Tokai golden era value?

[supernova777]

Hello!
I consider to buy a golden era reissue , does anyone know the value? Thank you!

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

This is one of the least well known/understood Tokai series of them all. Besides this making an evaluation extra hard, value depends on condition and specifications, more pictures needed, is there a stamp on the last fret? Serial number?

Edit: Found Sigmania's recent thread on special runs:

https://www.tokaiforum.com/threads/special-limited-run-tokai-ls-models.26575/

 

[Sigmania]

Looks like it has the tombstone headstock?

Yes, more pics please. We don't get to see these often.

 

[Sigmania]

For reference

Tokai Golden Era Re-issue 1980 2 Color Sunburst | Reverb

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

Looks like all that ever emerged was a few of the '45' stamped Strats with the Hondo headstock, this LS-80-ish LP and an LS100? Pictures of the neck PU cavity (tenon construction) and the control cavity would be really great to have (to see if that's Nagano made, like the Bison Golden Era).

Edit: It's so darn unfortunate all the old threads lost the images, it seems the LS-100 from above has a tombstone HS as well. That alone could just mean the store that ordered those was a Gibson dealer, but the odd Strat HS on top could indicate that the recipient of those guitars may have been in the US, also trying to search the Japanese-language internet brings up nada.

 

[Sigmania]

The one above that I linked is in Texas. The US distributor was in Texas. Interesting confirmation of your suggestion.

Also, many of the circa 2003 tombstones were sold in Canada among other places as I recall.

Tombstone Headstock

 

[supernova777]

Its seems to be the same guitar.

 

[supernova777]

seems like that guitar is in Sweden now
What do you think in value?
Thanks for all help!

 

[Sigmania]

Price is something a willing buyer and seller agree upon.

My experience is that things rarely sell for what I think they are worth. I tend to see all the cool things about a guitar and overestimate its value.

Pros for this guitar are its rarity.

Cons are the headstock shape and mods.

You know it sold for $800 at one time.

 

[supernova777]

Yes, of course! But do you have any idea of quality? Can I compere to a ls 50, ls80 ?

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

The '80' stamp does not automatically imply that it has the same specs as an LS-80 - it looks like that but that needs to be double-checked (whether it's a 2-piece back or just a mineral streak on the photo). However it designates the original 1980 price category it was in, so your base price might be whatever an LS-80 has sold recently (check old eBay auctions, Reverb.com etc.).

I personally wouldn't overrate its scarcity - yes it's likely rare as hen's teeth but it's just some "regular" priced and only assumed special run for a dealer that isn't even known, not the Blue Penny. That it doesn't have its original tuners is decreasing the value a little and the tombstone headstock could be viewed upon both ways - 1.) people usually want the open book headstock on their vintage Tokai (-) and 2.) a tombstone headstock is quite unusual for a 1980 Tokai (+).

If you have calculated a ballpark price you should ask yourself why you want this particular guitar and if you want it enough to pay its price. What is the seller asking for anyway? Since the price development knows only one direction currently, it may not be too much, just too early for that much.

 

[supernova777]

The '80' stamp does not automatically imply that it has the same specs as an LS-80 - it looks like that but that needs to be double-checked (whether it's a 2-piece back or just a mineral streak on the photo). However it designates the original 1980 price category it was in, so your base price might be whatever an LS-80 has sold recently (check old eBay auctions, Reverb.com etc.).

I personally wouldn't overrate its scarcity - yes it's likely rare as hen's teeth but it's just some "regular" priced and only assumed special run for a dealer that isn't even known, not the Blue Penny. That it doesn't have its original tuners is decreasing the value a little and the tombstone headstock could be viewed upon both ways - 1.) people usually want the open book headstock on their vintage Tokai (-) and 2.) a tombstone headstock is quite unusual for a 1980 Tokai (+).

If you have calculated a ballpark price you should ask yourself why you want this particular guitar and if you want it enough to pay its price. What is the seller asking for anyway? Since the price development knows only one direction currently, it may not be too much, just too early for that much.

Thank you for good input! Its ca 1100 euro

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

Well, that sounds like a no-brainer then.

 

[supernova777]

Yes, i think i go for it. I have never owned a Tokai before but i heard so much good of them so now maybe is a good time to try one out and compere it to my gibson

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

If you get it, please post pictures of the neck PU (showing the tenon construction) and control cavities! It may help you too!

 

[supernova777]

Sure! Will do