Tokai?

[eddy graham]

I can remember when, in the mid 1980s Tokai guitars first showed up in our local music shop. They looked fantastic. I was in my 20s back then. I had played quite a few different Squires and the odd Fender which most of us couldn't afford back then, but I've never laid my hands on a Tokai. Well, I just bought completely on the spur of the moment, a brand new Tokai Jazz bass in vintage white with tortoiseshell scratch plate. It was real cheap I think less than $200. At the moment my only bass has been my USA Fender Jazz deluxe active with maple fret board and ash body. I love this bass. I've had an eighties Fender USA P bass and a 2005 USA P bass. The quality of the newer Fender basses especially the deluxe is in my opinion absolutely outstanding. I think if people new how good they are now I wonder if they would still be willing to pay thousands for an oldie, I think they are better made than ever. Anyway, how will my new Tokai be? Will it hold up in the company of my Fender? Will I like it or loathe it? Does any one have any thoughts?

 

[lowendblues]

We must be about the same age eddy. I can remember the same scenario when they started showing up in the local store. I've owned 2 sunbursts P's and 1 candy apple red P. all great basses. I'd love to find a Tokai Jazz bass.

 

[Eilif]

There are quite a few varieties of Tokai, but if you can get a MIJ Tokai for less than $200 you're probably looking at a VERY good deal. The "Hard Puncher" P-bass copies I've played have been quite fantastic. It might be the quality of your Fender, but I wouldn't make any guarantees just yet.

Good Luck!

 

[Bob_Ross]

The only thing I know about Tokai instruments is that Robert Fripp has been playing nothing but Tokai (electric) guitars since the mid-1980s. If they're good enough for his particular-to-the-point-of-being-anal tastes they're probably some pretty well-built instruments.

 

[Fondsdale]

So you bought a new Tokai? Was it an MIJ model? They do sell cheaper models which are made in China which are definitely not as good as the 80's Japanese models. The current MIJ ones should be as good as the older ones.

 

[Jim C]

+1 for an 1980’s Tokai CAR / maple P
I think better than Fender at that time period

 

[brendanbassix]

If it's a Tokai Jazz sound made in Japan put your fenders away you won't be using them for a while

 

[A-Step-Towards]

I found a beat to crap tokai 57 p from the 80s, even had a gold guard. It was like $90 and sat because no one knew what it was. I can't speak on the newer models but the older japan ones were great. Comparable to the raved about fenders of the era

 

[eddy graham]

Hey! The Tokai arrived, MIC! But never mind it is very, very good surprisingly good and for the price bleeding brilliant. Anyhow, I decided to find out what I could and came across this interesting anecdote. When Tokai decided to try their luck at Chinese manufacture, they duly commissioned a consignment of guitars. When said guitars arrived in Japan, they were not of sufficient quality to carry the Tokai name. So, they trashed them, threw the whole consignment in the bin. Next, they sent one of their master luthiers to the factory. Shinji, now spends 80% of his time at the factory and he works closely with Mr Xu, the MD of the factory. According to Tokai this is the only way to do it in China. The Chinese guitars have Japanese frets, Korean hardware, American strings and Canadian hard rock maple necks. What a cool story eh!

 

[One Drop]

+1 for an 1980’s Tokai CAR / maple P
I think better than Fender at that time period

That's what I own. Excellent instrument with a beautiful neck, nice finish, and great sound. Only weak point are the tuners.

 

[Qlanq]

I had 2 early 80's Tokai Jazzes, fretless sunburst and a CAR. Put a chrome scratch plate on the CAR.
Great to play and still have some demos from that period and can safely say without any rose-tinted specs that they sounded fantastic.
Don't know about recent/later versions but would love to try one.

 

[jim777]

The only thing I know about Tokai instruments is that Robert Fripp has been playing nothing but Tokai (electric) guitars since the mid-1980s. If they're good enough for his particular-to-the-point-of-being-anal tastes they're probably some pretty well-built instruments.

Fripp played a Tokai Les Paul (with a Kahler tremolo) from about '86 to '94.

 

[Jazz Ad]

80s Tokai were incredibly well built. Way better than factory models. Everything fits tightly, finish is always great.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Fripp played a Tokai Les Paul (with a Kahler tremolo) from about '86 to '94.

And he's still playing one now.

 

[One Drop]

I had bought a second Hard Puncher a few years ago, in a metallic blue, maple fretboard. It was identical to my other one, except it had the coolest original case with electric pink padding.

I gave it to my drummer for his birthday a few years ago, dummy left it lying around our practice space and it now has a huge hash from a cymbal on one edge.

Still sounds and looks great, has LaBella flats and it just thumps and sings.

 

[eddy graham]

That's what I own. Excellent instrument with a beautiful neck, nice finish, and great sound. Only weak point are the tuners.

Oh that's interesting, the tuners on this one are very good. It's vintage white with matching headstock and a tortoiseshell pick guard which is an unusual pinkish colour, I've dubbed it raspberry ripple. My only gripe with this bass is that it's a bit heavy.

 

[eddy graham]

I have become such a fan of Tokai's that when I decided to look for a Japanese made Jazz Sound. I found one on eBay for 300 quid. It's vintage white, with tortoiseshell pickguard. The maple neck with rosewood fingerboard is amber tinted with a nice deep gloss. It's post lawsuit so it has the newer shaped headstock. Well I have to say I like this bass alot. It's a little lighter in weight than my ash Fender Jazz which pleases me. It plays and sounds fantastic, so guess what? My Fender's now for sale. If it sells I'll look for a Tokai Hard Puncher to add to my collection.