Joe Moore wrote
@ MikeM .. , apparently there is no " custom shop " at Tokai Guitars MIJ factories. All their models are made by the same people , to their pre- laid down QC standards.
There is no separate workshop like Gibson or Fender have. They do not make standard custom items (a peculiar American oxymoron - although one that started a long time ago with the Les Paul "Custom" if not before). But they do take custom orders. Wait times can be long because they are a small factory. But specs can definitely be mixed and matched. Very tempting in fact, for one of these days... *imagines a black LP with a wrap around tailpiece and an unmarked ebony board*
Re the weight thing: I think people have got a bit of an odd perspective on LP weights now days. Bursts ranged from more than 7.5lbs to 10lbs (I'm not as familiar with these ranges in kg off the top of my head from getting lots of info from American sites) - with most coming in somewhere in between. For people used to solid-backed LPs, anything under 9lbs is not a heavy LP. My Gibson is comfortably over and provides a compelling comparison. People used to chambered Gibson LPs may get a false impression of the weights of the traditional instruments. Tokais may have a marginally higher average weight than the original 'bursts, but not by much.
Gibsons '59 reissues also give a slightly misleading idea since they reserve their very lightest bodies for those guitars.
