Ok here it is,

it is a 1993 Japanese Fender P serial Maple neck C Config, Rosewood Fretboard with Gotoh scribed tuning pegs, I don't know what the body is?

the Bridge does not have the Fender scribed saddles. They are the vintage looking set but blank?

It sounds absolutely F*&^N awsome through a Fender Hotrod Deville 410, so the pickups are great. They sound vintage.

I was told it is from the Tokai series. Please inform me if you know different.

check out the pics and yeah..am I paying too much for this axe.









Cheers Ringo.

Well... first up, I'd say that AUD $700 would be about right -- depends where you're buying it. Most dealers would be charging closer to a grand, $1200 for a nice Japanese reissue. I noticed a '65 reissue in a shop near me recently that could probably go up against my custom shop '66 no worries.

I don't understand the "Tokai" bit... my first guitar was a candy apple red Tokai '62 model that I really wish I'd hung onto -- I suspect the reproduction was a good deal more accurate than I was capable of appreciating back then (1986!). If it were a Tokai it would say so on the headstock, and while they've had a resurgence of late they're still not as desirable as an actual Fender (that's if you're concerned by such things... and hey, most of us are to some degree!)

Someone more steeped in CIJ-ness would have to comment on the lack of stamps on the saddles... I've no idea whether or not it was common practice in Japan. Certainly the US models of that period had plain saddles, but not in that vintage style.

If she plays well and you're in the market for a new guitar, I'd say you can't go wrong.

Ringo, you'll never notice the difference between a vintage reissue and a tokai springysound. Infact i'd go as far as to say putting a fender neck on a tokai body is a bit of an insult to tokai. They were great guitars and deserve as much recognition as any fender. I remember the pickups being quite low powered but dont know any details. The saddles/trem are likely tokai's own too.

$700au ive seen mint springysounds fetch £1200 recently. I'd snap it up, especially if you like playing it too.

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After a 2nd look that headstock shape looks off to me. Maybe a tokai neck with a decal but i dont think so. They did do a few variations of the headstock to avoid copyright infringement. The classic tokai headstock is pretty much a spot on replica though.

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Awesome, thanks Mondo500 and Nikininja....it sounds like I should buy this axe.....

I already own a 84 re issue 62 $@! Strat and that is my baby, I recently purchased an 08 American Standard Strat and I love that. This thing caught my eye and I played it last night at our rehearsal and it sounded awesome, I think it may have 57/62 pups in it. thanks again for your wisdom and knowledge. I like it but as you guy's know always source information first.

Thanks heaps what do you suggest?

Like I said, wish I still had that "Oldies are Goldies" Tokai... jeebus, I didn't know they were fetching that kind of coin...

wow... is your '84 a Dan Smith strat? Doesn't matter, if the guitar above can hold its own with a reissue from that period you should snap it up. Or else someone else will.

Get a look at the neck heel and pocket.
In 2006 a reputable vintage dealer said the tokai springysound is the only strat copy to acheive the vintage/rare/collectable status.
Dunno how much truth is in that but given my experiences with a breezysound (tele) and Mondo's springysound experiences its entirely believable.

Truth be told i'm on the lookout for one of their 50's style strats. Soon as i find one i'll sell any of my current collection to buy it.

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Ohhh awesome, I have already put down a deposit of $350 au on it and I will be picking it up in 2 weeks.

Man thanks guy's, I took a gamble and I had an idea of what I should of been looking for, you guy's have just confirmed my sale.

My wife is gonna kill me, but this lovely sounds better than her waaa wahhh wahh wahhh.....

My next $@! Strat I am going to purchase is a 57 two burst Vinatge Stat.

I love my Mia Strats, but dammnn the Japanese Strats are so well built and sound F&^&^%N Awesome...

Ah so you too married a walking wah wah pedal.

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Yeahp, you know what I mean?????

Yep i'm familiar with the adult female crybaby.

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It must be a Worldwide Genetics regularity

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Oh you naughty boys...

- C