Help Confirming Tokai Breezysound

[Bitsleftover]

Hi, Ive just come home with a lovely Maple Board Butterscotch Breezysound.
The guy I bought it from said he bought it new in 1984 and it was made in Japan.
He said the 6 digit serial number on the neck plate confirmed it. But I’m struggling to verify that.
It has no “Made in” marked anywhere.
The only markings are -
“7-12” on the neck heel.
“226824” on the neck plate.
“TEB” On the brass baseplate of the bridge pup.
“712BL X” in the bridge pup cavity.
“TEB” on the bottom of the neck pup.
And either “7-312 3-33” or “7-812 3-33” in the neck pup cavity.
The Tokai headstock logo looks the same as an ‘84 advertised on reverb.
The word Tokai beneath the E, A and D tuner, and the string tree between the D and G posts.
I’ll post some pics in a mo.
If anyone in the know could spare a few moments to help me figure out exactly what I’ve bought I would be very grateful.
Thank you in advance.

 

[wilson_smyth]

It can be a nightmare identifying and dating tokai's as their model spec changes almost yearly and what was a LS240 ( or whatever model) last year is a LS180 this year.

Tokaiforum website is the best place to start your search. Lots of very knowledgeable people there and articles on dating based on spec and serial numbers.

Tokai & Japanese Guitar Forum

Forum & Classifieds for Tokai and Japanese made guitars, basses and acoustics. Classifieds and forums Burny, Fernandes, Greco, Orville, Bacchus, Momose, Deviser.

www.tokaiforum.com

 

[Bitsleftover]

 

[Bitsleftover]

 

[Bitsleftover]

 

[DanielK]

I'm sorry that I can't be of much help but that's a fantastic looking guitar, congrats! I've noticed that many Japanese guitars made for the JDM lack 'MIJ' markings. I've seen this in ESP Esparto Navigators of the same era as well.

 

[Bitsleftover]

I'm sorry that I can't be of much help but that's a fantastic looking guitar, congrats! I've noticed that many Japanese guitars made for the JDM lack 'MIJ' markings. I've seen this in ESP Esparto Navigators of the same era as well.

Ah that could explain it. Thankyou.
While searching the internet for photos of similar guitars It looks as though some had Made in Japan on a small rectangular sticker on the neck heel so its quite conceivable that he just peeled it off.
Ill keep digging. The flat bridge plate and modern saddles must be a clue.

 

[kiwi blue]

While searching the internet for photos of similar guitars It looks as though some had Made in Japan on a small rectangular sticker on the neck heel so its quite conceivable that he just peeled it off.

I have a Tokai AST-56 Strat from about the same time. It has the Made in Japan sticker on the heel. The tuners also look the same, the script on the headstock is the same, and the neck plate has a serial number in the same place as yours does. Yours certainly looks to be authentic, and 1984 is plausible for sure.

Unfortunately I don't recall the exact year of mine but it was certainly no later than '85 or '86. If I look through my old posts I may be able to find a more accurate estimate.

80s Tokai are rock solid. You did great!

 

[kiwi blue]

Looking at this ...

Tokai Guitar Registry - Tokai Fender Copy Information

The information source for Tokai electric guitars.

www.tokairegistry.com

.. I'd say 1984 is probably correct. Your guitar has the script logo but still has the Fender headstock shape. The headstock shape was changed in 1985. My AST-56 has the later non-Fender headstock and is most likely an 85 or 86.

 

[Bitsleftover]

Thanks guys!
I got an absolute bargain in that case!
I’m delighted!

 

[dukewellington]

Beautiful guitar! Tokai makes great products.

 

[pbenn]

Are the two treble-side neck mount screws slightly oversized, or is it just the angle of the photo? If so might point to a neck shift history, needing dowel and re-drill etc.

But if just the angle, I have no point here (!).

 

[Bitsleftover]

Are the two treble-side neck mount screws slightly oversized, or is it just the angle of the photo? If so might point to a neck shift history, needing dowel and re-drill etc.

But if just the angle, I have no point here (!).

Interesting question! All 4 are about the same I’d say. Are you asking about the screws? Or the holes?
The screw actually look slightly under size. Or more accurately the countersinks in the neck plate are cut slightly too deep.
One of the holes in the neck has a little fouling around the edge where I’m guessing someone has been a little heavy handed while refitting the neck.
The previous owner said he had it “reconditioned” in the 90s when he had the Gotoh bridge fitted.
Id say it’s not been apart since then.
When I took it all apart it had that reassuring ‘glued together with spilled beer and sweat’ feel that you come to recognise.
I’d say it’s been played a lot and loved dearly! Just not overly molested like most of my gear!

 

[mystichands]

View attachment 952303View attachment 952304

Nice looking Tokai! Don’t know about their serial numbers but I have a 1968 Yamaha FG110 red label, small acoustic. Every forum I looked at said the sn was in one of two possible places; but mine doesn’t have any, anywhere. But it’s still an awesome old Yamaha. So don’t sweat it if you can’t find everything out to the exact details. It looks like the real thing, and I bet it plays and sounds great.