These changes would be reflected in the model number. Tokai would add 5,000 yen (roughly $57 dollars in today's money) to left-handed or custom painted guitars, such as the ones with colored headstocks. The Springy Sound guitars that Tokai built between 19 can be broken down according to their model number, which was a reference to the guitar’s expected retail value.įor example, an ST-42 would have cost 42,000 yen at the time (roughly $480 USD in today's money). The Very First Attempt at a Vintage Reissue While the popularity of Tokai’s replicas remained strong in the Japanese market, the introduction of Fender’s Japanese-made models (made by FujiGen Gakki from 1982-1997) into America and Europe largely forced Tokai out of these markets by the late 1980s.

From 1997 until 2015, Tokai produced Fender ' Made In Japan” models, which are also collector instruments today. In fact, the two companies made a deal in 1997: Tokai could continue to produce some of its replicas with subtle changes to their branding and headstock shapes if they would agree to supply Fender with guitars. Stevie Ray Vaughan posed with a Tokai Springy Sound on the cover of his 1983 album Texas Flood, and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top was spotted with his Tokai Strat replica on the road.Ĭollectors often lump these models together with other Japanese replicas as “lawsuit guitars.” However, Fender never actually sued Tokai. But they started to gain notoriety in the 1970s and ‘80s with their production of high-quality Fender and Gibson replicas that captured the old school vibes of the original instruments at a fraction of the cost.īy the early 1980s, Tokai’s Stratocaster replicas-known as Springy Sound, Goldstar Sound, and Silverstar Sound-were surpassing Fender’s American-made Strats in popularity. I have the trem arm and the back cover too.Founded in 1947, Tokai Gakki Company, Ltd., or Tokai Guitars, began as an obscure Japanese musical instrument manufacturer. I have the rear cover, trem is blocked at the moment but can be set up for floating again. I'm moving on this strat and soon I will be parting with a Fender AVRI one too, because I have my mind on a Rory Gallagher Strat that I want to hunt down as a forever strat. It has that low output strat quack going on, and the neck just feels right to me. It's lighter, it sounds better, it feels better. I owned a JV and this Tokai is simply more like a strat should be. It is from the very period that the japanese Fender JV strats were built in response to, because they were showing up the american made Fenders. This is a block logo one from Japan, which they switched the logo to in 1983 after a lawsuit from Fender, those who know will know. Collection Herefordshire, quite welcome to come and look and play first. I don't really want to post it, but I might be able to work something out. For sale, didn't think I'd sell this one, my Tokai Springy Sound Stratocaster ST50 from 1983.

Tokai springy sound stratocaster