Tokai Love Rock LP Japan - Neck query

[wardieboy]

Hi,

I am seriously considering purchasing a Tokia Love Rock guitar.

Does anyone know what style necks the Japanese models have? I read somewhere that all Japanese models have the same neck shape, but would like to have this verified.  I would prefer a 50's style baseball bat neck.

Cheers All!

Wardieboy

[Twinfan]

I think it varies depending on the model?  I've played an LR standard with a 60s style neck and owned an SG special with a chunky neck....

[Philly Q]

I've owned three SGs and a Love Rock II, but no actual LP-style Love Rocks.

All the necks were on the chunky side - I like the shapes very much - but not huge.  I wouldn't call them baseball bats, but it depends on your terms of reference I guess!

And I think Dave's right, there is some variation, my SG Jr had a slightly slimmer neck than the other three.

[wardieboy]

The model I have been looking at is a new LS80 from richtone.

With so little Tokai stockists in the UK this is going to be a purchase without trying first  :? ..... well there is always the returns policy if she is a dog (.................((insert inappropriate comment about the wife here))................).

A chunky neck would certainly fit the bill. The thing is that I have really big hands, so want to ensure that the neck isn't too slimline.

[Philly Q]

With so little Tokai stockists in the UK this is going to be a purchase without trying first  :? ..... well there is always the returns policy if she is a dog (.................((insert inappropriate comment about the wife here))................).

For such a well-known brand, Tokais are annoyingly difficult to get hold of, aren't they?

I wish it was easier to order direct from Japan (not that that would solve the buying-blind problem), but the language barrier makes it very complicated.

[tekbow]

there's a uk based store in ebay that specialises in edwards, tokai etc.. what was the name.. they seel a bunch of stuff on ebay.

Edit: Richtone music

http://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/search-results.asp?search=true&brand=true&query=Tokai

and i'm sure theres's a tokai vs edwards page somewhere on the site, not so much "which is better" just differences in construction as the both take slightly different approaches to the classic les paul style

there we go:

http://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/support/brand-information/esp_edwards/

http://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/support/brand-information/tokai_guitars/

and that page answers the neck carve question. depending on the country of origin (china or japan) either a slim for the china and a 59 style for the japanese

[Telerocker]

A lot of new Tokai“s are made in China. The best Love Rocks are made in Japan in the late eighties, early nineties.

[wardieboy]

there's a uk based store in ebay that specialises in edwards, tokai etc.. what was the name.. they seel a bunch of stuff on ebay.

Edit: Richtone music

http://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/search-results.asp?search=true&brand=true&query=Tokai

and i'm sure theres's a tokai vs edwards page somewhere on the site, not so much "which is better" just differences in construction as the both take slightly different approaches to the classic les paul style

there we go:

http://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/support/brand-information/esp_edwards/

http://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/support/brand-information/tokai_guitars/

and that page answers the neck carve question. depending on the country of origin (china or japan) either a slim for the china and a 59 style for the japanese

Thanks Tekbow, that clears up the query. I'm going for a Japanese model so that will have the 59 style neck.

[HTH AMPS]

my (lefty) mate has an old Jap Love Rock and its a lovely guitar, stands up well to his Gibson Custom.

[gordiji]

the tokai does indeed have a fattish '59 neck , it looks like you've already got your info though.
i bought an LS135 loverock recently so looked at both too.i went for this model as it's the starting point for the
long tenon neck joint and while the lower models have a set neck, long tenon it's not.
i seem to remember the equivelent edwards to the LS 80 did have a longish neck joint well into the pick up cavity
and at £750ish pricepoint the edwards may be a better contstructed guitar(?)
LS 135 and upwards have the vintage wiring, orange drop caps and switchcraft socket as well as one peice neck
& body (mahogany)
the paf II pups the whole range are fitted with are good distorted but poor clean (imo) and 11.2k dc
i bought mine with the intention of changing the pups and wanted a close gibbo replica build wise, 135 up gives this and even with the pup upgrade is still way cheaper than the equivelant gibbo.the lower range gibbo's don't even
have the long tenon joint.(i think?)
i bought mine blind too on t'internet and have no regrets finally costing about £1250inc pup upgrade & hcase
it's well made with good wood for the price working out at £125/lb !
there's very little in the way of second hand available which is telling. i wouldn't rule out a second yamaha sg 1500/2000 in your psition either, they come up often and for the price of an ls 80 you can't go wrong(almost)   
good luck

[wardieboy]

That's some really useful information gordiji. I didn't know the differences between the LS80 and the LS135.

I am also buying with the intention of upgrading the pickups, I'm not sure that my budget would stretch to the LS135 though. Initially when I started looking I was considering an Epiphone LP and upgrading with a total spend of around £500. Then as I did more research I considered the Epiphone heritage 1959 tribute for £600.

Then as I did yet more research I started looking at the Tokai's, I've seen quoted everywhere that the Japanese models are higher build quality and are mahogany. 

The LS80 I am looking at on richtone is going for £649, already over my initial budget but this should be a much higher quality instrument than the Epi's I was originally considering. I can wait a few months to upgrade the pickups and have the wiring & drop caps upgraded hopefully the project should complete at around £950.

The only real difference at this point (and please do correct me if I am wrong) will be the lack of long tenon neck. If the cost wasn't an issue I'd go for the LS135 but I can't justify pushing the already spiralling budget another £300.

[gordiji]

wardieboy, the differences are on 135 upwards the neck is 1 piece, the back is 1 piece, the pots caps and jack are
upgraded, tailpiece is aluminium and the bridge is chrome over brass saddles.and the neck joint differences.
the backs on the ls100 down are 2 or more piece, i don't think this is a big deal, i think the necks are several pieces
too, not sure how important this is, woodmachining is excellent nowadays.
this isn't to say the ls80 isn't a good guitar. you may love the stock pups which are the same.
i'd love to hear say an ls150 against an ls 80, i'd bet my own money i wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
check youtube out.

[Brow]

I have a Japanese LP shaped Love Rock (which Dave also played at the meet, so he may chime in if he remembers  :lol:) and mine seems to have a relatively chunky neck. Not quite as fat as my Gibby LP which has a 50s style neck on it, but still pretty chunky.

[Matt77]

I've played an 80s Japan Love Rock. It had a 59 profile neck. That was just one guitar though so, probably not much help

[wardieboy]

Cheers All, you have all been very helpful.  :D

So much so that I've ordered the guitar and she should be in my grubby mitts tomorrow! I went for the LS80 as I couldn't afford going higher, especially with pickup upgrades on the horizon. We'll see how the stock pickups are for the meantime.

Also I couldn't find any other guitars with the violin finish that this model has. Here are a couple of pics that the dealer sent over for me: