Відео

I haven't posted the label design, no. If I'm honest, I didn't want anybody to use my artwork and start selling them. I also have to add the serial number individually, and artwork it so that it looks like it's been stamped onto the label.

There is clearly a skunk stripe. Watch the video again, especially the clips of the back of the neck, and you’ll see it. The only way there could not be a skunk stripe on a maple neck, is to have a maple laminate fingerboard, like a late 60s Strat, and this is definitely not the construction here.

2:24 plus, there’s the factory ‘80’ sticker right next to the skunk stripe! 😂

Yes, I guess Tokai decided to put their slightly newer design in this when they rebadged it and added the extra hardware - for a more modern feel. My ST60 has E pickups and, as it 100% original, I’m resisting placing them into this guitar. If I spot a set of Es, I’ll add them to my shopping list! 😀

Hi there! Well, as it’s one of my favourite cars and childhood memories (it still has the Norwich City sticker in the back window, and we’d drive all over the UK to see them play away), I’d love to do one. I’ve had a couple of changes of job in the last year or so, so I’ve lost momentum on this channel.

@@2oomus perhaps one day you might feel the urge to do one! I’ve had many triumphs in the past and your videos have given me the excitement to own another one again. Good luck for the future 👍

@@trams66I’m heading over there today, so might get the camera out now that you’ve said such a kind thing! Thank you. ❤

Hello again 🖐️ I thought I’d let you know I have bought a MK1 PI and it’s the same colour as yours! It’s been stored since 1995 so I’m very busy putting it back on the road but it’s worth it. I do hope everything is going well for you👍

Thanks for that lovely comment, Kieran. PG has always been one of my main influences - I like to think I carry a piece of him with me.

"The world keeps on turnin', gotta keep my feet on the ground,,,,,,,,".

They’re great guitars! Absolutely lovely build quality, and the attempts to replicate the American machine stamping with imaginative (often nonsensical) words and phrases - I love it.

That’s part of the trouble with Tokais - they are difficult for is (the western market) to trace that much from the records. I think they have had an ownership change or two over the years, but I have seen letters to in response to people who enquire - so they’re not deliberately secretive. Whilst they became desperate to gather stock and handle legal challenges/complexities, they may not have gone into the detail of an inventory of guitars, with serial number, model numbers, timbers used, hardware, etc.

Thank you. It did work, and I’m fairly certain this is an alnico magnet - certainly the more common type in the late 50s/early 60s, especially with that size cover. I’ve built it into a cabinet with a projector amplifier. You can see a demo here: ua-cam.com/video/JuWHxJU5DiI/v-deo.html

What a lovely thing to say, Daniel. Thank you.

Thanks Chris. I do have plans to do these cars separately, yes. I'm trying to persuade my dad to talk about each one, as he is the Stag Owners Club 'Registrar' and 'Archivist', and knows far too much about Stag and it's history. Once the weather gets a little warmer, we'll give it a go, so please subscribe and keep an eye open!?

Yeah, I’m not sure why my head was telling me they had gold hardware?? Silly me. I knew about the ebony and ‘cashew’ finish - it’s meant to be a very unique finish, but I’ve not seen one either. It’s good that old Tokais are now recognised for their build quality and great timbers, but I agree that I also miss the days of being able to find them cheap.

And I had a Gibson Custom Shop ‘59 ES335… it was nothing compared to this guitar. I don’t miss it, after selling it years ago - but this Tokai is a keeper.

@@2oomus The modern CS are much better. But the prices are ridiculous. I know someone that just bought a new one a few months ago for 8k. Their new Custombucker pickups are supposed to be pretty close to the holy grail PAF's from the golden era. Can't wait to go over with my guitar and compare the two.

@@chuckyz2 They are getting better, yes, although I'm not sure if the Murphy Lab lacquer recipe is as convincing as they claim (I've seen a few where lacquer is completely flaking off, as if they're flood damaged). I have a CS R8 Les Paul from 2013, which I'm really happy with, but should probably have kept my '79 and '81 LS100s and '84 LS80 for less (combined) than the Gibson. You live and learn!! I tend to buy my pickups from a company called Brandonwound now, as they've always been great. I used to rate Bareknuckles in the early days too. Obviously Wizz, etc are meant to be amazing, but I can only comment on what I have played.

@@2oomus Mine came with OX4 Low Winds. The original DiMarzio's were in the case. OX4's got great reviews so they are still in it. And they sound really good. They are almost identical in character to the stock pickups in my 81 LS-60. The Cashew finish is beautiful. It resembles an old Nitro finish that has ambered, yet it will never check. They even put it on the headstock as the Logo has an amber color instead of the white. I believe they come with chrome plated aluminum stop bars. The plating is not good and starts to flake off. I sanded down the plating on top middle and polished the aluminum. I put an aged nickel plated one on the LS-60 and it looks better, but I prefer to keep the original one on the ES because it is a highly collectable guitar. The bridge was replaced because the stock one collapsed like they all do. The new one has brass saddles and I do have the original one in the case. There is not a lot of info on these guitars because there are not very many of them in the States. But the Jazz versions seem to be preferred, tone wise, with the lower output pickups. The DiMarzios get mixed reviews. Some people claim they are great, but a lot of people swap them out for boutique or Gibson humbuckers. So I am hesitant to go through the nightmare of putting them in the ES as the entire wire loom and pots, switch and jack have to be removed. Which I plan on doing. To swap it all out for better stuff wired 50's style. All of that stuff is not good in these guitars. I did that to my LS-60 and it made a noticeable difference. It doesn't hurt the value of the guitar because it is known that Tokais pots, switches and jacks are junk. It really brought out the mojo on my LS-60. Trust me, get yours replaced. You won't regret it. And a proper setup from a pro that knows how to make a guitar ring out is also highly recommended. I was able to improve the tone and sustain on both of my Tokais that came to me claiming they have been setup by pros. They were not setup by pros. Not competent pros anyways. I have made dud guitars come alive and a lot better feeling just by giving them proper setups. My 2019 CS Fenders are the only guitars that had proper setups when they arrived. I invested in all the best tools and took a few years learning and am so glad I did. I still need to level and polish the frets on the ES and change out the electronics. I just need to buy the components and find the time to do it. It takes me awhile because I am so meticulous. And it is tedious work. I have to be in the mood to it. But the guitar sounds great as is and is not in desperate need so I am procrastinating. lol I am good at it but do not enjoy doing it.

I really did! Some people can afford to buy whatever they want, and I just need to be that little bit more careful or wise. 😉

There's also the short period of time that Holmes was at Gibson, after Shaw and Lawrence. It sounds great to my ear, but I still think it's a 490R (neck) with those big bobbin screws. That shouldn't matter... there are PAFs that are 'crappy' (apparently). :)

Thank you!!

They really are gorgeous, Martin. I think that the seasoned timbers that Tokai had stockpiled over the years were, by '78-'81, much better than Gibson's, who had used their best timbers and started to 'economise'.

Do you know much about the later VII (sometimes stamped IIV) pickups? They're what came in this ST80.

@@2oomus yes I'had them too.

Looking for E stamped , can‘t find some . Have U stamped in my ST50 , but Lollars in my ST 80 .

Thanks!! It this alnico speaker form another video: ua-cam.com/video/52tyV2Xc5uQ/v-deo.html

Likely one of the Tokai Silverstar

Neither, does it seem, did the Job Machine! Cheers Andy!

They’re lovely little cars. You don’t tray see any of them now, but they were an attractive runaround.

Hoping to post a full tour of all the cars in the next couple of days, so make sure you subscribe if you like this kind of thing! Cheers, Chris.

Passed my test in my dad,s new 1300 in midnight blue 1970 car , beautiful machine !! as a mechanic , love the video Chris .

Cheers mate!

It does have a really dodgy earthing issue somewhere though. Not in a dangerous way, but whenever I turn the guitar volume, or selector switch, it sounds like a crackly pot... on every guitar. The only time this stops in when I plug it into a mains-powered pedal, set to 'ON'. Very odd.

@@chrisrobinson8421 Strange... have you got a circuit diagram?

@@PeteGostelow no, it's a complete mystery this amp. I've added a three prong cable, earthed to the chassis (its a 110v twin prong from the US). I've got two of them, and the other one does the same thing. It's only when you plug the cable into the input too. I've licked all the filter caps, and I'm not dead yet!!! 🤣

@@chrisrobinson8421 Curious. Have you tried a different lead?

Aw thanks Pete. I’m sorry it’s such a long video to sit through, but I ended up wanting it to be genuine, and not feel edited. I’m glad that you’re taking good things from this channel, I really am. If people learn to care, or listen, or respect one another a little more, then it’s all worthwhile.

Cheers GR! I’m really enjoying it, and I’m letting it take me wherever it decides. I’m in the hands of fate!! 😊

Thanks Aimee!! x

Cheers Pete! I will replace the rivets properly once I find some nice brass ones! (I normally have a fan heater on, but it's even noisier than the noisy cars! New mic setup coming soon!!)

@@2oomus I'm pretty much permanantely in fingerless glooves these days

Thanks matey! I appreciate that a lot. 😘

Thanks Tracy!

No. This is the only EGC from the '82 catalogue that didn't have the maple top. It's a beaut!

Thank you for your comment. I don’t believe I mentioned ‘value’ here at all? I mention the original retail price, but I don’t place value on my guitars - only worth. They are all worth something to me.

That’s a dope guitar for certain. I’ve often thought these guitars were made because of demand and shipping and worldwide distribution that wasn’t what it is today. These Japanese guitar are excellent instruments indeed and a thing of their own. Sweet axe!

Lol, you have no clue about what you're talking about when it comes to Japanese Greco's.

Thanks James! It’s certainly getting there! I changed the tuner buttons for pearloid last night, so I might do an update video at some point. The next video will be about a 1991 Gibson Les Paul Junior Special with all sorts of vintage style mods, so keep your eyes out!!