Category Archives: Tokai

NGD: Tokai LS75 Love Rock Goldtop

Posted on June 6, 2011 by tastychops

Tokai Goldtop
I was lucky enough to pick this mint condition early 2000′s Tokai LS75 from a very friendly AGGH forum member. Basically a killer Les Paul Goldtop clone for $700 spondoolies. The pickups are P90′s by Australian pickup wizard, Mick Brierly. Took it out for rehearsals over the weekend and it was perfectly grouchy sounding. Makes a great sidekick to the Tokai ES130 I raved about earlier.

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Matt Schofield Trio “Uncle Junior”

Posted on September 24, 2010 by tastychops

The Matt Schofield Trio live at the Belgium Rhythm & Blues Festival 2006. Great groove and Matt rocking the Tokai ES120 (and showing self conscious guitarists everywhere you don’t need a “G” on your 335 headstock).

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NGD: Smokin’ Tokai ES130

Posted on July 25, 2010 by tastychops

Here is my beautiful new Tokai ES130, a Japanese reproduction of a ’58 Gibson 335, which was made in 2008 (Note: This is the same as the current ES155 model). Everything is right about this guitar. It looks stunning (check the lovely bit of flame), sounds superb (I like it a lot better than the Ibanez JSM1000 Scofield I had) and chicks dig it (my wife says this is the best looking and sounding guitar I own).

I found the Tokai during a late night Ebay session last week. I looked at it…thought about it…went to bed…thought about it some more…got out of bed…came back to the computer…and pressed Buy It Now. One of those “Oh my . . . I just BIN’d it . . . what am I going to do now?”. Anyway I scrambled to get the money together and picked the guitar up yesterday. The seller was a great old blues cat with great taste in music and guitars. He let me play his original ’62 Gibson ES-330 which was magical . . . like ‘other worldly’ good. He has also put me onto Ronnie Earl which I’ll be sinking my ears into this week.

Anyways, a great experience and a superb guitar. Have revived a few BB licks already and no doubt will be working on more. A few more photos if you click through.
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