Tokai LC-90 Model?!?!

[rockgod21693]

Hi Guys


Been clearing out loads of Guitars recently, and been replacing them all with Les Pauls as they are the only Guitars that suit me. Just bought 2 Gibson Les Paul Standards (2013 Goldtop & 2000 Heritage Cherry Sunburst) and am now looking at trading my Fender Tele (or selling and using the cash) for another Les Paul. Im a lefty!!

Seeing I've just got 2 Gibson's I was looking at something a bit different like a Tokai and i've come across this 'LC-90' lefty on ebay.
I've never heard of this model before, and after googling I haven't had much luck either.
Is this some sort of rare model? or has the seller got the description completely wrong?
One last thing. is £500 a good price for it?

Heres the link Left Handed 2003 Tokai LC-90 Black | eBay


Cheers guys
Ryan

 

[J-Dizzle]

They are nice guitars.

Price doesn't look too bad, although being in Europe (where guitars are more expensive) and a lefty (more expensive again) its hard to judge.

Everyone here who plays a Tokai love's em.

 

[JDB]

LC 70 maybe. Be careful though it looks like the LC 65 says basswood body.

 

[Dica]

The New Tokais are not what the old ones were. The cheaper Japaneese made from the 2000 and forward are not very good ... atleast that's my experience.


I have had killer Tokais and Burnys from the 80s they equal the best historics soundwise... actually the Historics had trouble getting the same bright killer sound.
And they are cheap as hell. I have not had or tried a dog yet ive played about 10 Burnys and Tokais.
There is a Black Custom Burny with a Bigsby on this site.

If I were you id buy that one.

 

[rockgod21693]

Thanks for the info guys really appreciate it!

Yeah I've heard great things about Tokai's but unfortunately never been able to play one
Living in the south west of England, theres not many lefties around let alone Tokais.
For the money (£500) is this Tokai worth it? or is it a bit over priced?

Also Dica do you have a link to that Burny? that Bigsby sounds tempting...

 

[reborn old]

The 3 pup Burny in classifieds is not a lefty model.

Thanks to the 7 digit serial number and 2 screw TRC, it is in fact a mahogany
MIJ Custom model vs basswood Korean made LC-65 examples.

The right handed model in 2003 is LC-80 S and left handed model an
LC-90 S/L, so a 10k yen premium was paid when new, for the extra work
involved in producing a "Special Edition" lefty version.

It features a maple top, 2 piece mahogany back, rosewood board, poly finish.
I'm not sure whether it has fret edge binding or not, but I think so.

It cost about £560 new and newer models tend to sell about 25 to 35% under MSRP.
Could be different for hard to find lefty models however.
The correct open book headstock is a plus in the UK, where center dimple headstocks are the export format.

 

[Dica]

Ok sorry I did not read the thread good enough! Sorry about my clumsiness!

 

[reborn old]

No worries, intentions were good.

 

[rockgod21693]

Reborn thanks for your reply. Really appreciate it!

How do you know all that?! wish I knew that much about these lovely looking Guitars.
That explains why the LC-90 doesn't come up with very much in a google search seeing its strictly left handed.
So at the end of the day, because I'm hopeless I just need to know:
is this a rare guitar?
Is it worth the £500 he's asking? or do I want to try and reduce the price a bit?
For the money, is their a better Tokai I could get? maybe something like this.. Tokai LS110FL-CS Love Rock Les Paul Electric Guitar LEFT HANDED Cherry Sunburst | eBay

Sorry for all the questions! I literally know NOTHING about Tokai's. Only Gibsons.
Thanks

 

[reborn old]

It can't hurt to offer £400 to £450, but £500 isn't terribly over priced.
Ask him if it has fret edge binding while you're asking.

I've only owned premium LS-195 + 260 models in modern versions and I
thought fit + finish quality was on par with pre 2006 Standards.

I don't think vintage 30+ yr old lefty Tokai versions were ever offered.
1993+ Orville by Gibsons and vintage Grecos were, in limited numbers.

If you're OK with a two piece back and poly finish, I think you would be happy with quality.
Pickups are the weakest part of modern Tokais, IMHO .
I usually install Burstbuckers or T-Tops,but your tastes might differ.

Cheers.

 

[JDB]

Must of used the same pic for the 65 as the 70. swear I see 2 screw TRC on the 65.
Funny only being a 5K diff between the MIK basswood and MIJ maho.

 

[rockgod21693]

Haha that's a good way to describe it!

Ok brilliant. Will see if I can get him to budge down on the price a little bit! And tbh I'm just looking for an alternative to both my Les Paul standards. The 2013 Goldtop is very hot with the burst bucker pros in, and my 2000 cherry I put bare knuckles in (more vintage ones) so got a nice thing going between both. So was just looking at this, the other Tokai I linked or anything other Les Paul's as alternative to my gibsons! Just wish I could try all of these out.

 

[J-Dizzle]

i didnt think MIK Tokais ever had a 2 screw TRC?

 

[rockgod21693]

I have no idea! I just wanna know if this is a good guitar, or could I get another Les which is better for the money?

 

[jacco]

i didnt think MIK Tokais ever had a 2 screw TRC?

Yes they did but that was during the 90s

The LC-65 John is referring to in the pic is in fact MIJ.
00s ALC models were MIK.

Btw as far as I know lefties were a 5k yen upgrade

 

[Kemper59]

Heres the link Left Handed 2003 Tokai LC-90 Black | eBay


Cheers guys
Ryan

This guitar is an all mahogany model, no maple top.
The LC90S, the S means a two piece maple top...ask the seller if it's the S model or the LC90 (all mahogany) model.
The current 2013 lefty model is the LC120 L...lefties cost 10% more.

Here's my buddy gigging his LC98 (everything stock from the factory)...he chooses to gig this guitar over his Gibsons and PRS guitars.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN6DPab0xhA]Mark Beling Band - Panic Station (Muse cover) Live! - YouTube[/ame]

 

[rockgod21693]

Great one thanks for that mate will ask him! And cheers for
The link, will check it out

 

[EVH9442]

Don't worry about the basswood dude, sure mahogany would be better. But whether people like to admit it or not, the type of wood you use does NOT effect the guitar's sound while playing through an amplifier. Im not saying its better to use cheaper woods and pay less, because ultimately wood WILL effect the unplugged sound, and the grain will look better/worse depending on whether or not the top finish is translucent.