For sale is a very rare Tokai Jazz Bass Custom Edition (note this is NOT a "Jazzy Sound" bass).
These don't come up much on TB or anywhere else for that matter.
Made in Japan and dating some time back to the early 80's as evident by the "lawsuit" headstock, this is a jazz copy which will blow your mind.
The history as I understand is that Tokai made some damn fine Fender copies during Fender's dark years (also know as the 80's). Fender was really smarting at the time and they had the great idea that rather than suing the company, they should just contract with them to make Fender, hence Fender shifted all of their "standard" model production to Japan at the same factory.
So this is essentially a MIJ Fender Jazz bass but form the "lawsuit" era when Tokai had their own thing going on.
This bass is based off of an early 60's J, right down to the reverse clover tuners and the extra strap button on the back side of the headstock. This bass retains the "reverse F" Tokai logo and the L##### serial number which helps me date it to pre 1983. That is the best I can do as for age.
I could not find much information on the Custom Edition basses but it appears to have been their "premium" version of the Jazz bass based on what I have seen with the Custom Edition of guitars. The most obvious distinguishing features are the headstock logo and the body which lacks a pickguard for a more, well, custom look.
The body is alder and the neck is a really nicely figured maple. Frets are the vintage low profile frets which make for easy playing and low action.
The tuners as mentioned above are vintage style reverse clovers, and the bridge is fender style but the saddles have multiple small grooves (see pics) which allow you to customize the string spacing to some extent.
This bass does have a little mojo. There a major chip behind the top side of the lower bout-- unnoticeable to your audience but very much there. The rest is basically compression dinging and some light marking here and there that would likely come out with buffing, etc. there is also some light oxidation on the tuners which I believe can be cleaned up.
The neck is in terrific condition and very stable with that vintage tint to it as pictured.
I really cannot emphasize enough just how great this bass is. I mean it looks, sounds and feels like an old J bass. The quality is exceptional.
If you are a fan of Tokais and/or 80's Japanese knockoffs then you know what this is all about. If you are looking for a bass with the vibe, feel and attitude of an old Fender on a budget, this will not disappoint.
Taking into account the mojo, the rarity factor, and the going prices of Jazzy Sound Tokais from the same era, I am asking $SOLD! shipped CONUS. Will be shipped in a HSC.
Please feel free to PM any offers or questions.
Lots of very detailed pictures below. Many are taken with macro feature to highlight the blems, but again, overall this bass is a good looker with the worst of the blems out of plain sight.
Enjoy the viewing!
Good luck with the sale, it's well worth every penny!
