Kaige-Evans
Since there are many people who have advised me to consider a Tokai rather than a Gibby, I am seriously considering getting one but would like to hear what your thoughts are on a
new LC107 (2014) model?
BODY: Mahogany Top
Mahogany Back
NECK : Mahogany One Piece
Set-Neck
Head Angle 18°
FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
RADIUS: 300R
FRETS : 22F ?213
SCALE : 625/312.5mm
BRIDGE: LS-VB Bridge
LS-VT Tailpiece
NUT: (width) Bone(43.0mm)
INLAY : Block
PICKUPS: PAF-Vintage MK2×2(Made In Japan)
CONTROLS: 2V.,2T., 3way Toggle SW
COLOR: Wine Red
Thank you in advance
studmissile
Buy it and never look back!
Stoffeltoo
Any MIJ Tokai is a good buy. Take it and enjoy. With a good setup it is a marvel of sound and never disappoints.
ZarK
That's an instrument to grow old with.
Charlie4
Search the forum topics for Tokai - you'll find the general consensus is it's good bang for the buck. 8)
studmissile
Also that wine red is perfect.
Kaige-Evans
Thank you all so far! Much Much appreciated!
studmissile
Busy saving up for another Tokai myself...
Big-G
The Tokai's are great instruments. My only possible beef with the particular one that you have noted above, is that if you are specifically looking for an LP type guitar, then the lack of a maple top may affect the tone differently to a traditional LP. Otherwise, its a great instrument and one that you could keep for a very long time!
Regards
G!
Kaige-Evans
I have researched the Maple Cap vs Mahogany and I understand that in the end, the Mahogany top will produce a deeper dark sound compared to the crispness of the Maple top. But then again, no exact two pieces of wood sounds exactly the same.
Then I have also come across some discussions where they compared the two above mentioned tops and some say that the top shouldn't ultimately be the deal breaker since this can easily be dismissed by the type of pups you use, not sure how true/false this might be due to my lack of knowledge and experience. But to be very very brutally honest, I love the overall custom look and the red finish.
Advise?
Big-G
To me the maple cap is what makes a les paul distinctivelty a les paul. Sure you can add brighter pups to compensate, but I'm not sure they'll give you the same feel?
Having said that, I guess in the greater scheme of things, when comparing to the Epiphones you were considering, the Tokai's pups are going to be closer sounding to an LP than the Epi's are, so I guess its a moot point? The Tokai is in every way going to be a big step up to anything Epiphone can offer, so I would say it will be a killer guitar! If you are aware of the difference in tone, if any perceived at all when compared to a Gibson, and you love the finish, then the Tokai is going to do you proud!
Regards
G!
Kaige-Evans
Thank you Big G!
I doubt that my inexperience will be able to judge on the difference between the Mahogany & Maple tops to be disappointed.
I have played with the Gibby and I just know I loved it.
The LC 107C has a maple top in black which is not too bad but .... the red wine is sooo beautiful ☹
Thank you once again for your advise. It is much appreciated.
Sean
RobbieZ on the forum has the wine red, all mahogany model. Here are a couple of clips of his guitar for you to listen to.
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Banditman
A friend of mine has two Les Pauls bought in the early 2000s - a dark back Goldtop reissue along with an unusual one I'd never heard of - all-mahogany, walnut stain 3 pickup model. There was a difference between the two but a subtle one. They were both obviously Les Pauls, and yes the all-mahogany one had a slightly warmer and deeper tone. But.
I think you'll find much more difference is in what comes from your head & heart via your fingers to the strings, and then into the way you set your guitar and amp tone, than the incremental difference between maple cap and no cap.
ZarK
On a $1 000 000,00 recording rig you will hear a difference. On an average to decent rig, I doubt there will be much of a difference tbh... Probably more tonal variation from individual guitar to guitar than mahogany with or without maple cap on anything but the best rigs. I think we tend to overcomplicate things -a lot in fact. In my experience the majority of a solid body guitar's tone comes from the neck, less from the body and even less from an added or omitted cap.
Ideal would be to plug both in and let the guitars do the talking. I've played Gibson LP studios sans cap that sound more authentic than standards with cap -and vice versa! If the wine red speaks to you (I must agree it looks great!) and she feels and sounds good to your ears, I really wouldn't worry about the maple cap...
IceCreamMan
buy the LC, you going to love it ...don't get caught up in the types of tops etc etc etc ...it will drive you mad at the end of the day.... THe LC will be a guitar u keep for life ... just do it
then buy me a beer.... ?
doc-phil
I have two Tokai Firebirds, love them both!
And that finish on the Les Paul just looks fantastic. If it sounds bad (which it won't) then you can hang it on the wall and enjoy a marvel of modern art.
Kaige-Evans
Thank you everyone for your all your advise and words of wisdom!
Much Appreciated! 8)
singemonkey
As you say, on average a maple topped LP will sound brighter. But only on average. Much does depend on the guitar. I'm not sure if TokaiSA has imported any of the maple topped LC models (they come in both maple and mahogany tops). But either would be capable of some beautiful sounds. The original '50s Customs were mahogany topped, and they don't exactly suck.
I bought my Tokai sight-unseen and it was perfect. I've played Tokais that I didn't love (because wood does vary) but I've never played on that had any manufacturing issues.
domhatch
howdy.
1) you're not going to go wrong with a tokai
2) the wine red is stunning; i can post a pic or two of mine if you'd like (lc98, but essentially the same guitar)
3) forget maple/mahogany debates; try to play both, if you can, and buy the guitar you fall in love with
good luck
dh|
