(image of a 1981 ST70R YS from Flikr Myxi2. )
Starting this thread to try to gather info on ST70 Springys and Goldstars.
Looks like they were first made in 1981 and the maple fret board version is described in the 1982 catalog as the 1964 Rare Model and a rosewood slab version described as the 1960 model.
They continued to be made for several more years with limited color options and were eventually discontinued in the mid 80s.
The main thing that seems to set them apart is fretboard construction.
They came with two different fret board options, maple (ST70) and rosewood (ST70R).
The maple fret board was actually a thin maple veneer over a maple neck and no skunk stripe.
The rosewood fret board is a slab construction similar to Fender Stratocasters from 1959-1962. The ST70R was the first ST Tokai made with the slab board construction. Followed by the TST-62 in 1983 and the AST & TST80 in 1984.
The most common color seems to be the 3 tone sunburst, YS, for the rosewood and maple versions, although none of these guitars were ever common it seems.
From what I have read, the bodies were spec'd as 2 piece center seam construction, but I read one or two accounts from members on this forum saying theirs were one piece, and I have a rare MG version that seems to be 3 piece alder. So I am not sure what the specs were actually "supposed" to be.
Does anyone read Japanese? That could really help untangle some of this.
Apparently they had a thin poly finish, although that has been debated on here.
The ones I have seen had "E" marked pickups.
Would love to find out more info if folks want to share.
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