TOKAI "ES 198S Natural Cordal Made In Japan" HARDCASE, 3, 64 KG

Tokai began in 1947, as a harmonica and piano manufacturer. It developed its first melodica, the Pianica, in 1961. Tokai began making banjos and harpsichords in 1973 and the electric piano in 1975. Tokai started making classical guitars in 1965. It made its first electric guitar in 1968 with the Humming Bird, a guitar loosely based on the Mosrite Mark I and II.[3] This was followed in 1970 with the Humming Bird Custom acoustic guitar (not to be confused with the Hummingbird guitar model produced by Gibson). Some Tokai guitars, with models resembling American manufacturers' guitars: fltr: Goldstar Sound, Talbo, LS-85 Love Rock, Hard Puncher bass From 1970 to 1973, Tokai produced the Conn line of acoustic guitars under contract with C.G. Conn.[4][5] In 1972, Tokai entered into a joint-venture with C. F. Martin & Company to supply acoustic guitar parts and also to build Martin's Sigma electric guitars. In 1975, it launched its own Cat's Eyes line of acoustic guitars, which were replicas of C.F. Martin guitars. Between 1977 and 1978, Tokai began making various Fender and Gibson replica electric guitars and basses. These models are generically known as "lawsuit guitars". Tokai's replica of the Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, named the "Les Paul Reborn" model, started in 1978. By 1980, the name was changed to "Reborn Old" and later to its current name, "Love Rock". The name change was in response to threats from American guitar companies to go to court to protect their copyrights. Tokai also made Fender replicas, the "Springy Sound" (ST series, Fender Stratocaster replica) and the "Breezy Sound" (TE series, Fender Telecaster replica).Both Stevie Ray Vaughan and Chuck Hammer played a "Tokai Springy Sound" at one time. This guitar was fitted with lipstick pickups and can be seen on the cover of his second studio album Couldn't Stand the Weather. By the late 1970s, replicas of Fender guitars, such as the ".38 Special" guitar and the "Hard Puncher" bass (replica of the Fender Precision Bass), began to be sold in Japan and Europe.[3][6] In 1982, Tokai introduced an aluminum-body guitar called the Talbo (Tokai Aluminum Body) which the band Devo played at one time.[7] Tokai has its own instrument making factory and have built guitars for well-known brands under contract (OEM). Tokai briefly made Fender guitars for sale in Japan only during the transition from Fujigen to all Dyna production, this lasted a few brief months and then Dyna was eliminated as a source. Vintage Series Maple body, with "arched" flamed maple top Mahogany neck; rosewood fingerboard Medium "C" neck profile 22 Medium Jumbo frets 24.75" scale LS-VB bridge with LS-VT tailpiece PAF Vintage MkII Pickups 2 volume controls and 2 tone controls 3 position pickup selector Includes case Colour: Vintage Natural