Tokai Love Rock Vs Epiphone Les Paul - Guitars101

El Chiguete · 10-04-2005, 09:57 AM

Wich one is better out of those 2? I wan't to know with stock specs and with some mods like better pickups and tuners. I really want a Les Paul but don't have the $$$$ for a Gibson.

**Dutch** · 10-04-2005, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Chiguete

Wich one is better out of those 2? I wan't to know with stock specs and with some mods like better pickups and tuners. I really want a Les Paul but don't have the $$$$ for a Gibson.

i dont know about the new tokais but if u can get ur hands on an older one from the lawsuit era id say get it bc they are killer guitars

**Rid** · 10-04-2005, 10:57 AM

Make sure that is a made in Japan Loverock.
They are great guitars, wish I never sold my redwine seethrough lp.

**stingx** · 10-04-2005, 01:04 PM

The made in Japan ones were discontinued in 2001. What you see now are made in Korea.

Jossy · 10-04-2005, 03:21 PM

Are Epis that bad? I had the chance to play a LP studio and it was ok...never played Tokais....

As an alternative, check Agile guitars. They have a nice line of LP-likes and they have a good value for money... www.rondomusic.net

Saludos.

JSD · 10-05-2005, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingx

The made in Japan ones were discontinued in 2001. What you see now are made in Korea.

You can still get Japanese made Tokais, only thing is to get a true one new you need to buy it from a dealer in Japan. We don't get the Japanese made models in Canada anymore mainly due to lawsuits, price (import fees/taxes in Canada are a bitch) plus the ones they sent to North America were altered slightly, very nice but expensive and not a big seller in that sence.

The Korean Tokais that we get here are an excellent quality and are very consistant in their quality (made in one factory), better quality than an Epi from my view. Excellent fit and finish all around, solid mahogany bodies, maple tops and Canadian rock maple necks. Damn solid and great players.

Epis problem is that they are made in so many different factories in Korea and China the quality is not consistant, you get some good ones and you get some dogs. Also because of this the wood they use in not consistant. Alder, mahogany, mystery wood? Next time you see an Epi with a light colored back look closely at the sides and back, you may notice on some models that the back is not solid wood but a veneer/laminate to make it look like its made from mahogany. There are good Epis out there, if you do go with an Epi make sure its made in Korea, Chinese quality isn't always the greatest.

El Chiguete · 10-05-2005, 03:31 PM

So a new Korean Tokai is better than a new ¿somewhere? Epihpone? cool, I was looking at a site from canada that they get the Korean Tokais and they looked ok.

Anyone know where can I get old Tokais or japanese Tokais thats not Ebay?

**stingx** · 10-05-2005, 04:35 PM

From the Tokai Guitar Registry

Where was my Love Rocks made?Love Rocks were only made in Japan until recently, don't know the exact date. Korean models start with the letter A (ALS-##) and typically only have 3 screws in the truss rod cover. The wood used in contruction of Korean models is also different. Check the guitars page for the exact differences.
Keep in mind that Love Rocks built in the 1986+ with the ALS model numbers are Japanese made instruments.

2001 is the latest date I can find for a Japanese manufactured Tokai.

Here's a link to Tokai's website - http://www.tokai-guitars.com/guitars.html

Update - Which is the real website???

http://www2.wbs.ne.jp/~tokai/index.htm

**stingx** · 10-05-2005, 04:40 PM

Some absolutely beautiful guitars pictured here:

http://members.lycos.co.uk/tokaiguitars/lespauls.htm

and here:

http://members.lycos.co.uk/tokaiguitars/lespauls2.htm

**stingx** · 10-05-2005, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Chiguete

So a new Korean Tokai is better than a new ¿somewhere? Epihpone? cool, I was looking at a site from canada that they get the Korean Tokais and they looked ok.

Anyone know where can I get old Tokais or japanese Tokais thats not Ebay?

http://www.guitarsjapan.com/Guitars_...r_Gallery.html

http://www.tokai-guitars.co.uk/main.htm

**bluesplayer** · 10-05-2005, 11:54 PM

Love Rocks are superb Guitars , they are truly wonderfull instruments to play . They cut corners on materials but they do it very well . My only gripe is possibly the Pick Ups , which like on any Jap guitar unless there fitted with DImarzios or what ever , sound thin and bright .Still a very good investment . Here in the UK you can buy a Japanese version ,or a Korean version , the latter been some £200 cheaper !. Also you must check out the guitar before you buy ,i have seen major differences in quality , some very bad !