Talk me out of a MIJ Tokai LS-135 Quilt

Hey all,
I’ve been seriously GAS’ing over a MIJ Tokai LS-135, especially one with that stunning quilted maple top. I currently own about a dozen Gibson Les Pauls, all with slim necks, except for an R9, which honestly doesn’t even feel that big to me. I’ve also put together a couple of Precision Guitar Kit (PGK) builds, so I’m no stranger to tweaking things.

I’m not too concerned about the electronics or pickups, since I swap those out all the time. What I am really focused on is the feel of the guitar, especially the neck profile.

For those who have played or own an LS-135:

• How does the neck compare to a Gibson Slim Taper or even an R9?
• Does it feel similar overall to a Gibson in terms of balance and playability?

Would love to hear any firsthand impressions before I dive in.


See below for the pics:

Japanese Tokais are based off a '58 Gibson spec, so expect a full neck.

I have a 1980 LS80 and a 2017 LS/GP with pretty much the same neck shape, full but comfortable.

The old late 70s Ibanez Artists I used to think had an ideal neck shape now seem thin (but not slender) in comparison.

Hope this helps!

What year is the Tokai you are looking at?

You came to the wrong place to get talked out of anything.

Most of the Tokais I’ve owned have comfortable medium to chunky sized necks, but not with big shoulders, more of a C shape. Even the “thinner” ones were not what I would describe as thin taper.

In terms of feel, balance, playability, quality of build, etc., I think you’ll find the Tokai every bit the equal of your Gibsons. It’s not likely to rise to the level of your R9, but it will not likely disappoint.

Plus, that top is just killer. Go for it, you won’t be sorry.

To me, even the biggest Tokai necks are not very big, a 59 profile pretty much. I would not really be too worried that it is going to be too chunky, unless you play Ibanez thin necks. I wish Tokai made some baseball bat profiles, I would be in absolute heaven lol.

Grenville said:

Japanese Tokais are based off a '58 Gibson spec, so expect a full neck.

I have a 1980 LS80 and a 2017 LS/GP with pretty much the same neck shape, full but comfortable.

The old late 70s Ibanez Artists I used to think had an ideal neck shape now seem thin (but not slender) in comparison.

Hope this helps!

What year is the Tokai you are looking at?

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The newest Tokai I’ve owned was a 2002 LS200. The neck was slimmer than my LS80. The 2002 was pretty much a clone of the neck on my LS120, which I always assumed was based on a ‘59. I always assumed the LS80s were based on ‘58s.

It’s been a very long time since I’ve played a Gibson Les Paul, so I can’t comment on how they compare.

Last Gibson I owned was a ‘64 ES335 reissue, but the neck on that was unlike any Japanese guitar I’ve owned.

Buy it.

Ever try to sell a guitar like that ??

Best i can do for yah.

Beautiful spalted top on that one! Whoo!

Thanks guys. It is indeed an absolute stunner to look at.
But the big chunky neck was a turn off for me. I decided not to proceed with it.

jlee said:

The newest Tokai I’ve owned was a 2002 LS200. The neck was slimmer than my LS80. The 2002 was pretty much a clone of the neck on my LS120, which I always assumed was based on a ‘59. I always assumed the LS80s were based on ‘58s.

It’s been a very long time since I’ve played a Gibson Les Paul, so I can’t comment on how they compare.

Last Gibson I owned was a ‘64 ES335 reissue, but the neck on that was unlike any Japanese guitar I’ve owned.

Click to expand...

I think you were right in your assumptions, IIRC LS80 and LS100's are explicitly described at 58 standard models and higher models are called vintage models (which I assume means 59), that's how I saw it described in one of the old Tokai catalogs.

OP: Interesting that the neck was that chunky, it sure was a looker though.

I played a 1979 LS120 for a few minutes last week, neck very similar to (if not the same as) my 1979/80 LS80.

Grenville said:

I played a 1979 LS120 for a few minutes last week, neck very similar to (if not the same as) my 1979/80 LS80.

Click to expand...

Wondering how much hand carving was happening in those days. My '81 ES100J has a thinner nut width and slimmer profile near the cowboy chords than my other Tokais. I've read other owners say that theirs definitely had a '59 style profile.

Grenville said:

I played a 1979 LS120 for a few minutes last week, neck very similar to (if not the same as) my 1979/80 LS80.

Click to expand...

Same here, but I always just assumed it was a range of sizes on each model line due to the hand finishing and that the samples I played might have been thicker on the LS120 side and thinner on the LS80/LS100 side. I definitely haven't played enough of them to make any conclusion though. All I know is that the LS100/LS80 are explicitly stated as being 58 copies, but the higher ups are not.

Eigen said:

Same here, but I always just assumed it was a range of sizes on each model line due to the hand finishing and that the samples I played might have been thicker on the LS120 side and thinner on the LS80/LS100 side. I definitely haven't played enough of them to make any conclusion though. All I know is that the LS100/LS80 are explicitly stated as being 58 copies, but the higher ups are not.

Click to expand...

LS120's are explicitly stated as having a veneer top. Not all of them do.

You just can't take a catalog from 1980 as Gospel. More like generally.

So... I've held and strummed probably 8-10 Tokai LP-types (ie Love Rock, Reborn Old, Les Paul Reborn).

I own two - a 1979 LS80 Reborn Old and 2017 LS/GP Love Rock. Same neck, essentially.

I helped a friend acquire a 1979 LS60 Les Paul Reborn. Same neck, essentially.

The 1979 LS120 Reborn Old at the shop I visited had the same feeling neck too.

My local store has a couple of 80s Love Rock's and another store a couple of hours drive away has several old LS60s, LS80s, etc. I haven't held them all, but I'm not convinced they were as similar as the guitars mentioned above.

But they didn't seem skinny, either.

For me, I was surprised at how similar my two personal guitar necks were, made 37 years apart.

I have several old and newer Tokais, the newer ones have chunkier necks than my Ls80s, LS60s, and LS50s. Absolutely none of them are big to me though, I would prefer huge necks on them lol.