Tokai ES-130

Tokai ES-130 Made in Japan. Almost exact copy of 58 ES-335. Thi smodel is in Sunburst over flame maple pressed laminated top. Top has some flame and also spalling common in Maple, I like it some may not. Mahogany neck, full C profile rosewood board of good quality. Kluson style Tulip tuners with snot-green plastic buttons. Amber tom/volume knobs and long pickguard make this a real replica rather than a simple copy. just about the best looking Guitar I have ever owned or played!

Has what you need in a 335 but is probably less versatile than more modern designs hence 8/10

Playing in a covers band Soul, Rock, some Country, Blues, Funk etc. I have not yet gigged this but will in a couple of weeks once I get my head around all the differences with my current guitar (Bitsa-Tele with TVJones H and SS).

I am working my way through the setlists and have found only one or two tracks that may not yet suit the Tokai, sound too heavy or simply the song needs a Strat/Tele sound. Playing through a Rivera M60 1x12 which makes for a versatile setup and has good spread of controls. The Tokai like the EL 34 sound and I can hit some great new areas with this guitar where single coils struggle. Surprisingly this guitar will deliver up a great Country sound which I am loving! Blues of course is natural territory and Steely Dan stuff likes this guitar.

I have found it responds differently to effects, chorus and phaser are great, trem is full and really fat. My Wah, a Teese RMC 1 seems to havee a very limited spread quickly becoming thick quickly as you back off the pedal.

This is the best made guitar you will find on normal dealer shelves. if you have any doubt go a try one. I saw a sloga thet says 'Tokai, beware of expensive imitations' - spot on.

I re set the action, fitted new strings and polished the frets to suit my taste, otherwise it is superbly made. I managed to ping off the nut while handling the guitar. I know careless and clumsy but i discovered that the same attention s paid to the bone nut as ther rest of the instrument - excellent.

Can't say but I'm confident

ES-335 style guitar made in Japan. Built in 2002 Sunburst finish. The reputed aim of Tokai was to build an exact copy of a late 50's ES-335. Mission accomplished as far as I can see, even down to the pickguard mounting hardware and lack of wax potting in the Gotoh pickups. Mickey Mouse ears and aged dark coloured knobs - switch tip is aged.
Nitro finish, mahogany neck, laminated flame maple to back and sides - probably untypical of 50's 335. This model has 36mm string spacing at the nut. Rosewood board is super smooth and slightly figured. Basic humbucker layout with two volume, two tone - plenty of options here.
This guitar is very light, lighter than a friends '81 ES-100 - but otherwise spookily similar to play and in the sound. Not many features but all of them useful

Sound is very typical and quite versatile once you get around the amp a bit. It needs more treble than I'm used to with single coils and a good deal less o/drive to make the amp sing. Can do Jazz very easily with plenty of 'the wood' that Jazzers harp on about. Easy to get 70's rock and Freddie King - less easy to find BB King and I'm still searching for that liquid sound - (hiding in his fingers I suspect)

As others have mentioned in ES-120 reviews, this guitar will go to Tele country if you like that, I do and was surprised, it adds another reason to play.

Has been a favourite of Britpop and Indie bands, I can hear why - this guitar easily nails the jangle and the scooped mid sound. Has a tendency to honk a little if you don't pay attention to the amp settings - great if you like it! Finally I bought this guitar because we are starting to play some interesting songs from the 70's Sylvia, Elizabeth Reed - my Tele and Warmoth Tele (HSS)didn't really get there - this does, easily.

Mine is secondhand and has suffered from a bit of over enthusiastic polishing, various dings - other than that it is flawless in fit and finish - and I mean flawless. Hardware is of the highest quality, machine heads are super smooth.

So far I have not gigged it as I want to get to know it a bit better. We play covers and getting around the controls fast is part of getting it right. I'm not yet confident with this to find all the different sounds quickly.

I would say it is well built and do not expect to have any problems - I always take a spare. It is a Semi and inherently less solid than a Solid

I play in a covers band, last 6 years. Played guitar badly for 30years. I have been after a 335 for a while and tried a lot of current copies, none really got me although an Epi Dot is a good affordable alternative - lousy pickups. I saw this and thought it fiited perfectly, a bit road worn, someone else suffered the first ding - sunburst - Tokai Japan quality, case = bargain.

I really like it, it plays better than my other guitars and covers a lot of territory. It is light, sits well on the strap and has great sounds.