2008 Tokai SG155 Premium Series SG Standard - Cherry Lacquer - 1 Piece Honduras Mahogany Body - Original Case - Made In Japan MIJ

Used 2008 Tokai SG155 Premium Series SG Standard in Cherry Lacquer Finish - All Original with original Tokai hard case - Made in the famous Tokai factory in Japan - MIJ

• Serial Number: 0817009
• Body: 1 Piece Honduras mahogany
• Neck: 1 Piece Honduras mahogany
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Fretboard Radius: 10"
• Fret Edge Binding: No
• Inlays: Amber tinter acrylic celluloid looking trapezoid inlays
• Frets: 22 x Medium Jumbo (1.0mm tall x 2.7mm wide)
• Nut Width: 43.7mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 44.5mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 52.8mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 22.1mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 24.1mm
• Nut: Bone
• Tuners: Original nickel Gotoh Kluson style tuners
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Original Japanese made Nickel non-wire ABR style bridge with brass saddles and aluminum tailpiece
• Pickups: 2 x original nickel covered Tokai P.A.F. Vintage MK2 humbuckers
• Neck Pickup Resistance: 7.61K ohm
• Bridge Pickup Resistance: 8.46K ohm
• Pots: Original CTS 500K pots with Sprague Orange Drop capacitors
• Strings: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 2221 10-46 - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 7.46bs
• Non Original Parts: None
• Case: Original Tokai "REBORN OLD" hard case with crushed red interior
• Truss Rod: works as expected, with room in both directions

This is a rarely seen Japanese made 2008 Tokai SG155 Premium Series SG Standard, which is their best attempt on the early 1963-64 Gibson SG.

The Premium series SG appears for the first time in the 2006 Tokai Catalog - although it wasn't called the Premium Series until the 2009 Catalog. This model became the SG175 in the 2008 catalog, so possibly sometime in 2008 it was updated - after this guitar was made. It later became the SG185, SG196, SG210, SG215, and finally the SG242, as the prices increased - but sometime between 2016 and 2018 it became a 2 piece body.

Although Tokai had been making 1963 style SG's since the early 1980's, originally called the SG-60 and TSG-60, this was their first time making a Premium level SG. The big differences with this model vs Tokai's "Vintage Line" SG75, which is an incredibly guitar, is the following:

• 1 piece Honduras mahogany body
• 1 piece Honduras mahogany neck
• Amber tinted acrylic celluloid looking inlays
• Amber tinted headstock logo and "flower pot" inlay
• Pickups are P.A.F. Vintage MK2
• Lacquer finish
• Higher quality bridge & tailpiece with brass saddles and aluminum tailpiece
• Higher quality electronics, including CTS pots, Sprague Orange Drop capacitors, and Swithcraft jack & switch
• Included Tokai hard case

This combination improved an already incredible guitar, and really brings the quality of this SG model to the top of the heap when it comes to Japanese made SG models, or any SG for that matter.

The finish on this one is a beautiful cherry lacquer finish, that is darker, deeper and more rich with a nicer luster than the standard cherry that Tokai was using during this time. I suspect that the lacquer might have been amber tinted, since the headstock logo and "flower pot" inlay are more yellow than the standard model - and this could also be contributing to the deeper more rich cherry colour. Further, when I tested the finish on this one with acetone inside the neck cavity, the cherry finish melted all the way down to the either the bare mahogany or the base sealer coat (I can't tell if there is a coating on top of the wood). But this is one of the only MIJ guitars that I have owned that the finish did this. In the hands, this one feels like the Nitro used on Gibson's - it can be sticky at times, but also become smoothed out. It reacts to your playing.

I have owned many Japanese made SG's, along with Gibson's, and I would say that the beveling and contouring that Tokai did on their SG was really the deepest most pronounced from any brand - it looks so nice.

This SG155 appears to be all original, and in very good player grade condition. There are some minor dents, scratches and swirling all over the guitar, but nothing major or anything that affects the playability. It's not a case queen, and it has been played, but definitely not abused.

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 lots of deep pores, with really nice amber tinter acrylic celluloid looking trapezoid inlays. These look like vintage inlays.

The 22 medium jumbo frets have been played, but not much, and really there's only light play wear on the lower open chord area, and overall there is lots of life left in these frets, and the guitar plays extremely well up and down the entire neck.

The original nickel covered Tokai P.A.F. Vintage MK2 humbuckers sound fantastic. Bright, bitey, and edgy, with a firm low end, present mids, and sparkly open highs. This one really nails that Angus AC/DC tone, especially with 9-42 stings. They have a good amount of grit on an overdriven amp, but sounds great when cleaned up too.

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 the original Tokai "REBORN OLD" SG case with crushed red interior. The case is in used condition with a few scratches and scrapes on the tolex/vinyl exterior, but all of the latches and hinges are in tact and working, along with the case key. Also comes with the original Tokai Warranty card.

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

If you're looking for a superlative Japanese made SG Standard, grab this one today!

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

Overall it's in very good player grade shape.

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

Across the entire body, top, back side, neck, and headstock, there are some minor dings, dents, scratches, and swirling in the finish, but nothing major.

There is some minor scratches around the jack.

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, but there is a consistent patina on the hardware. 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 original Gotoh Kluson style tuners are straight and work properly.

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

The 22 medium jumbo frets have barely been played, with only minor play wear in the lower open chord area, 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!