Thinking of acquiring... (EDIT: ACQUIRED!)

[Grenville]

... one of a couple of Tokai's locally available.

Once I sell one of my guitars the one on the right is gonna hit me for $400 out of pocket (Australian $). It's 42 years old, an LS60 Reborn Old.

I'm not a fan of the garish finish, but already own an LS80 Reborn Old and know how good they are.

The one on the left, a 2017 LS212f, will be $1k more, That's 45% below the current retail price. As you can see, it's very pretty. Veneer, asymmetrical 60s neck. Aluminium tailpiece, etc. Substantially nicer to look at, IMO.

I suspect I'd want to refinish the older guitar, which would bring the cost right up. Hmmm. Anyone familiar with the recent Tokais?

Need neither, etc. You know how it is. Thoughts?

EDIT: I did buy one, arrives April 29th.

 

[frehley76]

All I can add is I have a 1978 LS60 with a 1pc back and it sounds incredible, it's a little heavy for me though. That old wood sounds good!!!

 

[frehley76]

 

[sparky2]

If I were in your shoes, I would buy the older, less expensive one.

Elderly Tokai's have a special groove and appeal to me.
(Much like some older Hondo and Kent Les Pauls I have owned in the past.)

A 2017 model, on the other hand, meh.
Less appealing.

Sorta like this:

 

[dc007]

The newer one is more visually appealing for sure. But the older one would be my choice. I have a 78 LS50 and it is a fine guitar. Smallish frets but still plays and sounds nice

 

[m5570]

Buy the older, cheaper one & I’ll give you $600 AUD and you ship it over.

Walk away from the other one.

 

[Whoopysnorp]

Go for the LS60. I have an old LS60 as well and it's an extremely special guitar. I'm not generally a big cherry sunburst fan but that one doesn't actually look too bad to me (I've certainly seen worse on a Gibson). Maybe it'll be more appealing in person. I think an honest plain top looks nicer than a photo flame too.

 

[Central Scrutinizer]

LS60, anyone can buy a new one.

 

[Grenville]

Thanks for the overwhelming consensus, guys.

I went to scrutinise a new LS212f in a nearby store, and it was spectacular.

I do already own a 1980 LS80 Reborn Old, so I know how good those are. How can I lose with either?

Anybody with experience of recent Tokai guitars around here who'd like to weigh in?

The LS212f is running hot as the likely contender at the moment.

... anyone can buy a new one.

Can they, though? For now, maybe, but aren't they discontinuing G-style guitars?

 

[tele_player]

Frustrated trying to buy an old Tokai, I recently bought two new Tokais, LS198S, KLS165. Both are excellent, and aren’t put to shame by my very nice genuine Gibson R8.

LS212F looks great.

I’m still looking for a good, old MIJ LP. Or two,or three, or…

 

[whatshisname]

I own a 1985 LS80, and a new UALS62 which is my only experience with a new Tokai. It's a wonderful instrument. My point being that if the cheaper Chinese guitars are this good, then the higher priced Japanese models must be spectacular.

 

[Guitarzandstuff]

Can’t go wrong with either.. I have new and old Tokais and big fan of both!

 

[Grenville]

Purchase made, NGD around Wed or Thu next week!

 

[Central Scrutinizer]

“Survey says...”

Which did you choose?

 

[brokentoeswalker]

There is something nice about old guitars. I have a range of tokais from 1981 to 2020. None however from the 90's so I cant speak for that decade. I wont say my newer ones are anything I'm disappointed in. Get the guitar that matches you. Poly is a bitch to refinish. I'd go new out of those 2.

 

[Natima]

The new ones are great guitars, and the old ones are too.

I've had and have, both. The new ones are nothing to be sniffed at, and I believe the biggest reason most people prefer the old ones is just the "vintage feel", "aged finish" and what not. Build quality is extremely comparable. If anything the build quality on the new ones just seems *too* good, where you'd like to see some evidence of being hand-made. But I have a suspicion, that after 40 years, they will have just as much mojo as what we currently consider vintage.

That said, you gotta know your models and compare apples to apples, and the lineup isn't quite as simple as it used to be.

 

[Grenville]

It's here, a day early.

A few minutes after it arrived I had to leave for a family dinner, but managed to snap a pic:

Home again around 9pm, plugged it into my Vox Pathfinder 15 with Timmy, Tonebender, Dano reverse delay, etc.

Wow. It sounds as good as it looks. Full, clear, dynamic, etc.

And the photo doesn't do it justice, if you know what I mean. It looks like an old guitar, in the best sense. It's not a boat anchor. Plays like your favourite thing you put on bread, as it were.

Yes, I'm happy with this one!

 

[brokentoeswalker]

Lookin good !!

 

[m5570]

What is it, Tokai?

 

[Grenville]

Appears to be the LS212F

It does indeed!