Username: Password:
« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2 3

Author Topic: Japanese Tokai LPs?  (Read 4033 times)

Brow

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 2418
Japanese Tokai LPs?
« on: April 12, 2008, 06:27:28 PM »
Hey guys.

Has anyone here got any experience with Japanese built Tokai LP/Love Rock Customs?

I have chance to get 1 for what sounds like a good price, so might pick it up to put a set of Cold Sweats in  :twisted:  :roll:  :twisted:
Logged
Selling lots of gear, enquire within!......

Jonny

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 2890
  • Seven-String Financial Analyst in Training
Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2008, 06:53:24 PM »
Tokai are very good Les Paul copies. And being from Japan I'd think they'd be very good. If I saw a good price for a MIJ Tokai I'd snap it up.
Logged
"Would you like some lemon oil?"
"Oh, no thanks, I don't eat fruit."

Twinfan

  • Light Heavyweight
  • ******
  • Posts: 10528
Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2008, 06:56:59 PM »
They're very good  ;)  What's the spec/price of the one you're looking at?

Mine:

Logged

Jonny

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 2890
  • Seven-String Financial Analyst in Training
Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2008, 06:58:50 PM »
Quote from: Twinfan
They're very good  ;)  What's the spec/price of the one you're looking at?

Mine:

Forget to mention that it's for sale, Twinfan? :P
Logged
"Would you like some lemon oil?"
"Oh, no thanks, I don't eat fruit."

Twinfan

  • Light Heavyweight
  • ******
  • Posts: 10528
Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2008, 07:05:11 PM »
Nope - because it's not for sale any more   :P
Logged

ailean

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 1357
Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #5 on: April 12, 2008, 07:57:54 PM »
My guitar is a Love Rock MIJ Tokai and I love it. Good build, not perfect, a couple of minor cosmetic faults, but only if you look real close, to anyone else it's a rock solid guitar and looks beautiful, the finish is lovely.

Mine is kitted out with Nailbombs and it seems to work pretty well.

I haven't been able to get my grubby little paws on a Gibson so I can't give you a comparison, but I'm very happy with mine. If you can get it for a good price then go for it!
Logged
Gibson LP std + Nailbomb set
Diezel VH4 & Orange Rockerverb 50

dave_mc

  • Middleweight
  • *****
  • Posts: 9796
Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #6 on: April 12, 2008, 08:20:03 PM »
Quote from: Jonny
Tokai are very good Les Paul copies. And being from Japan I'd think they'd be very good. If I saw a good price for a MIJ Tokai I'd snap it up.


i'd second that. I'd point out though that there are quite a lot of different models (not all are japanese-made, and even those that are can vary quite a bit in spec from "good" up to "amazing"). You probably know that already, but worth pointing out... :)
Logged

hamfist

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 1341
Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2008, 08:27:24 PM »
MIJ Tokai LP's are at least as good as (if not better) than Gibson standard LP's. I say this as an owner of a MIJ Tokai LP, who tried out a lot of Gibson's before buying.   From pure manufacturing specification, the Tokai is closer to a vintage LP and is "better" than a modern day standard Gibson. The Tokai has a more stable neck/body joint, and more accurately made fixtures and fittings.
  However, one also must be aware that the re-sale value of Tokai's is going to be nowhere near the value of a used Gibson.
  Bearing this in mind, if you've got the option of a good MIJ Tokai LP for less than £400 then it's a very good deal.
Logged

horsehead

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 1633
  • because the horsehead says so...
    • http://www.myspace.com/horseheadgary
Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2008, 10:07:24 PM »
My MIJ is brilliant, I luvies my Tokai.

so they're good. :D
Logged
"Praising Phil X for his enthusiasm seems a bit like praising Hitler for his ambition"

Fikealox

  • Featherweight
  • ***
  • Posts: 444
Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2008, 11:44:48 PM »
I think the Tokais are the best LP copies around (and this coming from a die-hard ESP fan). I would pick a Tokai over a Gibson any day of the week.

If you've found one for a good price, buy it! They almost never pop up on ebay for a good price (which says something in itself), and I know because I've been looking for months :(
Logged
BKPs (soon): CS, TS.
Ex-BKPs: Abrax, NB, SM, PK, Mule, WP.

Brow

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 2418
Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #10 on: April 13, 2008, 03:53:27 PM »
Hey guys.

Thanks for the replies.

Well, I took the plunge and managed to get this guitar earlier today for £350. He was selling it at BIN of £400 but he had an 'or best offer' option on his auction, and he accepted my offer. Managed to pick it up this morning from a service station on the M1.

Here's the pics the guy emailled to me of the guitar, as I haven't had chance to take any better 1's myself yet:






I've decided that I'm selling my Charvel, so what I may do is have a gold cover put on it's Cold Sweat bridge pickup, and then buy another for the neck and put them in this guitar.

Should be a good match I think :)
Logged
Selling lots of gear, enquire within!......

Jonny

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 2890
  • Seven-String Financial Analyst in Training
Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #11 on: April 13, 2008, 03:59:17 PM »
well done, good purchase Brow. :)

White was a good choice too, hehe.

How's the binding? Is it consistent all the way? I've seen China Tokais with broken binding on it. Seriously put me off it.
Logged
"Would you like some lemon oil?"
"Oh, no thanks, I don't eat fruit."

Will

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 2599
Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #12 on: April 13, 2008, 04:07:28 PM »
Dude thats totally laaame.... you must scratch up the top and break some binding to make it look better  :roll: hehe

I am liking white LPs a lot at the moment, and there seem to be a few to many appearing!
Logged

Brow

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 2418
Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #13 on: April 13, 2008, 04:13:27 PM »
Thanks for the posts guys.

It's more much more of a cream colour in person than it is in the photos. It reminds me alot of Randy Rhoads' LP Custom. It's apparently a LC85S model.

I've had a check through the Tokai registry site and according to the serial number, it's a 2003 MIJ model with Gotoh hardware and PAF pickups. I'm still trying to work out if it has a maple cap or not though, I'm getting different reports from different places  :roll:
Logged
Selling lots of gear, enquire within!......

ailean

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 1357
Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #14 on: April 13, 2008, 04:23:27 PM »
How are you liking it so far?
Logged
Gibson LP std + Nailbomb set
Diezel VH4 & Orange Rockerverb 50
Pages: [1] 2 3
« previous next »