NGD - and my first Tokai!

[Axel]

Hey people,
Just received my new guitar, and my first Tokai here

It's a LS 198S from 2023 I bought from Nafiri Guitars, and had it delivered to me in Belgium. Quite a long way, but it was quite impossible for me to find a 198S in local shops around here or even in Europe.

Quite a beautiful guitar with an amazing Goldtop! I still have to plug it in, but that'll be for this afternoon

I'm however a bit disappointed by the condition of the guitar, which is supposed to be new. All plastic covers were still on it (and some were very difficult to remove, I don't know why), but there are quite clear oxydation stains on the bridge and stoptail, strings are oxydated too, the switch cover is not well adjusted to the body, and there are some light marks on the lacquer (which are difficult to catch on picture, so it's pretty light indeed) on the body and head. I guess most of those are not Tokai QC-related, but more shop-related...

I understand this won't however be a problem when it comes to sound quality.

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

HNGD! Doesn't that look like typical palm wear and corrosion on the TOM bridge? Look like this guitar is used or "shop used"? Some people sweat pure acid!

(Anecdote from ye olde days: When we rehearsed in the attic on an early 80s summer afternoon with 97F outside and 133F inside, I was sweating nice permanent marks into the finish of my red Fender Bullet Deluxe supposed to be polyester or polyurethane, both should be immune against this and I usually have zero problems with e.g. fast string corrosion etc. But maybe the top coat wasn't poly after all.)

 

[Axel]

HNGD! Doesn't that look like typical palm wear and corrosion on the TOM bridge? Look like this guitar is used or "shop used"? Some people sweat pure acid!

(Anecdote from ye olde days: When we rehearsed in the attic on an early 80s summer afternoon with 97F outside and 133F inside, I was sweating nice permanent marks into the finish of my red Fender Bullet Deluxe supposed to be polyester or polyurethane, both should be immune against this and I usually have zero problems with e.g. fast string corrosion etc. But maybe the top coat wasn't poly after all.)

Yes, it does. It was supposed to be new, and I understand they also have to sell demo guitars, but they should have told me about those marks before selling, I guess.

Some Fender's indeed have nitro finish, at least on the top coat - mine has, at least!

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

Some Fender's indeed have nitro finish, at least on the top coat - mine has, at least!

I know, they still used nitro top coats for a while into the 70s after CBS took over and then again after Dan Smith, but the time in between is rather hazy and I wouldn't have expected that on a 1981 "student" model still made in Fullerton. But of course there isn't one type of polyurethane and apparently you can do it wrong as well so it isn't quite as robust as intended.

If it wasn't advertised as showroom example maybe you can get a partial refund?

 

[Axel]

I know, they still used nitro top coats for a while into the 70s after CBS took over and then again after Dan Smith, but the time in between is rather hazy and I wouldn't have expected that on a 1981 "student" model still made in Fullerton. But of course there isn't one type of polyurethane and apparently you can do it wrong as well so it isn't quite as robust as intended.

If it wasn't advertised as showroom example maybe you can get a partial refund?

I actually didn't know mine had a nitro finish either - however it's a way more recent Eric Johnson Signature I bought from a shop in Netherlands.

The seller of the Tokai offered me a $65 refund and said the oxidation marks should come off with a bit of polish.