Telekarster
Poster Extraordinaire
Man it's looking really good! I really love that color. I have a 57 Strat AVRI in a similar color. Looking forward to the finished repair!
Tokai Breezysound repair/restoration
- Thread starter KelvinS1965
- Start date
KelvinS1965
Tele-Afflicted
This guitar is fighting me all the way. After the last photos I masked off to spray the binding with some tinted lacquer and got a hard 'edge' to the paint which then lifted some of the red making a very visible line. I wasn't happy with it:
Over the last few (very hot) days I've sanded it down, sprayed it silver base again, done the transparent red, back to where I was on the previous page. The top edge matches the original paint on the lower horn a bit better I think this time (and therefore matches the original front better too):
I then sprayed tinted clear over the binding (without masking as the tint doesn't show against the red). This went well and I put some of the tinted clear across the whole back to use it up and trying to build more shine. That looked good if a little dull (would have wet sanded and buffed up, but I prefer to be good enough to go straight to buffing).
However when I started the final clear coats the lacquer came out like small 'strands' of paint leaving a whitish/silvery very rough finish on the edges and back. I couldn't help myself, but I grabbed a can of clear nitro aerosol as a test and just did the edge. That has melted in fine as below:
I will leave it until tomorrow and then try wet sanding the back: If it sands smooth, then I may just buff it to a shine and call that it. If not I will mix some more clear and spray another wet coat on the back to level it and maybe give it a better shine like the edges. I didn't want to do the whole back with the can, though I might if it comes to it. I'll just leave it longer before wet sanding and buffing as I never get as good a finish as I do from the spray gun (above effect not withstanding).
I'll be glad to get this back together and with the owner again.
By contrast I had a break from this Tokai and worked on a cheap 2002 Squier Showmaster I bought locally to practice fretwork on. It had a ridiculous action, needed a really good clean and the body was marked where stickers had been and covered in scratches. I spent about 4 hours doing the fret level and crown, tidying up the wiring and machine polishing the body (I didn't respray it).
From this:
Look at this action:
Buffed to a shine:
All back together and used for band rehearsals last night with a nice low action and no buzzes after my fret job:
Over the last few (very hot) days I've sanded it down, sprayed it silver base again, done the transparent red, back to where I was on the previous page. The top edge matches the original paint on the lower horn a bit better I think this time (and therefore matches the original front better too):
I then sprayed tinted clear over the binding (without masking as the tint doesn't show against the red). This went well and I put some of the tinted clear across the whole back to use it up and trying to build more shine. That looked good if a little dull (would have wet sanded and buffed up, but I prefer to be good enough to go straight to buffing).
However when I started the final clear coats the lacquer came out like small 'strands' of paint leaving a whitish/silvery very rough finish on the edges and back. I couldn't help myself, but I grabbed a can of clear nitro aerosol as a test and just did the edge. That has melted in fine as below:
I will leave it until tomorrow and then try wet sanding the back: If it sands smooth, then I may just buff it to a shine and call that it. If not I will mix some more clear and spray another wet coat on the back to level it and maybe give it a better shine like the edges. I didn't want to do the whole back with the can, though I might if it comes to it. I'll just leave it longer before wet sanding and buffing as I never get as good a finish as I do from the spray gun (above effect not withstanding).
I'll be glad to get this back together and with the owner again.
By contrast I had a break from this Tokai and worked on a cheap 2002 Squier Showmaster I bought locally to practice fretwork on. It had a ridiculous action, needed a really good clean and the body was marked where stickers had been and covered in scratches. I spent about 4 hours doing the fret level and crown, tidying up the wiring and machine polishing the body (I didn't respray it).
From this:
Look at this action:
Buffed to a shine:
All back together and used for band rehearsals last night with a nice low action and no buzzes after my fret job:
somebodyelseuk
Tele-Holic
He did more than "dropped it" to do that amount of damage. If that had been my guitar, the 'friend' would have got 'dropped' a few times.I was asked by a former colleague to see if I could fix his 1980s Tokai Breezysound. He had lent it to a 'friend' who kindly dropped it, breaking a chunk of binding off the back of the body, smashing the volume and tone pots and knocking two of the tuners back out through the headstock.
Look away now if you are squeamish.
Not too bad from the front:
View attachment 985390
Rear damage:
View attachment 985391
Tuner damage:
View attachment 985393
Not so obvious from the front, just very dusty:
View attachment 985394
KelvinS1965
Tele-Afflicted
I almost daren't say anything incase I tempt fate, but managed to get a few coats of clear on it today. It's very hot in the UK today at about 32 deg C (90 F) so I got on with it earlier this morning. I wet sanded the back with P800 last night to remove the white/rough finish and mixed a fresh batch of clear up and extra thinners (I only had anti bloom, but that's worked fine).
It's more orange peely than I'd usually manage (the heat and anti bloom thinners probably aren't helping), but I'd rather just build up the coats so I can wet sand and buff it to a shine. Considering it's the back and going to get scratched soon enough anyway, I suppose it's not that critical, but I just want to take pride in the finished job.
Just going to leave it to bake in the sunshine this afternoon now that it's flashed off in the garage:
Letting it bake in the garden (colours seem a bit off as the binding doesn't look like that in person):
It's more orange peely than I'd usually manage (the heat and anti bloom thinners probably aren't helping), but I'd rather just build up the coats so I can wet sand and buff it to a shine. Considering it's the back and going to get scratched soon enough anyway, I suppose it's not that critical, but I just want to take pride in the finished job.
Just going to leave it to bake in the sunshine this afternoon now that it's flashed off in the garage:
Letting it bake in the garden (colours seem a bit off as the binding doesn't look like that in person):
Last edited:
KelvinS1965
Tele-Afflicted
Thanks, the Squier was a very quick job in comparison, which made it a bit more satisfying too I think. I will add finished pictures of the Tokai before it goes back, probably some more of the in-between stages too, as much for my own reference in the future.
I don't know the whole story, but I agree it looks more than a simple 'drop'. More like it fell down a concrete stairwell, but who knows. I'll try to get the background when he comes to pick it up as I'm quite intrigued as to how it happened and whether he is still a 'friend' now.
somebodyelseuk
Tele-Holic
My eyes aren't what they used to be, but it looks like the front is untouched?Thanks, the Squier was a very quick job in comparison, which made it a bit more satisfying too I think. I will add finished pictures of the Tokai before it goes back, probably some more of the in-between stages too, as much for my own reference in the future.
I don't know the whole story, but I agree it looks more than a simple 'drop'. More like it fell down a concrete stairwell, but who knows. I'll try to get the background when he comes to pick it up as I'm quite intrigued as to how it happened and whether he is still a 'friend' now.
If that had been dropped, a different area of the binding would have taken the hit. If it had fallen down a flight of stairs, for example, there'd be damage all over it.
My gut feeling is that somebody took the term 'axe' too far.
KelvinS1965
Tele-Afflicted
@somebodyelseuk there is a small area of damage on the front edge/binding, but we agreed to leave that as it is. Plus a few more marks on the front that could just be general wear and tear. The fall down the stairs was my comment; no idea what actually happened to it so we will see what the owner says when he picks it up, hopefully in a couple of weeks.
It's been nicely baked in the sunshine today, but I've put it out of harm's way now. I'm even getting paranoid about it slipping while I'm working on it now, just taking off the last of the masking tape was a worry.
It's been nicely baked in the sunshine today, but I've put it out of harm's way now. I'm even getting paranoid about it slipping while I'm working on it now, just taking off the last of the masking tape was a worry.
KelvinS1965
Tele-Afflicted
Today was wet sand and buffing day. It's as good as I can get it without risking breaking through lacquer or any other issue that might cause another 'reset' so it's just back to baking in the sun in my conservatory today. Will start putting it back together tomorrow/Monday as I want it ready for him to collect next weekend.
A decent shine and the extra join in the binding should be hidden by the guitar strap once fitted:
The edge looks better too, though some slight marks up really close and the binding/paint edge is a bit wonky in places, but it's a 20+ year old guitar and had other marks on before it was dropped:
It's decent match with the original paint on the front too:
Off to watch some other friends playing an outside gig, so it can rest while I'm out and be ready for assembly tomorrow.
A decent shine and the extra join in the binding should be hidden by the guitar strap once fitted:
The edge looks better too, though some slight marks up really close and the binding/paint edge is a bit wonky in places, but it's a 20+ year old guitar and had other marks on before it was dropped:
It's decent match with the original paint on the front too:
Off to watch some other friends playing an outside gig, so it can rest while I'm out and be ready for assembly tomorrow.
Sea Devil
Friend of Leo's
I think it looks great, even with all the mishaps along the way. Nice job!
Looking spectacularly good. Cannot wait for the final assembly...Today was wet sand and buffing day. It's as good as I can get it without risking breaking through lacquer or any other issue that might cause another 'reset' so it's just back to baking in the sun in my conservatory today. Will start putting it back together tomorrow/Monday as I want it ready for him to collect next weekend.
A decent shine and the extra join in the binding should be hidden by the guitar strap once fitted:
View attachment 1019016
The edge looks better too, though some slight marks up really close and the binding/paint edge is a bit wonky in places, but it's a 20+ year old guitar and had other marks on before it was dropped:
View attachment 1019018
It's decent match with the original paint on the front too:
View attachment 1019019
Off to watch some other friends playing an outside gig, so it can rest while I'm out and be ready for assembly tomorrow.
KelvinS1965
Tele-Afflicted
I got it wired up this evening: I had to replace the 3 way switch with a CRL one as the original was broken on the neck pickup side. I was able to clean and re-use the volume and tone pots which was good because the Tokai knobs wouldn't fit on the CTS pots I'd bought ready to swap out.
Took a few attempts to get it working the right way round and I cheated and opened up my next job to check how it was wired. A light tap on the pickups with a small screwdriver confirmed the switch, volume and tone functioning OK, so tomorrow I can put the neck on and then restring it, since it's 1am here in the UK now. Good job I'm retired and don't have work in the morning.
I polished up the original pickguard and sent pictures to the owner with a black 3 ply one in place, but it doesn't line up properly (due to being a Tokai I guess). I didn't want to plug and drill new holes and he likes how the white one has cleaned up. I think it looks better and the wear on it is more in keeping with the age of the guitar:
Verses:
Along with my next job (a quick buff up to try to reduce some scratches on the front, which barely show anyway). MIA and MIJ together:
Took a few attempts to get it working the right way round and I cheated and opened up my next job to check how it was wired. A light tap on the pickups with a small screwdriver confirmed the switch, volume and tone functioning OK, so tomorrow I can put the neck on and then restring it, since it's 1am here in the UK now. Good job I'm retired and don't have work in the morning.
I polished up the original pickguard and sent pictures to the owner with a black 3 ply one in place, but it doesn't line up properly (due to being a Tokai I guess). I didn't want to plug and drill new holes and he likes how the white one has cleaned up. I think it looks better and the wear on it is more in keeping with the age of the guitar:
Verses:
Along with my next job (a quick buff up to try to reduce some scratches on the front, which barely show anyway). MIA and MIJ together:
KelvinS1965
Tele-Afflicted
Got it all back together this morning. Did a rough set up and letting it settle in, but it's pretty much there already. Put 10s on it as I know he is a bit of a 'strummer' though I had no trouble doing bends on it, despite it being a 7.25" radius like two of my own Teles.
Some before and after photos, hard to get the lighting the same, so the body colour is a bit different:
From the back:
From the front:
I spent about an hour playing through some of my band's set list on it and it plays really nicely. Tuning is very stable too. I took it outside for some glamour shots, which I'll post later.
Some before and after photos, hard to get the lighting the same, so the body colour is a bit different:
From the back:
From the front:
I spent about an hour playing through some of my band's set list on it and it plays really nicely. Tuning is very stable too. I took it outside for some glamour shots, which I'll post later.
The owner has to be pleased with the results..... it really does look great. Thanks for all the detail in this thread - very interesting.
I've played a few Tokai Breezysounds in shops before and found them to be very good.
I also remember going to see John Martyn in Cheltenham back in 1982 or 1983 (don't recall when exactly) and he was playing a Tokai Breezysound for that gig (electric parts obviously), although it wasn't a custom model with the binding. Back at the end of the seventies and early eighties the Tokai guitars were considered better than Fenders of the day.
I've played a few Tokai Breezysounds in shops before and found them to be very good.
I also remember going to see John Martyn in Cheltenham back in 1982 or 1983 (don't recall when exactly) and he was playing a Tokai Breezysound for that gig (electric parts obviously), although it wasn't a custom model with the binding. Back at the end of the seventies and early eighties the Tokai guitars were considered better than Fenders of the day.
stnmtthw
Friend of Leo's
Great job!!!
KelvinS1965
Tele-Afflicted
Took these pictures outside this afternoon. The owner is very happy with what he's seen so far and will be picking it up this weekend all being well. Thanks to all who have followed this thread...I give you the final pictures:
KelvinS1965
Tele-Afflicted
The owner just left...he's very happy with it which is a relief (not sure what I'd have done if he wasn't though). Got a relatively simple pickup fix job on his Epiphone SG to sort out now.
Fendereedo
Doctor of Teleocity
Awesome work Kelvin! I think anyone would be well pleased with those results.
Holy cow. There's one on GTA Kijiji for 1050 Can!....https://www.kijiji.ca/v-guitar/markham-york-region/tokai-japan-telecaster-ate-106b-old-candy-apple-red-2019/1612864099
That's awesome!! Great job.
Mike B
Mike B
