Post
by Voidoid56 » Sat Jun 25, 2022 1:48 am
Sigmania covered a lot of ground here, but I thought I'd add a cent or two as well.
First: having owned 10+ of each through the years, I'd say the main difference between ST/TST and SS/TSS models from the player perspective is the neck. SS/TSS usually have narrower necks in my experience, often around 41.5 mm across the nut and U profile, sometimes pretty deep. One SS50 neck I had was just under 41 mm, which is a very narrow neck indeed. ST/TST tend to be 42,5 mm or thereabouts, with the profile varying with the model and vintage copied, U, C or soft V.
Mind you, there seems to be some randomness to it as well, and I haven't had all models, so it's not gospel. I would expect the rare SS60 1966 copies to be more like early-60s STs/TSTs with a C-profile, and the one 1981 Nagano-made (by Fujigen, in my opinion) SS36 I've had was abt 43 mm across the nut.
Otherwise, I find them quite similar. The Gotoh grey bobbin family pickups are somewhat similar in character regardless of how they they're stamped (or not). Are the Kluson-style tuners of ST/TST models functionally better than the Fender F copies in lower-end SS/TSS? I wouldn't say so. Sure, the cast bridges are not that brilliant, but they're copy-correct and anyway, STs had them as well before 1982, albeit with pressed-steel saddles.
As for any basic quality differences between models, I wouldn't sweat it. In my experience, MIJ instruments were made to a single basic standard of woodworking, the differences between models are about materials, hardware, pickups and finish, not basic playability. I've never seen a low-end Japanese instrument with any real sign of the standard of workmanship somehow having been dialed down. And the consistency is mind-blowing imo, they must have had ninjas as QA staff. Get a low-ender you like playing, then mod it with the bits you prefer (or not) and you're all set.
Either way, the ranges are there, and the top models are generally at least twice as expensive as the entry-level ones, I guess the market simply expected it. The 2k JPY price difference between the 38 and 40 SS/TSS models is especially ridiculous, as far as I can tell it's just about 1976-style black plastic on the 38 and 1972-style white on the 40. Which as far as I can see just reflects the Japanese market's (Silver Stars were not normally exported) taste in terms of the desirability of the originals.
If you look at the guitars on offer (not just from Tokai) the price range-based business model must have caused the manufacturers problems in terms of Fender copies. I mean, if you go all in to replicate a '59 LP Standard with all the details and rare materials of the original, you'll end up with a very expensive guitar without even trying. Fenders are so intrinsically simple that the Japanese brands often ended up either over-blinging the top models in an "unrealistic" way (the eye-wateringly beautiful and very rare TE-120 "Arabesque" Breezy Sound being a prime example) or shipping them with the after-market parts in vogue at the time factory-installed. The SS/TSS80 is a good example of that, with brass nut and bridge saddles and DiMarzio FS-1s. But does it sound or play better than a 38? Sure, the nitro finish feels nice, but other than that, I'd say it's a matter of taste.
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