Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

And the guitars are? In a very cold JHB I presume? I'd still pick the Tokai for out of the box playability.
Best bet, ask someone on the forum close to the guitars to check 'em out for you (unless you're running out of time, then in that case the Tokai.) I'd trust the importers judgement (which can't be said for the local gibson guys....)
 
Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

If it's MIJ, get the Tokai. No, seriously, GET IT. I've played one which belonged to my teacher and it has the juiciest tone of any guitar I've ever played.
 
Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

I have a LP Classic Custom 2007 and a 2008 Tokai LC-85 special model (ebony fretboard, natural oil neck) and there is no question: the Tokai is much better value. Build quality is similar which is quite an achievement for Tokai, selling for less than half new :O The kicker is the tone, which Tokai delivers in spades. No weight relief provides an extremely full and loud tone whereas the Classic is very bright and thin (chambered). My no. 1 is a '89 LP Custom but the Tokai is a close second.

lpt-2014.jpg
 
Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

Well, I've never played a Tokai...but my dad said they were nice. If its a Japanese guitar then I bet its nice. I personally, would prefer the Gibson...but in the US you can get a Studio for like $600...
 
Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

Not a fan of the more recent Tokais. Good guitars - yes. Epiphone elitist quality? Not quite.

The Gibson? Wayyyyy overpriced at 1600.

Tokai on Bang for the buck.

Can't hate on the Gibson though. Those green inlays will bleach in the sun
 
Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

I would buy neither, since you can't play them first. Keep looking locally, IMHO.

But if you must, I'd go for the one that you think looks the best. They are probably comparable in all other areas, so let them speak to your visual taste as a tiebreaker.
 
Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

Can't go wrong either way but I would choose Gibby because blue koolaid!
 
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Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

Aceman said:
Not a fan of the more recent Tokais. Good guitars - yes. Epiphone elitist quality? Not quite.

The Gibson? Wayyyyy overpriced at 1600.

Tokai on Bang for the buck.

Can't hate on the Gibson though. Those green inlays will bleach in the sun
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I actually have no problem with the green inlays ;)
 
Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

ItsaBass said:
I would buy neither, since you can't play them first. Keep looking locally, IMHO.

But if you must, I'd go for the one that you think looks the best. They are probably comparable in all other areas, so let them speak to your visual taste as a tiebreaker.
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At this point, i will probably have to do that !
 
Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

If you are going to mod it, take the Tokai. It's cheaper and fine for your described needs. That Les Paul, if I bought it, would keep it stock. It would be a huge waste of money to mod that one.
 
Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

SirJackdeFuzz said:
One is in CT and the other in Jo'burg.
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Damn... So you can't get the same person to try them... I would have offered had they both been up here but I'm slap bang in the middle of exams...
To me they seem pretty evenly matched. My logic, get the Tokai, save the extra 6K and use it to upgrade anything you want? You could even drop that on another guitar ;)
Plus that plain top looks gorgeous.....
 
Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

Chocklit_Thunda said:
Damn... So you can't get the same person to try them... I would have offered had they both been up here but I'm slap bang in the middle of exams...
To me they seem pretty evenly matched. My logic, get the Tokai, save the extra 6K and use it to upgrade anything you want? You could even drop that on another guitar ;)
Plus that plain top looks gorgeous.....
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Thanks dude, much appreciated.

Talking about dropping that extra 6K on another guit.
I had my one eye on an Ibby AR325 BDS . . . but no one has one i stock right now :


ibanez_ar325-dbs_artist_doublecut_e-gitarre_1.jpg
 
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Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

That is nice! I'm sure I saw one for sale in the Facebook group but I think the guy was asking way too much because it was from the 70's
 
Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

Update . . . looks like i am leaning toward the plain top Tokai for now.

I will be in the US again, from August onwards.

I will rather buy a Gibson then, when i am in the country where they are much cheaper on the used market.
 
Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

SirJackdeFuzz said:
Update . . . looks like i am leaning toward the plain top Tokai for now.

I will be in the US again, from August onwards.

I will rather buy a Gibson then, when i am in the country where they are much cheaper on the used market.
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Yeah if that is the geographics involved, that's a much better plan. Especially since this LP classic wasn't cheap.

I would also say that it is safer to buy a Tokai sight unseen than a classic.
 
Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

uOpt said:
Yeah if that is the geographics involved, that's a much better plan. Especially since this LP classic wasn't cheap.

I would also say that it is safer to buy a Tokai sight unseen than a classic.
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I'll see what places like Reverb.com, GC's used section and the like, will have when i get to the States.

Maybe even ebay.
 
Re: Gibson VS. Tokai . . . looking for the the best value for my money.

Musicians Friends used stuff isn't a bad spot to look as well as Craigslist in any area you happen to be around.
 
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