Tokai SG95L Left Handed 2008 - Cherry - SG Standard - Made In Japan MIJ

Used 2008 Tokai SG95L Left Handed SG Standard in Cherry Finish - Made in the famous Tokai factory in Japan - MIJ

• Serial Number: 0818651
• Body: Mahogany - 2 piece centre seam
• Neck: Mahogany - 1 piece
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Fretboard Radius: 12"
• Fret Edge Binding: No
• Inlays: Acrylic Pearloid Trapezoid Inlays
• Frets: 22 x Medium Jumbo (1.1mm tall x 2.7mm wide)
• Nut Width: 43.2mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 44.6mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 53.1mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 22.2mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 23.8mm
• Nut: Bone
• Tuners: Non original Grover Rotomatic tuners
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Original Nickel unbranded ABR style bridge and tailpiece (looks exactly like Gotoh but not branded)
• Pickups: 2 x non original Bacchus VH-59 Nickel covered humbuckers
• Neck Pickup Resistance: 7.51K ohm
• Bridge Pickup Resistance: 12.09K ohm
• Pots: Original - 500K audio tape tone pots, 500K linear taper volume pots
• Strings: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 2221 10-46 - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 7.20bs
• Non Original Parts: Tuners, truss rod cover & screws, humbuckers & screws, neck volume and tone pots, strap buttons
• Case: New quality made Profile G05TX gig bag
• Truss Rod: works as expected, with room in both directions

This is a rarely seen Japanese made 2008 Tokai SG95L Left Handed SG Standard, which is their take on the early 1963-64 Gibson SG. The L in the model number stands for Left.

This model was part of Tokai's highly acclaimed Vintage Series during this time. The right handed SG model was the SG85, so this would have been a custom ordered Left Handed version, costing an additional 10,000 YEN, making it an SG95L.

This guitar arrived to me with some Grover tuners installed, a mismatch of non original pickups, and non original truss rod cover. I left the tuners in place - although the originals were Gotoh Kluson style tuners, so the upper holes for the original tuners are exposed on the back of the headstock. I replaced the pickups with a pair of Bacchus VH-59 humbuckers I had - these are very close to what came installed in this Tokai, and they sound great. I also replaced the truss rod cover with a new Gibson style Bell shaped truss rod cover and screws. The neck volume and tone knobs are also not original, and are right handed so they don't line up properly (I have a new set of left handed metric black reflector knobs on order, and will install them on this guitar once received). The strap buttons are also not original and are a locking type.

Other than those items, everything else on this particular Tokai appears to be original, and in good player grade condition. There are some larger chips in the finish on the lower horn and the high E side of the headstock, a larger chip/dent on the face of the headstock by the low E string, along with some typical dings, dents scratches and swirling all over the guitar, particularly on the back of the headstock (likely when a previous owner was replacing the tuners). It's no case queen, but it still plays and sounds great!

The nickel hardware is all in great shape, with only minor signs of has very light corrosion and tarnish, but overall has lots of shine left.

The 1 piece mahogany neck is a joy to play on with a medium C shaped wide neck. This is not like a super thin Gibson USA '61 SG, this neck is a little more substantial in the hand. It has a beautiful dark rosewood fretboard, with really nice acrylic pearloid trapezoid inlays.

The 22 medium jumbo frets have barely been played, and there is virtually no play wear on these frets - overall there is lots of life left in these frets, and the guitar plays extremely well up and down the entire neck.

These nickel covered Bacchus VH-59 humbuckers have a lot of power and punch on tap. The neck pickup is a lower wind in the 7.5K ohms range while the bridge pickup is a little hotter coming in at 12K ohms - these are very similar to this era of Tokai pickups, and can handle every genre well. They sound great at full volume and when you roll down the volume and tone, and you're able to recreate many tones you're looking for.

All the guitars I sell, I test, thoroughly clean, and setup completely before I list them. Anything that is missing, damaged, or non original is mentioned in the listing.

I setup all my Gibson style guitars to Gibson factory specs - including neck relief, action, pickup height, intonation, and tailpiece height. So this guitar will be ready to play out of the box (after you tune it up - I ship my guitars with the strings loosened).

Comes with a new quality made Profile G05TX gig bag.

Overall, this is hard to find and professional grade guitar made by one of the best guitar factories in the world.

If you're a lefty looking for a Japanese made SG Standard that stands out from the rest of the pack, grab this one today!

CONDITION ------------

Overall it's in good player grade shape.

I've tried to capture all of the flaws in the photos and in the description.

The tuners, truss rod cover & screws, pickups & screws, neck volume & tones knobs, and strap buttons are all non original.

The current neck volume and tone knobs are right handed, so they don't match the bridge knobs, and don't line up properly when adjusted to anything below 10. (I have a new set of left handed metric black reflector knobs on order and will install them on this guitar once they arrive)

Across the entire body, top, back side, neck, and headstock, there are numerous dings, dents, scratches, and swirling.

There is a larger chip in the finish on the lower horn.

There is a smaller chip in the finish on the high E side of the side of the headstock.

There are numerous scratches on the back of the headstock, likely from a previous owner installed the Grover tuners.

The original lower tuner holes on the back of the headstock were used to mount the Grover tuners, but the upper tuner holes are visible.

There is a ding/dent/chip on the headstock face under the low E string.

Under the truss rod cover, there is an additional hole that was used to mount a non original truss rod cover. This is not seen with the current truss rod cover installed.

All of the nickel hardware, including the bridge, tailpiece, pickup covers and pole pieces, tuners, and screws are all in great shape with lots of shine left, with only minor if any tarnish, pitting, corrosion and/or rust. Everything works as expected, including the tuners and bridge saddles.

The black plastics are in tact with typical scratches and pick marks.

All of the Grover Rotomatic tuners are work properly.

Around the strap buttons there's strap marks/swirling.

The 22 medium jumbo frets have barely been played, and there is virtually no play wear across the neck, and overall there's lots of life left in these frets, and the guitar plays very well up and down the entire neck.

There's no signs of a headstock, heel or any other repairs.

The truss rod works as expected, with room in both directions.

SHIPPING ------------  

Every shipment is expertly packed with great care and includes tracking, signature required on delivery, and full insurance coverage for both the purchase price and shipping.

Every guitar is fully wrapped in bubble wrap, in a cardboard box meant for guitars, with proper support inside. To reduce environmental impact, the packing material (paper, newsprint, gift wrap, bubble wrap, air packets, foam, carboard boxes and/or tube supports, etc...) used may be recycled.

Package dimensions are 118cm x 47cm x 17cm

Note: if you want an exact shipping quote, just send me a note with your postal/zip code, and I'll get a proper quote for your address. 

Note: If you're buying from outside of Canada, you as the Buyer may be required to pay import duties, tariffs, taxes and/or VAT upon delivery, depending on your location and the purchase price.

QUESTIONS ------------

Any questions? Want more photos or detailed shots? Measurements? Shoot me a message, and I'll be happy to answer them, or send more pics, or take any measurements you want/need.

Thanks for looking!