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Tokai Buyers Beware!!!

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by Blackbird, Nov 28, 2001.

  1. Nov 28, 2001 #1
    Blackbird

    Blackbird Supporting Member

    Mar 18, 2000
    California
    As many of you know, I'm a fan of old Tokai basses. once in a while I go on eBay to see if I can get a partner for my fretless. It's part of my "back to four" phase. Well, while searching today, I came across not one, but two Tokai basses. The problem is, they were both from the same seller and described as "new in a box".

    The old Tokai company that made spot-on copies of Fenders was sued out of business in the early to mid 80s. A smaller company caled Tokai still exists, but has very strange designs. It would seem that they're capitalizing on their old reputation by slapping their name on inferior copies of their old "designs".

    Just thought I'd get a Tokai admiration thread going...

    Here's one of the phonies:
    http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1490331966
     
  2. Nov 28, 2001 #2
    Nino Valenti

    Nino Valenti Supporting Member Commercial User

    Feb 2, 2001
    Staten Island NYC
    Builder: Valenti Basses
    It's a nice looking bass. I wonder how it plays compared to an older Tokai or a Fender MIM P-bass.
    <img src="http://www.vaxxine.com/mikesmusic/Sbbass.jpg" width=400>
    <a href="http://www.theoremnyc.cjb.net"><img width=385 height=70 src="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1174383&a=8647027&p=41535909&Sequence=0&res=high" border=0></a>
     
  3. Nov 28, 2001 #3
    pmkelly

    pmkelly

    Nov 28, 2000
    Kansas City, MO
    It doesn't look like anyone has bid on that one yet, and I doubt it will see many bids... If you can snipe it out for about 250$, then that seems like a pretty good deal to me, if the bass plays that well and all that...



    [email protected]
     
  4. Nov 28, 2001 #4
    Blackbird

    Blackbird Supporting Member

    Mar 18, 2000
    California
    I guess what I'm trying to say is that these Tokais are nowhere near the quality of the old ones which were spot on copies of Fenders down to the pickup winding. Even Fender doesn't produce basses like that anymore. I'm sure these are Squier league at best.
     
  5. Nov 28, 2001 #5
    pmkelly

    pmkelly

    Nov 28, 2000
    Kansas City, MO
    AAAHhhhhhh, never really new the difference about 'em, just that Tokai and Ibanez were neck-and-neck in the 70's for lawsuits... looks like the headstock on this Tokai is enough to not get the lawyers involved...




    [email protected]
     
  6. Nov 28, 2001 #6
    Blackbird

    Blackbird Supporting Member

    Mar 18, 2000
    California
    Actually, It's the same as the old ones. Here's mine:

    [​IMG]

    Tip o' the hat to Munjibunga.:)
     
  7. Nov 28, 2001 #7
    KPO2000

    KPO2000 Supporting Member Supporting Member

    Sep 5, 2001
    MA
    I'm sure you've already visited here
     
  8. Nov 28, 2001 #8
    Blackbird

    Blackbird Supporting Member

    Mar 18, 2000
    California
    Yup. I discovered that place earlier today. Lotsa interesting info, but some small innaccuracies here and there.
     
  9. Nov 28, 2001 #9
    Munjibunga

    Munjibunga Retired Member

    May 6, 2000
    San Diego (when not at Groom Lake)
    Independent Contractor to Bass San Diego
    Proud to be of service.