Tokai Love Rock LS-50 Cherry Sunburst 1982
Tokai Love Rock LS-50, cherry burst, made in Japan 1982. Tokai are one of Japan's most loved and revered gutiar builders, with a history stretching all the way back to 1947. The Love Rock LP-style models from the 1980s enjoy a reputation as some of the most accurate and enjoyable takes on Gibson's 1950s models going around, so this guitar is a real treat. The woodwork is excellent. The body is two piece, centre joined, ribbon-grained mahogany, capped with a solid plain maple cap with some big swirling grain on show. The neck is tightly grained maple and streaky dark rosewood, carved to a comfy slim rounded C shape and fretted and finished to an amazing standard. It feels excellent in the hands, with a smooth feel and plenty of natural resonance and sustain. Plugged in, it's great too: clear and wide on the neck pickup with plenty of definition and harmonic spread, or a great balance of angular and creamy on the bridge pickup. The cherry burst is still vibrant after all these years, but a few marks around the place give it a cool streetsmart look. This will outplay many USA examples at twice the bucks, which is a fun trick.
Model: Tokai Love Rock LS-50
Made: Japan, 1982
Serial: 2013515
Finish: cherry sunburst, gloss poly
Body: mahogany, plain maple carved top, chambered
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard, 24.75" scale, 12" radius, slim 60s shape
Weight: 4.265kg
Mods: bridge pickup replaced, neck pickup chrome cover added, tailpiece, pickup surrounds and pickguard replaced
Pickups: Tokai Vintage MkII humbucker (neck), Gotoh humbucker (bridge)
Accessories: basic hard case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has scuffs and dimples on the end, surface scratches on the bass side edge, dimples on the treble side, minor scuffs on the back and some dimples on the front. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and rub wear on the back and some play wear on the fretboard only. The back has dimples on the horns, around the control cavity and in the elbow area, surface scratches in the middle of the body and widespread light scuffs around the whole body. The sides have dimples on both horns and some dimples and small dents in the elbow area and near the jack. The front has dimples around the tailpiece and elbow area and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/52 Moonshiners strings.
Fret Life: 8/10, minor wear only