Product: Tokai Limited Edition '60s Strat
Price Paid: USD 500 USED
Submitted
05/13/2008
at
12:06am
by
Jon
Features
:
8
This is a 1984 Tokai Strat copy, made in Japan. Nice aged white finish that is now distressed for a nice real relic look. Unsure of body wood, but probably alder. Maple neck with 21 fret rosewood laminate fretboard (like the mid 60s Fenders). The neck plays like a dream: the best finished frets I've ever seen, and the 60's C neck profile is very comfortable. As far as electronics go you have 3 Single coil p/us, the middle being reverse-wound for hum canceling in the 2 and 4 position of the 5 way switch. The switch itself is neat, because it feels like a 3 way switch, but has definite 2 and 4 positions that have less of a "click" than 1 3 5. Unsure of anything regarding the pickups themselves, but they sounds great. Everything else is dead on lawsuit-era Tokai, down to the Fender headstock with the Tokai logo looking awfully similar to Fender's transition logo.
Sound
:
10
This Strat copy beats any '60s reissue Fender I've ever played, and trust me, I've played quite a few (and even owned one). I play a lot of blues and classic rock and it fits the bill nicely. I play through a '72 Fender Bassman 50 stack with 2 TS9s, a Vox Clyde McCoy wah and a FullTone Deja Vibe and great SRV/ Hendrix tone. This Tokai sounds like a classic Fender should.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
No Opinion
I couldn't tell you how this guitar came from the factory, but when I came across it, it played like a dream.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
This guitar has already proven itself over the last 24 years as being a solid instrument. If anything was gonna go wrong, I think it would have happened by now.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Any warranty is long gone
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing for 10 years or so, and this is definitely a keeper. Look around online; the '80s Japanese Strat copies are known for being phenominal guitars at a fraction of the cost of a Fender. And look at it this way; Tokai makes the Fender Japan line now! I play a few other Strats and some vintage stuff like my '79 Strat and '76 Musicmaster but this guitar seems to get the most play time (along with my #1 Mexi Strat). If it were stolen I'd be heartbroken, because I don't think I could replace it. Try as I might I can't find another one like it online. It was only made in '84, so who knows. If you find one (or any Tokai for that matter) scoop it up. You won't be disapointed!
