Tokai Stratocaster - any Tokai experts here (pics now added)?

Voxman

I have a good friend of mine that has a Tokai Strat for sale (I think is an an ST 'Springy Sound') but I don't know much more about it yet, although I've played it and its quite a nice guitar.  He's since bought himself a Fender Stratocaster Deluxe and it's now superflous to requirements.  He's trying to find a realistic sale price for it (his initial thinking is £650-750) and I've suggested he send me details of the serial number and year with some good all round pics to post.

I'm not particularly knowledgeable on Tokai Strats so just wanted to see if we had any experts here?  Also of course if anyone might be interested in buying it.  

John_A

There are a number of variations of a Springy Sound, a ST50, 60 and 80, with increasingly better specs, i.e. number of pieces body is made from, pickups, poly or nitro finish, if it's in great nick I'd say ST50 - £500, 60 £600, 80 £900+  Sometimes there will be a little sticker on the back of the neck with 50,60,80, but more often than not it's a case of looking over them to ascertain the model number. All made between 1978 and 1983 after which they changed the name to Goldstar, but it's basically the same guitar

Voxman

Thanks @John_A that's very helpful.  

guitars4you

at this stage a pic of the headstock will be handy - they changed many aspects of the headstock , logo and model info on the headstock facia and many of such detail can help pin point the model/age - serial number can help and often a oblong sticker nearer the neck join that might have model on it - then we can take it from there

Voxman

OK guys, I have some pics - my friend thinks he bought in 1982-83.  I think its an 83 based on the block logo.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c33/voxman5/cid_4FE91F55-A076-4769-987D-0316FF6F20A1cable_virginmedia_zpsfhixboi3.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c33/voxman5/cid_D2011E86-C63B-4291-B61A-0009DB6BA3EEcable_virginmedia_zpscho8t9so.jpg

thermionic

My considered opinion is that it's an ST50.

guitars4you

yes a TST50 - probably most popular model - yours has the Tokai block logo, as against a script logo, so looks like a 1983 period - same guitar as a spag logo model, but spag logos tend to be more sought after - To me a realistic selling price is £500 - £600 is a bit of a fishing trip

dogload

Every time I see how much old Tokais go for these days I think to myself 'I wish I'd kept mine in good nick'. But then I realise that it makes no difference as I wouldn't sell it anyway. It is that good. 

John_A

guitars4you said:

yes a TST50 - probably most popular model - yours has the Tokai block logo, as against a script logo, so looks like a 1983 period - same guitar as a spag logo model, but spag logos tend to be more sought after - To me a realistic selling price is £500 - £600 is a bit of a fishing trip

I agree, £450-£500 would be the going rate

Voxman

I remember playing a natural finish one at Rose Morris in Shaftesbury Avenue (a friend of mine was working there - great keyboard player, he went on to play support keyboards on tour with 'Yes') - I think it was around 1978/79.  No idea of the model but it sounded and felt just like my '69 Strat.  Unbelievable quality for a 'copy' in those days (& even today) and was way better than the then current production Fender Strats. 

BigLicks67

I had an 83/84 Tokai Strat (60's style) which I sold for about £320.00 about 12 years ago, which I accept with inflation is probably not now a realistic price. However, you could get a s/hand American Strat for £600, so I would think you would out of your frickin' mind to pay £650 for a Tokai. Anyone who would should contact me as I've got some special edition Snake Oil in the shed.

A realistic price is about £400.00 IMHO.

fendergibson

That top E string looks mighty close to the edge of the fretboard....is the neck straight/no movement in pocket ?

Richardj

I think the Japanese simply bypassed the woefull '70s Fender 'sausage in an alley' three bolt design by going straight for a four bolt attachment.

Voxman

@fendergibson don't know re top E, I'd need to play it again. 

@BigLicks67 I agree completely. Regardless of quality discussions, a USA Strat has the name and street cred, and I made that very same price point to my friend.  Nevertheless, there's a lot of respect for Tokai's and these have a healthy fan following. However in my view its the block lettering that impacts on value, as most folk will want the spaghetti logo. 

BloodEagle

Richardj said:

I think the Japanese simply bypassed the woefull '70s Fender 'sausage in an alley' three bolt design by going straight for a four bolt attachment.

The Tokai Silver Star models had the 3 bolt neck attachement (and big 70s headstock)

BloodEagle

Richardj said:

I think the Japanese simply bypassed the woefull '70s Fender 'sausage in an alley' three bolt design by going straight for a four bolt attachment.

The Tokai Silver Star models had the 3 bolt neck attachement (and big 70s headstock)

Danny1969

Looks very similar to mine :

I would say about £400 as that's what they tend to make on Ebay. Fantastic guitars with the sweetest pickups

guitars4you

Danny1969 said:

Looks very similar to mine :

I would say about £400 as that's what they tend to make on Ebay. Fantastic guitars with the sweetest pickups

Yours look more like the 3rd Logo - First Tokai with Spaghetti logo had the T for Tokai more as an F - Then Block letter as per Voxman's, than yours with the T style script logo for Tokai - can't quite read yours if its is Goldstar or Spring Sound - probably 1984

dogload

Here's mine. Originally Sherwood Green metallic, bought new in 1984

guitars4you

dogload said:

Here's mine. Originally Sherwood Green metallic, bought new in 1984

that is seriously funky - who did it for you

dogload

Thank you. I did it myself.