New Tokais at Bothners Plumstead, Cape Town

singemonkey

Anyone who wants to check these out - and find out what all the fights are about ? - Bothners Plumstead has some great new Tokais in. I heard about them from the distributor, but had to go in to get new strings (so that my band mates stop checkin' me skeef) so I got to see them first hand. I was in a mad rush but I did get to play the high-end 335 clone.

Beautiful. Flamey top and back. Top end electronics and hardware. Beautiful mahogany neck. It's a natural finish - which I'm not as wild about as a cherry or sunburst 335, but it'll appeal to many. I confess, I was in too much of a rush to plug it in, but the set up was wonderful. The finish looked flawless. Around R16K sticker price - excellent for an instrument of that spec and quality. As I said, I didn't plug it in, but it's playing characteristics were great. Definitely a low-price alternative to a custom-shop Gibson 335 for anyone not put off by the whole clone concept.

Among a few new Tokai Les Pauls they also had the first LP Custom clone I've seen first hand. Didn't play it (no time) but again, the black finish looked wonderful. A very classy looking guitar. I rather like the alternative headstock decoration to the Gibson diamond. Sticker was around R10K. I can't say it's a match for the current Gibson LP Customs - which are now made in the Gibson Custom Shop - but certainly it looked a top quality guitar selling at a very reasonable price.

For those who've missed the raging arguments, Tokais are Japanese made guitars (although there is also a lower quality Chinese-made line identifiable by their three screw - rather than Japanese two screw - truss-rod covers), many of which are clones of classic Gibson and Fender guitars. They've been at this since the late seventies, and have made guitars since the '40s, and enjoy a huge reputation for quality. Some people are put off by the whole idea of clones, but for the rest, they offer an opportunity to afford guitars every bit as good as their American counterparts.

Anyway, I post this so that anyone in CT interested in finding out for themselves can go have a look. The 335 clone I mentioned is part of their premium line - with CTS pots, high quality capacitors, aluminium tailpiece, brass saddles, flame maple top and back, nitro finish - so that you can get a real sense of what Tokai is capable of.

IceCreamMan

will be picking up my tokai firebird at macgibbons on Friday afternoon ? if all goes according to plan anway.

WEll made kit

deefstes

IceCreamMan wrote: will be picking up my tokai firebird at macgibbons on Friday afternoon ? if all goes according to plan anway.

WEll made kit

I hope you'll be putting up pics once you have. ?