www.FlyingVintage.com - Guitar Collector's Magazine - September 2001 Issue - Reader Reply About Tokai Love Rock Guitar Article

Kurt wrote this email to Guitar Collector Magazine after reading the Tokai articles:

I was looking around for either a Jimmy Page or '59 Historic Les Paul, and was searching on Google and happened upon your site. I read your article on the Tokai Les Paul Reborn with interest as I own one as well. My Tokai is a goldtop, and was purchased new from Leo's Music in Oakland in early 1977. You mention in your article that the number inscribed on the last fret is a model designation. FYI, my goldtop has the number "80" imprinted on the fret board beneath the last fret.

You might note in your article that the Gibson Les Paul being manufactured during the mid to late 70's had a 3 piece maple neck that for all practical purposes ruined the tone of the guitar. I recall that the Tokai's were priced on a par with the new Les Pauls, but at Leo's the sales people would regularly demo the Tokai through a Marshall first against a new Les Paul Standard, and then against one of the original '57-'59 Les Paul's which they usually (in those days) had on the wall for $5K plus. The Tokai, with its mahogany neck and body, blew away the new Gibson which sounded thin and metallic, and (the Tokai) sounded nearly indistinguishable from the originals. I can still remember switching back and forth from the Tokai to a '59 sunburst LP (the only time I have ever held or played a real '59) and thinking it was too good to be true! Needless to say, they sold all the Tokai instruments within a few weeks. Unfortunately, by the time I heard about them, all the sunburst finish guitars were sold, so I settled for a goldtop.

I still play it every week at rehearsal and it still rocks. The only problem I have had was when the cover for the bridge pickup cracked and became microphonic. I removed it to find a zebra Gotoh pick up which really looks cool. Anyway, it is a really well made instrument which was, for its time, truly ahead of the curve.

Thanks for the article and the website; I enjoyed visiting.

Thank you Kurt for the cool story and checking out our GCM site! Stay tuned for a new article about Tokai guitars coming soon in a future issue.