ST70 Springy in Metallic Green

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Sigmania

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Don’t see these every day…

https://www.ebay.com/itm/81-Tokai-...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

Hs1U6cv.jpg


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Interesting that it has the brass ground plate on a tortoise shell pick guard? Does the plate detach or is that a factory pick guard?
 
my previous comment was in reference to the neck; namely the fingerboard

even if I were interested in such an example, which I am not, there are way too many anomalies there for my tastes
 
Hard to read. It may say ST70S.

I believe many of us now believe the "S" is for Special and not Solid on the LS100S. Could this be a one off?
 
IMO anything is possible with MIJ :lol: but there are just too many curve balls with this example

like the slab board fingerboard; that has to be a first for my eyes but then, I'm no Springy expert
 
What do you think the "D" might mean? I was thinking Discard or Defect? I have seen that somewhere before but can't remember where.

Wondering if it is basically a partscaster?
 
Here is an "E" stamp and a mention of a "D" stamp by you in 2018..... 8)

guitar hiro

"....did we ever figure out what the D stamp was on the very end of the fingerboards, on a very few vintage LS examples?

I don't recall that mystery ever being laid to rest"

mono

"The consensus seemed to be "Demo" so perhaps they were used at exhibitions/shows or in catalogs..."

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=24641
 
The one Cliff has is an ST65. It has the maple fretboard. U pickups.

Not sure why this one is an ST70 if we believe the writing in the neck pickup rout. Has E pickups. Tortoise shell pick guard.
 
Here are the colors listed on the Faber site for Springys/Goldstars. Note the MG with a rosewood fretboard.


DMoxLQz.jpg
 
Only the Tokai ST-70 had a rosewood slab fretboard. Even my ST-100’s have veneer rosewood fretboards
Slab finger boards were used on a Fender Strats from 1959-62.

https://flic.kr/p/2mvyc1j
 
I ended up buying this guitar after doing some online research here and on other sites, and from reading one very enthusiastic, though not entirely accurate, seller’s listing on eBay from a while back.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Vint...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

I also asked Peter Mac who was very helpful as always. He may chime in, but he thought it was a legit ST70R that seemed original except for the pick guard.

Other 1981 ST70Rs I have seen had the ‘64 hole pattern. This one has a ‘62 pattern and foil on the back as Peter noted, so it’s probably not original. Will see. I’m thinking it would look cool with a mint green (or parchment as Peter suggested)

Peter thought the guitar was a special/custom order non production line piece. My guess was that it was possibly used at trade shows to promote the new model? But could also just be a one off. Also has the “D” stamp on the fretboard which some people think may mean “Demo”.

1hsSHHu.png


I’ve found 4 other examples of 1981 ST70s. Three were 3 tone sunburst, YS finish, with the slab rosewood board and one was Flamingo Orange with a maple laminated board over a maple neck.

Further, as Peter pointed out, this is probably actually what we would call an ST75R because of the metallic paint upgrade.

And last, I read here in other threads that ST70s have a two piece center seam body with poly finish, but some members had one piece bodies. Hard to tell from the picture of the neck pickup compartment. Would be interesting if it was a 1 piece. Maybe if it says “ST70S”, the S really does mean solid? Interesting mystery.

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It was funny. I kept looking at the writing in the neck pickup cavity and thinking it looked familiar. Then I realized that it’s very similar to the handwriting in the early catalogs.

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Will be interesting to see how it plays and sounds. I’m wondering if I’ll be able to hear a difference with the slab board? I have an ST80R MR from the same year with the rosewood veneer board.

It’s being shipped from Japan to the US. No case, but hopefully packed well. Will post more pictures when I have it in hand. Fingers crossed that it arrives safely.
 
And not sure what the “068” number signifies, but looks like they originally wrote “069” and changed the 9 to an 8?

T8jIP9I.png


Could that number relate to a number of units produced possibly?? Probably not just ST70s since they seem to be fairly uncommon.

I learned in another thread that the ST70 was referred to as “1964 Rare Model” in this catalog:

http://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/volume534.jpg
 
Other threads involving ST70s that I thought were really interesting.

Discussion primarily of a 1981 maple neck ST70 FO.

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=10993

Re: the maple laminate fingerboard:

“I’m sure it makes no difference sonically at all, but from a practical point of view if your maple fingerboard wears out you can just replace it. One of Jimi`s strats had the separate maple fingerboard. It’s not a budget feature. Gabe”

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=18291
 
Sigmania said:

I always see that the Japanese listings on eBay or Reverb have virtually no description or assessment whatsoever of the guitar's condition. Is there a cultural or business reason for this, and how does a buyer such as yourself get an idea as to condition? Do you also need a shipping intermediary, and will need to pay duty when the guitar arrives here in the States?
 
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