1979 Tokai ST-50 Springy Sound Olympic White – Vintage MIJ Strat-Style

1979 Tokai ST-50 Springy Sound Olympic White

This is a Fender Strat-type model made by Tokai Gakki in 1979.

Tokai's electric guitars from this period attempted to faithfully reproduce the original vintage Fender guitars from the 1950s and 60s.

The level of reproduction achieved was so high that even the original Fender company envied it.

In fact, they were manufactured with such precision and quality that Fender eventually filed a lawsuit to halt production.

The body is made of Japanese Ash. The neck is a thin-profile U-shaped one-piece Maple. The fingerboard is Rosewood.

The pickups are the original “ST-B” (U-stamped).

The finish is listed in the manufacturer's catalog as “Olympic White”. It is a polyester finish, but the coating is applied extremely thinly.

The plastic pickup covers and control knobs have developed a vintage patina through aging.

The fretboard end is stamped with “50”.

The neck pocket also bears an “ST-50” stamp.

The tremolo arm is non-original but connects to the tremolo block.

Everything except the arm is original.

Specs:

• Body: Japanese Ash (Tamo Ash / SEN)
• Neck: Maple (one-piece)
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Frets: Vintage (Small)
• Scale Length: 25.5"
• Overall Length: 38.78"
• Body Width: 12.8" (Maximum width at bottom)
• Nut Width: 1-11/16" (Bone)
• Pickups: ST-B (U-stamped) x3
• Electronics: Volume x1, Tone x2, 3-position pickup selector switch
• Hardware: Tokai Original Bridge & Kluson-type Tuners
• Weight: 3.5kg

Condition:

For a 1970s instrument, it is in good condition.

The body top and sides have a few minor dents and scratches in several places, but overall it is in good condition. There are no structural issues.

The original decal on the headstock top is also cleanly preserved.

All metal parts, including screws, bridge, and saddle, have been polished and are clean.

(Please ultimately confirm and judge the cosmetic condition from the images.)

The neck is straight, the truss rod functions properly, and the electronics operate well.

Frets:

• Approximately 70–80% remaining

Current string height settings:

• Low E at approximately 2mm and High E at approximately 1.8mm at the 12th fret.

Setup & Inspection:

• Neck and truss rod checked
• Action and intonation adjusted
• Electronics tested
• Carefully cleaned and inspected before shipping

Accessories:

• Original brown synthetic leather soft case included.

This is my first time listing on Reverb, but I have extensive experience buying and selling vintage and used musical instruments within Japan.

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■ Our Selling Policy of Vintage Guitars

While this is our first listing on Reverb, we possess extensive experience in buying and selling vintage and used instruments within Japan.

All guitars are in our actual inventory and are personally inspected by the owner before listing.

Before shipping, each guitar undergoes the following basic maintenance and cleaning:

• Polishing of the body, neck, and metal hardware
• Neck adjustment & fret leveling (※Adjusted for Japan's climate)
• Cleaning of the fingerboard, bridge, and frets
• Verification of all basic electronic function

As the majority of instruments we offer are vintage guitars, additional setup or maintenance may be required to achieve optimal performance tailored to the player's preferences.

We recommend that final neck adjustments, intonation tuning, fret leveling, and other detailed setup work be performed by the new owner themselves or a local technician, taking into account individual playing style and local climate conditions.

By leaving the final setup preferences to the buyer, we are able to offer these instruments at fair and reasonable prices while maintaining the integrity and transparency of our listings.

■ Shipping

Additional shipping charges may apply to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and other remote locations. Please contact us before purchasing.

Guitars are securely packaged using Reverb's recommended method and shipped fully insured from Japan.

The shipping carrier (FedEx or Japan Post) is selected by the seller based on the shipping destination and conditions.

(A flat shipping rate applies to the U.S. mainland. However, additional shipping charges may apply to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and other remote locations. Please contact us before purchasing.)

We ship only to addresses registered with PayPal.

Please note that delivery delays may occur due to customs inspections, natural disasters, postal strikes, or other unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.

If your country is not listed, shipping costs are not displayed, or you have questions about the item's condition or shipping, please feel free to contact us before purchasing.

■ About Customs Duties (For International Customers)

For international shipments, the item price and shipping cost do not include any import duties, taxes, VAT, or customs-related fees.

All such charges, as well as any required import procedures, are the sole responsibility of the buyer.

Before bidding or purchasing, please check with your local customs office for detailed information regarding any additional fees that may apply.

Customs clearance fees are typically collected by the shipping carrier or paid by the buyer upon delivery. These fees are not additional shipping charges imposed by the seller.

We do not understate the item value or mark shipments as “gifts” on customs declarations.
Such requests cannot be accepted, as they violate U.S. and international customs regulations.