Author Topic: Korean Tokai Les Pauls (Read 16206 times)

indysmith · « **on:** September 12, 2006, 12:26:58 PM »

Do they sound like the genuine article? obviously the main difference is that they have a solid alder body and a maple neck as opposed to the original's all-round mahogany with a maple top. The reason i ask is (as you've probably guessed) because i can't afford a Jap one, and i'm not big on importing.
Also does any of yu know where yu can get the tokai SG35s? nato body and neck should sound pretty similar to the original's mahogany and its RRP is only £299 i think; so that's probably in my price range.

Twinfan · « **Reply #1 on:** September 12, 2006, 01:40:01 PM »

I've heard they're not as good as the Jap stuff, which is to be expected I guess. Having said that, I have a Korean Epi SG that's incredibly good and punches way above it's weight. I've tried others since and none are as good as mine, so it might be worth trying a few out and seeing what you think.

Here's a place that sells the SG35. I bought my BKPs from them, and Chris (the boss) is great to deal with.

http://www.guitarzone.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22_116&products_id=479&osCsid=5c263aaccc2e7d53fcb242b2c6e85846

indysmith · « **Reply #2 on:** September 12, 2006, 10:08:33 PM »

Thanks Twinfan. Have you ever compared your tokai against the gibson version? how does it fare? is there a noticable difference between nato and mahogany?
also, i found this place which does the entire range significantly cheaper :)
http://www.fuzzboxmusic.co.uk/html/tokai_guitars.htm

EDIT: oh, and what's the neck like? HUGE i assume

Bainzy · « **Reply #3 on:** September 12, 2006, 10:49:53 PM »

I've heard that 'nato' isn't a particuarly good wood, and is the next thing up from plywood on cheap guitars. If you're looking for a decent sounding but close wood to genuine Mahogany, 'West African Mahogany' or Sapele would be a good place to start.

Twinfan · « **Reply #4 on:** September 12, 2006, 11:21:20 PM »

Indy,

I've got an Epi (not Tokai) and in the shop I compared it to a Gibson SG Standard, a Gibson SG Faded Special and a regular G400 Epi.

Regular G400, Chinese. Generally good quality throughout. Sounded a bit raspy, but would be OK with new pickups. Big neck. £275

SG Faded Special, USA. Very cheap feeling. Scratchy to play - the rosewood felt really, really dry. Harsh pickups, again would sound OK with a pickup change. Not worth the premium over the G400 in my opinion. Huge neck. £599.

Used SG Standard, USA. Not a bad example. Good quality throughout, nice feeling neck, generally as a Gibson should be. Sounded a bit thick for an SG I thought. Medium sized neck. Nice guitar, but £799.

My '65 Epi, Korean "Custom Shop". Two piece body (VERY well matched), deep cherry colour, great thin neck with proper access to the top frets (all other SGs had bigger neck joints causing access issues). Surprisingly good pickups, Alnico V with a bit of an edge. Broadly similar to my current Riff Raffs, but not as refined or articulate. Most SG-like guitar of the lot. £349.

I've since completely upgraded the guitar with the Riff Raffs, complete USA spec wiring (including top spec CTS pots and orange drop caps) a TonePros bridge and a Tusq nut. Overlal the guitar owes me about £650 I think, but it knocks Gibson SGs for dead. The closest thing to it would be a '61 re-issue at £1100+, nearly double the cost. I wouldn't swap mine for a Gibson and it's my main gigging guitar. Everyone who's played it has loved it.

Try a few Korean Les Pauls and if you find a good one, buy it and gradually upgrade it. They make great workhorses for reasonable money.

SixGunLover · « **Reply #5 on:** September 13, 2006, 05:03:52 AM »

I used to own a bolt-neck Korean Tokai Les Paul Custom in black with gold hardware and rosewood fretboard. It was a nice guitar for the price - I'd say the quality was comparable to an Epiphone, maybe a fraction better. I installed a set of Mules in it and it served me well as my main gigging guitar for a few years. That said, it didn't quite nail the mahogany-body Les Paul tone - it was a little brighter, somewhere between an SG and an LP.

I recently sold that guitar and upgraded to a Japanese-made Tokai LS150 Les Paul Standard, and it's a vastly superior guitar. Endless sustain, superb accuracy (modelled on a '59 LP), beautiful tone and really comfortable. I ordered a calibrated set of uncovered Rebel Yells to go in it about a month ago from a local dealer, and I'm waiting on them arriving - once I get those in, it should be perfect.

Anyway, I got a little sidetracked - personally, I'd recommend paying a little extra and going for one of the Japanese models - the craftsmanship is so much better, the materials are better, and you'll get a much better LP tone. I've also heard the odd complaint regarding quality control with the Korean guitars (my old LP Custom had a slight S-bend in the neck), whereas the Japanese models seem to be far superior in this regard.

Hope this helps.

indysmith · « **Reply #6 on:** September 13, 2006, 02:36:14 PM »

thanks for the help guys - what i've done is stopped kidding myself and realised that what i REALLY want is a MIJ Les Paul. Since the cheapest examples of these are the grecos on ebay i guess i'll have to take the plunge and import one for cheap. Anything else but a Les Paul with the right woods and i know i'll regret buying it

Twinfan · « **Reply #7 on:** September 13, 2006, 03:06:05 PM »

Good plan matey. I'm currently looking to get an Edwards LP from Japan. Shame we can't get a group discount!

Dakine · « **Reply #8 on:** September 13, 2006, 05:47:25 PM »

^lol, ask em :)

gwEm · « **Reply #9 on:** September 14, 2006, 09:21:36 AM »

i must say i'm very seriously looking at an edwards too after all the discussions here... we'd certinally save money on shipping by doing it as a group. maybe if we can get 5 or more guys together, it would work out.

Twinfan · « **Reply #10 on:** September 14, 2006, 09:56:00 AM »

I guess the trouble is availability. The model I'm after isn't available until the end of December, so to save on the shipping we'd all have to wait until the last model was in stock at Ishibashi. If we don't mind waiting, it could work...

Wolfie · « **Reply #11 on:** September 17, 2006, 09:36:51 PM »

When I spoke to the guys at Rich Tone Music last week about Tokai Love Rock guitars, because I was hankering for one with P90 in, one of them likened the LS150 on par to a Gibson LP Standard.

http://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/tokai-electric-guitars-2.htm

Its a starting point and I hope it helps you in your quest.

Phil

indysmith · « **Reply #12 on:** September 17, 2006, 09:40:06 PM »

the only problem with that is the price - hence why i'm looking at korean models

Dakine · « **Reply #13 on:** September 17, 2006, 10:30:06 PM »

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tokia-LS75-Made-in-Japan-with-Bare-knuckle-Pickups_W0QQitemZ320027594706QQihZ011QQcategoryZ112670QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Bainzy · « **Reply #14 on:** September 18, 2006, 12:29:44 AM »

The wood makes a Les Paul - whatever you buy, don't get an LP that isn't made with a mahogany body with carved maple top, and mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard. Even the differences between woods of the same type change the vibe of an LP quite a lot, which is why modern Gibson Standards don't sound like a real '59 burst - they use Indian instead of Brazilian Rosewood, and have about 11 weight relief holes drilled into the body because they use heavier Mahogany than the old ones.