pup cavity (stamped after paint)
Neck appears to be 10=1

11=4 and 9=4 are already in the list as TST50-60 builds.

Note the stamp on the neck has the 0 slightly running off the wood. Made me realise they stamp the numbers individually rather than putting them in a block and stamping. Possibly introduces room for error between neck and body..

 

[Sigmania]

I wonder what is happening with the ones with multiple stamps on one body?

Do you think it could be special order type stuff or where the finish is special or they are mated with a special neck?

A TST50 isn't out of the ordinary but many of the other examples are.

 

[ATO]

I wonder what is happening with the ones with multiple stamps on one body?

Do you think it could be special order type stuff or where the finish is special or they are mated with a special neck?

A TST50 isn't out of the ordinary but many of the other examples are.

No idea. In the guitar above what appears to be the later date code 11=4 is stamped before paint and the the earlier code is stamped after paint. If it was the other way around you could suggest they were updating the code for an order.

Maybe more examples will shine a light.

 

[Sigmania]

Or a year apart?

Maybe the blank was cut in November 1982, there was the disruption and fallout from the lawsuit, and then painted almost a year later in September 1983? Spanning the mix-up re: lawsuit, logo change, and that confusion perhaps?

Just a thought. No way to know for sure.

 

[ATO]

Who knows. They made a lot of ST bodies throughout 83, I can't see they'd have one lying around in stock for nearly a year while they've got constant demand.

 

[Sigmania]

I’ve been shocked by the old stock pieces that have been emerging over the past year or so. To have that stuff now means that it survived at least one move in the late 80s.

I still hold out hope that there are old production logs squirreled away somewhere that haven’t surfaced yet. Fingers crossed.

 

[Sigmania]

I just stumbled across this...

1978 ST48 from when these stamps first began.

SN 8000586

Sure looks like the second number is related to a batch based on a model?

Neck: 7=42
Body: 7=40

1978 Tokai Springy Sound Vintage ST42 S-Style Electric Guitar Sunburst 100% Original w/ Case, Japan | Reverb

 

[Sigmania]

Or maybe that is just a coincidence?

1978 Tokai ST-80 - '54 Strat

 

[Sigmania]

Oh well....

 

[ATO]

Oh well....

Coincidence I think.

 

[ATO]

Here's an interesting one I've just noticed from that one you linked above, the ST60 9=42 in 1978

There was also an ST80 9=42 in 1978.

First time I've seen that. Looks like they made them at the same time in 78.

https://www.tokaiforum.com/threads/the-earliest-springys-1977.26086/post-199464

 

[pshields]

Nice list - I was searching the interweb for details on my lefty breezysound and there it is 19863. It's a lovely guitar though it's been through a few changes over the years. Currently trying to get it back to the original spec.

 

[ATO]

Nice list - I was searching the interweb for details on my lefty breezysound and there it is 19863. It's a lovely guitar though it's been through a few changes over the years. Currently trying to get it back to the original spec.

Nice guitar!

Whenever I find codes they go onto the list. It's already showing some interesting things for that period but the list needs many more guitars.