japanese Les Paul

[charvelguy]

Re: japanese Les Paul

A Tokai LS100 Love Rock era, like '85 MIJ will smoke alot of epiphones IMO. Don't get me wrong..Epi's are filling a void for the crossover market, they have some nice features and redeeming models. Some lower end Gibsons really suck more than some mid to upper Epi's.
Only the Epiphone elites are really getting into caliber Les Pauls 'copies' IMO. (I haven't played the Zack Epi enough to really give it an honest go thru-I would say it is up there in the Epi LP line but that is based upon just store wanking opinion of it)

The only drawback worth pointing out to the LS85 and the LS100 is the circuit board soldered to the pots in the control cav. Other than that, the MIJ Tokais smoke Epi's IMO. As mentioned, replace some or all of the electronics and you will be pretty well pleased. 'Course...LS85 & 100's are going probably in the 1000 range now as opposed to 400-600 a few years back. Even MIJ Hondos bring a few hundred now.

[Riscchip]

Re: japanese Les Paul

Bacchus and Navigator are the best I've tried. Amazing guitars. Old Tokais and ESP made Edwards Les Pauls are also sweet.

[electrico777]

Re: japanese Les Paul

Tokais r made in Korea now right?

[charvelguy]

Re: japanese Les Paul

majority of them are yes... I believe there are a few select runs of limited models that are still MIJ.

[Riscchip]

Re: japanese Les Paul

The Tokai LS320 is made in Japan still, and kicks all kinds of ass...specs are straight up vintage Paul (Honduras mahogany, Brazilian board, long tenon, etc.):

The ESP / Navigator Les Paul is also the shit, built like crazy:


Both are $2500-3000 and not sold in the states. Nice gee-tars, though. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[El_Kabong]

Re: japanese Les Paul

The Navigators are very nice guitars but the street price is about $3500!!!! The Korean Tokais are on par with Epiphones from the same country. There are many Japanese Tokai 'Love Rock' models. The decent ones strat at $1200 and go up to $3000 for something that smokes a Gibs#n custom shop model. 'Real Standard' in Nagoya stock them and the owner can respoind to e-mails in English. There is nothing on the web site, but he has 3 in stock.
http://www.real-standard.com/home/index.html

[pedalGEEK]

Re: japanese Les Paul

I just got a Tokai Love Rock 2002 model in used, but excellent condition. It kicks butt. I have never owned a Gibson Les Paul, but I have played several, and have owned many dozens of other high-end custom-shop guitars. This Tokai compares favorably with any guitar I have ever owned. I'm not sure what the model is. I got it on eBay for about $750 from a US servicerman stationed in Japan.

[Chuckracer]

Re: japanese Les Paul

...and no pics...tsk, tsk, tsk... [img]/images/graemlins/bs.gif[/img]

[pedalGEEK]

Re: japanese Les Paul

Here's a link to the auction. There are some pics there:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

[electrico777]

Re: japanese Les Paul

"Both are $2500-3000"... SHIT!!!

[BallsOnParade]

Re: japanese Les Paul

i may get flamed for this, but i have been hearing nothing but great reviews on the Gibson-copied lines of Agile guitars, and they run between $250-$600 brand new...

[veliyasin]

Re: japanese Les Paul

Agiles are not Les Paul copies per say anymore. They have a different shape. All other guitars discussed here are dead-on copies. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Chuckracer]

Re: japanese Les Paul

By comparison, Agiles are made of wet cardboard.
Good wood costs money. My Pop is a talented woodworker and buys quality hardwoods all the time. I can't see how some of these companies can sell something made of good wood for the prices they do. It obvious what being cut...quality materials. That's one of the big things you are paying for when spending good money on a guitar.

[ApeDosMil]

Re: japanese Les Paul

Did Gibson Loose Patent Hold in Japan/Korea?

There has been a outbreak of these guitars recently.

[veliyasin]

Re: japanese Les Paul

[ QUOTE ]
Did Gibson Loose Patent Hold in Japan/Korea?

[/ QUOTE ]
In my knowledge they never had any.