What's up with the new Tokai Love Rock guitars?

[@GraemeCampbellMusic]

That sounds fantatsic. I've played a few of these over the years and nearly bought a burst one a while back, but it didn't happen. Really wish it had.

[@AudiomoMusic]

One day, you will my friend. Hope you are doing well!

[@ereimul1444]

if we need guitars from Japan. this is the place we go for review.

[@AudiomoMusic]

Only a few more up my sleeve I think, sadly it is not sustainable anymore

[@S.Lang7]

Was waiting for this!

[@AudiomoMusic]

It was a strange one because a lot of people wanted a regular review but also a lot of people wanted to know about the brand in general and the differences between them so I sort of mashed them into a bowl and mixed it all up haha

[@danthedem]

FINALLY! I've been waiting for this review! Been curious about current Tokai's. Nice guitar!

[@AudiomoMusic]

Hope you enjoyed it man, I love the thing

[@senseiruss]

Thanks for this excellent, helpful, informative video. I really LOVED what you played in the sound sample and the styles of playing - OUTSTANDING! That gives us a really good overview of the guitar's sound and tones. It's rare to see such non-cliched sound samples in a video demo of a guitar. The outro jam was great, too - Bravo!

[@AudiomoMusic]

i really do appreciate that a lot, I don't like watching videos of people noodling blues lead or legato aimlessly so when I film these sorts of things I try to do a variety of rhythm playing.

[@christopherguzzi1316]

Thanks for sharing your insight into these awesome guitars. Would love to hear your thoughts on the ES and Fender copies too.

[@AudiomoMusic]

I have one of their telecasters, think I made a video with it a few weeks ago. Neck feels nearly identical to the Original 60's telecaster I had, but with far better fretwork.

[@MHChang2014]

Beautiful guitar!! Both in looks and sound, I really do need to consider one of these

[@AudiomoMusic]

Stay away, you won't buy just one I know how you are

[@MrRafaztar]

you got me at green

[@AudiomoMusic]

Sherwood is best wood

[@wlkalong]

Really stunning instrument and such an unusual color- which I love. I watched another channel and thought the pickups sounded fantastic on these guitars. One of the best things about them, besides the build/component quality, is the names. Breezy Sound, Love Rock, GoldStar, etc. I am very curious how their Strat type guitars sound. Already love the Tele and Les Paul styles.

[@AudiomoMusic]

I've played the old ones, they are fantastic. if the new ones are anything like the new teles ( i have one now ), I'd say they are also great

[@wlkalong]

@@AudiomoMusic I've been looking at the S type last day or so. They seem extremely well priced and I know the quality will be there. I'm intrigued by the Sound Effect Body build they use. I'd never come across it until today.

[@AudiomoMusic]

It's not a Tokai, but there will be a different Japanese S type video posted about 5 hours after I make this comment

[@csharp57]

I’ve always had my eye on Tokai. I love the model name too because of Sade. My only issue is there are so many counterfeits and shady person trying to sell knockoffs. I’ll try the method you suggested. Thanks for the info and video.

[@AudiomoMusic]

Buying direct from the dealers actually ends up cheaper in most cases than what resellers want anyways so it is what I 100% recommend

[@jasonswitzer1748]

I saw like a baby/sky blue one with white/cream accents on a KZbin commercial. Man, that one looked sweet.

[@AudiomoMusic]

Yep, that's actually their version of Sonic Blue. They had way too many colors for me to picture all of them, the list of options alone was making me laugh at how long it was haha

[@jamesmgreen15]

Good review. Enjoyed the playing, too.

[@AudiomoMusic]

Cheers James hope the kids are doing well

[@bofuscrapshaw]

Super informative thanks! Lots of good ones on reverb

[@AudiomoMusic]

Indeed, and lots of great shops selling them!

[@JAL-cc8jd]

I have 5 Gibson LP’s and 2 Eastman SB59’s and they are all fantastic. The Eastmans are ridiculously good. I have heard great things about Tokai as well. Might have to check one out sometime.

[@rosskoko100]

I've had the tokai firebird for a couple of months and love it. Big fat neck and sounds great.

[@AudiomoMusic]

nice! I'd love to get my hands on one of those

[@changestrangers]

That green, man...

[@Markleford]

Yup. Best choice.

[@AudiomoMusic]

It’s a slightly different shade of Sherwood than what Fender uses but it fits this style of guitar sooo well

[@randrothify]

I’ve been waiting for this review for a while. Sounds great and looks phenomenal. I‘m a sucker for dark metallic greens. I’m tired of the boring traditional bursts, though the newer various translucent colored bursts are cool.

[@AudiomoMusic]

They have so many awesome color options now, they really did step it up and a lot more people are paying attention to the brand

[@elevenAD]

That a sweet guitar right there! Color is killer!

[@AudiomoMusic]

There are seriously too many awesome colors available now, it's almost annoying haha

[@superlead1002]

I currently have four Tokai LS guitars; a1978 LS60, 2013 LS100F, 2019 LS129GT, and a 2021LS212F. They are such great guitars! Now I have to figure out this Digimart stuff!

[@AudiomoMusic]

It's really easy to figure out and navigate, happy hunting!

[@Dan-zq5wt]

Beautiful!!

[@AudiomoMusic]

Undeniably so, thanks!

[@GiantsFanJames]

Any plans to do a video on Tokai or other Japanese T style guitars? Keep up the great work!

[@AudiomoMusic]

I just did one with a Japanese Tokai last week actually and it was used again in the donner video. I’ve also had momose T styles on the channel in the past as well

[@GiantsFanJames]

@ 🤦🏻‍♂️ I should have check the past videos 😂

[@JoeWalsh-pm4zf]

I agree a heavier balanced guitar is far more comfortable playing standing than a light neck-heavy guitar, which will apply torsion to the spine.

[@GROCK619]

The green is fantastic !!

[@AudiomoMusic]

I love how it goes from looking almost black to once the light hits it that lovely metallic green

[@davidallen346]

Best electronic components and build wood parts for the MIJ Tokai Love Rock LS series guitars. Esp the Gotoh non wire abr1 bridge is worth mentioning

[@asehauDLM]

In early October I received my 2024 Tokai LS148F in Cherry Sunburst (predecessor of the LS101F) which I bought directly from Kurosawa Music in Tokyo and let me tell you, it's spectacular in every way. Immaculate fit and finish, fantastic playability, great weight (9lb 3oz = 4,16kg) and excellent sounding pickups, this Tokai has it all. I paid 1240€ (~1307$) total including shipping and custom fees, an absolute steal for a high quality instrument like this. I couldn't be happier and I encourage everyone to check out Tokai Guitars!

[@AudiomoMusic]

Man I missed out on a blue flame LS148F that was miraculously under 9lbs by a bit... sold within a day of listing it. Kurosawa have many great storefronts and I've bought a few guitars from them in the past, definitely recommend them and congrats!

[@zacharykim295]

I gotta ask, what are your musical influences? I dig your playing style!

[@AudiomoMusic]

thanks for the compliment! im a drummer that kind of taught myself guitar and didn't really have a guitar hero or band i really tried to sound like. My favorite modern guitar player is Kosuke Saito from a band called Unison Square Garden, I get a lot of influence from him these days and some other Japanese music.

[@debhart4302]

It sounds very nice. Definitely a guitar worth getting.

[@AudiomoMusic]

It’s silly how good of value they are and how much better they are made compared to the stuff we get here at similar prices

[@debhart4302]

@AudiomoMusic for sure!

[@debhart4302]

They are beautiful guitars.

[@debhart4302]

They offer a lot of colors in them. That's cool.

[@AudiomoMusic]

Too many colors to even keep track of honestly haha

[@debhart4302]

@AudiomoMusic yes! Fender should take note.

[@AudiomoMusic]

nah, let them go under at this point they deserve it

[@debhart4302]

@AudiomoMusic 😁😁

[@nostro1001]

I've got one (1979), a Greco (custom 1978) & Yamaha studio Lord 700s). All good, but this sounds great without any of the quirks older guitars can have. 🎸🎸🎸

[@AudiomoMusic]

That's one of the big appeals to the modern stuff but sometimes the quirks are really endearing

[@nostro1001]

@AudiomoMusic very true....a positive spin on my take. Cheers!

[@Dan-zq5wt]

What do these run?

[@AudiomoMusic]

The majority are under two grand, their hand made custom shops are around 3500.

[@dignity0327]

How can you tell by the serial numbers if they are made in Japan? Some were made in Korea and China I believe...are their clues in the serial numbers to help?

[@AudiomoMusic]

If you see any letters before the serial number it's not Japanese. Japanese ones start with the year in numerical form only.

[@JoeWalsh-pm4zf]

And MIJ = 2 screw truss rod cover, China and Korea = 3 screws.

[@Dan-zq5wt]

Question: why get this over a Les Paul?

[@soofitnsexy]

i think they are thousands cheaper

[@AudiomoMusic]

I enjoy buying from companies that put quality of product ( the customer ) above everything else, especially when they are priced far better.

[@tomasodriziola]

Why anyone would buy awful epiphones for $1000+ when quality like this is almost the same price will never make sense to me

[@AudiomoMusic]

I think most people either have no idea these exist or how to get them… or they are the brand in the headstock matters more than the quality of the instrument.

[@rsuazon]

I think it's because of risk...shipping can cost quite a bit from Japan and if you get one that has a problem then it will cost money to send it back. The other reason is something Jim mentioned at the end of the video...there's a lot of fraud/misrepresentation of which Tokai's are made in Japan vs China/elsewhere.

[@AudiomoMusic]

@rsuazon I’ve ordered hundreds of guitars from Japan and never had to even consider sending one back from problems. Even with shipping a LS101 not discounted ( rare honestly ) will cost less than a new epiphone greenie would and one is a fine instrument the other is well… an epiphone

[@rsuazon]

@@AudiomoMusic I don't doubt that at all and completely agree but just saying what others have told me. I think it's very rare for a Japanese Tokai to have problems that severe but I do know someone who purchased an MIJ Bacchus from one of the more reputable stores in Japan that did end up having some significant issues - suffice it to say this person is hesitant about ordering again from Japan unfortunately.

[@AudiomoMusic]

@rsuazon that sucks to hear, the worst thing I’ve ever had in over ten years was a string being off the tuning peg from being too loosened to take tension off the headstock while in transit

[@zyzzyx3160]

Damn, with shipping those are Gibson US prices.

[@AudiomoMusic]

I mean, no but sure

[@NicholasANappiNick]

Too bad Gibson didn’t trade mark the body shape 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@AudiomoMusic]

ok