TST-56 Specs

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frankthedog

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I got a TST-56 at a guitar show recently. It has a 5 digit serial on the neckplate. I had to replace one of the pots and noticed that the body is routed SSH. Also, it has alnico pickups. It feels like ash, as opposed to alder, from the grain in the wood and the weight.
Does the body configuration, pickups, material, seem consistent with an 80's TST-56? Where can I find the specs for this guitar?
Any help would be greatly appreciated

1a.jpg

2a.jpg

3a.jpg

4a.jpg
 
I believe those came out in 1985?

Is there a code on the pots?

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8a.jpg

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Last edited:
Specs are here.
https://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/tokai_85-86_electric_p3.jpg
Pickups are grey fiber, V marked.SSS routing,Steel block,final prospek saddles.
Mine has a alder body and a 4 digit serialnumber.
HPIM0506.jpg
 
I've never had a pointy-nose TST/AST, they've hardly ever seen in Europe and not very often in Japan either. Afaik, they're the only models that have that beautiful little bird decal on the nose, and I've always found it mildly fascinating.

I mean, what is that? A stylized mynah bird? A feathered serpent? Or could it be Phoenix rising from the ashes? If indeed Fender Japan brought down Tokai in 84-85 this could be a discreet way of saying "we're back". :)

[img]https://i.imgur.com/huc2xBd.png[/img]
 
One confusing thing about these to me is the TST designation on the modified headstock.

I thought these were ASTs with the American market headstock, and TST was the Traditional (Fender) headstock?

I also see this is labeled “Vintage” series.

Anyone know how these sort out? I know Peter Mac has pointed to these in other threads. Peter? Can you help with the confusion of TST/AST?
 
HSS bodies show up mid 80s. They are a bit of a mystery.

There’s a thread on here on 6 digit serial numbers that features a bunch of them. Coincides with HSS bodies on super Strats from this period I believe.

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26343&hilit=six+digit+serial

Also, different markets had changes at different points. Tokai sold worldwide and that meant navigating a minefield of laws and litigation.
 
The five digit serial number may be part of the Fender style serial number system that Tokai started using in 1982?

In that system five digit serial numbers indicates a copy of a Fender built between 1956 and 1960. So that would fit with your 56.

I’m not sure when they stopped using this system?

When you opened it up did you see a code that had either an = or a - in it?
 
I can’t really see the grain of your guitar in your pictures to tell if it looks like sen ash or not.
 
Edit: Just now able to see settebello's link and see it is the same catalog page as this one.

Here is the AST-56 in the 1985/86 catalog.

I still don't know the difference between an AST and a TST if they have the same headstock...

The AST in this catalog specs alder as the body wood.



AST56

• Solid 2 pcs. contoured alder body
• One piece hard rock maple neck
• Vintage style 4 bolt neck
• 25.5"scale length
• "V* shape neck contour
• Vintage style tuning machines
• 3 single coil C.A.R./California Accurate Reproduction/ pickups
• 5 way selector, 1 vol, 2 tone
• Vintage style single layer pickquard
• Variable tension chrome 2 pcs. vintage vibrato, chrome plated
• Finishes: BB, BL, CR, FO, GM, GS. LB, MR, OF, OR. OW, SW, YSO
• Available left handed same finishes
• Tweed case

L7MOiV2.jpg


nFcYAe7.jpg
 
Also, the 1985/86 catalog does not list your color in the AST specs.

Which I am thinking is Cherry Sunburst, CS? Or Vintage Cherry sunburst, VC?

Finishes

AB - Antique Brown
BB - Midnight Black
BBS - Blue-Black Sunburst
BM - Black Metallic
BL - Blonde
BTS - Butterscotch
CH - Cherry
CR - Candy Apple Red
CS - Cherry Sunburst
FO - Flamingo Orange
GM - Gold Metallic
GS - 2 Color Antique Sunburst
GT - Gold Top
HS - Honey Sunburst
LB - Lake Placid
MB - Metallic Blue
MR - Metallic Red
MPK - Metallic Pink
N - Natural
OF - Vintage Opaque Orange
OR - Vintage Red
OW - Off White
PP - Pearl Pink/PW
PW - Pearl White
PZ - Paislev
RS - Red-Silver Sunburst
SP - Purple Sparkle
SR - Red Sparkle
SW - Snow White
TM - Tortoise Mahogany
TRD - Trino Red
VC - Vintage Cherry Sunburst/
VF - Vintage Flame Maple/
WR - Wine Red/
YN - Antique Natural/
YSO 3 Color Vintage Sunburst/
YS - 2 Color Vintage Sunburst

(A) in front of Finish indicates Neck and Headstock also finished.
(R) behind Finish indicates Rosewood Fretboard.
 
Voidoid56 said:
Or could it be Phoenix rising from the ashes? If indeed Fender Japan brought down Tokai in 84-85 this could be a discreet way of saying "we're back". :)
Click to expand...

I like that!
 
I went back & looked at catalogs and the TST-56 first shows up in the 1983 catalog, and with an ash body!

TST-56

Enclosed in-line machines,
3 hot single coil pickups,
1 volume control (front), 2 tone controls, pickup selector,
25½" scale length,
Maple neck with Ebony accent,
Maple fretboard,
1.650" neck width at nut,
bent foot variable tension vibrato assembly,
Ash body,
4-bolt neck fastening system,
"V" shaped neck taper,
White pickguard and P/U covers on Metallic and standard finishes,
Tortoise pickguard on Sunbursts and Natural.

Notes with photos:

"Variable tension 5-spring TS-44 tremolo assembly with "bent foot" bridge feet."

"Two-piece select wood bodies enahnce tone, structural strength and sustain."

U4QhB9q.png


l5HnIvJ.png


https://vintagejapanguitars.com/tokai-1983-catalogue-vol-1/

If the body code on the inside of your guitar has the "=" and not the "-" then that is 1985 and before I believe.

Photo of the "=" in the 1983 catalog TPB page:

KuU2gxQ.png
 
Got my answer in an old thread from Peter Mac:

Peter Mac said:
Hi guys,
just a quick sorting here...
ST models are Japan only
TST models are export models from 1981 - including U.S.
AST models are U.S. models from 1984 onwards
US models are noticable by the altered headstock and the actual year being replicated - TST-56 & AST-56 : TST-62 and AST-62.
Build specs for the US models did differ slightly to other export models but the major componants like body and neck were the same for all ST/TST/AST guitars, and they were all Made in Japan.

regards
Peter Mac
Click to expand...

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=4700
 
I see that logo on catalogs from 1982-1984 then it disappears from the catalogs I have seen while still on guitars in the 1985/86 catalog and apparently gone in the 1986 catalog.

trR4SNZ.jpg


I am wondering if it is in this time period, or if that logo was an overall company logo, not tied to a period in the way that the spaghetti logo was nor to a procut line like Springys versus Love Rocks? Or if it was used on guitars in markets where there was a gray area relative to looking like the mid 1960s & 1970s Fender logo??
 

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