Tokai Love Rock Korean

I Believe this one was made in late 2001. As a previous review mentioned: there are no visible serial numbers anywhere on the exterior surface of the guitar. Maybe it's on the inside somewhere? Anyway, I think mine is the "Loverock LS65" as the specs on mine seem to match what I found on this UK distributors website: http://www.tokai-guitars.co.uk/Loverock.html It's basically a copy of a 59 Les Paul. Has a Maple top with Mahogany back...mine is the Honey sunburst finish, I think Tokai calls it the Cherry Sunburst though...it looks like Honey to me(sounds like it too). The finish is beautiful on this thing and the size and weight are extremely accurate to an original LP including the "Open Book" head stock - which I've heard is a discontinued feature on the New LoveRocks. Tokai makes the closest Les Paul copy I've ever come across. I've checked out "Dillion" and their rendition doesn't even compare to the Tokai. The Dillion version is much lighter, the finish is poor(IMHO), neck is not great and the body shape is noticeably inaccurate. Were as Tokai has got it all goin' on, hands down! I was told that Tokai sacrificed a couple of vintage LP's by slicing them up into bits and pieces (OUCH!)just so they could recreate an accurate copy with their LoveRock models! I'm totally impressed:)That's Respect!

I use a Mesa Boogie RectoVerb 50 and this Guitar just sings through my amp. The sustain is sweet and smooth. I can't remember ever playing a real Les Paul that did it any better... I played the guitar "unplugged" to check out it's percussive sound and Immediately knew that this was the one for me. It played loud and clear! The pickups are surpassingly loud yet warm sounding but not muddy. I know that there are better pickups out there, eventually I'll replace the stock ones with Gibson 57's in the neck position and 57 Plus' in the bridge but for now I'll be more than happy to rock with the stock PUPs as they sound great. This guitar is great for Classic Rock, Blues and Jazz, it's all I need in a LOveRocK:)

Action is subjective, IMO the action was excellent on mine, even so, it's not a big issue to adjust this...I checked the neck and it was strait like an arrow, the fit and finish is truly spectacular on these guitars. I've seen Gibsons with paint drips on the finish...although nothing is truly perfect,Tokai's seem to well exceed the "Value for the money" factor by putting out an incredible product for a fraction of the price.

Just got it, so well have to see how reliable it is? The guitar has a real solid feel to it though... The only issues I can foresee are the Pots,Pickups and switched etc.. crapping out but I'll eventually change everything when I do the pickups anyway, might as well right? even if I don't, they should last a long time.

No Experience with Tokai but the Guys at Song Bird Rock... Thanks Ray!

I've been playing guitar for about 15 years and I've never owned any top name guitars (Gibson, Fender etc...) before but I've recently discovered that I don't need to drop thousands of dollars to get the tone I want. Guitar technology has come a long way over the past decade, they are made well now and the consistency is great. Tokai is a very good example of this. I also own a Tele by them and couldn't be anymore pleased:)

'59 copy. I bought my guitar on ebay in mid 2000, so I am pretty sure it falls into the Koeran made group. There is no serial number on it anywhere.
Two piece neck, and what looks to be a one piece body. Bookmatched sunburst flamed top. There is not a lot of depth in the flame, but after playing it, I didn't care...

I play rock. No real thrash or punk, just melodic rock. And this guitar sings for that purpose, though I have crunched out enough chugging power chords and wailed a bit of blues enough to find it suited for most any style. The pickups are strong without being noisy, and the tone and sustain on this guitar is sweet, mellow, and rich. I could go on and on with the sound, but its one of those things- so subjective. If you like warm tones, this guitar is like sitting by the fire on Christmas.

The sound on this guitar is only matched by its playability. When I got it, the action was bit high for me, and the strings a bit light.

I took it to a shop here and town to string it with 10s and set it up. I told him to drop the action as low as he could without fretbuzz anywhere. When I picked it up, I was amazed. The action is incredible. It will hold a dime in place at the 12th fret, with no buzz on the board- which to me is amazing for a guitar with no individual saddles.

The finish in the guitar seems a bits fragile to me- as tenderly as I treat it, its managed a couple of varnish pings. But this is overshadowed by the playablity.

I don't gig- I play at home and do some recording there. It's a solid guitar aside from the finish issue I mention above. I'm not hard on anything, so my judgement here is not very good. I might rate it a ten, and some bloke breaks his tuning peg by dropping his guitar and he thinks it's shite!

No dealings with customer support at all.

I am a sucky, untrained player. I play by ear, and have pretty much done so for about five years. In that time I have amassed seven guitars, and played god knows how many. I have seen $2500 Gibsons that had finishes that looked like ass, and 100 dollar guitars that looked better. Usually you get what you pay for- sometimes you get ripped off, and sometimes, you win. I had been wanting a LP without the price tag, and what I got was a winner. I have three USA Jacksons, a Gibson SG, and a few other Japanese and Korean guitars. This one takes the cake for playability. After buying this guitar, I know that whether or not is says U.S.A. means nothing in regards to P.O.S. or not. There are good, bad, ugly everywhere if you look hard enough...

This is one of the new Korean Love Rocks. I'm confused between this guitar and all the "2000 & 2001 model" seen on Ebay claiming to have solid maple tops and "made in Japan". They look the same to me, in pictures anyway. This has a flame laminated top with a nice solid mahogony back and neck. The neck is a 60's wide thin variety with 22 frets. The headstock and heel are "grafted on" to the main neck section rather than all one piece. A lighter colored rosewood fretboard (feels really nice)and trapezoid inlays that are more "plasticky" looking than the Gibson versions. The bridge is a nashville style tuneamatic with the wire running across to hold the bridge pieces in. This guitar has a very well done vintage honey sunburst finish. The tuners are the tulip knobbed variety and are actually as good or better than the ones Gibson uses. Exact Gibson headstock copy with a non Gibson 3 screw thrust rod cover. Just a little filing and you can modify it to look just like a Gibson Bell shaped cover.

The pickups are wax potted Humbuckings and sound fine. Not as loud or clear as Gibson PAF reissues but plenty good enough. Electronics are the typical mini pots and enclosed three way switch.

The Fit and finish are excellent. The fretboard on the other hand had problems. Several low frets and a difference in the bow between the treble and bass side. HOWEVER, once I leveled and dressed the frets ( I do a lot of guitar work) It not only had great low action but more importantly felt really good. I'm not sure what finish Tokai uses on the neck but it has a lacquer type of feel rather than the plastic feel on a lot of other imports including Epiphones. Rated 9 after the fretwork 8 before.

Definitely a solid feeling instrument.

No contact

Playing for over 30 years and suddenly coming to the realization that its not what you play but how you play it. Sure, this isn't a '59 Les Paul but hey, ask your self if it really matters?
The improvemnet in quality affordable guitars in the last few years is phenomenal. I have a couple of Les Paul studios and while there is some difference, for the price, this wins hand down and with your eyes closed, or in the case of this Tokai, ten feet away you can't tell the difference.