sounds good, I am looking at one and have a blue junior - your video was worth watching. I agree to a point on your comments about gibson, so of the models are really stand out. I guess you have a Japan made guitar, this would be Nipon Gaki shop, the made Epiphone Gibsons until 2005 or 06 not sure, but that says Quality.
The neck is a chunky D shape yeah but i doubt that it's nitro. I would hazard a guess at some cheap finish of a few nitro coats over a poly underneath. Theres a few places that i've dinged it and you can see that its poly.
Mate I have the same guitar, well the dot inlay and in sunburst. I was in the same situation as you, i tried out a Gibson ES335 and whilst it was a lovely guitar. The £1800 price tag was just taking the piss. I paid £1100 for the Tokai and it knocks the socks of a Gibson. So much so i've just bought a Tokai strat, and guess what? Same thing, £240 cheaper than the cheapest US strat and it does the strat thing!
Tokai is one of the better Japanese manufactures. They made some really nice guitars and a good choice over the ungodly expensive Gibson if can find one.
I wasn't putting them on par with Gibson, just saying if you can't afford a Gibson the Tokai is a good choice among copies. I guess I should have worded it a little differently.
@melindagreenjeans Believe it or not, vintage tokai guitars from the 70s and 80s were hand built. The brands that made their own knockoff guitars were done very well. Back then, 1 US dollar was equal to a ton of japanese yen. That could have been $1,000 US and over $10,000 yen. US players kept their brand loyalty as I see you're doing with gibson. These are built to exact specs of a gibson, and extremely well made.
You can't beat a vintage gibson or fender, but compared to the industry made
@melindagreenjeans Why does Gibson compromise its own company and make cheap Epiphones in China...American made stuff is getting worse every year and the Chinese, Korean are going up in quality as I see on a regular basis....
If you want your bank balance to stay the same, do not play a Tokai. The Tokai ES models are the best in the world, if you don;t believe me go play one alongside any other 335 and you'll become a believer....they're worth double what they sell for, if you can find one.
The original early 80's Japan Tokai's are as good if not better in some ways (vintage vibe) than their Gibson counterparts. Not sure about the new stuff made in China?
the more expensive (and better) stuff is made from Japan.
i have a Tokai LS95F Les Paul copy and it is great, it only cost me $1000AUD and i have played many Gibson Les Pauls and this thing sounds just as good if not better than most and it plays great
The high end Tokai's are still made in Japan. The ES60s are korean i think. This guitar is a ES135, ES120, ES130, ES135, ES150 are Jap models. The numerification refers to their original cost in yen and the subtle differences (ie block inlays, flame tops etc). I have a 130 and it as good as a gibson in my book. Plus its about a grand cheaper! :oD
Great tone!. Tokai makes REALLY nice stuff. I just bought the cheapest ES model they make, the ES-60. It's made in China and everything about it is great, esepcially for the money. I have a few other Tokai's as well, all are great.
nice guitar dude gibsons are nice and great in tone but highly expensive and with the economy the way it is today saving is important right now and buying a gibson es 335 might set you back quite a bit btw how much did this guitar cost
The Tokai Japan guitars are very good for the money. I've owned one and it was a very solid guitar. I must admit to preferring the Orville guitars though. A little bit thinner in the neck than the Tokai. Either way, Tokai or Orville, they are excellent instruments. If Tokai ever did an ES-355, I'd be right there!
asdsefe - Some of use aren't rich little cretins and so have to make do with something else. I haven't played a Gibson 335 in ages and from what i remember it was nice but not worth the money, this guitar IS nice and i could have bought 4 for the price of a gibson.
dude... loved it.. dont let people get you down. I wish I saw more of it! Funky groove you had going on. Lovely guitar too... I have been checking out the Yamaha knock offs of the 335s and they look and sound awesome also. I got a Hagstrom 335 myself.. not bad but not that clear!
You reckon? Its all set up now, i re-set the action and the intonation lately and it plays like nothing else! Hopefully i can get a video up soon showing it.
I wish it was a 335, its currently being professionally set up as the intonation was out since i got it and it was untreatable without an aftermarket bridge.
oh so nice!!!!
olegsokolov 2 months ago
sounds good, I am looking at one and have a blue junior - your video was worth watching. I agree to a point on your comments about gibson, so of the models are really stand out. I guess you have a Japan made guitar, this would be Nipon Gaki shop, the made Epiphone Gibsons until 2005 or 06 not sure, but that says Quality.
Thanks for putting it up.
MrKeyofc 3 months ago
Love the guitar and the tune! Gets a thumbs up from me, Oh yeah and a subscribe too!
YodaVanGrindey95 8 months ago
1:04 random bend
melindagreenjeans 9 months ago
I bought an acoustic tokai, made In china. They are very good, never seen a guitar as good for the same price.
Emil019b 11 months ago
are the pickups stock?
bluez1981 1 year ago
@bluez1981 Yep
jjbennett123 1 year ago
@jjbennett123 what kind of pickups are they?
bluez1981 1 year ago
Love the tone at :46 sec
Gibsonstandard67 1 year ago
The neck is a chunky D shape yeah but i doubt that it's nitro. I would hazard a guess at some cheap finish of a few nitro coats over a poly underneath. Theres a few places that i've dinged it and you can see that its poly.
jjbennett123 1 year ago
Mate I have the same guitar, well the dot inlay and in sunburst. I was in the same situation as you, i tried out a Gibson ES335 and whilst it was a lovely guitar. The £1800 price tag was just taking the piss. I paid £1100 for the Tokai and it knocks the socks of a Gibson. So much so i've just bought a Tokai strat, and guess what? Same thing, £240 cheaper than the cheapest US strat and it does the strat thing!
MRBRANDYWINETHETHIRD 1 year ago
Tokai is one of the better Japanese manufactures. They made some really nice guitars and a good choice over the ungodly expensive Gibson if can find one.
SotR59 1 year ago
@SotR59 They are not a choice OVER a Gibson. They're a compromise UNDER.
melindagreenjeans 9 months ago
@melindagreenjeans
I wasn't putting them on par with Gibson, just saying if you can't afford a Gibson the Tokai is a good choice among copies. I guess I should have worded it a little differently.
SotR59 9 months ago
@melindagreenjeans Believe it or not, vintage tokai guitars from the 70s and 80s were hand built. The brands that made their own knockoff guitars were done very well. Back then, 1 US dollar was equal to a ton of japanese yen. That could have been $1,000 US and over $10,000 yen. US players kept their brand loyalty as I see you're doing with gibson. These are built to exact specs of a gibson, and extremely well made.
You can't beat a vintage gibson or fender, but compared to the industry made
milodaman2 9 months ago
@melindagreenjeans Why does Gibson compromise its own company and make cheap Epiphones in China...American made stuff is getting worse every year and the Chinese, Korean are going up in quality as I see on a regular basis....
stevoe1000 6 months ago
For the record, the guitar being played in this video is currently an ES160...a replica of the Gibson 1962/64 ES335 with block inlays.
CrazyDiamond1968 1 year ago
If you want your bank balance to stay the same, do not play a Tokai. The Tokai ES models are the best in the world, if you don;t believe me go play one alongside any other 335 and you'll become a believer....they're worth double what they sell for, if you can find one.
CrazyDiamond1968 1 year ago
Only the ES60 is Made in China...and it's also a great guitar.
CrazyDiamond1968 2 years ago
The original early 80's Japan Tokai's are as good if not better in some ways (vintage vibe) than their Gibson counterparts. Not sure about the new stuff made in China?
74LesPaul 2 years ago
the more expensive (and better) stuff is made from Japan.
i have a Tokai LS95F Les Paul copy and it is great, it only cost me $1000AUD and i have played many Gibson Les Pauls and this thing sounds just as good if not better than most and it plays great
dmaji1 2 years ago
The high end Tokai's are still made in Japan. The ES60s are korean i think. This guitar is a ES135, ES120, ES130, ES135, ES150 are Jap models. The numerification refers to their original cost in yen and the subtle differences (ie block inlays, flame tops etc). I have a 130 and it as good as a gibson in my book. Plus its about a grand cheaper! :oD
MRBRANDYWINETHETHIRD 2 years ago
Great tone!. Tokai makes REALLY nice stuff. I just bought the cheapest ES model they make, the ES-60. It's made in China and everything about it is great, esepcially for the money. I have a few other Tokai's as well, all are great.
reissue 2 years ago
do any online stores sell them?
GibsonLesPaul1319 2 years ago
yes
ChineseR0ck 2 years ago
No idea I'm afraid, i haven't even heard of them!
jjbennett123 2 years ago
You haven't heard of Tokai? Now you have, correct? Consistent incredible quality guitars.
CrazyDiamond1968 2 years ago
tops mate ! Any idea how a shiro clone sounds or feels to play? Just bought one but still waiting for it :(
eineschoneabend 2 years ago
£750 mate and a lot of overtime
jjbennett123 2 years ago
nice guitar dude gibsons are nice and great in tone but highly expensive and with the economy the way it is today saving is important right now and buying a gibson es 335 might set you back quite a bit btw how much did this guitar cost
seanyiscubsfan1 2 years ago
The Tokai Japan guitars are very good for the money. I've owned one and it was a very solid guitar. I must admit to preferring the Orville guitars though. A little bit thinner in the neck than the Tokai. Either way, Tokai or Orville, they are excellent instruments. If Tokai ever did an ES-355, I'd be right there!
HeartfeltDawn 3 years ago
Nice job! I really want to get a looper for this sort of thing.
The Tokai sounds and looks great. Bet it plays great too. :)
Verence 3 years ago
Before buying a Gibson, listen to more guitars to be able to compair. Looks like your ears suck.
whiteonsolo 3 years ago
Comment removed
lasenoramora 3 years ago
asdsefe - Some of use aren't rich little cretins and so have to make do with something else. I haven't played a Gibson 335 in ages and from what i remember it was nice but not worth the money, this guitar IS nice and i could have bought 4 for the price of a gibson.
Go and troll someone else.
jjbennett123 3 years ago 3
some poeple have what they can afford ,and still just enjoy playing guitar so screw you too twat!
spudgun05 3 years ago
dude... loved it.. dont let people get you down. I wish I saw more of it! Funky groove you had going on. Lovely guitar too... I have been checking out the Yamaha knock offs of the 335s and they look and sound awesome also. I got a Hagstrom 335 myself.. not bad but not that clear!
troppodude 3 years ago
Well in my humble opinion this is one of my better videos mate.
Care to elaborate on what you find sloppy or why you find this a poor job?
Im open for criticism, but only when its constructive, its a bit off when people just say "naff" and dont give a reason.
jjbennett123 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
this should be deleted immediatley. poor job man. no offence but.... a bit sloppy
71LCC 3 years ago
You reckon? Its all set up now, i re-set the action and the intonation lately and it plays like nothing else! Hopefully i can get a video up soon showing it.
jjbennett123 3 years ago
Wow, I'm super impressed by the balance on those pickups. The highs are perfect.
JohnMayer07 3 years ago
nice playin mr ij bennett! mmmmmm nice. bin thinkin about getting an es 60 misself and well.....after watching this, i'm sold. thanks
buttoneer63 3 years ago
im so impressed by u, deadlyy
hannaht114 3 years ago
I've got a Kay that looks similar to that thing.
CartoonMusician 3 years ago
I give it an A+
TheOneGrungelife 3 years ago
I wish it was a 335, its currently being professionally set up as the intonation was out since i got it and it was untreatable without an aftermarket bridge.
If you get one then watch out for that.
jjbennett123 3 years ago
Great ! Nice Sound ! lol.. it's an ES335 !
pilote148 3 years ago
He used a looper, so he played the rhythm part, and then soloed over it
YogiSizzle 3 years ago
Nice guitar! It sounds very good. I own a Samick similar to this one. You can see it at my videos page. Best wishes.
MauroPavanelli 3 years ago
that note on 0:47 is very BB King keep it up :D
roswellj12 3 years ago