Cool. Correction noted. ?
If people are overseas and see a Tokai going "cheap" in the stores, it's essential that they realise that Tokai makes almost every model in a number of different configurations for different tastes and pockets. A Love Rock is not a Love Rock is not a Love Rock.
The Tokai LS570 will cost you north of R40,000. Why? Solid Honduras Mahogany back and neck, 4A grade solid flamed maple top, boutique pickups, Jacaranda fretboard, bumblebee caps, etc..
The Tokai ALS48, on the other hand, would cost about 4 or 5 grand, is made in China, has a maple neck, a basswood top and body and top with a sycamore veneer, and the pickups aren't too hot. So while this guitar is stiff competition for an Epiphone LP, it's not quite the same as the LS570 - which is competing with a hand-made custom '59 sunburst replica.
ALS48:
There's almost every configuration you can think of between the ALS48 and the LS570: 2 piece backs vs. 1 piece backs, solid plain tops vs. veneer flame tops vs. solid flame tops, standard vs. vintage-style hardware, different caps, pots, switches.
All MIJ Love Rock, Les Paul Standard type guitars, though, offer a solid, non weight relieved, non-chambered, mahogany body - 1 or 2 pieces, or special bodies - and neck, with a solid maple top - 2 vs. 3 pieces, with or without veneer. This means that if you put the same hardware on them, there's little difference in the tone. And all pass through the same meticulous quality control. So once you're going MIJ, the higher spec models are for the glam factor and to save yourself some modding.
