(SOLD) Tokai Cat's Eyes CE-600 Dreadnought Acoustic 1975
Tokai Cat's Eyes CE-600, made in Japan 1975. Cat's Eyes was the acoustic end of Tokai's operation, running alongside all those now collectable Fender and Gibson style electrics from the same era. Tokai was distributing Martin guitars within Japan at the time, and apparently had a licensing deal to use their designs for the Cats Eyes series... the later catalogs reference specific Martin guitars each CE model borrows from. This is a lovely dreadnought in the style of a Martin D-28, so it's got the traditional square shoulder shape and the classic spruce/rosewood tonewood combo. The top is a gorgeous piece of solid spruce, with extremely tight grain lines all the way to the bookmatched edges. The back and sides are laminated rosewood, and there's some really beautiful dark rich streaks on show there too. The tone is dry, warm and woody, with an expansive tuneful bass and a sweet top end. There's plenty of natural volume too, it really rings with gusto. This is a great example of vintage MIJ quality, it's a lovely piece.
Model: Tokai Cat's Eyes CE-600
Made: Japan, 1975 (serial 532076)
Finish: natural, gloss poly
Body: dreadnought style shape; solid spruce top, laminate rosewood back and sides
Neck: mahogany, rosewood fingerboard, dovetail joint, 25.5" scale, 15" radius
Weight: 2.125kg
Pickup: none
Mods: none
Case: basic non original hard case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some scuffs on the end and some clouding of the finish all over. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and some clouding on the back only. The back has some surface scratches on the back edge and elbow area, dimples on the bottom bout, a scratch on the bottom shoulder and widespread minor clouding in the finish. The sides have minor dimples and scuffs around the whole body, as well as scratch on the bottom horn. The front has dimples in the elbow area and along the back and bottom edge, plus some play wear on the guard and shoulders. Overall: good condition (7/10).
Playing condition notes: action is moderately low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. Frets look pretty even and in good shape, 8/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 12/54 Moonshiners strings.