2013 Tokai LS-100F Love Rock...As good as a Gibson Les Paul?

[@keithpatel6584]

These are super value and great guitars made to perfection 👌

[@superlead1002]

They are!

[@stevegardiner8473]

Tokai are really great guitars. I have a 1985 LS-80, love it. It's used on some of my videos. Yours sounds great.

[@superlead1002]

Thanks Steve! I watched your Final Countdown solo...fantastic! How do you record to youtube? I'm just using my iphone but I want better sound.

[@stevegardiner8473]

@@superlead1002 Thanks. That solo features the LS-80. The sound on 'The Final Countdown' video (and most of the others) was recorded direct from my Line 6 Helix LT, into my PC running Cakewalk. Any D.A.W. would do. I've used Reaper in the past, which is a good alternative but, Cakewalk is totally free to use. There's also a tiny bit of the live mobile phone audio mixed in as well, just to add a little room sound/air in the mix.

[@superlead1002]

@@stevegardiner8473 Thanks Steve, I'm going to look into that..BTW your other solos are excellent, you obviously have a refined technique!

[@stevegardiner8473]

@@superlead1002 Thanks. I wouldn't call it refined 😁. Just watched your Rosanna video, excellent. I used to play that one twenty years ago. I'm sure I couldn't play as well as you back then. I might relearn it one day.

[@hkguitar1984]

I agree with Steve, your Tokai sounds great, especially the neck pickup. Such a great value. I've been checking out Tokai reviews as I just purchased one and am waiting for it to be delivered.

[@tlister67]

I imported a “used” Tokai LR about 4 years ago. I cannot remember the model which is based on the retail price, but it is a light tea burst with nice flame solid top. A bit on the heavy side but you can tell it was made from quality wood and constructed as good or better than non custom shop Gibsons in my opinion.

[@superlead1002]

I agree, these guitars a built incredibly well and sound fantastic!

[@dennis-vl2nz]

I trade a strat with a Chinese tokai les Paul custom,... I was blown away. Amazing guitar, amazing sound, with amazing pickups, no microphoning no nothing. Strong construction and very les Paul sound, I also had an epi les paul. The comparison was unreal, every time I was playing the epi, AFTER playing the tokai, the epi just couldn't hold, I sold it right away, and kept the tokai. Amazing guitar.... And it is Chinese made,

[@tonyobbeek8910]

Hey dude, firstly your instrumental is awesome well done and that guitar whow..........man you could hit a chord run away and create a five course meal come back and it would still be sustaining, absolutely gorgeous guitar. The Japanese are such dedicated craftsman I hope they never loose that quality. Regards tones1957 ( New Zealand )

[@superlead1002]

Thank you so much, I appreciate the kind words! That Tokai was my first; I now proudly own three and always have my eyes peeled for another one...such great guitars.

[@petersmith143]

The body Maple cap isn't a thin veneer, it's a thick cap just like on Gibsons. Everything on a Japanese Tokai is quality. I swapped out the pickups on my LS100Q for Seymour Duncan's and it sings....

[@superlead1002]

Correct. this model has a solid maple cap with a thin flamed maple veneer. It's the same on your LS100Q, solid maple cap with a quilted maple veneer. As much as I like the Monty's PAF's that are in this guitar, the Tokai MKll PAF's are very good. I have two other Tokai LS models that have the MKll's that I really like. I also have a 1978 LS60 that I put DiMarzio 36th anniversary PAF's in that are very nice too. The Tokai's are so good that I keep buying them!

[@stratman9449]

nice guitar....good value, craftsmanship and quality.....like it...

[@superlead1002]

I agree completely!

[@keithpatel6584]

Sounds awesome and good enough for any player.Love the '♥ Rock'.

[@superlead1002]

Thanks Keith, I agree...I've owned a couple of Les Paul's in the past, and for the money, those could not beat the Tokai's (although the '94 Classic LP I had was very nice...probably should have kept that one).

[@stuartmiller7419]

0:28 I believe you but I hope you managed to convince your lovely wee terrier. 🐶 Tokai LPs are fab (especially the Japanese ones).

[@superlead1002]

Thank you, Stuart, I managed to turn him into a Tokai fanboy too! He even convinced me to acquire two more Tokai's since.

[@melocitysolo9574]

The first 1978 LS-100 with the “LesPaul Reborn” logo and DIMARZIO PAF is legendary. How much can I buy it now?

[@superlead1002]

How much will you pay for a 1978 Tokai Reborn? Depending on condition, probably $2500.00 and up roughly speaking.

[@jaymax3201]

Reborn is now very rare and expensive.More than 500,000 yen is commonplace now.If you only want quality, the current 200,000 yen class LS would be better.Even LS50 vintage costs 200,000 yen now.By the way, Gibson Les Paul Standard is about 300,000 yen.

[@pinkiewerewolf]

That sounded amazingly good… You can play!

[@superlead1002]

Thank you, pinkie!

[@ThatGuitarGuysChannel]

I have a set of those pickups, I heard a lot of good about those guitars.

[@superlead1002]

Thank you for checking out my video! I'm a fan of your channel! The Monty's are really nice pickups, and I currently own four Tokai guitars. At some point I want to get one of their top-end premium series guitars, although the Tokai's I have are excellent. I'm also a fan of their pickups and find they are a little hotter than the Monty's.

[@ThatGuitarGuysChannel]

@@superlead1002 I have been enjoying your channel as well, Maybe some day I will get to play. Learing now in the very little spare time I have. I should just have you play them for me lol.

[@superlead1002]

@@ThatGuitarGuysChannel Haha! Very kind of you to say, thank you!

[@Edward1312]

You can only buy these for import if you are in the US as Gibson has stopped tokai selling them new in the USA. There are no Tokai dealers selling Les Paul style Tokai guitars in the US.

[@superlead1002]

Yes, I bought one from an individual in Singapore and one from a Japanese dealer...

[@andrewgarcia3136]

this isn't exactly news

[@paulmitchell5349]

Clear as a bell and nice playing.

[@superlead1002]

Thank you kindly!

[@markfahey3921]

If you want a Tokai, don't buy the chinese models. Only buy the MIJ. I have two Tokai's, a Love Rock and a Tele. You can not see the £1000 difference there was between the MIJ Tokai and the USA Gibson Les Paul, other than a veneered top on the Tokai, which does have a solid cap underneath it - but at over £1000 less for something that plays as good, sounds as good and is better finished, who cares?

[@superlead1002]

Thanks Mark, I currently own two MIJ Love Rock lp's...I couldn't agree with you more; these are amazing guitars for the money. I have owned Gibson lp's in the past and dollar for dollar the Tokai's beat the Gibsons.

[@Edward1312]

Horseshit, Chinese Tokais are great guitars.

[@antonsjoquist9881]

Yeah! My asian love rock is perfect!

[@slashingbison2503]

Tokai are a great company hit would i buy a modern tokai over a gibson? No probably not. I do however own an Incredible ls80 1981 1-piece back ‘58 and it’s stunning, monster rock machine.

[@markrosenquist8259]

I agree the MIJ Tokai’s are great. Can you get a good one from China? Absolutely but I feel like the ones from Japan are consistently a lot better. Looking to buy a Tokai LPC 256. Great guitars!

[@spankeyguitars8457]

sounds pretty darn good to me! nice guitar.

[@superlead1002]

Hey, thanks!

[@peterjohnston377]

Lovely playing and beautifully recorded. What was the recording set-up?

[@superlead1002]

Thank you, Peter! It was literally recorded on my phone with the built-in mic. I wish I was better with technology, but that's all it is.

[@therollband1290]

Beautiful! Is that a Marshall Origin in the back there? Classic

[@superlead1002]

Thank you, and yes, it's an Origin 20!

[@lookmammesonyaotoob5392]

Looks damn fine! Sorted

[@superlead1002]

Thank you! I think so too!

[@markrosenquist8259]

Great guitars! The MIJ Tokai’s are great especially for the money. They are the closest I’ve found to a Gibson. A lot of the other MIJ Les Pauls ( Edwards- burny etc.) have thin necks. Those are really good guitars also I’m just really loving the Tokai’s ATM. Yours sounds awesome!

[@superlead1002]

Thanks Mark! I currently have three Tokai's. The most recent is a 1978 LS 60 that I really love. Whats funny is the neck profile on it is identical to the 2013 in the video. I would never think the neck shape would be so consistent over the span of 35 years. They are great guitars!

[@markrosenquist8259]

@@superlead1002 Oh wow yeah that’s crazy. I’ve played a few and all of the necks seemed to be the same,or at least very close. All of the guitars that I played I liked so that’s part of the reason I want to go with a Tokai. Probably going to have to order online from Japan. Do you live in the States? And did you order from Japan? Or did you find them local? I’m a little hesitant buying a guitar without playing it first. Definitely will make sure I can return but really don’t want to have to deal with that either.😅

[@superlead1002]

@@markrosenquist8259 Hi Mark, yes I'm in New England. I have bought three guitars from Japan, and one from Hong Kong, all without issues. I understand your concerns. As far as the Japanese Les Paul copies go, the necks are quite similar in my opinion and very consistent across the Les Paul types. I have one Edwards LP which has a similar neck to the Tokai's. The only concern I'd have is the possibility of import duties. Two of my Japanese imports I paid duties on. One was around $80 and the other $110. These came via FedEx and I was billed after the fact. They were both over one thousand. Another from Japan was under one thousand and shipped EMS and no import duty. The one from Hong Kong was over one thousand and no import duty, but I think there are certain countries we have trade deals with. Short of that I've had good experiences buying from Japan through Reverb, and you have their protections.

[@markrosenquist8259]

@@superlead1002 Cool! Yeah that was another concern I had also, the import costs. That’s not too bad. Thanks for the info I appreciate it. 🤙

[@staggs5034]

Those Monty’s sound great in that. Is the wiring upgraded too?

[@superlead1002]

Yes, It's the Jimmy Page wiring with all 4 knobs having a push pull function.

[@FranxX96]

que pasen el link de la tienda donde se pueda comprar

[@superlead1002]

I bought this guitar from someone on Reverb. You can find Tokai guitars on Reverb and Ebay. However, if you live in a country other than the US, then you may be able to find a Tokai dealer.

[@darkflash32]

Not that it matters, but 2012 LS XXX F are already 122,000 JPY so the model number is LS-122F, so maybe the 2013 ones should be at the same price range. and AFAIK the current, 2021 prices of these is 136,000 JPY so the model number is LS-136F. 100 is a little too low for a 2013 model, is what im saying, specially if its MIJ. MICs are different model numner (starts with ALS).

[@superlead1002]

A I see what you're saying. I do have the factory warranty card with this guitar matching all the information; year, model number, and serial number. The guitar also has the MIJ decal they apply under the finish on the back of the headstock. It is a real deal MIJ 2013 LS-100F.

[@romaindepla]

@@superlead1002 in 2010 vintage series we're called LS98F / In 2012 LS100F / nowadays, the equivalent is the LS148F (as Tokai is reputed to be quality consistent). Does it means that the value of your guitar grow with time ?

[@superlead1002]

@@romaindepla I would say yes, over time, as new guitar prices climb, used prices tend to rise as well.

[@stephenfeldman8104]

Shout out to the Yamaha DG100-212 amp you're playing through!

[@superlead1002]

Yes, thank you! It's a hidden gem for sure.

[@preciseaudioblog]

Nice! What’s its price?

[@superlead1002]

A new one now would be a model LS-136 or LS-148 starting around $1100.00 to $1400.00 depending on where you get it.

[@preciseaudioblog]

@@superlead1002 Thanks!

[@vladimirpoutine7522]

Does Tokai have a poly finish or no?

[@superlead1002]

It depends on the model...this particular guitar has a poly finish, my 212F has a nitro finish. The more expensive guitars get the nitro. However, as far as quality is concerned, the Tokai's are beautifully built with great attention to detail. I personally couldn't be happier with them.

[@martymcfly2572]

Hello. Do you selling this guitar?

[@superlead1002]

Hi, I'm not selling the guitar. I wanted to show a demonstration of it and the build quality.

[@psour33]

I might be wrong but at some time in the past, Gibson issue the right to Tokaï to bult Lespaul guitars under the "Gibson Lespaul" name for Japan only, then after they canceled it, Tokaï kept on building the same guitars with the "Love Rock" name. Those are great guitars, more the Classic collection than the Standard one.

[@superlead1002]

I never heard that before...doesn't seem likely but what do I know? I also acquired a LS-212f and absolutely love that one; essentially the same as the 100f in the video but with a nitro VOS finish.

[@psour33]

The shop's vendor where I bought my Tolkaï from told me this story.

[@superlead1002]

@@psour33 I'd love to know the details of that story! I believe some of the early 80's Japanese Fenders were made by Tokai as well...but not all of them

[@tlister67]

There was an “Orville by Gibson” made for Japan market. I have an es175. They were made in the mid 90’s.

[@bobbyarthur8809]

Tokai built fender guitars from about 96 -2015 and they where so good fender would not sell them in the USA - their replicas of Periods not copies , have a gold top 57 , strat 58 and a tele all Japanese built and are all crafted to the highest levels ..

[@frankiepag1720]

Japanese really put effort into all there work.

[@superlead1002]

I agree!!!

[@Za7a7aZ]

There is this channel guy..the guitarist. And he compares gibsons lp with epiphone lp..he says..not too much differencr

[@superlead1002]

I would have to agree, I've also owned a couple of Gibson's too and for the money I'll stay with Tokai!

[@MickyWalnuts]

He's called the guitaristas

[@Baghuul]

Tokais lowest end love rock guitars have a long neck tenon. Not even gibson standards have long neck tenon

[@superlead1002]

I believe you're right!

[@aliengrey6052]

Answer = a big fat NO

[@biffabacon1203]

Toasted cheese is like cheese toasted..

[@niclasfinnander9088]

Aahm aahm aahm aahm aahm

[@superlead1002]

Thank you for watching!

[@snowfall5956]

There is a dog 😅

[@superlead1002]

That's my buddy Finn...😄