The Earliest Springys 1977-

Current list:

1978:

Plate stamped:

8003675 ST80 BB "Plate Stamped" (eBay)
8003028 ST60 BB “Plate Stamped” (bluejeannot)

Ink stamped on neck inside pocket:

8002152 ST42 BB (Peter Mac provided)
8002111 ST60 BB Fernandes (eBay)
8002080 ST100R BL (Cliff, note rosewood board)
8002075 ST42 YS (siamackz)
8001885 ST80 OW R (Peter Mac provided)
8001633 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001578 ST60 YS (Reverb) *Guessing on the "1" digit.
8001532 ST55 N (Peter Mac provided)
8001198 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001196 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001148 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001001 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000989 ST100R BL (Cliff, note rosewood board)
8000984 ST60 YS (eBay)
8000963 ST?? OW (posted by tokaigeek & Jeremycanlapan)
8000946 ST50 BB (posted by topaxe)
8000942 ST60R OW (Cliff)
8000836 ST60 YS R (Peter Mac provided)
8000774 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000750 ST60 OW (marcusnieman)
8000721 ST100 N (Reverb)
8000720 ST100 OW (Faber Guitars)
8000656 ST100 BL (felixcatus)
8000635 ST65 N (Peter Mac provided)
8000615 ST80 GS R (Peter Mac provided)
8000611 ST80 GS (Peter Mac provided)
8000584 ST60 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000420 ST60 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000323 ST50 YS (muccax)

1977:

7000186 ST?? (Peter Mac provided)
7000105 ST50 OW (Peter Mac provided)
77000011 ST60 YS (CliffsComicWorld) *Note Serial starts with "770" and not "70".

Add this one to the 1977 Tokai Spring's..... was going thru my none documents guitars and found this...

Serial # 7000108

https://www.flickr.com/photos/147832065@N08/albums/72177720297075862

Will do. Do you know what model it is?

Current list:

1978:

Plate stamped:

8003675 ST80 BB "Plate Stamped" (eBay)
8003028 ST60 BB “Plate Stamped” (bluejeannot)

Ink stamped on neck inside pocket:

8002152 ST42 BB (Peter Mac provided)
8002111 ST60 BB Fernandes (eBay)
8002080 ST100R BL (Cliff, note rosewood board)
8002075 ST42 YS (siamackz)
8001885 ST80 OW R (Peter Mac provided)
8001633 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001578 ST60 YS (Reverb) *Guessing on the "1" digit.
8001532 ST55 N (Peter Mac provided)
8001198 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001196 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001148 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001001 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000989 ST100R BL (Cliff, note rosewood board)
8000984 ST60 YS (eBay)
8000963 ST?? OW (posted by tokaigeek & Jeremycanlapan)
8000946 ST50 BB (posted by topaxe)
8000942 ST60R OW (Cliff)
8000919 ST42 OW (eBay)
8000836 ST60 YS R (Peter Mac provided)
8000774 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000750 ST60 OW (marcusnieman)
8000721 ST100 N (Reverb)
8000720 ST100 OW (Faber Guitars)
8000656 ST100 BL (felixcatus)
8000635 ST65 N (Peter Mac provided)
8000615 ST80 GS R (Peter Mac provided)
8000611 ST80 GS (Peter Mac provided)
8000584 ST60 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000434 ST60N (eBay)
8000420 ST60 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000323 ST50 YS (muccax)

1977:

7000186 ST?? (Peter Mac provided)
7000108 ST?? YS (CliffsGuitarWorld)
7000105 ST50 OW (Peter Mac provided)
77000011 ST60 YS (CliffsComicWorld) *Note Serial starts with "770" and not "70".

Here’s my 1978 st-42 in YS. I don’t have a pic of it but the serial number that you see on the guarantee card pictured is ink stamped in the neck pocket and the back of the neck heel.

ST80R S/N 8000506

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265646603...b_vTl8uRJe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Current list:

1978:

Plate stamped:

8003675 ST80 BB "Plate Stamped" (eBay)
8003028 ST60 BB “Plate Stamped” (bluejeannot)

Ink stamped on neck inside pocket:

8002152 ST42 BB (Peter Mac provided)
8002111 ST60 BB Fernandes (eBay)
8002080 ST100R BL (Cliff, note rosewood board)
8002075 ST42 YS (siamackz)
8001885 ST80 OW R (Peter Mac provided)
8001633 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001578 ST60 YS (Reverb) *Guessing on the "1" digit.
8001532 ST55 N (Peter Mac provided)
8001198 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001196 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001148 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001001 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000989 ST100R BL (Cliff, note rosewood board)
8000984 ST60 YS (eBay)
8000963 ST?? OW (posted by tokaigeek & Jeremycanlapan)
8000946 ST50 BB (posted by topaxe)
8000942 ST60R OW (Cliff)
8000919 ST42 OW (eBay)
8000836 ST60 YS R (Peter Mac provided)
8000774 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000750 ST60 OW (marcusnieman)
8000721 ST100 N (Reverb)
8000720 ST100 OW (Faber Guitars)
8000656 ST100 BL (felixcatus)
8000635 ST65 N (Peter Mac provided)
8000615 ST80 GS R (Peter Mac provided)
8000611 ST80 GS (Peter Mac provided)
8000584 ST60 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000506 ST80 OW R (eBay)
8000434 ST60N (eBay)
8000420 ST60 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000323 ST50 YS (muccax)

1977:

7000186 ST?? (Peter Mac provided)
7000108 ST?? YS (CliffsGuitarWorld)
7000105 ST50 OW (Peter Mac provided)
77000011 ST60 YS (CliffsComicWorld) *Note Serial starts with "770" and not "70".

I may be the slowest person on Earth, but I just realized that the numbers didn’t reset each year. So starting in 1977 and going up to Feb of 1982 when the new numbering system took hold it looks like you can get a rough idea of the number of Springys or maybe all Fender style guitars were produced?

It all makes sense because by 1982 they were in the 10s of thousands and about to run out of room with the two digit year on the end.

Is this true? Peter Mac? 8)

Current list:

1978:

Plate stamped & close bolt spacing:


8003742 ST50R OW “Plate Stamped” (eBay)
8003675 ST80 BB "Plate Stamped" (eBay)
8003234 (Registry)
8003061 ST80GS "Plate Stamped" (Reverb)
8003028 ST60 BB “Plate Stamped” (bluejeannot)

Ink stamped on neck inside pocket:

8002152 ST42 BB (Peter Mac provided)
8002111 ST60 BB Fernandes (eBay)
8002080 ST100R BL (Cliff, note rosewood board)
8002075 ST42 YS (siamackz)
8002043 ST80N (Cliff)
8001885 ST80 OW R (Peter Mac provided)
8001710 ST45 BB (Worthpoint)
8001633 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001578 ST60 YS (Reverb) *Guessing on the "1" digit.
8001532 ST55 N (Peter Mac provided)
8001198 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001196 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001148 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001001 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000989 ST100R BL (Cliff, note rosewood board)
8000984 ST60 YS (eBay)
8000963 ST?? OW (posted by tokaigeek & Jeremycanlapan)
8000946 ST50 BB (posted by topaxe)
8000942 ST60R OW (Cliff)
8000919 ST42 OW (eBay)
8000879 ST100 (Registry)
8000863 ST42 (Registry)
8000836 ST60 YS R (Peter Mac provided)
8000792 ST42YS (Reverb)
8000774 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000764 ST60 OW (reverb)
8000750 ST60 OW (marcusnieman)
8000721 ST100 N (Reverb)
8000720 ST100 OW (Faber Guitars)
8000678 ST50 (Registry)
8000656 ST100 BL (felixcatus)
8000635 ST65 N (Peter Mac provided)
8000615 ST80 GS R (Peter Mac provided)
8000611 ST80 GS (Peter Mac provided)
8000597 ST60 OW (Reverb)
8000586 ST42 YS (Reverb)
8000584 ST60 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000552 ST60 (Registry)
8000506 ST80 OW R (eBay)
8000434 ST60N (eBay)
8000420 ST60 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000323 ST50 YS (muccax)
8000281 ST60 (Registry)

1977:

7000186 ST?? (Peter Mac provided)
7000108 ST?? YS (CliffsGuitarWorld)
7000105 ST50 OW (Peter Mac provided)
77000011 ST60 YS (CliffsComicWorld) *Note Serial starts with "770" and not "70".

Sigmania said:

So am I understanding that there were 3 different neck plates?

1. without any serial (1977-mid 1978) Unknown dimensions.

2. with serial numbers, but closer spacing of bolts (mid 1978-1980?)* 2' x 2.5" plate dimensions.

3. with serial numbers but wider spacing of bolts (1980?-)* 2' x 2.5" plate dimensions.

*Let me know if anyone knows when the switch happened and I'll correct the dats I have here.

Click to expand...

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=26057&p=195158#p195158

Nice pics of a super clean 1978 plate stamped ST80GS. Red stamp "ST80"

S/N 8003061

https://reverb.com/item/5835544-tokai-st-80-springy-sound-54-strat-1978-2t-sunbursr

Hi guys.
I'm Japanese. I'm not good at English, but I'll try to post.

I have a '77 ST42.
S/N 7000040
The POTs are not original and have been replaced with CTS.

Oh wow! That is one of the earliest ones we have seen! Beautiful! Thank you for posting that picture.

I will add it to the list.

Current list:

1978:

Plate stamped & close bolt spacing:


8003742 ST50R OW “Plate Stamped” (eBay)
8003675 ST80 BB "Plate Stamped" (eBay)
8003234 (Registry)
8003210 ST42 BB (eBay)
8003061 ST80GS "Plate Stamped" (Reverb)
8003028 ST60 BB “Plate Stamped” (bluejeannot)

Ink stamped on neck inside pocket:

8002152 ST42 BB (Peter Mac provided)
8002111 ST60 BB Fernandes (eBay)
8002080 ST100R BL (Cliff, note rosewood board)
8002075 ST42 YS (siamackz)
8002043 ST80N (Cliff)
8001885 ST80 OW R (Peter Mac provided)
8001710 ST45 BB (Worthpoint)
8001633 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001578 ST60 YS (Reverb) *Guessing on the "1" digit.
8001532 ST55 N (Peter Mac provided)
8001198 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001196 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001148 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001001 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000989 ST100R BL (Cliff, note rosewood board)
8000984 ST60 YS (eBay)
8000963 ST?? OW (posted by tokaigeek & Jeremycanlapan)
8000946 ST50 BB (posted by topaxe)
8000942 ST60R OW (Cliff)
8000919 ST42 OW (eBay)
8000879 ST100 (Registry)
8000863 ST42 (Registry)
8000836 ST60 YS R (Peter Mac provided)
8000792 ST42YS (Reverb)
8000774 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000764 ST60 OW (reverb)
8000750 ST60 OW (marcusnieman)
8000721 ST100 N (Reverb)
8000720 ST100 OW (Faber Guitars)
8000678 ST50 (Registry)
8000656 ST100 BL (felixcatus)
8000635 ST65 N (Peter Mac provided)
8000615 ST80 GS R (Peter Mac provided)
8000611 ST80 GS (Peter Mac provided)
8000597 ST60 OW (Reverb)
8000586 ST42 YS (Reverb)
8000584 ST60 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000552 ST60 (Registry)
8000506 ST80 OW R (eBay)
8000434 ST60N (eBay)
8000420 ST60 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000323 ST50 YS (muccax)
8000281 ST60 (Registry)

1977:

7000186 ST?? (Peter Mac provided)
7000131 ST42 BB (Voidoid found online Jpn)
7000108 ST?? YS (CliffsGuitarWorld)
7000105 ST50 OW (Peter Mac provided)
7000040 ST42 YS (Hiro)
77000011 ST60 YS (CliffsComicWorld) *Note Serial starts with "770" and not "70".

Voidoid56 said:

This one's for sale in Japan right now. And I'm pretty sure it's the earliest ST I've seen, at least.

It's a Tokai ST-42BB Springy Sound with serial 7000131, so 1977 and possibly the 131st ST ever built... if the serials were truly and correctly sequential. So basically a pre-production guitar. Note the small neck plate.

B-stamped pickguard with the black-bobbin pickups seen in the earliest ST and a brass control shield. The 2037 stamp is new to me. It could possibly be a reverse date (something seen in other MIJs from time to time, notably Fernandes instruments), if so it could be Feb 30th or March 2nd 1977. Or something else entirely... seems a bit early to be a manufacture date, doesn't it?

Very clean warranty, dated 53/3/5, 53 being the imperial calendar date for 1978 (year 53 of the Showa era, i e Hirohito's reign). I would assume that this points to a late 1977 manufacture date. Love the bridge cover and tools.

Quite a clean guitar, well-played but also well taken care of.

It's be interesting to see what it sells for. A lowly 42, but early enough to be historically significant. I can see the serious collectors coming out in force for this one.

Click to expand...

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=26733&p=200823#p200823

If the serial are indeed strictly sequential, we have a pretty good idea of the break point between 1977 and '78. The latest '77 on record is 186, the earliest '78 281, so within about 100 numbers or so. Either way, it points to around 200-250 guitars manufactured in 1977.

Also, a comparison between the black bobbins and the later U's and E's would be interesting. '77s having A or B stamps on the pickguards kind of suggests that there were two grades to the black bobbins as well. Do we have any resistance measurements for them? Maybe they were simply the same as the U's and E's, only with different coloured bobbins?

But, figuring that one out for sure would probably entail dissecting both types, I guess. Which I suspect won't happen anytime soon.

Voidoid56 said:

Also, a comparison between the black bobbins and the later U's and E's would be interesting. '77s having A or B stamps on the pickguards kind of suggests that there were two grades to the black bobbins as well. Do we have any resistance measurements for them? Maybe they were simply the same as the U's and E's, only with different coloured bobbins?

Click to expand...

I had started that thread on that hoping to one day figure that out. Same questions about the early humbuckers listed in the catalogs as LSA and LSB.

Here's the thread on the single coils.

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26664&hilit=single+coil

Feel free to add what you have figured out.

From a flyer from 1978 I believe that Cliff Jordan owns.

"A" configuration included E pickups, and "B" configuration included U pickups at that time.

Does this mean that Es are hand wound and Us are machine wound? Or is there another part of the assembly that is done by hand on the Es?

Sigmania said:

From a flyer from 1978 I believe that Cliff Jordan owns.

"A" configuration included E pickups, and "B" configuration included U pickups at that time.

Does this mean that Es are hand wound and Us are machine wound? Or is there another part of the assembly that is done by hand on the Es?

Click to expand...

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26664&hilit=single+coil

1978 & 1979 catalog ST parts.