1981 Tokai Love Rock LS120 Vintage Burst - Killer Flame Top Guitar w Nitro Finish & Pro Set Up w Perfect Frets/Action/Intonation!

Serial: 1014922

Nut Width: 1.69

Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .86

Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: .96

Weight: 8 lbs 15 oz's

Comes in Original Hard Case (Lifton Style Reissue)

$$$ It has just been professionally set up and dialed in for optimal tone and playability. It has low action with no buzzing. The frets are in perfect condition and polished to shine like a mirror, it is truly stage or studio ready/worthy. Including New Strings,  Perfect Intonation, Truss Rod Adjustment and Low Action Read Our Feedback and Rest Assured, The Dude Abides!

🔥 1981 Tokai LS120 Love Rock – The Holy Grail Japanese Vintage Les Paul That Looks, Plays and Sounds Like a Dream! 🔥**

For sale: A true survivor from the golden age of Japanese guitar making – this 1981 Tokai LS120 Love Rock is the real deal. It has a KILLER top and was built when Tokai was obsessively chasing (and often surpassing) vintage Gibson perfection, this LS120 delivers that thick, juicy, PAF-style roar with all the woody midrange punch, singing highs, and endless sustain you crave from a proper '59-style single-cut.

100% ORIGINAL – ZERO MODS.

Everything is factory-fresh from 1981: hardware, electronics, pots, switches, tuners, and that gorgeous nitrocellulose lacquer finish. No refrets, no pickup swaps, no neck resets – just pure, untouched vintage Tokai magic.

Vintage Dimarzio's Provide that Magic Juice! - Vintage DiMarzio PAF pickups are pure tone nirvana – that elusive, plug-in-and-wail humbucker voice that defined the golden era of rock, blues, and everything in between.

The Tone

These low-output gems (around 7.6k DCR, vintage ~203mV output) hit you with warm, rich lows that are full and woody without ever getting muddy or spongy. The mids are smooth and vocal-like, with an almost “voice-like” swell right after the initial attack – notes bloom and breathe freely, like they’re alive. Highs? Sweet, singing, and crystalline with incredible harmonic complexity and chime – sparkly yet rounded, never harsh or edgy. It’s that perfect neutral-yet-magical EQ balance: open, dynamic, and touch-sensitive.

Plug into a non-master-volume tube amp, roll the volume knob back, and you get sparkling, chimey cleans with single-coil-like clarity and definition. Dig in or crank the amp and it transforms into creamy, juicy overdrive with endless sustain and that addictive “3D” depth. It reacts to your picking intensity like a living instrument – lighter touch for airy blues leads (think Gary Moore or early Santana), harder attack for that tough-yet-pretty classic rock crunch (ZZ Top Brown Sugar vibes or British Invasion warmth). No modern PAF clone quite captures the same acoustic-like transparency, harmonic bloom, and natural compression – the vintage ones just feel more open and “crystalline” up top while staying warm and forgiving. They pair beautifully as a neck pickup with hotter bridges or shine in both positions for versatile, musical tone that never fights your guitar’s natural voice.

The Cool Factor

DiMarzio was one of the very first companies to nail accurate PAF replicas back when Gibson originals were already mythical and unobtainable. Larry DiMarzio basically invented the aftermarket pickup game, giving players the power to turn any guitar into a tone monster without hunting rare 1959 Les Pauls.

In short: warm, breathing, dynamic vintage PAF perfection with a side of pioneering cool that no modern pickup can touch. If you score a real 1970s set, you’ve got a piece of guitar royalty that plays, sounds, and looks the part. Pure swagger in humbucker form. 🎸

Professionally set up and dialed in for OPTIMAL TONE & PLAYABILITY.  

I had it gone over by a top luthier – low, fast action that feels like butter, perfect intonation across the entire fretboard, neck straight as an arrow, and frets polished to mirror shine. It plays like a guitar half its age: effortless bends, lightning-fast runs, and that addictive “just right” feel that makes you never want to put it down. Plug in and it instantly rewards you with rich, dynamic tone – from fat, creamy blues leads to aggressive rock crunch and sparkling cleans that cut through the mix.

Condition that turns heads:  

Yes, it’s 45 years old and proudly wears its battle scars – a few scattered little dings, dents and scratches that add honest vintage character without detracting from its beauty. Most notably, there’s some authentic lacquer burn on the back above the switch plate.(see pics) It has natural classic nitro checking and finish wear that only real players’ guitars ear. It has some checking on the back of the neck and body. purely cosmetic and full of MOJO. But overall? Very nice shape for its age – the flame top still pops, the binding is tight, the neck feels incredible, and it looks and sounds far better than most guitars from this era. No cracks, no buzzes, no issues. It’s been babied and is ready to gig or record right now.

This isn’t some dusty relic – it’s a player’s guitar that’s been loved, dialed, and now looking for its next serious owner who appreciates Japanese vintage excellence without the Gibson price tag.

If you’ve been hunting for that perfect early-80s Tokai Love Rock – the one that plays like butter, sounds like heaven, and still turns every guitarist’s head at the gig – this is it.

Serious inquiries only. Priced to move for a guitar this clean and dialed. DM or comment for more pics, video, or to set up a trial. Ships fast and safe.

Don’t sleep on this one – 1981 Tokai LS120s in this condition don’t come around often, and once it’s gone… it’s gone.  

Grab your slice of Japanese guitar royalty today! 🎸✨

This guitar has been professionally set up and dialed in for optimal tone and playability. Unless otherwise noted in the listing, It features low action with no buzzing or dead spots, perfect intonation, a brand-new set of American-made strings, and a straight neck with a fully functional truss rod. If needed the frets have been leveled, dressed, crowned, and polished to a mirror shine. The fingerboard has been thoroughly cleaned (unfinished rosewood and ebony boards are treated with Fret Doctor, a premium all-natural oil). All electronics function flawlessly. The guitar has been deep-cleaned and detailed and arrives stage- or studio-ready. 

About The Guitar Dude 

Three-time NAMM Top 100 Dealer worldwide. Specializing in premium Gibson, classic Fender guitars from all eras and the best Japanese made treasures. Known for the highest-quality consignment sales and custom layaway plans (available on select guitars and extendable beyond 45 days to fit your budget—contact us for details).  

Often copied, never duplicated. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for beautiful guitar content. Like what you see? Let us go to work for you. @TheGuitarDude

Our Guarantee  

We stand behind every guitar we sell. “Good enough” is never good enough. Every instrument is inspected, set up, and tested by multiple people immediately before shipping. We deliver the highest standard of quality and have built a reputation as a three-time NAMM Top 100 Dealer since 2009. The Dude Abides.  

Neck & Setup - (unless otherwise noted)

- Neck is perfectly straight with no truss-rod issues. 

- Intonation is spot-on.  

- Professionally set up with low action and new American-made strings.  

- All frets are dressed, leveled, crowned (if needed), and all frets on all guitars are polished to shine like new with no divots.  

Return Policy, Restocking Fees & No Tire-Kicking Policy 

We follow Reverb’s 7-day return policy. However:  

- You must notify us in writing within 3 days of delivery (per tracking) of your intent to return.  

- Original shipping and return shipping costs are not refunded unless the guitar is damaged in transit or is significantly not as described.  

- A 15% restocking fee applies to all returns for any reason other than damage in transit or significantly not as described.  

We record demo videos of every guitar before shipping to document exact condition and performance. Additional photos, measurements, or in-hand descriptions are available upon request prior to purchase.  

Minor adjustments and tweaks to a set up (for example to correct a slight buzz or truss-rod tweak) are normal after shipping due to carrier mishandling the package, climate & atmospheric changes, especially when moving from South Florida to colder or less humid environments. These slight issues do not constitute “significantly not as described.” Guitars must be returned in the exact same condition as received/advertised or additional repair/restocking fees will apply.  

We are a small business, not a big-chain retailer. We invest significant time and effort into every guitar. This is a NO TIRE-KICKING shop. There is no post purchase haggling or partial refunds. If minor cosmetic marks, tiny imperfections, or the possibility of a post-shipping setup tweak makes you uncomfortable, please do not buy. Plenty of large retailers offer free trials and can absorb shipping costs—we do not.  

Payment, Shipping & International Duties  

- All items can be shipped internationally. Buyer is fully responsible for all import duties, taxes, and customs fees.  

- We accept PayPal, PayPal Credit, Affirm, and other major payment methods.  

- Most U.S. shipments are sent via UPS or FedEx with full insurance, tracking, and signature confirmation. All packages are professionally packed for maximum protection.  

International Shipping Note 

International shipping prices shown are for most countries. Certain countries have higher costs. We try and avoid USPS and mostly ship UPS. Express services (UPS, DHL, FedEx) are always available. Contact us for a personalized quote.  

Thank you for considering The Guitar Dude. We look forward to earning your business and delivering a guitar that exceeds your expectations. Contact us anytime for questions, consignment inquiries, layaway details, or a personalized shipping quote.