Tokay (guitar)

Tokai is a company Japan ease of manufacture of guitar.

History

The Tokai company was founded in 1947 in the town of Hamamatsu.

Tokay began its career like manufacturing musical instruments by producing harmonicas.
After a reorganization the following year, the factory started to export towards the United States as of 1950.
In 1961, Mélodica S are also manufactured and in 1963, the production diversifies with the addition of Accordéon S with the catalog.
In 1965, Tokai starts to manufacture acoustic guitars and in 68, the production of electric guitars begins on November 14th with the arrival of the Hummingbird while the range of acoustics extends.

The following year, an amplifier is marketed (the TA-6).

The factory also manufactures, with beginning of the year 70, of the acoustic guitars and some electric for manufacturing American Martin under the Sigma label.

In 1975, at the same time as the starting of the production of Piano S, the range of mythical the cat' S eyes, famous acoustics Tokay, is lancée.
Two years later, in 1977, the first counterparts of strat and SG are fabriquées.
The following year (June 1978), the the Paul will be it also launched in production and in 1979, it is the Telecaster which comes to join the catalog.
In 1980, following the pressures exerted by a famous American mark on the whole of the Japanese constructors, the the Paul reborn becomes the Love Rock'n'roll .
Since, the range of the Tokay did not cease extending, and the model house (Talbo, appeared in 1983) also gained in reputation grace, partly, with the guitarist of the group Australien INXS.

In 1995, benefitting from its growing success, Tokai a range of instruments made in Korea developed.

The range of the counterparts of strat and tele made in japan is gradually abandoned not to make to shade with a become mark, in 1997, a partner, Tokai producing from now on most of Fender MiJ.

Production and classification

Concerning the counterparts of Gibson models:

classification is with 7 digits, the first figure indicating the year between 1977 and 1989.
Example: 1977

From 1989, the first two figures indicate the année.

Example 1989.

the designation of the models is done with a system made up of two letters followed by a number which indicates the range of price of the model and thus its qualité.

LS-70, LS-100 etc… = Paul
ES-100, ES-120, etc… = Models 1/2 standard case 335
SG-155, etc… = copies of SG

For the copies of Fender

The serial number does not indicate the year, simply the model copié.
The most luxurious models have a number with 4 digits, the midrange, numbers with 5 and the 6 digits, most economic have numbers with 7 chiffres.
St-60, etc… = strat
Te-80, etc… = telecaster
PB-70, etc… = low precision

the numbers starting with has are series manufactured for the US market, with modifications (head modified, etc…).

Example ALS (the Paul), ATE (telecaster) etc…
As from 1995, indicated models ALS are manufactured in Korea, the models for the US market are indicated NLS since 2003.

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