1980 Tokai Reborn Old Love Rock LS120 Original Burst w/ Lifton-Style Case, Double Cream DiMarzio PAF

Up for sale, a 1980 Tokai “Reborn Old” LS120 in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Originally introduced in 1977, Tokai’s enduringly-popular take on the LP platform is widely considered to be among the finest “lawsuit” Japanese iterations ever produced. This particular “Reborn Old” predates the rebrand to the much better-known “Love Rock” moniker, featuring a curly maple top highlighted by a gloss Original Sunburst nitro lacquer finish and a pair of DiMarzio PAF humbuckers with double cream bobbins.

Lightweight at 9lbs 2oz with tonewoods in-line with a ‘50s Les Paul Standard, this “Reborn Old” features a solid mahogany body and a carved two-piece maple top with a lightly figured and bookmatched veneer, and a mahogany neck capped by a bound rosewood fretboard. The DiMarzio PAF humbuckers deliver clear treble growl, spongy bass register oomph and a textured midrange character. The neck pickup is fat and woody, and the bridge pickup has a sweet bite and focused midrange aggression. This Tokai has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Mahogany
• Shape: Round ‘59-style C, measuring .890” 1st fret, .995” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Rosewood, pearloid flared trapezoid inlay
• Frets: Medium jumbo, leveled/crowned, no wear
• Scale Length: 24 3/4“
• Nut: 1 11/16”, bone (replacement)
• Headstock: “Open book,” “Reborn Old”
• Tuners: Tokai Deluxe single-line, double-ring (Kluson-style)
• Serialization: 0-prefix (1980)
• Factory Markings: “120” stamp at end of fingerboard extension denotes model tier and original price (¥120,000)

Body Specs:

• Wood: Maple (carved two-piece, bookmatched veneer), mahogany
• Pickups: DiMarzio PAF humbucker x2
• Harness: Circuit board harness
• Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
• Hardware: No-wire ABR-1-style bridge with brass saddles, stopbar
• Plastics: Gold bonnet knobs, cream pickguard and switch tip

The gloss Original Sunburst nitro lacquer finish highlights the subtle curly flame ripples in the maple, with moderate buckle rash along the bass side of the back, light pick wear along the strum path, and various small dings consistent with careful use. The nitro gloss on the neck is smooth to the palm, with a few shallow marks.

The original brown Lifton-style hardshell case is included.