I just got done modding my 2019 Tokai Breezysound Sakura and wanted to share.
Graph Tech Ratio Locking Tuners: Absolutely nothing wrong with the previous vintage style tuners, but I prefer the ease of locking tuners and they are the highest ratio tuners that I’m aware of. I’m never selling this guitar, so I opted to not use the Invisomatch Plates. The Kluson ones require cutting to fit anyway and that would have stuck out way more than my hole fill job.
The tuner holes were 7-8mm so they needed reaming to 10mm which was easily the scariest part. StewMac sells a reamer for over $100 which I’m sure is great quality but for two guitars of reaming, I went for the only other option I could find which was Harbor Freight. There’s was about $4 and all the reviews mentioned they used it for the same task. It definitely dulled out quickly and the handle hurt my hand by the time I got to the 3rd string, but the job got done and well. I’m going to purchase a fresh one today for when I do my Goldstar Sound. My hands regret it but my wallet doesn’t.
Toothpicks fit the old tuner holes perfectly and the ones I had have little grooves for the wood glue to fill. I let that set for a day and then chiseled them flat....ish. I started the day by slightly gouging my finger getting the cover off of it so I got a little thrown off. The wood filler I had on hand was very dark so it isn’t perfect, but after some Tru Oil to cover and match the color it doesn’t look bad to me.
Finally I had to drill the holes for the little knobs on the tuner to sit in to keep it in place (similar to newer fenders). I had done this on my Warmoth build last year so this wasn’t daunting. This Invisomatch plates were useful here because it makes it easy to mark the pilot holes. A little drilling, and some more final reaming and I had a perfect fit.
Lastly I replaced the saddles with some Gotoh “In-Tune” titanium saddles. I have them on my Explorer/Telecaster build and like them. They allow for better intonation especially with the tricky G string. This was pretty simple and made even easier with a cheap electric screwdriver I bought on my trip to Harbor Freight.
I did a full fresh setup on her and got her playing perfect. Working on guitars is a great experience that really helps you bond and get to know how your guitar plays the way it does.
Also to add, I did experiment with switching necks on my Goldstar Sound and a Fender Vintera Strat neck to see what it would look like with a maple neck. The holes align perfectly but I do remember the Fender neck being maybe 1mm narrower than the Tokai Neck Pocket. These types of differences can be variance in any guitar even within the same brand and it would have been fine, but I switched the necks back because I prefer the Neck Profile on my Tokais.
Enough of me prattling on. Do you guys have any stories with Modding Tokai guitars? I’m curious with Goldstar Sounds and replacement Tremolos because the string spacing is very specific apparently.
Graph Tech Ratio Locking Tuners: Absolutely nothing wrong with the previous vintage style tuners, but I prefer the ease of locking tuners and they are the highest ratio tuners that I’m aware of. I’m never selling this guitar, so I opted to not use the Invisomatch Plates. The Kluson ones require cutting to fit anyway and that would have stuck out way more than my hole fill job.
The tuner holes were 7-8mm so they needed reaming to 10mm which was easily the scariest part. StewMac sells a reamer for over $100 which I’m sure is great quality but for two guitars of reaming, I went for the only other option I could find which was Harbor Freight. There’s was about $4 and all the reviews mentioned they used it for the same task. It definitely dulled out quickly and the handle hurt my hand by the time I got to the 3rd string, but the job got done and well. I’m going to purchase a fresh one today for when I do my Goldstar Sound. My hands regret it but my wallet doesn’t.
Toothpicks fit the old tuner holes perfectly and the ones I had have little grooves for the wood glue to fill. I let that set for a day and then chiseled them flat....ish. I started the day by slightly gouging my finger getting the cover off of it so I got a little thrown off. The wood filler I had on hand was very dark so it isn’t perfect, but after some Tru Oil to cover and match the color it doesn’t look bad to me.
Finally I had to drill the holes for the little knobs on the tuner to sit in to keep it in place (similar to newer fenders). I had done this on my Warmoth build last year so this wasn’t daunting. This Invisomatch plates were useful here because it makes it easy to mark the pilot holes. A little drilling, and some more final reaming and I had a perfect fit.
Lastly I replaced the saddles with some Gotoh “In-Tune” titanium saddles. I have them on my Explorer/Telecaster build and like them. They allow for better intonation especially with the tricky G string. This was pretty simple and made even easier with a cheap electric screwdriver I bought on my trip to Harbor Freight.
I did a full fresh setup on her and got her playing perfect. Working on guitars is a great experience that really helps you bond and get to know how your guitar plays the way it does.
Also to add, I did experiment with switching necks on my Goldstar Sound and a Fender Vintera Strat neck to see what it would look like with a maple neck. The holes align perfectly but I do remember the Fender neck being maybe 1mm narrower than the Tokai Neck Pocket. These types of differences can be variance in any guitar even within the same brand and it would have been fine, but I switched the necks back because I prefer the Neck Profile on my Tokais.
Enough of me prattling on. Do you guys have any stories with Modding Tokai guitars? I’m curious with Goldstar Sounds and replacement Tremolos because the string spacing is very specific apparently.