ANyone seen a Fake Tokai?

[swampblues]

Are they counterfeiting these now too? Whats next EPI's

 

[GammyBird]

There are lots of fake Epi's out there...

 

[mobprop667]

there are fakes of just about every brand name guitar. fact.

 

[swampblues]

There are lots of fake Epi's out there...

That's why people question you so hard when you sell something. I had a guy ask me was my Tokai Gold Top I posted fake. Kinda made me wonder about the fakes.

 

[JamesT]

Gibsons and Fenders are faked the most just because they are the "big names" and the real thing commands a pretty penny. The law of diminishing returns happens with lesser known or lower value guitars. At the same time, MOST people are smart enough to realize a $300 Gibson Les Paul isn't real, but a nice looking $300 Epiphone wouldn't make most people blink and therefore, they are easier to pass of as real. I've seen pretty clear fake examples of several MIJ brands including Greco, Burny, Tokai, Orville, and Aria Pro.

 

[torqueinc]

I had a guy from China send me half a dozen pictures of Tokais made in HIS factory

ill try and post some later....they look nice

 

[J-Dizzle]

a guy I know bought a fake Orville. Ridiculous as new Orvilles havent been made in years.

He said it was a pile of junk.

 

[slapshot]

I had a guy from China send me half a dozen pictures of Tokais made in HIS factory

ill try and post some later....they look nice

don't ****ing bother peddling your "not bad for the money" bullshit here.just **** right off with it.

 

[GammyBird]

Ok, with the risk of being hauled out and beaten to a bloody pulp on the sidewalk, I'll post pictures of the Tokai GT that I bought here locally several years back. There has been a lot of talk about the origins of these guitars but several forums have deemed them to be fakes. I've heard them referred to as Fakai's or Canadian Tokai's. They were imported into Canada as MIK Tokai's by an Ontario company who said they were legit.

The one I had was a pretty good guitar solid mohogany body with maple top, set neck, although a scarf joint. Humbuckers were pretty decent, good for rhythm but lacked the big punch when needed.

I had no idea what I was buying at the time and was told by a local friend that they were excellent guitars for the buck....and he was right. I have since sold it to another local who was acutally looking for one...after a few upgrades, it's now his #1 gigging LP.

Different headstock shape and script...changed for the purpose of importing.

The giveaway aparently..."Make in Korea"

After being told it was a plywood body I had to check for myself and found what I suspected along...mahogany.

 

[o0mobius0o]

Nice dyslexic knobs on that one.

 

[swampblues]

Pat you sure that's mahogany? Looks like Basswood to me. See how easy it is to be wrong, which I am you know what you have.This is why I now pretty much buy from certain people on 3 forums that I know I can trust. Selling is the same way,9000 pictures and sometimes people still question it but I don't blame them for wanting to be safe. No Guitar I guess is now safe from this crap.

 

[GammyBird]

I posted pictures on a forum, not sure if it was this one, and was told it was mahogany...that's all I have now besided pictures

Although I did get this from a local shop as a new guitar, it still shows that you should be doing some homework before buying. I was a little greener around the gills back in those days

 

[Dino Velvet]

I was around the MIJ forums when that whole thing unfolded. The guy was very slick. First thing he did was join every guitar forum there was and became every one's pal. He also sold a few lines of low dollar guitars. Then one day declared himself an "Authorised Tokai Dealer" and the games began.
The funny part was he could only sell what he had. He could not order anything from Tokai. Which of course makes no sense to anyone smart. His business was good. Here's the sad/scary part. As people bought these guitars the ones with several other copy LP's would complain these were crap, and the newbs would defend the guy and say the one they bought was great.
It's unfortunate but when it comes to copy LP's so many believe simply because they want to. Looking back I think the guy just had a connection with Musoland/Payless before those guys went direct for themselves.

 

[GammyBird]

I had a couple of email conversations with the guy in question....he seemed ok to me. I already had my guitar by that point in time for several months.

Although these are "good" guitars, they are by no means as good as any MIJ I've had yet. Different ball game altogether

 

[slapshot]

basswood isn't open grained like mahogany
looks more like pine without the grain.very light wood.

 

[GammyBird]

For what it's worth....here's a picture of the back

 

[o0mobius0o]

2 screw switch cover.

 

[swampblues]

No, I wasn't questioning your guitar, I was just saying I see how people who don't know about guitars get taken buy these Do----bags. I read a post on another page from a kid that lost 1500 on a Knockoff. That kinda crap has to hurt that's why you ask for help. OK I beat a dead horse long enough. Got a new Guitar and it's real. Post coming.

 

[rayspang]

I bought this one thinking it was legit, but found out later it was a Fakai/ Nokai. Its one of the so-called Canadian Make in Korea guitars. It has a magohany back and what looks to me a one piece maple neck. It came with EMG's which I hate with a pasion. Now has Vintage wiring and Seth Lovers. I was kinda pissed when I found out, but honestly, the guitar plays as good as my Burny and I not just trying to justify my stupidity. Just saying.

 

[swampblues]

At least it's useable and not a total waste of money.