(SOLD) Tokai TLC60 Love Rock Black 1984
Tokai TLC-60, black, made in Japan 1984, black. Tokai's mid-1980s 'Love Rock' guitars are among the most revered Gibson-style offerings ever produced in Japan. This is an amazing take on the classic 'Black Beauty' Les Paul Custom. It's got all the aesthetic stuff: seven-ply binding, gold hardware, square style block inlays, the diamond headstock inlay... gorgeous. The gloss black finish is so thin that you can see the detailed, tight grain of the mahogany underneath... classy stuff. This doesn't have a maple cap, as per the original LPC, so you get that dark, thick, juicy Custom style tone in spades. The neck pickup is gooey and full, lovely for long legato leads and dense chords. The bridge pickup is creamy and rich, still dark and complex, but with enough grit and sparkle to cut through a mix. The neck is a sixties style slim shape, comfy and intuitive in the hands, plus the body is nice and resonant. There's a bit of honest play wear around the edges and the gold hardware has faded significantly, but you know what? That's more than fine with me. This is a really lovely guitar, it's very endearing to play and I'd happily wager it'll hold it's value very well in decades to come.
Model: Tokai TLC60 Love Rock
Made: Japan, 1984 (serial 4018671)
Finish: black, gloss poly
Body: mahogany, 3-piece non-pancake, mahogany top
Weight: 3.985kg
Neck: mahogany, rosewood board, 24.75" scale, 12" radius
Mods: pots and knobs replaced
Pickups: Tokai '57 PAF humbucker x2
Case: basic gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some minor marks on the end. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. There's some finish checking lines around the headstock join, it doesn't appear to my eye to be a repaired break as there are a few parallel lines. The back has widespread light scuffs, surface scratches and minor dents, the most notable marks are in the elbow area and near the neck joint. The sides have minor dimples the whole way around the body but no major marks. The front has dimples near the knobs, behind the bridge and in the elbow area, as well as a rub wear mark on the top edge up from the bridge pickup and some standard play wear on the guard and horns. Overall: good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: Neck is straight, action is low, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. The frets have a bit of normal wear, there's plenty of height still there but the start of some minor pitting, 6/10 for fret life left. No headstock breaks. Wearing fresh 10/52 Moonshiners strings.