Pity that you don't state the total cost of the upgraded Tokai but for me the Tokai was the winner, when it came to the last sound clips: most clarity, the other Epi's were a bit more undefined. But thank you for putting in all this effort. Nice playing as well.
I'll ask my friend what he ended up paying for the upgrades, I'll come back to you. I already know the guitar is around 650/700€ without any upgrades. And the heatcrusher is about 150€.
- Tuners: 80€ - Nut: 12€ - Bridge and tailpiece: 130€ - Electronics (still in progress): 90€ - Bridge pickup: 150€ - Guitar: 650€ All that for a total of 1112€. So, less than the price of the expensive Epiphone version and he handpicked those parts. The bridge pickup will be replaced by a Seymour Duncan Distortion Sh6: 150€
Hey everyone, I ordered the nickel parts, I'll probably do a video about these, I might do a step by step replacement sound sample video... Here's the list: - Faber Aluminium Tailpiece - 36€ - Faber Steel Tailpiece Inserts - 16€ - Faber Wrap-lock - 34€ - Faber E-sert converter studs - 36€ - Faber ABR-1 Bridge - 47€ - Kluson "Tulip" locking tuners - 65€ - Switchcraft Straight toggle switch - 29€ - Switch knobs in black or nickel - 7€ - Gibson jack plate Nickel - 13€ - Mojotone 59 Clone Low Output HB Set - 245€ (ouch!) So, if I add the price of the guitar itself (785€) , we end up at 1313€ which is about the price I payed for the expensive Epiphone... But look at those parts!
The tokai sounds a bit too thin for me played in clean… I can hear much more definition of each note in the Epi LPC 2024. The Epiphone LPC Kalamazoo headstock is not far from the 2024 model tho… those 500 make you think if the 2024 model is worth the extra money… 1st EPI 2024, 2nd EPI Kalamazoo headstock, 3rd Tokai for me. Great video!
I like the bridge pickup on that Tokai but it's super hot, it was hard to have dynamics and it's also an upgrade from the stock pickup, the clean was neck/both and yeah it's too thin for my taste When it comes to the Epiphones I much prefer the cheaper version, I have another video where I resume the problems I had on the expensive one you can watch it if you want (it's in french though...) Regarding the sound signature of the two guitars, again I prefer the cheaper version but it's a matter of taste, the Gibson pickups are way more mid forward.
I love the 490/498 pickups. Honestly, if you don’t care about the aesthetics then get the Kalamazoo version and throw that set in it. Under a thousand bucks and you’re pretty much there, unless you want the chunky neck. Great video! I was actually surprised that the Tokai did very little for me, I’m usually a fan.
J'ai la première version de la les paul, la Kalamazoo, et j'avoue que j'aime beaucoup les micros probucker. Plusieurs fois j'ai voulu les changer mais impossible finalement je les aime trop
Yes je les ai remis aussi, après avoir essayé les mojotone le feeling était meilleur avec les probuckers, j'ai juste un peu joué avec les vis histoire d'améliorer un poil la définition mais ils sont top
Clean, the open book version sounded a lot clearer with more pronounced treble. Driven, the kalamazoo sounded clearer. I think I actually prefer the kalamazoo version. Probuckers all the way baby 😊
I'm gonna upgrade the shit out of this guitar, I left a comment under this video with what I ordered today ;). I agree with you I preferred the Kalamazoo overall sound, I just think it lacks a bit of dynamics, this is why I'm going with low output pickups.
I thought the Tokai and the Epiphone IBG 799 version sounded very similar to each other. The Open Book Epiphone Les Paul Custom sounded better. Individual notes seemed more defined and developed.
Loved the "Daughter". Don't hear them very often. Personal observation on the pots & pickups on the Tokai to the newer & older Epiphones. Tokai just doesn't have the depth, variation or even gradient / sweep when looking for tones, volume & taking off drive. Tried plenty of Tokais, but never fallen in love.
Glad someone recognised Daughter! This is a chinese Tokai, that might explain why it's not killing the epiphones here. For me the Japanese ones feel like a lottery ticket, you're never really sure if it's a real one, what year it is, what model it is, you might end up with an outstanding guitar but there might be a problem with it. Sometimes I struggle to buy second hand because of this thought: "why is he selling this guitar, what's wrong with it?" I also didn't find affordable ones with the look I was going for (with ebony fretboard). Maybe if I go to Japan and try the guitars directly there that could change my mind.
Youth is one of my favourites, but Daughter one of my daughter's favourite bands. Saw them in Brighton a few years ago. My daughter has played loads of their stuff at gigs over the years on acoustic, although she makes my Les Paul's & 335s sound great when noodling around at home she has never taken them out, but has recorded with them occasionally. Certainly the guy in the guitar shop in Dartford loves his Tokai, but must admit he always emphasises the Japanese made older ones are the ones to favour.
Pity that you don't state the total cost of the upgraded Tokai but for me the Tokai was the winner, when it came to the last sound clips: most clarity, the other Epi's were a bit more undefined. But thank you for putting in all this effort. Nice playing as well.
I'll ask my friend what he ended up paying for the upgrades, I'll come back to you.
I already know the guitar is around 650/700€ without any upgrades. And the heatcrusher is about 150€.
- Tuners: 80€
- Nut: 12€
- Bridge and tailpiece: 130€
- Electronics (still in progress): 90€
- Bridge pickup: 150€
- Guitar: 650€
All that for a total of 1112€.
So, less than the price of the expensive Epiphone version and he handpicked those parts.
The bridge pickup will be replaced by a Seymour Duncan Distortion Sh6: 150€
Hey everyone, I ordered the nickel parts, I'll probably do a video about these, I might do a step by step replacement sound sample video...
Here's the list:
- Faber Aluminium Tailpiece - 36€
- Faber Steel Tailpiece Inserts - 16€
- Faber Wrap-lock - 34€
- Faber E-sert converter studs - 36€
- Faber ABR-1 Bridge - 47€
- Kluson "Tulip" locking tuners - 65€
- Switchcraft Straight toggle switch - 29€
- Switch knobs in black or nickel - 7€
- Gibson jack plate Nickel - 13€
- Mojotone 59 Clone Low Output HB Set - 245€ (ouch!)
So, if I add the price of the guitar itself (785€) , we end up at 1313€ which is about the price I payed for the expensive Epiphone... But look at those parts!
The tokai sounds a bit too thin for me played in clean… I can hear much more definition of each note in the Epi LPC 2024. The Epiphone LPC Kalamazoo headstock is not far from the 2024 model tho… those 500 make you think if the 2024 model is worth the extra money… 1st EPI 2024, 2nd EPI Kalamazoo headstock, 3rd Tokai for me. Great video!
I like the bridge pickup on that Tokai but it's super hot, it was hard to have dynamics and it's also an upgrade from the stock pickup, the clean was neck/both and yeah it's too thin for my taste
When it comes to the Epiphones I much prefer the cheaper version, I have another video where I resume the problems I had on the expensive one you can watch it if you want (it's in french though...)
Regarding the sound signature of the two guitars, again I prefer the cheaper version but it's a matter of taste, the Gibson pickups are way more mid forward.
@@valendis Je parle français aussi alors aucun probleme pour le regarder en français :) je vais le regarder toute suite :)
@@manelalentorn c'est un peu long désolé 😅
I love the 490/498 pickups. Honestly, if you don’t care about the aesthetics then get the Kalamazoo version and throw that set in it. Under a thousand bucks and you’re pretty much there, unless you want the chunky neck. Great video! I was actually surprised that the Tokai did very little for me, I’m usually a fan.
@@tedjohnson5210this is a Chinese Tokai, that might be why
J'ai la première version de la les paul, la Kalamazoo, et j'avoue que j'aime beaucoup les micros probucker. Plusieurs fois j'ai voulu les changer mais impossible finalement je les aime trop
Yes je les ai remis aussi, après avoir essayé les mojotone le feeling était meilleur avec les probuckers, j'ai juste un peu joué avec les vis histoire d'améliorer un poil la définition mais ils sont top
Clean, the open book version sounded a lot clearer with more pronounced treble. Driven, the kalamazoo sounded clearer. I think I actually prefer the kalamazoo version. Probuckers all the way baby 😊
I'm gonna upgrade the shit out of this guitar, I left a comment under this video with what I ordered today ;).
I agree with you I preferred the Kalamazoo overall sound, I just think it lacks a bit of dynamics, this is why I'm going with low output pickups.
I thought the Tokai and the Epiphone IBG 799 version sounded very similar to each other. The Open Book Epiphone Les Paul Custom sounded better. Individual notes seemed more defined and developed.
Coooooool !
Loved the "Daughter". Don't hear them very often. Personal observation on the pots & pickups on the Tokai to the newer & older Epiphones. Tokai just doesn't have the depth, variation or even gradient / sweep when looking for tones, volume & taking off drive. Tried plenty of Tokais, but never fallen in love.
Glad someone recognised Daughter!
This is a chinese Tokai, that might explain why it's not killing the epiphones here.
For me the Japanese ones feel like a lottery ticket, you're never really sure if it's a real one, what year it is, what model it is, you might end up with an outstanding guitar but there might be a problem with it.
Sometimes I struggle to buy second hand because of this thought: "why is he selling this guitar, what's wrong with it?"
I also didn't find affordable ones with the look I was going for (with ebony fretboard).
Maybe if I go to Japan and try the guitars directly there that could change my mind.
Youth is one of my favourites, but Daughter one of my daughter's favourite bands. Saw them in Brighton a few years ago. My daughter has played loads of their stuff at gigs over the years on acoustic, although she makes my Les Paul's & 335s sound great when noodling around at home she has never taken them out, but has recorded with them occasionally.
Certainly the guy in the guitar shop in Dartford loves his Tokai, but must admit he always emphasises the Japanese made older ones are the ones to favour.
Epiphone is the winner!