Tokai Love Rock LS136 Unboxing and Review
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2021
- I have been a Tokai fan for a long time now so a video like this is long overdue.
I wanted to get another guitar for a tour coming up soon and a couple of these LS136 flame tops came up for sale so I bought one direct from Japan and I couldn't be happier with the results.
Tokai’s are GREAT playing and sounding guitars and very well made. I’m as true blue American as anyone, but in my opinion, as long as Tokai are cranking out axes like this, why spend way more cash for a Gib? In my opinion only of course. Congrats on the new guitar man!
Love hearing you talk about gear, show us your favorite guitars, amps, etc. Love getting your opinions on stuff and hearing what you like and cool stories too.
Fantastic guitar and superb demo. Thanks for taking the time to do this video. I own several Tokai guitars both love rocks and Strat type. Super consistent quality control. I have a great Tokai Custom 3 pick up Black Beauty. This guitar is stunning.
Yeah man, I would totally love a tour of your gear and workshop!
I second this!!! Gear tour would be killer!!!
Super informative vid. Easy to take in. Clearly a killer fiddle. That tobacky-burst is a beaut, too! Keep it up my dude.
iam having a fan boy moment . I just realized who u are. love the content 🤘🎸💗
Badass! I've been considering a Tokai for awhile, now. Maybe soon...
It would be great to have a tour of your gear!
Totally agree. Love Tokais. I have a few but just bought a 1981 LS 50 and it is a beaut . Great video 👍
My MAN! I've had my LS150 all over my channel for over a decade now. It's SUCH a great guitar. It's been beat to hell from hundreds and hundreds of shows but it's an absolute rock MACHINE. I still have the Sheptone Bryan Kahanek PAF's in there too. Killer pickups that can do everything. Other than the Kluson Revolution locking tuners, those Sheptones have been the best upgrade. The faber bridge and tailpiece were nice too but didn't make as big of an impact on the tone as I was expecting.
That was an awesome review man. Liked and subbed! Great playing too \m/
Wonderful guitars! Nice to se this video, greate sounding too, and what a fast shipping, my Good! Greatings from the west coast of Sweden
Mine is a 2001. Cherry Sunburst.
It's previous owner(s) probably gigged with it and it's been through a LOT.
I love basically everything about that guitar.
I love the way the neck feels. I love the way it sounds. I love the colors. It plays like butter. The 'battle scars' on it give it more character and always leaves me wondering how did that happen? It's just beautiful.
Nice video, thanks. Had a Tokai LS-50 back in the early 80s. Played through a 50w Marshall combo sounded just like that. Crunchy and thick. People loved the tone. Toured it about 5 years then the headstock broke in an accident. Had it fixed but it was never the same. I'm almost tempted to buy one out of nostalgia but sadly don't have the room to keep it.
Your camera work is on point!
Love your channel. Id love to see more gear centric videos. Maybe kick it off with the tour of your play area with basic gear inventory or something.
I agree with you 100%. I like Tokai ang Greco, Burny also. I think the build quality on Japanese guitars have been great since the 70s.
Amazing review bro!
Nice video dude. Made me a believer, thanks.
Awesome 🤘 🎸 guitar and video. I am looking at the LS148. I think I might take the leap of faith. 🤘🎸🎸🤘
Hell yeah brother! I have a MIJ Epiphone and Orville but I have a craving to satisfy yet with some Tokai Burny and Greco LP's
Looks exactly like a Gibson! Saved you 2 grand too! I bought a Tokai Explorer copy in gloss black and gold hardware and I love it! A great, well built alternative and very affordable brand!
I have the same guitar, got it about 8-10 years ago. I have any guitar I need and this is my go to for my Southern Rock gigs.
Thanks for the video dude, great knowledge.
Great review, thanks!
I would love to see more gear focused videos!
Good joyce...great guitar...love it...i'll be buying a goldtop or burst from their custom shop series ls1 shortly...looking forward to that....
as you said...fair price, great quality......stuff you won't find with gibson anymore....sadly.
Thinking about grabbing one of these!
Nice video!
I became quite a believer in Tokais in the last couple of years as well.
I own an LS-1 R9, which is exclusive to the German market, I believe is comparable to the LS 300 and something range.
I’ve learned recently that they have a model called LS-540 with Brazilian rosewood, boutique PAFs, vintage bumblebees and the works… would love to try that.
I believe that on the upper models, the Single cut Tokais easily surpass any Gibson USA in every regard.
I think that they are comparable to reissues from 2008-2016.
Some of the high end Japanese replicas are selling for more than Gibson reissue guitars. That makes for a tough buying decision. I just got a Greco EG59-70 for a little over a grand with case. Amazing pickups (DRY), and after cleaning the board, it looks, and smells like Brazilian. The flame top is a laminate over hard maple, the back is multiple pieces of what appears to be a good quality mahogany. The neck has a heal cap. I'll call it a poor mans R9.
Yes give us a tour of your gear
I love Tokai’s! Did you purchase from a Tokai dealer in Japan? It’s hard to navigate purchasing from there. Would love to know the name of the place you bought it from. Cool video!
Very nice guitar!
Love a Tokai!
Nice guitar man. I’ve got a 1980 ls-50 but it’s got the weirdest paint job it’s black. And has the ink serial number. yet there’s a few chips in the paint where you can see the red underneath.
Just checking these out in Australia and they all come with a hard case.
Ordered a 129 in Hard case from Rose Morris in England on this past Monday the 31st, shipped Tuesday the 1st , Cleared customs yesterday and arriving today by 3pm in Maine. UPS at it's best !
Liked and subbed, Thanks for the vid.
Just bought Tokai LP Love Rock model from my friend. Its propably my best guitar atm. Its a littlebit modified though. My friend changed mics for it. EMG pickups. TBH its the best sounding guitar when playing metal compared to strat and esp that I have :)
Looks and sounds amazing! Which place did you order from Japan?
I got a 2001 ls70f which is now the ls136f for £500 a few years a go. Best thing I've bought for £500. It's awesome!!!!!!
👍🏻👍🏻 Good review, Tokais are great, on a par with Gibson, IMO. My 136 came with the paisley hard case, have they dropped the hard case?
I'm looking to buy the next series down. Already have a 78' LP custom. Want some different pickups, new range of sounds.
Hey my man: Nice vid. I'm looking for an LP style guitar but with mini-humbuckers. Does / did Tokai ever do that? Worst case, I could look for one with P90s and replace them, I suppose. I'm doing more jazz, funk & R&B, so low-gain and clean are my priorities, but that one there sounds killer. Thx.
The only thing I changed on my Tokai was the truss rod cover. I put a Gibson Custom Shop truss rod cover on mine and the screws line up perfectly.
I own a tokai aswell (chinese in my case) , never played a gibson to be honest , but i can tell the tokais play incredibly well and sound amazing , if needed yo can replace electronics and pickups to get some more unique sounds , but out of the box it really is a great guitar
EXCELLENT.
Nice review. Is that a slx at the back?
These guitars are amazing I’ve had five of em.
Immaculately made . They do sound like a tokai though not like a Gibson. I think it’s the pickups. Nothing wrong with that. They are made like the old style LPs non chambered and is quite heavy. I might get one some day but now they are up there with Gibson in price.
I have the Same Guitar in Sunburst, I put a Set of Seymour Duncan Alnico 2 Pro APH1 pick ups and sound awesome!!
Bought exact guitar second hand. Comes tomorrow
Man I love an amp with Balls !!
Hi, thats a lovely guitar. What store in Japan did you buy that guitar?
O man That is wat a Guitar is supose to
Sound. Love rock rules so Nice!
i have a 2012 one in cherry burst. it's really good. Compared to other Epiphones I've had. i bought mine used, same price as like a brand new Epiphone custom with a hard case. But the feel of these Tokais are worlds different from an Epiphone, okay, that's exaggerating, but really. The neck, the weight and the look. Yes it's no Gibson, but it's not Epiphone. Epiphone feels good too, don't get me wrong, but if you want to step up but does not want to pay Gibson prices, these Tokais are great middle ground. But I'd really suggest buy used, there you'll get real value.
I'm pleased to have 2 Tokai Love Rock. I used to have a Gibson Les Paul Standard 2011 with Burst Buckers, that I never acquainted with then sold it. Found a used Tokai LS1000 35th anniversary, specced like a R9 custom shop, fitted custom PAF clones, just a dream of sound. Found later on a used LS128F VF, kept the Mk2 pick ups in as it was a more grunty sound like the one in the vid. Both Tokai are absolutely flawless ( which was not the case of the Gibson). So pleased with Tokai that I now have a ES162, so much better sounding than the Gibson ES335 that I tested. These 3 Tokai I have are Japanese made, don't know about quality of Chinese made Tokai.
I own a Chinese tokai les Paul... Amazing guitar honestly!!! I don't know how, or who is make them in China, but I can tell you my friend, that after a good set up the guitar is a beast!!
It sounds fucking great 👍 👌!!!!!
Hi May I ask the website or a shop that you order a guitar please. Nice video.
Thank you so much
I have the exact guitar just a LS100 from 2011 Lovely
Just picked up one of those old butcher cabs for $150 recently, they are badass. There’s another one with the matching head for $600 near me and I’m trying to talk myself into getting it for the full stack factor lol.
Treat yourself. Go get it! A Butcher full stack in your room will be satisfying. The cabs are well made and the speakers are great.
More Tokais, more gear!
A very informative and interesting review..
Congrats for the beautiful ax..
In between , I guess from the specs of this specific guitar the picks are miki 2s .. some other tokais have the miki 2 version..
please if you can tell some differences ..
These are MKII's and the output is high. I believe around 12 to 14K in resistance. I would rate these pickups somewhere between a 498T and a Duncan JB. I can't tell by looking at them. Either have to hear them or read the coil impedance with a multimeter. I have had low output Tokai PAF clones in a guitar as well but not in these Love Rock models.
@@purgasound thank you bro ..
Which one of these clones can imitate the closest vintage les Paul tone ?
@@hottamanful Vintage Les Paul’s would have PAF’s so those are the style you would need, which would have an output in the 7-9 range, not 12-14!
Love that guitar buddy!....you can rip on it man.....Egue elovirta has tokai guitars too...
What is the model of the brown burst you showed for a second?
Tokai are well made guitars...some of them are very heavy though. I'm not really bothered about how spotless the finish etc is as it's likely to get bashed if you gig. I have a Gibson SGJ which is cheaper entry Gibson. The rosewood fingerboard has large pores in it and there's a noticeable bump where it fits the neck. Really not great QC ..BUT...it is incredibly resonant and it absolutely screams. Really one of the best sounding guitars I have despite how shoddily it was assembled.
Can you point me in the right direction for go to import a guitar from Japan? I’m not sure about the import taxes.
Love this guitar literally about to trade in mine for it lol
Can you tell me where you purchase these Tokai guitars?
How's the poly finish? Does it feel hella plasticky?
What's going on with Reverb? Can't find a brand new Tokai lc136 wr for sale? This video is only a year old.
Yes more more more 🙃
Help me understand something about tokai.
If I buy a tokai love rock gold top with p90's, how much will it cost, with the cheapest hardware, because I would like to upgrade myself, but, made with the highest quality wood.
Insight appreciated. That thing is amazing.
Im highly debating with my self to get one
Question: does it have a fat / chunky neck or is it a slim type?
i was 50/50 whether to get myself a Tokai or buy a Gibson. if the Tokai is good enough for someone on your level i guess ive made my decision.
I have a couple of Burny Les Pauls (another Japanese brand) and the quality for the cost is amazing!
You should definitely check out Japanese brands like Tokai and Burny, they are definitely up there quality wise with guitars like Gibson but at much more realistic prices!
if i have 2000 to buy les paul, i will choose tokai. Because you will get the best quality, Only when you have used tokai will you believe what I say. I bought a tokai ls136 (used) and am waiting for it.
I am looking to buy one of these and wonder which dealer you bought yours from. I was also wondering about the neck shape...I got a few specs from Klundert Music on Reverb and they said the neck thickness at the first fret is 23mm and 26mm at the twelfth. Do you feel its a chunky neck or thinner feeling?
Thanks, Joe
The neck profile is a later 50's style but the shape is asymmetrical so it's big but it doesn't feel bulky in the hand. It's very comfortable to play. I really like this neck shape a lot. I actually never noticed it was assymetrical until I read it in a spec sheet. Sure enough all the recent Tokai's I own have the same neck shape and they all play wonderfully.
@@purgasound Thank you! I prefer slimmer necks because I have smaller hands. The Tokai's are very appealing for their quality and price point but I've been concerned about the neck shape. There is a Japanese dealer who seems to have a couple of guitars they spec'd out with Tokai to have a 60's style slim neck that I think I'll try.
@@purgasound Where did you buy this guitar?
Am I crazy? @5:33 min, the guitar you take out to show the updated bridge, are the strings wrapped around the tailpiece??
Yes, I lower the tailpiece and top wrap the stings on most of my LP's. I don't do it on every guitar with a stop bar. SG's and V's, usually no.
What site or seller did you use?
$1 000 and a Gibson Tribute is $2 000. I'd say the Tokia wins hands down. In fact I'd say my Korean LR is better than the Gibson Tribute. But maybe the £350 I paid is clouding my judgement. Your guitar sounds great.
Shocked they can get away with that headstock given Gibson suing everyone these days. I have a Gibson LP 60s and that guitar is every bit as nice. I like you love the way the back looks.
Still have them at Reverb.
Are they still worth it? A couple LS 136s from 2018 go for about 1000 Euros/Dollars from Japan w/ free shipping.
Absolutely. They are magnificent guitars. I recently got a lacquer finish model which is essentially the same guitar as this with different inlay material, aged hardware and nitro instead of poly. The consistency between all of my Tokai's made in the last 15 years is uncanny. I have a lot of Gibsons too but they're all very different from each other. I prefer the out of the box sound of the Tokai though.
Big fan of MIJ Les Pauls.
Hey man is it just the lighting, or does the finish look almost as red as a cherry burst? can't decide between these 2 colors
The white balance on the camera was set a little on the "warm" side so it does look a little more red but that's a fairly accurate representation of the color. The violin finishes are almost orange all over and the cherry finishes are going to be darker on the outside of the burst to make them a deeper red. I expected a lighter center on this one but they're only 2 color bursts. I'm not disappointed at all though. The flame tops are nice but they're not AAA quality or anything. They don't POP like a high end flame top but I don't think it's a bad thing. This is still a great workhorse guitar.
@@purgasound thanks dude, ive got a honeyburst epiphone but its more of a dull brown and gold in the middle which is quite boring. I'm guessing in a normal lighting the violin finish looks more vibrant in yellows and oranges?
I must say its hard af to find an affordable cherry burst les paul with an authentic headstock, poly finish that isnt gonna wear in a few years and most importantly a burst that doesn't look like a McDonalds clown. These tokai's are lookin like the one
@@lesnacke You should also check out Burny (another Japanese manufacturer) they do some lovely “Bursts” and are totally authentic looking too!
same, not a fan of Gibson but really like Les Paul's and from everything I've seen on youtube and the internet no one has really said anything negative about Tokai, the opposite actually, very well made in Japan. No idea on the Chinese made other than they are to Tokai's standard of quality from what people have said.
I own a Chinese made tokai les Paul custom... Amazing guitar, yes it need it some work, with the frets, and a good set up, after I fix these... The guitar is a beast, great pickups no microphoning, just play great, and also the pots are the small ones, but that's fine with me I have no issue for the moment,
Plastic still on the pick ups ?? Sound demo ?? 🤔
I may have just been swoon by the love rock
Did you say where you bought these beauts from?
Is your pedal gear the same setup shown in the gear god episode
At my studio? I use a much simpler set up at home but I don't have anything permanently set up. Just a couple of raw pedal boards and I add whatever I need for the session. Mainly stick with a TS9 or GTOD and a wah pedal.
Price? Link to buy?
I have had 3 Tokai Love Rock guitars. A 2019 Chinese made LS48, A Japanese made LS260 and most recently a Chinese Made LSS-58. Here is the real rundown. The Japanese made guitar was great. Amazing attention to detail. I did not like the wood selected for the burst top, it was quite average. Otherwise very good. The first LS48 had very, very good attention to detail. in the workmanship. But the Veneer top looked really cheap. It had mini pots and the shafts broke quickly with normal use of knobs. Pickups were trash. I had to change out and uograde the electronics and pickups. Now my new 2021 made LSS-58..VERY DISSAPOINTED. Qaulity has gone way, way down. It has P90s and the routs are sloppy and uneven. Again crappy mini pots, the tuners were so bad I changed them day one. It has the one piece bridge/tail piece and saddles cant be adjusted. However it is so badly intunated that I will need to replace this with one that has adjustable saddles to make it playable. Anbd the fret edges are sharp. These may be priced well, but when you have to spend hundreds to fix deficencies, are you really saving anything? AND THE BIGGEST DOWNSIDE TO TOKAI...these have no resale interest. Seriously, you can't give them away. If you want to sell one for whatever reason, you will take a massive loss. That will NEVER happen with a Gibson. And that in itself is a good reason to buy Gibson. If you are smart and buy new during sales, or buy second hand Gibsons priced right. YOU CAN ALWAYS GET EVERY CENT YOU SPENT BACK. It's very true you can own them for free essentailly because you can always sell them for what you paid, unless you bought stupidly. There are very very few things on earth you can say that about
Is the neck sticky or so?
No more than any other gloss finish. While I also like sanded necks I am not bothered by finished necks.
@@purgasound
Like a gibson Standard neck?!
I should have talked about the neck profile. It is more of a 50's style neck but it is not gigantic. I believe they are referred to as a '59 neck profile. It's comfortable and it does have a slightly asymmetric u-shape to it. I have never noticed the asymmetry until I read about it. It just feels good without being awkward.
@@purgasound
Nice, now i have to find one in Germany😁
You remind me of Julian with longer hair and tattoos.
Take it out to the chicken coupe and give it a proper rippin 🤘🏼🤘🏽🤘🏾🤘🏿
Hail Lord Pustulus
This doesn’t help my list for a good Tokai. That’s a sweet score
Weird. I got hard cases with both my Japanese and Chinese Tokais
Gibson would never allow Tokai to sell this or any of Tokai's Les Paul style guitar in the US, the other main problem is that if you look hard and haggle you could buy a secondhand Gibson Les Paul standard for the same money as this Tokai guitar new. The poly finish also looks cheap and plasticky on the guitar featured. The Epi 59 Inspired by IMHO is a better value option than this Tokai.
I can afford Gibsons. I don't want Gibsons. I prefer Tokai.
I sold every Gibson I've owned except the first '91 Special I bought when I was young.
I ordered a mobile phone holder from China in May 2021 it's November 2021 and I'm still waiting. Their excuse is COVID.
Oh, paid 556$ for it.
How do they not get sued by Gibson. The headstock looks just like a Gibson.