Tokai Strats-any experts out there? (in)
David P. Richardson
finish. It has the "egg" shaped ball at the headstock and I am reasonably sure that the logo
was never changed as the T in tokai is really similar to the F in old fenders.
I wouldn't sell mine either. I have also heard some BS about them haveing been bought out by
fender or possibly being licenced. All the secrecy makes me suspicious.
DPR
"R.G.Bhaji" wrote:
> I have one of these,a fantastic sounding Goldstar Sound '57 copy with a maple neck.
> I have no idea whether it's one of the "pre-law suit" ones,is there any way to tell? I've
> read somewhere about a difference in the headstock logo,but couldn't find out
> exactly what to look for.This is all idle interset,BTW,as I have no intention of ever
> selling it! :)
> thanx for any info
SgtRutters
that. Those are the ones that have the different headstocks. The ones with
the headstocks closer to Fender's are the ones that say 'Goldstar Sound' out
where 'Stratocaster' would be. They also have the 'Oldies but Goodies' part
out where Fender's would have the 'Original Custom Body' I think is what it
says. But if I'm wrong let me know.
YBHappy2
The Strat neck was rosewood, no bullet on the headstock, Goldstar sound and
"Oldies but Goodies" logo on headstock, slightly arched fretboard. I think the
difference in the headstocks is at the end where there is the normal, wide
circular "bubble" on the Fenders, the Tokai had part of this cut off at an
angle. I think these are post lawsuit models. It is sometimes hard to see in
photos but if you look closely, you can see the difference. To see a photo of
this, check Ebay for Tokai guitars and take a look at the headstocks.
I've heard part of the lawsuit agreement with Fender was that Tokai could NEVER
sell their guitars directly in the US again. Sometimes they get here through
Canada. They are apparently still in business and making Les Paul copies. I
don't know if it's the same Tokai or if someone bought out the name.
On mine, only the neck was Tokai. The body and electronics were Fender Japan
which made it less impressive to me. Great playing neck though!
The Tokai Tele was great and I wish I never sold it. I hope to get another one
someday.
Pam
Trevor Ridney
I had one of those old Tokai Goldstar Sound guitars that I bought for £150
in a closing down sale. It was as close a rip off of a '57 St**t as made no
difference finished in Shoreline Gold, single layer scratchplate, skunk
stripe and it had THAT sound. Very "V" neck and it played and IMHO, sounded
better than my real Fender. I played a gig with it once where Tony McPhee of
The Groundhogs was in the audience and he told me after the gig that he too
had one and had used it for recording!! What an endorsement!!Wish I still
had it. Best guitar I ever had.
Sheila Armstrong, the UK importer for Tokai and her associate Hugh Manson of
Manson Guitars were friends of the band back in the eighties and she told me
that Fender were seroiusly Pee-ohed with Tokai. Probably because their own
product couldn't hold a candle to it (at that time)
If your guitar has the "Oldies but Goldies" legend on the headstock, chances
are that it is one of the old ones, that and the fact that the pole pieces
on the pickups were of the "staggered variety" and rusted like hell!! Play
it through an old Marshall Valve amp and CRANK IT UP.
hope this helps
Trev :-)
"R.G.Bhaji" <s...@orff.com> wrote in message
news:19907808...@news.1.com...