1989 Grandy (Tokai) GSG-60G SG Standard - Black with Gold Hardware - All Original - Made by Tokai in Japan MIJ

Used 1989 Grandy GSG-60G SG Standard in Black with Gold Hardware - All Original - Made in the "golden era" of Japanese guitars by the highly revered Tokai factory in Japan - MIJ

• Serial Number: 5033519 (1985 serial number but the pots are from 1988 and 1989)
• Body: 2 piece mahogany body centre seam
• Neck: 1 piece mahogany (appears to have no headstock ears or heal cap)
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Fretboard Radius: Compound from about 12" to 16"
• Fret Edge Binding: No
• Inlays: Acrylic pearloid trapezoid inlays
• Frets: 22 x Medium Jumbo (1.0mm tall x 2.7mm wide)
• Nut Width: 43.3mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 44.2mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 52.7mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 21.5mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 23.6mm
• Nut: Bone
• Tuners: Original non branded gold single ring Kluson style tuners
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Original gold Japanese made no wire ABR style bridge with brass saddles and aluminum tailpiece
• Pickups: Original gold covered humbuckers (double black bobbins with Alnico magnet)
• Neck Pickup Resistance: 8.08K ohm
• Bridge Pickup Resistance: 8.11K ohm
• Pots: Original 500K pots - "81" Jan 1988, "82" Feb 1988, and "92" Feb 1989 date codes
• Strings: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 2221 10-46 strings - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 6.34lbs
• Non Original Parts: None
• Case: New quality made Profile G05TX gig bag
• Truss Rod: Works as expected

This is a rarely seen Grandy GSG-60G SG Standard Model in Black with Gold Hardware from 1989, made by the world famous Tokai Gakki factory in Japan.

This is essentially the exact same guitar as the 1985 - 1989 Tokai TSG-60, or more specially like the TSG-60G model - the G at the end indicates Gold hardware, like this Grandy. This was Tokai's top of the line SG during this time. The TSG-60 models was Tokai's take on a 1963 Gibson SG model featuring a small pickguard, and neck that meets the body at the 22nd fret.

Sometime between 1985 and 1989, the Tokai brand was going through "changes". And during this time, they were making guitars with other brands on them, usually "In House" brands for Japanese retailers, but also some Greco models were built by Tokai during this time. Other brands built by Tokai during this time were Mavis, Piare, M'Seeker, Good Times, and Grandy - with Grandy possibly being the most abundant (at least that I've seen) but still being rare to see. All of the Grandy models I have seen had 1985 serial numbers. The Grandy models appear to have been made for the store Rockin' Japan.

I don't know for certain that this model is a GSG-60G, but I am basing this on the 1990 Tokai Catalog which has the TSG-60G, T for Tokai, SG for SG, 60 for the model number/price, and G for gold hardware. Since these are the same guitars, with the only difference being the label on the headstock, then I assume this one is a GSG-60G - G for Grandy. I have never seen a Grandy/Tokai warranty card for this particular model, but I have for other Grandy SG models, and they were GSG models.

Although the serial number on the back of the headstock starting with a 5 indicates 1985, the pot date codes indicate that this guitar was built no earlier than Feb 1989. This is common to see -pot codes from 1986 to 1989 - on any Tokai built guitar with a 1985 serial number. This likely means these bodies were built in 1985, but not finished until 1989 at the earliest.

This particular Grandy appears to be all original, with no missing or replaced parts, and it is in very good conditions. With it being a gloss black finish, it shows any and all minor dings, dents, scratches and swirling, but overall, for a 37+ year old guitar, it's in very good shape.

I've had a many different MIJ SG's from all of the major brands, and I'd say without question, Tokai did the best job with the bevels and the carve - it is done so well. The side of the body on the top side (bass side) is so thin. The bevels and shaping on this guitar are closer to a Gibson custom shop, rather than a Gibson standard. And they also had one of the deepest and thickest neck joint tenons that I've seen on an SG.

The finish on this guitar is the classic Black finish, and it just looks awesome with the gold hardware. It's like and SG custom and SG standard mixed. Although impossible to tell for sure under the black paint, this guitar is made from what appears to be a 2 piece centre seam mahogany body with a 1 piece mahogany set neck with no heal cap or headstock ears. It's also incredibly light at only 6.34lbs, making it a joy to play - it feels like it's floating.

The neck has a wide medium "C" shape carve - it's not too thin and not too thick. The fretboard is a dark brown rosewood with a a beautiful grain all the way up the fretboard, with acrylic pearloid block inlays, and 22 medium jumbo frets.

The 22 medium jumbo frets have been played but not much, and there is very little play wear on the frets and fretboard, and overall there's nearly the full life left in these frets, and the guitar plays incredibly well and sounds great up and down the entire fretboard.

The original gold covered humbuckers sound fantastic. I did remove the pickup covers to clean them, and the humbuckers are double black bobbins with an Alnico magnet. To my ears, they sound like an Alnico 5 magnet - much hotter than an Alnico 2 magnet, with a lot more low end and lower mids, while retaining the top end bite. They can sound really mean if you want them to, but clean up just as well when you roll down the volume. They are excellent pickups. I would say these are very similar to the Burny VH-1 humbuckers from the 1990's era.

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 rarely seen professional grade Japanese made SG that looks, plays and sound incredible.

If you're looking for an great Japanese made SG Standard, you'll want this Grandy in your collection 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.

Over the entire body of the guitar, top, back, sides, neck and headstock, there are some minor dings, dents, scratches, hazing, and swirling in the black finish, although nothing out of the ordinary for a 1989 guitar, and definitely in better shape than most.

All of the original gold hardware, including the bridge, tailpiece, tuners, pickup covers and pole pieces, and screws all have some minor areas of corrosion, pitting, scratches, and/or rust, although not too much for the age, and they do have lots of shine left on them. The pickup covers and the tailpiece probably have the most wear on them.

All of the black plastics are intact and have typical scratches and swirling on them. The control cover still has the protective film on it.

All of the original non brand gold single ring 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 been played but not much, and there is very little play wear on the frets and fretboard, and overall there's nearly the full life left in these frets, and the guitar plays incredibly well and sounds great up and down the entire fretboard.

There are no signs of a heel, headstock or any other repair.

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 code, and I'll get a proper quote for your address. 

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!