Anyone know anything about Tokai Guitars

[GAJ52]

In my quest to choose between Kinman Impersonator 54's or FV-HMS (see my other post recently) for my Japanese 'Hank Marvin' Strat. I thought can I convince my other half it would be nice to buy both (she's the financial manager).

The only other 'Strat' I own is a Tokai 'Goldstar Sound' serial number L25275, which is a copy of the early 60's Fender Strat which I bought new in 1984 from ABC Music, Addlestone if anyone remembers them.

My question, are these guitars any good ? Due to an electrical problem I haven't used this guitar for about 10 years - is it worth spending £220 on Kinman pickups and solderless kit (another £70) ??

Glen

Edit : just remembered I took this guitar to show Charlie when I bought one of the original EFTP Q2's, can't remember now what he thought of it

[kipper]

the early tokai guitars were really good guitars in there own right, well made in my opinion. fender took a lawsuit out to stop them copying there stats. there is a good tokai web site but cant find the address at the moment just goggle it and you will find it ok. they are hard to date. they have started to make them again now. peter

[istvan]

Hi Glen!
I have a Tokai,and very happy with it.Last year I played on the guitar with Charlie in Fischamend.
Regards
istvan

[DaveC]

Hi Glen,

This is the Tokai Registry:
www.tokairegistry.com/index.html

Early Tokais were so good that people now fake them! In 1984 they were endorsed by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Here's some history:
planetbotch.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/tokai-tst50-goldstar-sound-1980s.html

If you don't like it with the Kinmans fitted then you could always put it back to original (fixing the electrical fault) and sell it on. The Kinmans will fit into whatever you buy with all the money you make.

Regards,
DaveC.

[allclaphands]

The Tokai Goldstar was one of the UK's best selling accurate vintage Strat coming
in a choice between a 1958 or 1964 replicas and had all the very good specs about it.
It all depends on if you want to keep it or sell it on if you want to keep it and play it
then replacing the pups or any other work is purely for you pleasure and enjoyment
and the value you put on that is up to you.If you are looking to sell it on then that's a
different matter about trying to recoup the cost involved .

Pete

[GAJ52]

Sept 15, 2016 16:50:56 GMT DaveC said:

Hi Glen,

This is the Tokai Registry:
www.tokairegistry.com/index.html

Early Tokais were so good that people now fake them! In 1984 they were endorsed by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Here's some history:
planetbotch.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/tokai-tst50-goldstar-sound-1980s.html

If you don't like it with the Kinmans fitted then you could always put it back to original (fixing the electrical fault) and sell it on. The Kinmans will fit into whatever you buy with all the money you make.

Regards,
DaveC.

Dave, may thanks for those links.

I haven't found the original receipt yet but I believe I bought this guitar in 1983/4, and reading the link you kindly supplied the TST-50 which I have, is considered a quality replica of the early Fender series. If I can convince the 'financial manager' I will definitely convert the pups on this guitar with one of the Kinman Hank Marvin variants. Just out of interest, I don't know what the wood is but its significantly heavier than my Japanese Fender.

Glen