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Author Topic: Japanese Tokai LPs?  (Read 4052 times)

Brow

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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:
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Jonny

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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.
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Twinfan

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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:

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Jonny

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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
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Twinfan

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Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2008, 07:05:11 PM »
Nope - because it's not for sale any more   :P
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ailean

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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!
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dave_mc

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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... :)
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hamfist

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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.
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horsehead

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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
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Fikealox

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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 :(
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Brow

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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 :)
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Jonny

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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.
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Will

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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!
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Brow

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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:
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ailean

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Japanese Tokai LPs?
« Reply #14 on: April 13, 2008, 04:23:27 PM »
How are you liking it so far?
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