Tokai Love Rock LS-120 Lemon Burst 1981

A beautiful and highly collectible 1981 Tokai Love Rock LS-120, made during the golden era of Japanese guitar manufacturing.

The early Tokai Love Rock series has earned an outstanding reputation among players and collectors for its remarkable build quality and faithful interpretation of late-1950s Gibson Les Pauls.

According to period Tokai model specifications, the LS-100, LS-120, LS-150 and LS-200 were positioned as 1959-style models, while the LS-50, LS-60 and LS-80 were based on the 1958 model.

The LS-120 therefore represents one of the higher-grade models from this legendary period of Tokai production.

Beautiful Lemon Burst & Carved Maple Top

One of the most impressive features of this guitar is its beautifully aged Lemon Burst finish and figured maple top.

The flame/tiger figuring changes naturally depending on the viewing angle and lighting, giving the guitar the subtle three-dimensional appearance associated with great vintage maple tops.

Another particularly attractive feature is the deeply carved top profile.

The arching from the edge of the body toward the bridge and pickup area is noticeably pronounced and has the elegant contour associated with vintage Les Paul construction. It is a feature that is increasingly difficult to find on modern production guitars.

After approximately 45 years, the original finish has developed a beautiful amber/lemon appearance that gives the instrument an unmistakably authentic vintage character.

One-Piece Mahogany Back

The guitar features a traditional Les Paul-style construction with a carved maple top and one-piece mahogany back.

The one-piece mahogany body construction is another desirable feature of these higher-grade early Tokai Love Rock models.

Original DiMarzio USA PAF Pickups

This LS-120 is equipped with its original DiMarzio USA PAF humbuckers.

The pickup baseplate is clearly stamped:

“DiMarzio Pickups – Made in U.S.A.”

Period Tokai specifications list DiMarzio PAF pickups among the premium pickup options used on the higher-grade Love Rock models of this era.

The electronics also remain original, making this a particularly attractive example for collectors looking for an early Love Rock that retains its important original components.

Genuine Vintage Aging

This guitar has been played and enjoyed over its approximately 45-year history and shows natural signs of use.

There are scratches, small marks and normal playwear throughout the instrument. The back of the body in particular shows noticeable buckle rash and scratching, while the bridge, tailpiece and other hardware have developed natural aging and oxidation.

These are not artificially created relic marks—they are the genuine result of decades of playing and aging.

The aged binding, rosewood fingerboard, pearloid inlays, vintage-style hardware and classic Tokai headstock all contribute to the wonderful character of this instrument.

Specifications

Brand: Tokai

Model: Love Rock LS-120

Year: 1981

Made in Japan

1959 Les Paul Style Model

Finish: Lemon Burst

Figured Flame / Tiger Maple Top

Carved Maple Top

One-Piece Mahogany Back

Mahogany Neck

Rosewood Fingerboard

Original DiMarzio USA PAF Humbuckers

Original Electronics

Vintage-Style Hardware

Original Tokai Hard Case Included

Weight : 3.99kg

Early-1980s Tokai Love Rocks are widely appreciated today for the exceptional quality that helped establish the reputation of Japanese vintage guitars.

With its LS-120 specification, 1959-style construction, deeply carved figured maple top, one-piece mahogany back, original DiMarzio PAF pickups and beautifully developed natural aging, this is a particularly attractive example from Tokai's golden era.

A fantastic instrument not only for serious players, but also for collectors of high-grade Japan Vintage guitars.

Original Tokai hard case included.