Members Vince Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 I haven't played my Tokai (1985 Love Rock, all original bar a new nut) for a while as it lacks sparkle. I'm aware that LP type guitars are meant to be darker than fenders, but mine seems overly so.Acoustically it doesn't seem too bad, although the D string is very dull, but plugged in, even on the bridge pickup (stock) it lacks life. Would a new nut solve the issue? New wiring? New pickups even? Or should I not bother and just get another LP? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MisterTV Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 It might be just a coincidence, but I had an '85 Les Paul Custom that always sounded dull to my ears. The source probably was just low output pups, but the whole mojo on that thing left me uninspired. I eventually traded it for something that felt more alive to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vince Posted January 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 It might be just a coincidence, but I had an '85 Les Paul Custom that always sounded dull to my ears. The source probably was just low output pups, but the whole mojo on that thing left me uninspired. I eventually traded it for something that felt more alive to me. Hmm... interesting. Trouble is, I don't want high output pickups - I want nice, clear, vintage sounding pickups. It seems like there is just too much bass and low mids coming through and overpowering the high end. Man, I sound like a corksniffer! What's my TGP login again:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mel Cooley Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Look into getting '50s era Gibson spec pots/caps and wiring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mr Songwriter Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 There could be a problem with the electrics - I would try removing the tone cap on the bridge and see if it suddenly becomes a lot brighter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Musicscotty Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Hmm... interesting. Trouble is, I don't want high output pickups - I want nice, clear, vintage sounding pickups. It seems like there is just too much bass and low mids coming through and overpowering the high end.Man, I sound like a corksniffer! What's my TGP login again:confused: Have a look at Bare Knuckle (BKP) Mule pickups, if you're after an articulate, vintage type LP tone. They aren't cheap but they're very good indeed. http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Meowy Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Dumb question maybe, but are the strings reasonably fresh? Try some new Brite Wires Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members newmaxnew Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Pearly Gates pickups might help. I put Pearly Gates in an old Les Paul that I thought sounded dull and it was just the trick. The Pearly Gates pickups are slightly overwound and seem to pull out the highs more than a regular PAF pickup. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vince Posted January 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Dumb question maybe, but are the strings reasonably fresh? Try some new Brite Wires I thought that last time I played it, so I changed the strings. But it didn't help. I have just discovered that my amp doesn't work the way I expected! It's an AC30 clone (Valvetech Hayseed 15) and I was turning down the bass on the Top Boost channel, but this was increasing the bark that I was trying to get rid of. Turn the bass up, and the mid bark went away! :confused: The guitar is still a bit dark though, but not as bad. I'll look into getting a different wiring kit, but I'm not sure I want to spend over Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted January 27, 2009 Moderators Share Posted January 27, 2009 Dumb question maybe, but are the strings reasonably fresh? Try some new Brite Wires First stop:thu: Then swap the nut out for a Graphtecg Tusq or a well cut piece of bone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted January 27, 2009 Moderators Share Posted January 27, 2009 The guitar is still a bit dark though, but not as bad. I'll look into getting a different wiring kit, but I'm not sure I want to spend over Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vince Posted January 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Sorry Vince, just saw you're in Cumbria....don't spend any money until you've had a chat with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vince Posted January 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 First stop:thu:Then swap the nut out for a Graphtecg Tusq or a well cut piece of bone It's got a Graphtech nut already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vince Posted January 28, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 28, 2009 mornin' bump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeffrey Posted January 28, 2009 Members Share Posted January 28, 2009 Pearly Gates pickups might help. I put Pearly Gates in an old Les Paul that I thought sounded dull and it was just the trick. The Pearly Gates pickups are slightly overwound and seem to pull out the highs more than a regular PAF pickup.Max The Pearly Gates is the darkest of the 6 different PAF style pickups that I own. The Lover 55's have the most pronounced top end, and I have a set of Bustbucker Pros on my SG which have great mids and tight bass. Another mod that will make more of a difference than you might think is a lightweight aluminum tailpiece. Gotoh makes one that comes with aluminum studs and bolts for around $40. The bolts fit into the bushings of my Gibsons without mods, but your Tokai may be a different standard. RS Guitarworks makes reasonably priced stop tailpieces that come aged for your 24 year old guitar. Also, try raising the pole piece below the D-string. I have to do this on a lot of my guitars. You might want to move your string gauge up a notch. A lot of players dig those dark sounding guitars--Billy Gibbons for one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeffrey Posted January 28, 2009 Members Share Posted January 28, 2009 By the way, I would try to keep that Tokai as original as you can. Those guitars are really creeping up in price, but buyers want them all original if they are going to pay the big bucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vince Posted January 28, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 28, 2009 By the way, I would try to keep that Tokai as original as you can. Those guitars are really creeping up in price, but buyers want them all original if they are going to pay the big bucks. They don't seem to be doing that well on ebay at the moment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeffrey Posted January 28, 2009 Members Share Posted January 28, 2009 They don't seem to be doing that well on ebay at the moment Yeah, I looked, but all I could find were Korean versions. I'll check ebay UK. Yours is made in Japan? If so, that puts it in a whole other universe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonPhillips Posted January 28, 2009 Members Share Posted January 28, 2009 Talk to Sean (Ratae) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Faber Posted January 28, 2009 Members Share Posted January 28, 2009 Did that era Tokai use proper 500 K pots? I know some Gibsons of the era used 300k and they are generally darker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted January 28, 2009 Members Share Posted January 28, 2009 They don't seem to be doing that well on ebay at the moment Well with all due respect yours is a 50 which is the lowest model they made if I'm not mistaken. Most likely that meant cheaper electronics, pickups..etc Hopefully Ratae can give you some good ideas to turn it around. The build on the lower end japanese les pauls of that era was usually really good..they just cheapened out on the other details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vince Posted January 28, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 28, 2009 Well with all due respect yours is a 50 which is the lowest model they made if I'm not mistaken. Most likely that meant cheaper electronics, pickups..etc Hopefully Ratae can give you some good ideas to turn it around. The build on the lower end japanese les pauls of that era was usually really good..they just cheapened out on the other details. Yeah - I'm aware it's the base model - it play's well though. I'm considering refinishing it actually - to an aged/faded sunburst rather than the black. Not sure if I can be arsed though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted January 28, 2009 Members Share Posted January 28, 2009 Did that era Tokai use proper 500 K pots? I know some Gibsons of the era used 300k and they are generally darker possibly...but as mentioned above ^^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted January 28, 2009 Members Share Posted January 28, 2009 Yeah - I'm aware it's the base model - it play's well though. I'm considering refinishing it actually - to an aged/faded sunburst rather than the black. Not sure if I can be arsed though Well if you want to consider it a project that would probably be a good idea. Shoot it with a nice nitro or something. New pickups and electronics and you would possibly have on hell of a player. You just have to decide if it's worth it to you. Cause in the end it will cost you more than you'll ever get out of it. But hey sometimes it's not about re sale right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted January 28, 2009 Moderators Share Posted January 28, 2009 Well with all due respect yours is a 50 which is the lowest model they made if I'm not mistaken. Most likely that meant cheaper electronics, pickups..etc Hopefully Ratae can give you some good ideas to turn it around. The build on the lower end japanese les pauls of that era was usually really good..they just cheapened out on the other details. The woods on the 50s were a tad hit n miss as well, with some pretty heavy 10lbers that were not as lively as some of the 80s and above. I have a Reborn Old LS80, which weighs 8lb 6ozs, and have the original Gotoh pups rewound by Bryan G. and have lifted the pots and their PCB, replaced them with CTS equivalents and added paper and oil caps (the Russian ones) and also an aged Faber parts lightweight aged tailpiece and bridge. It is now a superb LP with few peers. I have kept all the original parts, so can offer it for sale as both a brilliant player, but also as an original guitar, and a lot of buyers will prefer to buy a good player, but with the knowledge that they are still buying a potential investment. For some unknown reasons, Tokais, even 50s although to a lesser extent just keep appreciating, commanding in excess of Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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