Description
Mid 80s MIJ Tokai Limited Edition TST-36 dual Humbucker Strat, $649!
Overview: The Tokai TST-36 is a Japanese-made electric guitar known for its high-quality craftsmanship and vintage-inspired design. Modeled after the classic Fender Stratocaster, the TST-36 offers a blend of traditional aesthetics and modern playability. Tokai, a well-respected manufacturer, is known for producing guitars that often rival or surpass the quality of their American counterparts.
Key Features:
- Body:
- Finish: Gloss polyester
- Shape: Double-cutaway Stratocaster-style body
- Neck:
- Material: Maple
- Neck Profile: Slim “C” shape
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Scale Length: 25.5 inches (64.77 cm)
- Frets: 21 medium-jumbo frets
- Inlays: Dot inlays
- Nut Width: 1.65 inches (42 mm)
- Hardware:
- Bridge: Vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge
- Tuners: Vintage-style tuners
- Pickguard: 3-ply white black pickguard
- Electronics:
- Pickups: Three single-coil pickups
- Controls:
- One master volume control
- Two tone controls
- 5-way pickup selector switch
- Output Jack: Side-mounted
Design and Aesthetics:
- Body Shape: Classic Stratocaster design with contoured edges for player comfort
- Headstock: Features the Tokai logo and “Oldies but Goldies” script, mimicking the classic Fender headstock shape
- Finish: High-gloss finish that highlights the wood grain and adds a touch of vintage flair
Sound Characteristics:
- Bright and Articulate Tone: Known for its bright, clear sound with plenty of high-end sparkle, characteristic of classic Stratocaster single-coil pickups
- Versatile Sound: The 5-way pickup selector switch allows for a wide range of tones, from warm, mellow neck pickup sounds to bright, cutting bridge pickup tones
- Dynamic Range: Suitable for both clean and overdriven tones, offering excellent dynamic range and responsiveness
Applications:
- Genres: Ideal for rock, blues, pop, and funk
- Usage: Suitable for both live performances and studio recordings due to its versatile sound and reliable build quality
Manufacturing Location:
- Country of Origin: Japan. Tokai guitars are known for their meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail, making them highly sought after by collectors and musicians alike.
Notable Users:
- Rock: Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top has been known to use Tokai guitars, appreciating their quality and vintage tone.
- Blues: Stevie Ray Vaughan, although primarily associated with Fender, also appreciated the craftsmanship of Japanese-made guitars like Tokai.
- Indie: Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys has used various vintage-style guitars, including models similar to the Tokai TST-36, for their distinctive sound.
- Classic Rock: Joe Walsh of the Eagles has praised the quality of Japanese-made guitars, often seen with instruments that offer vintage tones similar to Tokai’s models.