The Tokai 1978-1985 Theory, Photo, & ID thread

[Thomas/Sweden]

Can my LS120 be categorised as Clownburst or is it just Cherryburst? I don't think the top is so bad after all, or it might be the Whiskey. Loch Lomond btw.

 

[jacco]

Mine's a clown burst for sure, but I love her!



Which Loch Lomond bottling do you have there Thomas?

 

[Thomas/Sweden]

Oh, it's Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

I love my LS120 whatever it is, it was my first Tokai. Not last though.

 

[reborn old]

My favorite of three I own ...

As long as the burst color isn't opaque red and/or really wide, I personally think they look fine.

 

[jutter]

Mine's a clown burst for sure, but I love her!



Which Loch Lomond bottling do you have there Thomas?

Nice Jacco! Didn't see it on GN...

 

[wulfman]

Not a bad thing if the guitar has decent top figuring.

 

[Olds442]

Can my LS120 be categorised as Clownburst or is it just Cherryburst?

that's cherry-burst. and a damned nice one at that.

clowns are when the red is so thick you can't see the flame in the red part of the burst. which you can see on every beautiful cherry burst on this page.

nice bursts guys.

 

[Mr Teeny]

Is this model a Tokai, logo looks like it could be but I don't think I've seen that style headstock inlay before. Looks to be someones John Sykes style LP

 

[PuroMojo]

For real is much better than this even if its just like a clown, but it is for sure one of the best Pauls I ever played, 1982 Love rock LS 150:

 

[reborn old]

Is this model a Tokai, logo looks like it could be but I don't think I've seen that style headstock inlay before.

I'm pretty sure it's a regular 1984-88 four diamond inlay with a black on white decal or sticker placed across the middle.
Diamond points start and end at the top and bottom where they should at least.
Diamond inlays look smudged with something, such as residual glue from a larger original sized decal perhaps.

 

[Barks McKay]

I like to think of mine as more of a "tangerine" burst.
I've owned it for 24 years



Before I changed the knobs. The grain seems to be getting darker under the outer dye so pops out more than it used to.

 

[Mr Teeny]

I'm pretty sure it's a regular 1984-88 four diamond inlay with a black on white decal or sticker placed across the middle.
Diamond points start and end at the top and bottom where they should at least.
Diamond inlays look smudged with something, such as residual glue from a larger original sized decal perhaps.

The PIC was from a 1988 PiL concert so it'd fit

 

[jimmyjames]

May the road rise with you

 

[Natima]

This one is interesting https://www.rinkya.com/en/auction-u64787975
It lends some credence to the theory that those "stafford" guitars are Tokai's.
Same headstock inlay? More interesting still is the CF Martin stamp on one of the back strips. "Cats Eyes. CF Martin Japanese Counterparts".

 

[PuroMojo]

For real is much better than this even if its just like a clown, but it is for sure one of the best Pauls I ever played, 1982 Love rock LS 150:

Now it looks much better too

 

[Barks McKay]

That's Lu Edmunds in the PIL pic.
He's also in The Mekons, a Leeds based band I've been musically associated with for the last 24 years - amongst other various Jon Langford projects.
Jon and Tom Greenhalgh are also both on/off Tokai users.

 

[Olds442]

incoming.

 

[jacco]

Beauty! Early one?

 

[Olds442]

it's an '81. Serial is 1014270. apparently someone put a 3 screw trc on it at one point and removed the script on the headstock. still says tokai so that's a plus. but it has a couple extra trc holes for me to fill. frets looked like they have plenty of life left and i love a BS so i went for it.

needs a poker chip just like my 100 does. people in japan don't like poker chips on BS finishes.

so if anyone wants to send off a couple poker chips, lemme know.

i need a case so i bid on one. so everybody leave my case alone, dibs!
plus matty sent me a set of single line tokai tuners so i should be good. i think i still have a set of old grovers that swampy sent me as well.

 

[jacco]

Ah I see now, it has the yellowish inlays.
Refret?