1984 Tokai Strat - '70s replica.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bubba po
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Bubba po

Bubba po

Tiny Stonehenge Moment
I'm being offered it for £250 - what do you think?
 
It's Japanese?
How many dollars is that?
They are supposed to be some fine guitars.
 
What kind of shape is your Tokai in? How original is it? Stock they're not 'good enough' to be your main guitar. I paid $400US or maybe £260 via eBay quite a few years ago. Mine was original except for some Lace Sensor pickups installed by the seller. The tuning pegs, the electronics, and the bridge are kind of 'iffy', so I had to put another $300 into it, so now I'm up to $700US or £450 to have a very good guitar. On the plus side, I sold the Lace Sensor pickups (with Clapton 'mid-boost') for $100, so now I have only $600 or £385 tied into it.
If your Tokai is stock, £250 is low, but tolerable if you need money and the guitar is just not doing it for you. But if you've changed anything, add that in to any selling price.
 
Like a lot of stuff the *good* ones are faked too :( if you can borrow it to "test" then head over to Tokai Forum - a subsidiary of TokaiRegistry.com :: Index join up and post pics (close up of headstock e.t.c.. after reading a few similar posts you'll soon get an idea of what they want).. the guys over there know there stuff and will soon let you know if its worth getting ... some are collectable some are junk ...


£250 is real cheap for a good one ...
 
Like a lot of stuff the *good* ones are faked too :( if you can borrow it to "test" then head over to Tokai Forum - a subsidiary of TokaiRegistry.com :: Index join up and post pics (close up of headstock e.t.c.. after reading a few similar posts you'll soon get an idea of what they want).. the guys over there know there stuff and will soon let you know if its worth getting ... some are collectable some are junk ...


£250 is real cheap for a good one ...

It's a Silver Star series and looks very, very good. I agree about the tuners, they're vintage style which is wrong for the guitar. I believe they should be the same as the ones on my SQ Squier. I've not seen it in the flesh yet. It's definitely a Japanese one.
 
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I say general overall condition and action,intonation,playability by oneself are by far the most important.Replicating a somewhat debatable and questionable period of the Originals in my opinion. I tend to disagree with Ranjam about a stock one not good enough as ones main guitar as would many older pro players! The attention to setup and detail caused all sorts of litigation issues if my memory serves me well,I personally have never picked up bad Tokai Strat or Tele copy unless some bone head had (improved it? ) Ive picked up many questionable Originals of that period. To conclude just like monitor speakers is it worth £250 to you? Any guitars only as good as the player on it at the time! YOU will be judged on the noise you make with it the badge,s are REALLY are IRREVERLANT in the eyes of the really talented! Like most things in this financial climate its only worth what someone,s willing to give him!
 
You'll have to see it in person and play it to know whether or not it's worth it to you. From what I've experienced, the Tokai's I've seen would be well worth it. Quality stuff. But there are good ones and bad ones of any make, so buying sight unseen is risky.
 
I say general overall condition and action,intonation,playability by oneself are by far the most important.Replicating a somewhat debatable and questionable period of the Originals in my opinion. I tend to disagree with Ranjam about a stock one not good enough as ones main guitar as would many older pro players! The attention to setup and detail caused all sorts of litigation issues if my memory serves me well,I personally have never picked up bad Tokai Strat or Tele copy unless some bone head had (improved it? ) Ive picked up many questionable Originals of that period. To conclude just like monitor speakers is it worth £250 to you? Any guitars only as good as the player on it at the time! YOU will be judged on the noise you make with it the badge,s are REALLY are IRREVERLANT in the eyes of the really talented! Like most things in this financial climate its only worth what someone,s willing to give him!

I agree about the 70s period originals being a bit iffy. I've played a 70s original next to my Squier SQ and in terms of the build quality and playability they are like night and day.

But I just love that big old headstock and I really fancy a maple-necked strat in my collection. I'm a massive fan of the Japanese stuff. I personally think it's worth probably a hundred quid more than he's asking, to be honest - if it feels and plays as good as it looks, of course.
 
I have one of the MIJ Fernandes Stratocaster copies and it has been my #1 Strat style for live performances for many years. Like Tokia, they made some very outstanding copies of Fenders and I could tell it had a good acoustic sound as soon as I strummed it unplugged. That was the vibe that won me over-its a very resonant guitar. The stock single coils are nice and mellow, they don't have the excess high end that my 1974 AM Fender Sunburst has.
Hope you can work out a deal, sounds like the Tokia will be great!
 
I've been to see it tonight and it seemed wrong, wrong, wrong. But I don't know if my reservations were correct.

The finish seemed too thin - you could see the imprint of the grain through it.

The headstock decal was on top of the finish and has little nicks in the letters.

The bridge seemed flimsy and the bridge saddles had little casting marks on them.

There was no fretboard wear, yet there was one fret which didn't quite reach the edge of the fretboard!

It didn't look old enough.

It didn't seem heavy enough.

It didn't play well enough or exude the quality that I was hoping for.

The micro-tilt neck plate had no markings whatsoever - is that right?

None of the hardware seemed to be of sufficient quality.



What a waste of bloody time! :mad:
 
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I think he's talking about purchasing it.

Then the price is a little low for the seller, and pretty good for you, especially if a hard shell case is involved. Buy it, and be ready to swap some parts out to get an awesome Strat.
 
If you buy a piece of junk guitar (bad frets, finish, etc) and fit it with nice hardware,
you'll end up with a piece of junk guitar with nice hardware.
 
He's dropped the price to £200, since my visit. :rolleyes:
 
He's dropped the price to £200, since my visit. :rolleyes:

No shit, you should tell him you'll take it for free if he throws in 10 bucks
and a six pack of Pilsner Urquell to cover your gas and time driving back and forth. :D

One more post and the corner is yours.
 
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