The Earliest Springys 1977-

Very cool. I will grab the pics and preserve them here. Obviously someone Fender-ized it with a decal, saddles, and trem assembly?

https://reverb.com/uk/item/44995919...ion-3-tone-sunburst-w-fender-pat-pend-saddles

8003675 "Plate Stamped" ST80 BB (eBay)
8003028 “Plate Stamped” ST60 BB (bluejeannot)
8002111 "Ink Stamped" ST60 BB Fernandes (eBay)
8001578 "Ink Stamped" ST60 YS (Reverb) *Guessing on the "1" digit.
8000984 "Ink Stamped" ST60 YS (eBay)
8000963 "Ink Stamped" ST?? OW (posted by tokaigeek)
8000946 "Ink Stamped" ST60 (posted by topaxe)
8000750 "Ink Stamped" ST60 OW (marcusnieman)
8000656 "Ink Stamped" ST100 BL (felixcatus)
77000011 "Ink Stamped" ST60 YS (CliffsComicWorld) *Note Serial starts with "770" and not "70".

Hi Guys,

This is one I found 7000105 is an ST50 OW. [picture not posting]
From memory, all 1977 and 1978 until Serial# 8002200 have the number ink stamped on the neck base.
I believe 1977 ended around 7000299 and 1978 started with 8000300 . . but don't quote me on that just yet.
I have photos of... 7000105 ST-50 OW ; 8000420 ST-60 YS ; 8000584 ST-60 YS ; 8000611 ST-80 GS ; 8000615 ST-80GSR ;
8000635 ST-65 N ; 8000774 ST-42 YS ; 8000836 ST-60 YSR ; 8000946 ST-50 BB ; 8001001 ST-50 YS ; 8001148 ST-50 YS ;
8001196 ST-42 YS ; 8001198 ST-42 YS ; 8001532 ST-55 N ; 8001633 ST-50 YS ; 8001885 ST-80 OWR ; 8002152 ST-42 BB .

These guitars I have photographic evidence of so hope this helps your enquiry. I have serial numbers of 2 other 1977 guitars (both 7 digit) but no photos on file. They are 7000011 and 7000186

Nice. Thank you!

Thanks Peter Mac!

Is the 7000011 the one Cliff now owns with the double 7s? 7700011?

So adding your findings to the list:

8003675 "Plate Stamped" ST80 BB (eBay)
8003028 “Plate Stamped” ST60 BB (bluejeannot)
———— Ink stamped/plate stamped
8002152 ST42 BB (Peter Mac provided)
8002111 "Ink Stamped" ST60 BB Fernandes (eBay)
8001885 ST80 OW R (Peter Mac provided)
8001633 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001578 "Ink Stamped" 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)
8000984 "Ink Stamped" ST60 YS (eBay)
8000963 "Ink Stamped" ST?? OW (posted by tokaigeek)
8000946 "Ink Stamped" ST50 BB (posted by topaxe)
8000836 ST60 YS R (Peter Mac provided)
8000774 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000750 "Ink Stamped" ST60 OW (marcusnieman)
8000656 "Ink Stamped" 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)
——— 1977/78
7000186 ST?? (Peter Mac provided)
7000105 ST50 OW (Peter Mac provided)
77000011 "Ink Stamped" ST60 YS (CliffsComicWorld) *Note Serial starts with "770" and not "70".

1978 ST100 on Reverb.

Serial number 8000721

https://reverb.com/item/45066196-1...are&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=45066196

8003675 "Plate Stamped" ST80 BB (eBay)
8003028 “Plate Stamped” ST60 BB (bluejeannot)
———— Ink stamped/plate stamped
8002152 ST42 BB (Peter Mac provided)
8002111 "Ink Stamped" ST60 BB Fernandes (eBay)
8001885 ST80 OW R (Peter Mac provided)
8001633 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001578 "Ink Stamped" 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)
8000984 "Ink Stamped" ST60 YS (eBay)
8000963 "Ink Stamped" ST?? OW (posted by tokaigeek)
8000946 "Ink Stamped" ST50 BB (posted by topaxe)
8000836 ST60 YS R (Peter Mac provided)
8000774 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000750 "Ink Stamped" ST60 OW (marcusnieman)
8000721 "Ink Stamped" ST100 N (reverb)
8000656 "Ink Stamped" 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)
——— 1977/78
7000186 ST?? (Peter Mac provided)
7000105 ST50 OW (Peter Mac provided)
77000011 "Ink Stamped" ST60 YS (CliffsComicWorld) *Note Serial starts with "770" and not "70".

8) that's lovely

Tally so far:

8003675 ST80 BB "Plate Stamped" (eBay)
8003028 ST60 BB “Plate Stamped” (bluejeannot)
———— Ink stamped/plate stamped
8002152 ST42 BB (Peter Mac provided)
8002111 ST60 BB "Ink Stamped" Fernandes (eBay)
8001885 ST80 OW R (Peter Mac provided)
8001633 ST50 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8001578 ST60 YS "Ink Stamped" (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)
8000984 ST60 YS "Ink Stamped" (eBay)
8000963 ST?? OW "Ink Stamped" (posted by tokaigeek & Jeremycanlapan)
8000946 ST50 BB "Ink Stamped" (posted by topaxe)
8000836 ST60 YS R (Peter Mac provided)
8000774 ST42 YS (Peter Mac provided)
8000750 ST60 OW "Ink Stamped" (marcusnieman)
8000721 ST100 N"Ink Stamped" (Reverb)
8000656 ST100 BL "Ink Stamped" (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)
——— 1977/78
7000186 ST?? (Peter Mac provided)
7000105 ST50 OW (Peter Mac provided)
77000011 ST60 YS "Ink Stamped" (CliffsComicWorld) *Note Serial starts with "770" and not "70".

So one more ST100 from 1978. Serial number is 65 away from felixcatus' ST100 (on left).

Nice photo. :wink: And based on that image, body contours look quite alike. 8)

I have 8003549 ST-85

What's interesting for me is that the pickup routings were deeper in the first '77 and '78's. At some point in '78 the routings changed (as with mine) to the type that remained until about '85 - they were shallower but had counterbores for the pickup screws.

I'm wondering if this '78 routing change coincided with the change that put the serials on the neck plate? I can't see from the pics of the neck plate serial types, but all of the deep pickup route types have ink serials.

Very interesting.

Here's a pic of the pickup route from the '78 ST100 N with the inked serial number.



https://reverb.com/item/45066196-19...are&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=45066196

And for comparison a '78 ST80 BB with the serial number on the neck plate.



https://reverb.com/uk/item/37630238-tokai-st-80-springy-sound-1978-black

Looking through Iain's book, from what I can see from the pictures, the routing/serial theory seems to stand up.

Another early (1978) ST100.

It is 1 digit away from the ST100 N above. #8000720.

Photos courtesy of fellow member Gottfried at FaberGuitars.

https://www.faberguitar.com/navi.php?a=3394&lang=eng

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)
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)
8000984 ST60 YS (eBay)
8000963 ST?? OW (posted by tokaigeek & Jeremycanlapan)
8000946 ST50 BB (posted by topaxe)
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".

Wonder what the serial number is on this one?

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

By the time this catalog came out, the ST100 is spec'd with a flame (tramoku) neck.



● ST-100 The body is a sen dress that has been carefully placed. The maple neck has a perfect "tramoku" (horizontal grain like a tiger's sima). The colors are BL, N. Half 100,000.

I believe my 42 is a mid 1978 production, only stamped on neck pocket with serial 8002075. Still trying to figure out how to post pics here, but this is the web page with pics of my guitar- https://www.siavintageguitars.com/tokai-st-42

Try this:

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=25951