NGD: Hello and Goodbye!

[Philly Q]

Although I have far too many guitars, one thing that's been conspicuously absent is a maple-topped, mahogany set neck.  I've had a few LPs over the years, but can never get on with the weight and the sheer bulk of that big neck joint and thick, uncontoured body.

So I started looking at things like Aria PEs, PRS SE Singlecuts... and then I thought of the Tokai Love Rock II.  Supposed to be an original Tokai design, but it looks very similar to the Martyn Booth/Yamaha MSG shape which I've always liked.

The Tokai website lists them at £999 RRP but I had a look on eBay and around the net and found a few a bit cheaper than that, so to cut a long story short I bought one.

Opened the box (no case - why???  Especially since it's a non standard shape).... holy shite, this thing is stunning.  Flame maple top (veneer, but WTH), body thinner than an LP with a nice little belly cut, lovely chunky neck, flawless finish (Japanese Tokais are really, really good).  Push-pull coil-splits in both pots.  Fantastic top-fret access thanks to the double cutaway.

Then I picked it up.  Oops.  The thing weighs a ton.  I had emailed to ask if it was thinner and lighter than an LP, and they replied "yes it has a thinner body".  I really should've noticed they didn't mention the weight.  :? :(

To be fair, it hangs pretty nicely on a strap, I'm used to neck-heavy SGs and things so to have a guitar just "hang there" seems a bit of a novelty.

But I can't keep it.  So, hello and goodbye.  Impulse-buying is a dangerous thing.  :lol:

[LazyNinja]

Nice, shame about the weight. Been tempted by one of those myself a few times. Can you not return it instead of selling it on here?

[38thBeatle]

Great looking guitar Philly. A question though. Is the weight really an issue-I mean that if you don't gig, you  could play it sitting down. Seems a shame to get rid if you like it so much. Just saying.

[Ian Price]

Great looking guitar Philly. I you do sell it I hope you don't lose out too much!

[Philly Q]

I've actually had it a couple of weeks already (got it before Easter, but then I was away for a few days), so it's outside the eBay return policy.

Steve, fair point but it's actually most uncomfortable sitting down, the body feels like it wants to dive at the floor!  :lol:

Seriously, you're right, logically I could keep it but (illogically  :roll: ) it's almost going against my "principles" - the whole reason I've never bought an old Ibanez Artist or Yamaha SG2000 is the weight issue.  I don't gig but some little part of my brain still fantasises I might one day.....

This incident has woken me up a bit and made me realise how stupid I am to keep buying this stuff.  I'm not going all sackcloth-and-ashes, nothing wrong with a bit of harmless acquisitiveness (if you can afford it) but I have so many guitars I never even touch. :roll:  I'm going to clear a few out (we're probably not talking Twinfan-like "single figures", though!  :P ) then - maybe - use the proceeds to shop around a bit and buy one more really nice guitar.

[FELINEGUITARS]

I'm going to clear a few out (we're probably not talking Twinfan-like "single figures", though!  :P ) then - maybe - use the proceeds to shop around a bit and buy one more really nice guitar.

Like a nice lightweight Emerald Lion ??

[Philly Q]

I'm going to clear a few out (we're probably not talking Twinfan-like "single figures", though!  :P ) then - maybe - use the proceeds to shop around a bit and buy one more really nice guitar.

Like a nice lightweight Emerald Lion ??

Ah, ever the salesman!  :lol:  But yeah, maybe.  We'll see.

[dave_mc]

Then I picked it up.  Oops.  The thing weighs a ton.  I had emailed to ask if it was thinner and lighter than an LP, and they replied "yes it has a thinner body".  I really should've noticed they didn't mention the weight.  :? :(

ah, that sucks. It looks really nice, too. :(

[sgmypod]

very pretty nice price but a bit rich for me at mo

[Plexi Ken]

Nice looking guitar, sorry it didn't work out. Hopefully it will find a loving home. Always good to here about Tokai's good built quality. My Tokai 335 GAS hasn't been reduced  :?

[Ian Price]

My Tokai 335 GAS hasn't been reduced  :?

I know how that feels! I've had 335 GAS ever since I sold my 335  :x

[Philly Q]

Always good to here about Tokai's good built quality.

They really are very good indeed, certainly the Japanese ones.  I've owned five now (I think), at various price points, and it's hard to find much wrong with them (....except the weight of this one  :lol: ).  

[Afghan Dave]

Seriously Philly... Why don't you just order a custom to your EXACT spec and be really happy?

It seems as if you have some kind of self destructive GAS auto-pilot that says "it's my lot in life to search & spend"  :?

[Afghan Dave]

[See Seconds Out Thread]

If you sell your gear for the right price will you "throw in the towel"?  :lol: :lol:

[Philly Q]

Seriously Philly... Why don't you just order a custom to your EXACT spec and be really happy?

It seems as if you have some kind of self destructive GAS auto-pilot that says "it's my lot in life to search & spend"  :?

It's not really self destructive, because I can afford it.  The only real problem is floor space.....  :(

As for the custom........ you're right, but there's always that nagging doubt of "what if it doesn't turn out the way I hoped".....  :?

If you sell your gear for the right price will you "throw in the towel"?  :lol: :lol:

No frickin' way, it's taken me a long time to build up that towel collection. 

In fact I'm getting TAS now just thinking about it.