Members mielkea Posted November 28, 2003 Members Share Posted November 28, 2003 Hey All - Which one of these guitars would you prefer? The Tokai version?http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2576402800&category=2385 or the Epi version?http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=031128103309004004039214404876/g=home/search/detail/base_id/34637 (Any idea on why the natural version is so much more??) I'd love to get a guitar like this - maybe the real Gibson someday - but I'm leaning towards the Tokai... of course, I don't know what the final price will be there. Thoughts? Mielke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members byrnes Posted November 28, 2003 Members Share Posted November 28, 2003 natural versions sometimes cost more because they may use the higher quality wood on the natural version (becaues they can't hid the flaws as well) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 54merk Posted November 29, 2003 Members Share Posted November 29, 2003 Personally, I don't like any acoustic guitar with knobs sticking through the top, unless I were playing John Lennon in a Beatlemania road show. :D :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mielkea Posted November 29, 2003 Author Members Share Posted November 29, 2003 I'd love to be playing Lennon - just a bit too heavy though! Maybe if he lived on like Elvis and got to his "heavier" years... HA! As far as the knobs go, I wouldn't want all my guitars like that, but would be cool for one of them. AM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LittleBrother Posted November 29, 2003 Members Share Posted November 29, 2003 The Tokia one looks a million times better. I can't really tell by photos though. These kinda guitars always look good in photos but sometimes feel alot different in your hands. If the Tokia is a solid back and not laminate then it might be interesting. They sure do go through alot of trouble mentioning solid top but nothing about the back and sides. So I imagine it is laminate back. I love that burst they put on the back of body and neck. Be aware that the forward position of the pickups in these J-160E look alikes is a little hard to deal with tonally sometimes and can sound like a jazz box. Probably horribly cheap pickups. The knobs and pickups on the Gibson J-160E dont really kill the tone that much so It's a cool blues guitar IMO. For live stage work. The general design. I have a photo of Lightnin' Hopkins playing a J-160E in the 50s or 60s. I think the Epi version of this guitar looks and plays cheesy. It got great reviews though. I am not crazy about the Non-Elite line of Epis. Especially hate the electronics. But for a few hundred bucks that's what you get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zenzio Posted November 29, 2003 Members Share Posted November 29, 2003 Can't comment on the Tokai but the Epi is a superb guitar - nice tone, solid-top (can't remember about the back and sides) and great value for money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bigmo66 Posted November 29, 2003 Members Share Posted November 29, 2003 Not sure about Tokais today. 20+ years a go, they use to clone Les Pauls & Strats to a tee. Law suits and stuff forced them to change a few things. In 1972 they had a Technical Contract with C.F. Martin & Co for design of acoustic guitars. They build some decent stuff, but farm a lot out to Korea like everyone else. A good Tokai made in Japan is probably better than a Korean Epi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members S~R~O Posted November 30, 2003 Members Share Posted November 30, 2003 I got a hunch that the Tokais...would be the one for me.......Yes it is a Hunch...Besides I never really liked any Epiphones anywayit's like a Sig~Martin in my febble Mind...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted November 30, 2003 Members Share Posted November 30, 2003 The original ones John Lennon and George played had plywood tops. Interesting problem for Gibson when hey reissued the model. Do they remain historically accurate or do they build a superior guitar when they re-issue? I think they made them both ways to cover their bets. I'd want a solid wood one myself but I have to agree that knobs in the top kill tone and aren't much fun to look at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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