Tokai Jap SGs any good?

[Twinfan]

Anyone played one recently?  I'm thinking of getting one as a backup for my Epi '65 with Maestro and Riff Raffs.  How's the build quality?  General tone?  Neck profile?

Any help would be great, as we don't have many round my way so I might have to buy mail order...

[Searcher]

Hmm.  I played a Tokai Melody Maker and LP recently, though I didn't plug them in, so I can't comment on the sound.  The build quality and finish for all Tokais I've played has been very good, better than any Gibson I've played for the last 5 years.  

The neck was fat, quite chunky, though not unpleasant if you don't like fat necks.

I think a couple of guys here have Tokai LPs and maybe they can comment on their guitars.  Not sure if anyone here has an SG though.

[headtheball]

I played a black/paisley Jap Tokai SG t'other day. Lovely instrument. Very well put together and finished. The amped up tone was very pleasant, but not earth shattering. Neck profile decent, kinda medium, but I like 60's fender necks, so your verdict may differ.

[Skybone]

I've got a couple of MIJ Love Rock's and they rule. I know a couple of people with MIJ SG's, and they say that they're damn fine guitars as well.

[monkeywalker]

i've got one. it's the best SG type guitar i've ever played, including any gibsons or any other copies or guitars of the same type


it's the guitar i still use the most . ive had it longer than all my other guitars, and everytime i go to pick one up, i always go for the tokai first.

it has a really thick neck though, i don't know if that would suit you but it feels really nice. it has really good top end access.

build quality is very good, i've never had any problems with the electronics, or any other components. the only thing was the pup selector crackled after a while, but sliding a fine piece of sand paper between the contacts does the trick.

the tone of the stock pups is actually suprisingly good compared to some of whats out there. a good full tone but lacking in mids on the neck pup in my opinion.

the bridge is ok,plenty of bass and mids. nothing on the abraxas i've got in it nowadays though. it sounds fantastic now, the BKP cuts through much better for solos.

i've played the hell out of it for four years now and only just startin to think about a fret dress.

hope that helps.

matt.

[Twinfan]

Cheers Matt - this "chunky neck" thing has put me off Tokais.  I like a slim "60's taper" style so I think I'll give them a miss.

Cheers for the help though!

[Sifu Ben]

But most SGs have a chunky neck, it's part of what makes them sound good. It's only really the 61 and the Angus Young that don't. If you're not a chunky neck guy then SGs in general probably aren't for you (unless you've got deep pockets).

[Twinfan]

Early 60's SGs didn't have chunky necks, they had slim taper ones.  Late 60's was when they thickened them up.

To me, an SG needs a slim neck to match the slim body.  It all contributes to the classic SG sound.

[Sifu Ben]

According to the Gibson history stuff I've read, the SG only had a slim neck for the first 18 months, the chunkier neck being refrred to as the 62 pattern.

[Twinfan]

I think they beefed them a bit in '62 to stop the neck joints breaking?  I seem to recall they thickened again later in the 60s?

[The amazing Phil]

The Japanese Tokai SGs are fantastic value for money, I nearly bought one years ago but by the time I had the money I was making a tele instead. The only better SG I've played is a '67 junior which I subsequently bought before anyone else could get their paws on it.