Won an online auction -- Tokai content

Archer250

Archer250

Well-known member
I recently won an online auction on a rather sweet Tokai LS-90 (Love Rock Model).

The runner up kept fighting so I ended up bidding 85% of the MSRP converted today.

Being that this was a 2012 model, that makes it 65% of the MSRP back then.

In any case, it's appreciably less costly than a brand new Gibson Studio.

I haven't played it yet (admittedly I won't be playing it much for now due to studies and a lot of college work), but hey. I can always make time in the future.

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Re: Won an online auction -- Tokai content

You got taken, man. It's a terrible guitar. Send it to me and I'll do you the favor of disposing of it. :13:
 
Re: Won an online auction -- Tokai content

Gtrjunior said:
That’s pretty sweet!
Congrats!
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Thanks!

Benjy_26 said:
You got taken, man. It's a terrible guitar. Send it to me and I'll do you the favor of disposing of it. :13:
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Hahahaha wouldn't dream of it even if that were true. Bureaucracy surrounding exporting guitars with rosewood fretboards was the reason I had to sell my last guitar ;)
 
Re: Won an online auction -- Tokai content

Wow, that is beautiful! Hope it plays as well as it looks!
 
Re: Won an online auction -- Tokai content

Archer250 said:
. . . admittedly I won't be playing it much for now due to studies and a lot of college work . . .
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You need to get your priorities straight. :D

Beautiful score. Enjoy. (When you get the chance.) ;)
 
Re: Won an online auction -- Tokai content

Well, having handled it a bit, it feels slightly heavier than I expected. I guess it doesn't matter because I'll replace the tailpiece to aluminum anyways.

Think I'll replace the entire hardware with Gotoh hardware.

I will probably leave the electronics as they are for now. I might change the pickups later down the road, but that's tentative (who am I kidding. I'm definitely changing it to something sweeter and more low output)

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Re: Won an online auction -- Tokai content

Archer250 said:
Well, having handled it a bit, it feels slightly heavier than I expected. I guess it doesn't matter because I'll replace the tailpiece to aluminum anyways.

Think I'll replace the entire hardware with Gotoh hardware.

I will probably leave the electronics as they are for now. I might change the pickups later down the road, but that's tentative (who am I kidding. I'm definitely changing it to something sweeter and more low output)

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Just curious....
Is there something wrong with the hardware that warrants replacement?
I would think, at least for me replacing the electronics would be first in the list. I’d get rid of the cheaper Asian pots and swap in some CTS or Bourns.
 
Re: Won an online auction -- Tokai content

Gtrjunior said:
Just curious....
Is there something wrong with the hardware that warrants replacement?
I would think, at least for me replacing the electronics would be first in the list. I’d get rid of the cheaper Asian pots and swap in some CTS or Bourns.
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Apart from me preferring Aluminum tailpieces for both sound and weight? Not really. I'm leaving the tuner as is in any case.

I've found that I can live with cheap Asian pots more than I can live with hardware I don't gel with.

Mainly because I can always swap one out later on without changing strings I suppose [emoji14]


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Re: Won an online auction -- Tokai content

Archer250 said:
Apart from me preferring Aluminum tailpieces for both sound and weight? Not really. I'm leaving the tuner as is in any case.

I've found that I can live with cheap Asian pots more than I can live with hardware I don't gel with.

Mainly because I can always swap one out later on without changing strings I suppose [emoji14]


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After I posted the comment above I got to thinking about that hardware...I’m sure the actual metals used are cheaper than what you can replace it with. Possibly they are made from lower grade materials than the Gotoh hardware.
 
Re: Won an online auction -- Tokai content

Adieu said:
Check that it isnt Gotoh already first

Lovely looking guitar
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You know what? They probably *are*. If so, then that's gonna save me lots. Though I still may or may not switch out for an aluminum tailpiece in the end.

I'll definitely check first. Thanks

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Re: Won an online auction -- Tokai content

I have a Tokai (Japan) Les Paul Jr. It's a fantastic guitar. It's got the "standard" lightning bar wrap tailpiece with only the coarse adjustments screws behind the posts but intonation is real close. I'm sure the tailpiece is some type of zinc composite but the quality is good. It looks more the quality of a Gotoh or Tonepros than it does a Sung-Il. Of course, steel or aluminum would be tone altering options but I doubt that another zinc composite type would make much difference. It's the pots and pickup that got replaced in pretty quick order. The stock P90 wasn't bad but I dropped a Gibson P-90 in when I replaced the pots and jack. Nothing really wrong with the stock pots (Alphas I think) but Mojotone CTS vintage taper volume pot was an automatic and at that point, you may as well replace the tone pot since the CTS pots are fine spline and you have to replace the knob and want to make sure both knobs match (besides, I wanted a 250K tone pot). The stock tuning machines are no-name Kluson/vintage style (different buttons but look exactly like the ones on the guitar in the OP's photo) and they aren't as heavy as those on my Gibson LP or my Godin but they are smooth and they work perfectly.

Point being ... I think the electronics are more pressing than the hardware on the Tokai's (that may be different on Tokai's higher priced models). But if someone has a preference for aluminum or steel in place of the "zamak", that's a different story.
 
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Re: Won an online auction -- Tokai content

Darg1911 said:
I have a Tokai (Japan) Les Paul Jr. It's a fantastic guitar. It's got the "standard" lightning bar wrap tailpiece with only the coarse adjustments screws behind the posts but intonation is real close. I'm sure the tailpiece is some type of zinc composite but the quality is good. It looks more the quality of a Gotoh or Tonepros than it does a Sung-Il. Of course, steel or aluminum would be tone altering options but I doubt that another zinc composite type would make much difference. It's the pots and pickup that got replaced in pretty quick order. The stock P90 wasn't bad but I dropped a Gibson P-90 in when I replaced the pots and jack. Nothing really wrong with the stock pots (Alphas I think) but Mojotone CTS vintage taper volume pot was an automatic and at that point, you may as well replace the tone pot since the CTS pots are fine spline and you have to replace the knob and want to make sure both knobs match (besides, I wanted a 250K tone pot). The stock tuning machines are no-name Kluson/vintage style (different buttons but look exactly like the ones on the guitar in the OP's photo) and they aren't as heavy as those on my Gibson LP or my Godin but they are smooth and they work perfectly.

Point being ... I think the electronics are more pressing than the hardware on the Tokai's (that may be different on Tokai's higher priced models). But if someone has a preference for aluminum or steel in place of the "zamak", that's a different story.
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Thanks for the info.

Hmm, when you swapped the pots, did you have to enlarge the holes? I think Alphas are smaller than CTS/Bourns if I'm not wrong.
 
Re: Won an online auction -- Tokai content

Archer250 said:
Thanks for the info.

Hmm, when you swapped the pots, did you have to enlarge the holes? I think Alphas are smaller than CTS/Bourns if I'm not wrong.
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I can’t speak specifically for your guitar but in general...yes. Alpha holes are smaller.
I had to enlarge the holes on my Kramer Focus when I swapped in some CTS pots last week.
 
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