Help id this 2002 love rock…

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09flyingV

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Anybody have a clue what model this 2002 Love Rock is?

Thx for any help.

https://imgur.com/a/XeEKBnM
https://i.imgur.com/U3UFkFL.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6d7ifuP.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/oFrQf5W.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/1gaqnHw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BNBm89c.jpg
 
Is the top veneer?

Most likely LS70F in my opinion.

From the 2003 catalog:

bj2gQ8u.png


ALS70F

Body: Flamed Sycamore laminated to Mahogany back
Neck: Mahogany set-neck
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Bridge: LS-VB Bridge, LS-VT Tailpiece
Pickups PAF-Vintage MKIl
Controls: 2V, 2T, 3way SW
Colour: All standard colors available

https://vintagejapanguitars.com/tokai-2003-catalogue/

Your guitar:

WvqWJyW.png


Snvaogb.png


3A9TsNs.png


GUXOo7O.png
 
https://imgur.com/a/bWulzMM

Thats from the listing, so im not totally sure about the top. Do you have any idea about those pups? This is my first Tokai and ive never seen/heard Gotoh pickups. Are these the “MKII”?

Thx!


Sigmania said:
Is the top veneer?

Most likely LS70F in my opinion.

From the 2003 catalog:

ALS70F

Body Flamed Sycamore laminated to Mahogany back
Neck Mahogany set-neck
Fingerboard Rosewood
Bridge LS-VB Bridge, LS-VT Tailpiece
Pickups PAF-Vintage MKIl
Controls 2V, 2T, 3way SW
Colour All standard colors
avalable

https://vintagejapanguitars.com/tokai-2003-catalogue/
Click to expand...
 
Those look like Gotoh made MK2s.

I haven’t had those. I’ve had older versions. They were ok, but not my favorites. Pickups are very personal I think.


iJDgMxQ.png
 
Also the listing had it weighing in at 9lbs 7oz! I bought it for $900 the other day. Cant wait to get it. I’ll definitely be swapping out the pickups. I have a pair of custom shop pearly gates in my 09’ flying V. Would it be blasphemy to put such pricey pups in this guitar?
 
Pickups are easy to swap. You might be surprised at how that guitars plays. Good luck.
 
Might even go with the BFG Whisker Bucker for the pick ups. Are the early 2000’s considered a good period for Tokai japan models?
 
Yes. Give us a report once you get her set up. Congratulations.
 
Cool, glad to hear it. Thx for the help and ill report back when i get get the guitar and do a pickup swap.

Thx for the info
 
You're welcome. And just for perspective, this guitar retailed for 70,000 yen when it was new. It was essentially a $500 guitar, the least expensive Tokai LP made in Japan at that time. It's probably not fair to compare it to a $4,000 historic Gibson R9, but it compares favorably with Standards from that period which I believe were chambered and cost 3 times as much? The body on this is solid mahogany, probably African. The cap is maple with a sycamore lam over it for appearance. But the tone is coming from the wood and the pickups. Fit and finish should be good. Poly finish. Not sure about the neck on these. I personally play all sorts of necks profile and don't get too hung up on it. Enjoy.
 
09flyingV said:
https://imgur.com/a/bWulzMM

Thats from the listing, so im not totally sure about the top. Do you have any idea about those pups? This is my first Tokai and ive never seen/heard Gotoh pickups. Are these the “MKII”?

Thx!
Click to expand...





Circling back to the top, here is what you posted from the listing:

"The two-piece carved flame maple top is highlighted by the satin Ice Tea Sunburst finish, and cosmetic wear includes a few shallow marks on the lower bout on top, light finish scratches across the back, and some dings and finish chips on the body perimeter, largely clustered near the rear strap button. The finish on the profile is clean and smooth, buffed to a semi-gloss from contact with the palm."

I doubt that is a "two-piece carved flame maple top"...

When you get it, pull a pickup and look to see if the top is laminated. I am betting that it is. If it is, obviously the grain will not be continuous the way that it would be on a solid flamed maple top. You may have to look closely. Tokai is good at matching grains.

If it was sold as a solid flamed top, then you have an argument to make to get your money back if it turns out to be a laminate. A solid flamed top would be worth way more than a laminate.
 
I don't like to comment on what people should pay for a guitar since that’s really between the buyer and the seller.

But I will say that you were possibly misled based on the screenshot you shared of the description in the listing. You still need to verify if it’s a laminate or not.

And if you bought that in an auction, you and the other bidders were bidding on it with the understanding that it was a solid flamed top.

You can go on Reverb and see what they sell for. And note the condition of this guitar when looking at prices.

pyLYNMv.png


GUXOo7O.png
 

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