LS Dynamic Pickups

"LS Dynamic" pickups appeared in LS50s for the model year 1981.

There were 4 versions. We can call them 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2.

"LS Dynamic I" had hexagonal pole pieces,

The first version had a "T" stamp on the base plate and "Patent Applied For..." 1.1.


"LS DYNAMIC I Version 1" with hex poles.


1981 LS50BB Inkie Nagano. "LS DYNAMIC"

LS Dynamic I, Version 1 (1.1)
Goto.
Open dbl cream.
Hexagonal pole pieces.
LS50.
1981.
"T" ink mark
Ink “Patent Applied For made by goto"
Neck:
Bridge:

The second version had "GOTOH" stamped into the metal. 1.2.


"LS DYNAMIC I Version 2" with hex poles.


1981 LS50BB SN 1014626

LS Dynamic I, Version 2 (1.2)
Goto.
Open dbl cream.
Hexagonal pole pieces.
LS50.
1981.
"GOTOH" stamped into metal baseplate
Neck:
Bridge:

Sometime before the end of 1981 there was a completely different pickup in LS50s called “LS Dynamic II” in the catalog description of the LS50BB.

The first version had "GOTOH" stamped into the metal base plate. 2.1.



LS Dynamic II with square windows.


LS Dynamic II Version 1. From a 1981 LS50

LS Dynamic II, Version 1 (2.1)
Open double cream
"GOTOH" stamped.
White coil side has adjustable slot heads.
LS50.
1981/82
Neck:
Bridge:

The second version had a blank base plate. 2.2.



LS Dynamic II Version 2


1982 LS50 shown (Puck Luck)

"LS Dynamic II, Veriosn 2" (2.2)
Open Double Cream
Unmarked base
LS50.
1982
Neck: 17.95
Bridge: 17.75k

1981 Inkie Nagano built LS50 or 60.

LS Dynamic pickups with hex pole pieces.

https://reverb.com/ca/item/62514157-rif-840-tokai-love-rock-les-paul-vintage-ls50bb-1981

The so called "LS Dynamic 2" were redesigned the year after their introduction. Not sure if that was a result of DiMarzio saying something, but seems curious.

Here is a pair owned by Puck Luck from a 1982 LS50.

17.75k Neck
17.95k Bridge





http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26692

I finally found a source for the model LS Dynamic 2... Spring 1982 catalog description of the LS500 BB.




"1958 MODEL LS50-BB ¥ 50,000 LS50 that plays an active role from hard rock to crossover. It is a long-awaited model of a unique guitarist who wrapped the beautiful completed form of the '58 standard in a black color link. The sound is powerful and mellow with the newly developed pickup LS DYNAMIC-II. The almighty expressiveness and old feeling are suitable for an authentic guitar."

And...

1982 Spring catalog text:

Old standard or Tokai LS series arched top.

Haven't you noticed anything when you look at it? Yes, it's actually an arched top, but if you look carefully, it's flat from the pickup mount to the bridge and tailpiece. I think many people have noticed this, but this is why the beautiful form of the arched top appears and disappears due to the reflection of light.

Tokai is the only model that perfectly replicates the original. You can easily tell by looking at the flat bottom of the mounting ring (escutcheon).

Pickups:

Well as we've explained, the perfect hardware is what makes pickups work. And the perfection body of the LS series demonstrates the characteristics of the pickup as it is, and draws out 100% power. A good pickup on a sloppy body won't give you the perfect sound.

The LS series has 7 types of pickups, and each model fully demonstrates its power and draws out the sensitivity of the guitarist.

There are three types of newly developed pickups, LS Vintage, LS Vintage MKII, and LS Dynamic, which want to reproduce the '57 PAF.

Even the square windows are reproduced, and the zebra bobbin covered type, zebra bobbin open type, and double cream bobbin are visually old-fashioned.

And finally, LS7O also introduced a single-coil pickup. It reproduces the sound of 1956.

LS100 and above are configured around DiMarzio PAF, the king of replacement pickups that you know.











from the same 1982 Spring catalog.

1979 Foldout





1980 Electric catalog





1981 Arch Top Catalog Specifications:





Spring 1982 catalog





1984 catalog

1982 LS50 with “LS Dynamic 2” pickups I believe.

Totally different than 1981.

https://noizemaker.com/products/tokai-love-rock-les-paul-ls-50-1982-mij

These look very similar to what we are calling the "LS Dynamic 2", but have the word "GOTOH" embossed on the back plate.

Supposedly from a 1981 LS50 or 60?





https://reverb.com/ca/item/62163830...aul-gotoh-humbucker-pickups-made-in-japan-mij

Those gotoh ones also have the more rounded top pole screws it looks like.

I'm still trying to figure out why the registry calls the ones from 1982 LS Dynamic 2.



https://www.tokairegistry.com/tokai-info/tokai-gibson-models.html

Here are the catalog translations, and I don't see a 2 in the description, but they obviously changed.

1979 Foldout





1980 Electric catalog





1981 Arch Top Catalog Specifications:





Spring 1982 catalog





1984 catalog

I finally found a source for the model LS Dynamic 2... Spring 1982 catalog description of the LS500 BB.

And...









From the 1982 Spring catalog in the small pics on the sides of pages.

1982 Spring catalog text:

Old standard or Tokai LS series arched top.

Haven't you noticed anything when you look at it? Yes, it's actually an arched top, but if you look carefully, it's flat from the pickup mount to the bridge and tailpiece. I think many people have noticed this, but this is why the beautiful form of the arched top appears and disappears due to the reflection of light.

Tokai is the only model that perfectly replicates the original. You can easily tell by looking at the flat bottom of the mounting ring (escutcheon).

Pickups:

Well as we've explained, the perfect hardware is what makes pickups work. And the perfection body of the LS series demonstrates the characteristics of the pickup as it is, and draws out 100% power. A good pickup on a sloppy body won't give you the perfect sound.

The LS series has 7 types of pickups, and each model fully demonstrates its power and draws out the sensitivity of the guitarist.

There are three types of newly developed pickups, LS Vintage, LS Vintage MKII, and LS Dynamic, which want to reproduce the '57 PAF.

Even the square windows are reproduced, and the zebra bobbin covered type, zebra bobbin open type, and double cream bobbin are visually old-fashioned.

And finally, LS7O also introduced a single-coil pickup. It reproduces the sound of 1956.

LS100 and above are configured around DiMarzio PAF, the king of replacement pickups that you know.

Or cranked down more? Hard to tell.

Possible precursor for the LS Dynamic II?? Late 1981?

Has the square windows introduced in 1982?

Possible evolution of the LS Dynamic II after the short lived 1981 version with the hexagonal poles.

*Note that the 1982 Spring catalog (photographed in late 1981) shows an "LS Dynamic" with round windows... Not square.

Also note that in the same catalog it is called an "LS Dynamic II" in the description of the LS50.

One eyar earlier it had hexagonal poles. Head spinning changes.



Late 1981>1982

Round windows/ GOTOH stamped plate
>>>>
Square windows/ GOTOH stamped plate
>>>>
Square windows/no stamp

I think I found the missing link in the LS Dynamic puzzle.

Version 2 of LS Dynamic I

















https://www.ebay.com/itm/144838869497

1981 Arch Top catalog:

LS Dynamic:

"Replacing the PU king, better than Dimarzio. The LS Dynamic is a PU that is second to none. The representative PU of dynamite rockers that achieves a powerful sound at a high cost performance. Adopts a unique hexagonal adjustable pole piece on a cream bobbin. The long-awaited super PU of the middle class age. A shocking debut mounted on the the LS50."

1980 LS50 Inkie

SN 0101037

Used 1980 Tokai Love Rock LS-50 Cherry Sunburst MIJ Les Paul Standard W/GB | eBay


SN

7.802k ohm

Goto Patent Applied for Cream Color Pickup 80s PAF MIJ | eBay

Sigmania said:

I'm still trying to figure out why the registry calls the ones from 1982 LS Dynamic 2.

Tokai Guitar Registry - Tokai Gibson Model Information

Here are the catalog translations, and I don't see a 2 in the description, but they obviously changed.

1979 Foldout

1980 Electric catalog

1981 Arch Top Catalog Specifications:

Spring 1982 catalog

1984 catalog

Click to expand...

Why is it only the 1981 catalogue that the LS-50 features a polyester finish? It’s the only time I see polyester listed as a finish coating used on an LS model in all the catalogue years you show. Am I mistaken?

Hmmm. You are right.

Without going through them all to verify, I would say that is interesting.