FC Serial Numbers Fine Corp Made In China

themeinside said:

Hello there,

I'm a new member here, but I have got a Tokai, so I don't feel I'm trespassing

I need to ask you good folks a question about the factory that produces Tokai guitars in China.

Firstly, does any one know its name, and whereabouts it is, and secondly, if so, has anyone visited it.

Thank you.

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themeinside said:

Hi again,

... I've ruled out one of the factories I thought it was- if you have bought a Tokai 3 or so years ago, it will most likely have been manufactured in the YueSen Musical Instrument Company Factory. I have an EX-55 from their factory and it is a very solid guitar- nice construction, but they lied about the body wood- said it was Korina, and when I spoke to the factory, they said it was most likely basswood or mahogany. Ah well- still sounds alright!

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stratmoto said:

Close,

Fine Corporation made the guitars, firstly in Korea, then in their Chinese factory. Guitars with FC serial number prefixes, and a particular font are Fine Corp guitars.

Constant supply was always a problem with them, I waited 12 months for an order while production was being phased out in Korea and being transferred to China. Never received the guitars!

Tokai UK organised production with the Yue Sen factory around 3 years ago, because of the slow production and higher prices of Fine Corp. Tokai Gakki Japan also have their Chinese guitars made there.

Because of the production numbers for the UK models, Yue Sen overproduce. These guitars, with the dimple headstock, are sold into the Chinese domestic market and to any overseas buyers that want to take them.

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themeinside said:

Ok- that was illuminating stratmoto- thank you.

I had talked to a representative of Tokai UK though and he did say categorically that they no longer use the Yue Sen Plant and that they have them manufactured elsewhere... I don't know XD

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stratmoto said:

Actually, a little bit of a brain fart there.

You may very well find that they are made by Saein Musical Instrument Co. They also have their own brand, which I suppose is the same pronounciation as Saein, called Shine guitars.

Not Yue Sen, sorry about that chief!

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stratmoto said:

If it has an FC serial number prefix, it would be Made in China.

Fine Corp production moved largely from Korea to China quite a few years ago. Made in Korea Tokais will have "Made in Korea" painted in a contrasting colour on the back of the headstock and only some very few early models having a serial number as well.

Not to be confused with the "Make in Korea" Fakais, which can have a serial number.

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stratmoto said:

You wil find FC as a prefix on some, not all, of the "Traditional" series guitars.

Some batches have been made with the FC prefix and some guitars, made around the same time and delivered to us in Oz, with the FC, do not have the FC prefix.

Interestingly, there are no hard and fast rules as far as some of the Tokai serial numbers are concerned, only guidelines, with exceptions.

The latest batch have 6 digit serial numbers....."oh no, that can't be right" some may claim. They are geniuine Tokai made by the officially contracted manufacturer and are not "Fakai".

Tokai serials and markings are not always easily understood.

Buy your mate a pint and don't let on you may owe him a keg

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