Members StevenJM Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 Anybody have experience with these? Its an early 80's (50s reissue), strat headstock, i'd just need to get some new pickups for it (because its being sold without them). i've been gassing for a vintage style strat, and this has the 7.25" radius i'm looking for, and the body is refinished in nitro which is perfect because i might be doing my own refinish in inca silver post pics of yours if you have them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StevenJM Posted February 28, 2011 Author Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 no love for tokai strats? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StevenJM Posted March 1, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 well i pulled the trigger anyways, no help from you guys... now i need to try to unload a few things here and there to help pay for it. (even though i got a crazy good deal on it) i'm pretty pumped right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaleH Posted March 1, 2011 Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 You didn't say how much so it's hard to say if it's a deal or not. Sounds like pretty muich just a refin body and a neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StevenJM Posted March 1, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 $275 for everything but the pickups. i think thats a pretty good deal, still has original bridge, tuners, pickguard. plus its not finished in poly, so refinishing this thing will be a breeze and save lots of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaleH Posted March 1, 2011 Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 That sounds good. Has it got the 50s v neck carve? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StevenJM Posted March 1, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 i haven't played it yet (its on its way) but apparently it has a thick, D-shaped neck rather than the soft v. but i love thick necks so i'm a-ok with that. apparently the original color was sunburts but some knucklehead decided to take a can of black spray paint to it, so the guy i'm buying it off of is the one who saved it and brought it back to a decent finish. he did a good job based off the pics he sent me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jtr654 Posted March 1, 2011 Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 I 've got a Goldstar sound Strat it's as good as the fender Strats I've own or better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StevenJM Posted March 1, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 I 've got a Goldstar sound Strat it's as good as the fender Strats I've own or better. nice! i'm hoping its here in a day or 2. can't wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zenbu Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 my Goldstars have gray bottom pick-ups with the U stamp, I like them very much. You may be able to find a set on line somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Wein Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 I have a 1979 "Springy SOund" that I love: This was obviously a "lawsuit" guitar in that every detail of a 1956 strat was slavishly copied. If you check out the headstock even the decal looks like the Fender but the you see things like "Springy Sound" in place of "Stratocaster" and "Oldies but Goldies" in place of "Original Contoured Body" smi The story I had heard was that they had a trio of these Tokai guitars that had in fact been used as samples in their trademark infringement case in the early 1980's against Tokai. The decals on the back of the headstock (still there to this day) seemed to bear this out: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StevenJM Posted March 2, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 if i could find a set online i'd probably pick them up, just to try to put the guitar back into its original shape. Its refinished in a vintage white right now, but part of me wants to attempt doing a sunburst finish. i've never done a burst before though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kulardenu Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 I have 2 Goldstars & a 38 Special Hardtail due any day now. I love em. Down the road I'm looking to try some Humbuckers and maybe get a Springysound too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Wein Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 I put Duncan Antiquities in mine this year. The best thing I've ever done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StevenJM Posted March 2, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 that, my friend, is a beautiful strat. is that a 3 tone burst? or 2? its hard to tell... i find it funny that fender threatened to sue Tokai over their copies in the 80s, but then since 1997, fender uses tokai to build their MIJ models. i should get it on friday, i'm pretty damn excited about this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StevenJM Posted March 2, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 I put Duncan Antiquities in mine this year. The best thing I've ever done did you keep the original pups? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Flogger59 Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 that, my friend, is a beautiful strat. is that a 3 tone burst? or 2? its hard to tell...i find it funny that fender threatened to sue Tokai over their copies in the 80s, but then since 1997, fender uses tokai to build their MIJ models.i should get it on friday, i'm pretty damn excited about this one. Sounds like giving credit where it's due. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaleH Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 if i could find a set online i'd probably pick them up, just to try to put the guitar back into its original shape. Its refinished in a vintage white right now, but part of me wants to attempt doing a sunburst finish. i've never done a burst before though. Reranch has a guild on how to paint a sunburst. They sell paint kits to do it also. A 50s you would want to do a 2 tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 I've played three Tokai strats. Two of them were in the same shop in Delaware or Maryland, on consignment from the same owner. They were VERY impressive, but the he and/or the shop were asking about $750 for one that had been reliced and $600 for the other which seemed pretty steep. The neck profile is what I would call a U or maybe a D shape. Sort of like a C, with with with wider shoulders. Really, they felt great and were probably worth more as a player than most of the American Standards and Road Worns I've played and the relic one really had me panting. I tried it through several boutique amps (which was what I was really interested in). Hopefully you'll love them! I've never attempted a sunburst finish but I'd like to at some point. Forum member lowbrow has done three or four on vintage Gretschs if you had an questions about potentially going that route. I dig the Inca and the Pewter that the Clapton strats used to come in, but I'd also really like a nice, slightly darker than average 2 tone sunburst at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StevenJM Posted March 2, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 i'll have to see what its like when i get it. its currently done up in reranch vintage creme which looks pretty good. so i might just keep it the way it is. I've just always wanted an inca silver strat, and the 2 tone burst would be cool because that was the original finish. apparently the one i got has the u shaped neck, this is the most excited i've been over a new guitar in a long time. usually i just buy guitars that i think look cool (if the price is right) but this one i think is going to fit me more comfort-wise, and my first guitar ever was a squier strat, so in a way i kinda feel like i'm 'going home' by picking up this strat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Wein Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 did you keep the original pups? Thanks! It's the 2 tone burst. Believe it or not that particular instrument was used by Fender in their infringement case back in the 80's. Dumb luck saw me buying it from a store that had bought a bunch of stuff from Fender when they moved to Corona and my teacher at the time (this was 1985 or so) talked me into buying it. I have the neck and middle pickups but like a moron I lost the bridge when I put a hot rail in when I bought it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StevenJM Posted March 2, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 Thanks! It's the 2 tone burst. Believe it or not that particular instrument was used by Fender in their infringement case back in the 80's. Dumb luck saw me buying it from a store that had bought a bunch of stuff from Fender when they moved to Corona and my teacher at the time (this was 1985 or so) talked me into buying it. I have the neck and middle pickups but like a moron I lost the bridge when I put a hot rail in when I bought it. man, an awesome guitar with an awesome story behind it, that is a sweet find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members richey888 Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 I used to play a "Springy Sound" and a "Love Rock" LP. Both 80's, best dang guitars I had laid hands on at the time (early 90's). Everyone said ewwww it's a copy, but I tell ya, best dang guitars I had laid hands on. Out stratted my Fender. Congrats and enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mahuska Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 Get it. I own a Tokai Silver Star(Strat). It is now loaded with BG "Phatty" pups. C shaped neck. Easier to play then most FendersI had played. Stays in tune well also. This axe was made in the 70's and was a lawsuit guitar, but in great shape.I thought it was a steal at 400 bones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StevenJM Posted March 2, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 here's the vintage creme... i kinda like it, so who knows maybe i'll keep it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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