Tokai

This has come about because there is relatively little clear information to be found about the brand when it comes to background, serial number coding, type numbering or production. In addition, Tokai, with waves, has not been readily available all over the world in recent decades, even though the brand has built a very good name from the past when it comes to quality.  

This causes a lot of confusion even among the greatest experts. Still, we at Klundert Music have a lot of experience with the brand and with that quite some knowledge and expertise about this luthier from The Land Of The Rising Sunburst.  

So what should you look for in a Tokai? Where are they built? What does Tokai make these days? What about the type descriptions? What is the history of Tokai and are the current guitars actually legal? And what can I deduce from the serial number of a Tokai? Just some questions and issues that come up on a regular basis. Here are the answers!

To get a good idea of what a luthier does today, it is often very enlightening to look at the history of the particular brand. And this is certainly true of Tokai. The Tokai Gakki Company, Ltd. (東海楽器製造株式会社, Tōkai Gakki Seizō Kabushiki-gaisha) got its start in 1947 thanks to Tadayouki Adachi.

Until recently, Tokai was a family business, but since 2023, Tokai has been owned by an investment company. They have continued Tokai's line, focusing mainly on making electric (bass) guitars and acoustic guitars.  In the past, however, Tokai has made all kinds of instruments. For example, the company once began making harmonicas and pianos in 1947, and from 1961 on, mainly banjos and harpsichords. 

It was not until 1965 that Tokai made its first classical guitar, the electric guitar followed three years later; the Hummingbird which was based on the Mosrite Mark I and II. In 1970 they came out with the acoustic Humming Bird Custom.  Later in 1972 they teamed up with C.F. Martin to supply acoustic parts and build the Sigma series electric guitars, when Sigma was still part of Martin at the time. In 1975 followed the first line of Tokai itself, called Cat's Eye which were replicas of the C.F. Martin guitars.

Since the late 1970s, Tokai has started building replicas of Fender and Gibson electric guitars. Seen in the timeline of Fender and Gibson, this is a period when both brands were failing; business practices, artistic choices within the range and quality left much to be desired causing consumers to defect to other brands. Tokai was one of the brands that benefited from this to the frustration of Fender and Gibson.  

In 1978 they introduced with the "Breezy Sound" and "Springy Sound" Tele and Strat replicas and the LP replica called "Les Paul Reborn." These LP replicas were later named "Love Rock". This name change came as a result of threats from American guitar companies to take legal action to protect their copyrights. So that Tokai guitars from this period are known as "lawsuit guitars." And in fact, this has been an ongoing situation for Tokai since that time.

Besides origins and history of the brand, it is also important to note that it is an aspect of Japanese culture, when it comes to the guitar industry at least, not so much to reinvent the wheel, but mainly to better execute the existing idea. A lot of pride goes along with this. That Tokai has become big on executing existing guitar concepts perfected to perfection is not so strange therefore. The course that Tokai took with this in the late 1970s, it is still sailing; guitars you know, but built differently from other major brands. With fantastic specifications and uncompromising workmanship. This quality is commensurate with a fair price. 

In the current collection you will find a wide variety of models, which are not always conveniently arranged. First, we distinguish between Tokai Japan and Tokai China. The Japanese guitars are hand built with luxury specifications and finishes. The Chinese guitars are outsourced or commissioned and are a lot more affordable, but for what you pay, even these guitars are very impressively built.  

The different types of guitars Tokai builds are very diverse and over time Tokai may have ventured into the most well-known models. Currently, the following (bass) guitar styles are firmly in production; LP, SG, ES, FB, ST, TE, offset, J-Bass, P-Bass TB-Bass.

Then the type numbers increase as the instrument becomes more luxurious and also more expensive. So for example; LS129 is succeeded by LS136, etc. However, the thing is that the type numbers change over time while the guitar remains the same. And that of course creates confusion, but the logic behind that, is that the number represents the price of the guitar in Yen; an LS129 has a price of 129000 Yen in Japan. And so again, it is not so strange that with time the price and therefore the type number changes.

Yes indeed! Tokai still makes plenty of quality instruments, both in Japan and in China. But the import to the West does not always run smoothly. We have had a large collection of both the Chinese and Japanese Tokai's permanently on hand for several years and are well aware of what is possible or available.

With its current cult status, there are a lot of Tokai enthusiasts in the world. Often they are guitarists who at one point may have had a negative experience with another brand that Tokai makes replicas of, or a guitarist who goes for an exceptional price-quality ratio.  
And there lies right there the main answer to the question; the best reason to consider a Tokai is the wonderful price-quality ratio.  

After all, with a Tokai you get luxury specifications at fair prices with the same iconic, authentic look, feel and sound.  Think one-piece bodies, through-and-through maple tops, quality hardware and electronics, beautiful finishes and uncompromising construction and finish. We have literally never had a questionable Tokai on our workbench. And that's saying something in a guitar brand!

In fact, Japanese Tokai guitars are hand-built. Tokai uses quality materials and the well-known, classic tone-woods such as alder, ash, mahogany, maple and rosewood, for example. Depending on the model, bodies are made from one or two parts. Maple tops are always through-and-through, but depending on type, figured tops are sometimes veneered. The more expensive LS models, however, have figured tops through-and-through. 

The hardware and electronics are in all cases like the original. The elements are Tokai's own and the hardware is often purchased quality hardware (e.g. Gotoh).  The construction and finish of these guitars are always flawless. The paintwork is always neat and tight, the frets are well finished and level. This level of finishing ensures that we at Klundert Music can deliver the guitars perfectly tuned. And precisely because of this we notice and conclude that Tokai Japan uses quality raw materials; no so-called "young" or insufficiently dried wood as we sometimes see with other brands.

Or rather; where are savings made on these more affordable guitars? For the most part, cost savings are achieved by outsourcing production to a guitar factory with OEM manufacturing. Riding on scale of EOM production saves on raw material costs, production time and costs.

Specification-wise and certainly relative to prices, Chinese Tokai's are also quite impressive. Made with beautiful tonewoods and made to traditional specifications.

The serial numbering of Tokai is unfortunately not so transparent or insightful. Tokai itself does not have good documentation of this so it is not always possible, for example, to properly trace a build year from the serial number.   
 
However, for older Tokais, from the late 70s to early 2000s, there is a very helpful online platform where a lot of information can be found about serial numbering, years of manufacture and many other interesting details that may be relevant to these older guitars. Check:  www.tokairegistry.com

No, despite the fact that Tokai has been fired many times for copyright issues, they are not illegal anywhere. It is true that Tokai is not equally available all over the world (especially in the West), and possibly this may have to do with competition concerns raised by other brands with relevant dealers and retailers.

Difficult question, after the passage of time an instrument often naturally enters vintage appreciation. It is clearer to talk about which guitars from Tokai are "collectable." A collectible value usually acquires a brand or instrument because of scarcity, because of exceptional quality or because of historically related status. For this reason, for Tokai, these are mainly pre-1985 guitars.

Of course, the weight of a guitar depends entirely on the materials used and there is quite a difference from specimen to specimen and from one model to another. Selecting the wood based on weight is certainly not uncommon on more expensive guitars as a secondary part of the upgrade in specifications. The better and more expensive guitars tend to be lighter.

Questions about the weight of a Tokai are an everyday occurrence with us, and in almost all cases it relates to the LS models. Across the entire line of Tokai the weights vary widely, but with the LS models we know from experience that the weight averages between 3.8 and 4.5 kg.

Tokai has a wide collection, from the budget-friendly luxury starter guitars to the high-end professional instruments. In monetary terms, you can expect a range of about 500 to 3500 euros.  

The collection consists of a wide variety of models, but mostly correct replicas of Fender and Gibson.

Tokai guitars are characterized by their high quality, good workmanship and consistent performance. So, whether you are looking for a budget-friendly guitar or a high-end instrument, within the Tokai collection you will always find a guitar with an excellent value for money.

Paint finish is a relevant specification in guitars. Obviously for the eye, but also for the ear. Tokai has used various techniques of lacquer finish in the past, and continues to do so today, but as with many aspects with the brand, there does not seem to be an immediate logic to which techniques belong to which guitars, models or time period.  

For example, there are many Tokai's with nitrocellulose lacquer. This is a type of lacquer that was standard for guitars and other musical instruments in the 1950s and 1960s. Nitrocellulose lacquer is a very thin, oil-like lacquer that forms a transparent layer over the wooden surfaces of the guitar and thus, in the finding of many guitarists, produces a resonant tone. Nitro lacquer gives the guitar a natural look and allows the wood to breathe but is also vulnerable to damage and discoloration. Guitars with such a nitro finish thus often have a naturally aged look. Many guitarists like this and combined with the sound aspect, this is a reason why this lacquer remains popular.

Polyurethane lacquer is a more modern finish. This lacquer dries much faster, usually gives nice results quickly and is much less fragile than Nitro. Polyurethane was introduced because certain colors or type of finishes cannot be painted like Nitro. With less work, a better result in a shorter time, and a less fragile finish, this lacquer is an important issue especially in build-up scales of production.  

Tokai has used both techniques over the years, but without clear logic. Currently the more expensive LS models (LS150 and up) are completely nitro lacquered and all guitars below that are basically completely poly lacquered, although again we have seen exceptions to that. We also know Tokai guitars with a poly base finish and a nitro clear coat.

That depends on which Tokai guitar you buy and by which company they were imported into Europe. Since 2023 all Japanese Tokai come with original Tokai hardcase included, but until 2023 that was not always the case. Pay close attention to that, because obviously you will see this reflected in the price.

Of course, the specifications of a Tokai guitar depend entirely on the model and series from which it comes. Below are some key points that we often cite as important and interesting specifications.

• Body’s; traditional tonewoods. Alder and Ash for the ST and TE models. Mahogany for the LP and SG models, 2-piece for the affordable series, 1-piece as you climb further up the ladder. Plain maple tops are always solid, through-and-through and bookmatched. For the affordable series figured veneers are often used over a solid plain top, for the more expensive guitars solid tops through-and-through.
• Hals: historically correct tonewoods. Maple for ST and TE models, mahogany for the Gibson replicas.  
• Toets: with the affordable series we see maple, pau ferro or jatoba. With the more expensive guitars also rosewood.
• Elektronica: traditional pickup, pickup voicings and control configutaries. Pickups of Japanese guitars are hand wound by Tokai, pickups of Chinese guitars are wound to these specifications. In Japanese guitars, we see a buildup in potmeter and component quality as full-size pots and more expensive capacitors.
• Hardware: model and historically correct tuners and bridges. Gotoh at the Japanese guitars. The tuners are mostly "Kluson-style". Tune-O-Matic saddles on studs on the affordable series, pinned saddles on the more expensive guitars. Light-weight Alu tailpieces on the more expensive guitars.

For all the exact information on the specifications of a particular Tokai guitar, we recommend you look in the product description.

Of course, expensive is and remains a very relative term relative to quality. An important fact about Tokai guitars is the remarkable value for money ratio. You get a lot of guitar for your pennies; beautiful and historically or model correct specifications and materials, perfect finish and consistency.

Depending on where, and especially how, a Tokai is built prices vary and you should budget around 500 euros minimum for a Tokai. So Tokai does not make really cheap guitars, but they are always really good and relatively speaking never too expensive. But what an expensive guitar is for you is of course always up to you!

No, we unfortunately cannot order everything Tokai makes or has made. This is partly due to the import channel to Europe. The import company pre-selects what will be available and we are able to put together a collection. We can give input and so it is not unusual to place a special order. Delivery times are sometimes long, between 6 and 12 months.

Shipping our Tokai guitars to America is no problem. We even ship guitars to the United States on a weekly basis.