Tokai Humbucker Models & Resistance

[ATO]

My 82 LC60
Neck 18.29
Bridge 18.29
Measured in the guitar.

 

[Sigmania]

Yep. MKII.

Same as what they called a ‘57 Tokai PAF MKII in 1983 apparently.

 

[ATO]

Yep. MKII.

Same as what they called a ‘57 Tokai PAF MKII in 1983 apparently.

They sound amazing through my Maz 38. I use this guitar for one of my bands that has some pretty heavy parts. Great rock pups. Not PAFs though

 

[Sigmania]

I have a theory that these are the same pickups as the earlier LS Dynamic pups, although I don't have any at the moment to cross reference, and I'm only basing this on the magnet type, and the DCR, and I do understand there's more to a pickup than those 2 criteria alone.

This is interesting. I took a second look at the humbuckers in 1982.

In 1982 the LS50 supposedly had "LS Dynamic" pickups. The second generation basically.

The LS60 and LC60 had MKII.

No mention in the catalog of SG50 since it didn't officially come out until 1983.

But based on puckluck's and your guitar it sure seems like they are the same pickup in 1982... They read the same, the bases look the same with the same lead wires.

What they heck were they doing? LOL. So much confusion and change in 1981/82 with humbuckers in Tokais.

 

[Sigmania]

And the "Flying Dragon" pickup in 1983 looks like it could be the same thing with a plastic embossed cover.

"Vintage MKII"
LS50, LC60, TSG50
Neck:18.2k, 18.29k
Bridge: 18.66k, 18.29k

"LS Dynamic II, Veriosn 2" (2.2)
LS50.
Neck: 17.95
Bridge: 17.75k

"Flyin Dragon" P1-11BZ
VX, TZ, FSD, FVD, and EXD guitars
Neck: 18.1-18.2k Ohm
Bridge: 18.1-18.2k Ohm

 

[Sigmania]

I believe these are MK4 pickups out of a Chinese LS62GT. Circa 2020 ?

Neck: 8.17kΩ
Bridge: 13.1kΩ

TOKAI ALS62GTレスポール搭載ハムバッカーピック... - Yahoo!オークション

Description of item​

This is a humbucker pickup installed in the TOKAI ALS62GT Les Paul. It was removed when it was almost new, and its operation has of course been confirmed. This is a 2 piece set, front and rear set. Please understand that this is a used item.
With a 2-core cable, the resistance value is F = approx. 8.17kΩ/cable length = approx. 28mm, R = approx. 13.1kΩ/cable length = approx. 23mm. Please check the website for details. There are no accessories.

 

[ayrguitarist]

I think this is fascinating. You were mentioning the LS Dynamic from a couple years before.

Now I’m wondering what the readings were on the first Humbuckers listed in catalogs as MKII specifically. They were in the 1981 and then 1982 LS60 models. I looked and I don’t have readings for them.

Your pickups appear to be the next version of MKII if they are what the catalog lists as ‘57 PAF Vintage MKII.

The LS Dynamic were in the LS50 and are what I’m now thinking of as possibly the first MK3 pickups essentially.

I just snagged a pair of MKIII (MK3) pickups from a 1984 SD40, white lead wires, 19.1k and 18.8k, 50mm pole spacing, silver baseplates, black bobbins, square window, but no covers, and no PAF sticker. So they look almost exactly like the MKII, except the covers. I wonder if the early MK3 were essentially just MK2 without the covers - if it was as simple as that?

I also wonder if they really only had 2 pickup versions during this time (which they called many different things) - 8k alnico grey wire, and 19k ceramic white wire, and the wire colours were used in the factory to tell them apart.

Once I receive the MKIII (probably in a couple months), I'll do a comparison, and post some updates.

 

[ayrguitarist]

They sound amazing through my Maz 38. I use this guitar for one of my bands that has some pretty heavy parts. Great rock pups. Not PAFs though

I love the sound of mine too , especially for heavy stuff. Even with lots of gain, and low tunings, the strings/notes ring through better than any other guitars I own. I love my LC60.

 

[Sigmania]

Interesting... You git me curious again. I did find MKIII listed in a table in a 1984 Vol. 9 catalog for TSD40. Crazy.

 

[Sigmania]

I have not seen an “L” stamped pickup in a Tokai, so it’s not clear where these came from. Seller is not sure either.

Neck: 8.3k
Bridge: 8.4k

Vintage 70s Goto GOTOH PAF Japan Humbucker Pickup Set Relic Gold Covers 8k Tokai | eBay

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

'L' stamped 'made by goto' PUs were apparently used in e.g. Fresher guitars.

 

[Sigmania]

That makes sense. Thanks.

 

[Sigmania]

Out of a 1984 TOKAI TST-45H.

TOKAI トーカイ TOKAIヴィンテイジPAFタイプ オ... - Yahoo!オークション

Features include an alnico magnet and an open adjustable pole piece on one side.

The string pitch is approximately 10.0mm.

The shield has 2 cores.

The resistance value is 7.79kΩ.

 

[ayrguitarist]

'L' stamped 'made by goto' PUs were apparently used in e.g. Fresher guitars.

Fresher also used the "S" stamped Goto PAF's - I had a pair in a FL I had.

 

[Sigmania]

Was the Fresher from around 1980?

 

[ayrguitarist]

Was the Fresher from around 1980?

Very likely. Although I don't know for sure. There was no serial number on it, and the pots were Noble pots, and I wasn't sure how to read the codes on them, or if they even have date codes. The pot code was 05A300Kohm, on the side of the pot, so maybe May 1980 Audio taper 300k ohm? Not sure.

So if it wasnt from 1980, it was very likely from around that era. It was a set neck Fresher Les Paul from the 3rd generation logo.

 

[Sigmania]

I am not sure if you can read dates from Noble pots? I haven't had any luck with it. But Noble pots are quality pots and Tokai used them in their LS models in the early 80s. Very cool.

 

[ayrguitarist]

I am not sure if you can read dates from Noble pots? I haven't had any luck with it. But Noble pots are quality pots and Tokai used them in their LS models in the early 80s. Very cool.

Those Freshers are built very well with quality parts for sure. It had a all brass bridge. And it sounded fantastic.

 

[Sigmania]

These are supposedly out of a 5 Star?

トーカイ ファイブスター ピックアップ 80年代 ... - Yahoo!オークション

This is a pickup removed from a TOKAI Five Star.

This was originally attached to the Five Star (2 hams, synchronized tremolo, 1 volume, Rose fingerboard with 22 frets) that I acquired 20 years ago.

According to a serial search on the internet, it seems to be made in 1982, but I don't know the model number.

I was using it until this month, but the condition of the guitar itself was at its limit as a musical instrument, so I decided to retire it, so I removed it.

When I measured the resistance value with an analog tester, both were about 8KΩ. Is it PAF type?

Both are 2 core wires and are approximately 33cm long.

 

[Sigmania]

MK3?

No idea why he has a metal washer & nuts stuck to these.

Late 90s?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2564106813..._vTl8uRJe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=EMAIL