Tokai ES220 Nut & Setup

Hello People!
Thanks for joining me for more guitar restoration videos! This brand new Tokai gets a nut with wider string spacing.
Cheers,
Scotty D.,
Harpeth Guitar Restoration, LLC.
Nashville, Tennessee

[@antoine2333]

Hello Scott the Man ! Indeed, a perfectly shaped nut is very important for the tuning and the overall intonation. That make the guitar sounds precisely and clear. Thank you for this excellent video, Scott the Man !

[@harpethguitar]

Right on!

[@stephenmarsden5379]

I have a Tokai Japan Les Paul from 2019 and it came set up perfectly, way better than my 2018 Gibson Les Paul. Truss rod works perfectly, no work needed; it plays great, neck has never moved and the action is a hair over 1mm on the bass side at the 12th fret with no buzz or fretting out. From my experience, Tokai are very well built instruments with great attention to detail and a high level of QC and really shouldn't require the level of intervention.

[@jamieclinard5807]

Great job on explaining a nut set up! That was a very important point you made about how the guitar won’t intonate properly if the nut is too high

[@harpethguitar]

Well said!

[@bldallas]

Nice work! I have a set of those Music Nomad nut files - well worth the cost. But, my advice to others is don’t try to replicate the speed you’re doing all that nut cutting in.
The first time I used mine I was adjusting the depth on a replacement nut for a Tele and somehow accidentally swiped a file back and forth outside, but right next to, the nut slot. It resulted in an, all be it shallow, additional slot in the bone nut. It would have worked fine, but it bugged the hell out of me, so I had to order a second replacement bone nut, and do it all over again.

[@mikedavis3841]

Rock on Scott nice Job.👍

[@cuibonocuibono]

Tokai Gakki acted as the official distributors for C F Martin & Co in Asia at one time...that was certainly so in the 1970s.
In addition to their own very decent Tokai branded acoustic and electric instruments, I believe they also produced the Sigma range of instruments for Martin.

[@harpethguitar]

Thanks for sharing! 🤓

[@Babesyann]

Attention to details! I wish your shop is here in Australia

[@rocanrola]

Great job! Very good idea, I don't like the 41 mm nut, however with 42-43 mm I already feel more comfortable.
Tokai Japan are excellent guitars, I have had several LS type Les Pauls and I currently have a Custom LC 230S BB that has the neck twisted a little on the bass side. It is the best Les Paul I have had in terms of sound, it is very resonant with a lot of sustain and it weighs 4.3 kg. I hope to find a good luthier in my country to try to straighten the neck. If I lived in the USA I would not hesitate to contact you.

[@christophernorman2781]

Very informative Scott. Thank you.

[@harpethguitar]

Very welcome

[@jonahguitarguy]

Nice work Scott. You are so right on about an eyelash of space at the the first fret. That even alows you to have a flatter neck and lower action if so desired.

[@harpethguitar]

Well said!

[@jltrem]

I love how when watching an American luthier work on a Tokai they refer to it as a "Toe-Kye". When a Brit luthier works on one it's a "Tock-Eye". Maybe someday I'll see a Japanese luthier work on one.

[@RZLAND]

I enjoy your videos. Great workmanship. I do need to ask, why do you always seem to throw in a German accent? Why not Indian, Chinese, Hindu, etc?

[@davidethridge5748]

Now they are engraving Made in Japan as opposed to having just a sticker. Never seen that before.

[@peterjames2580]

Nice class on nutty work!

[@harpethguitar]

You know it

[@kenmccarthy-cg4xx]

Hi Scott. What tuning app are you using?

[@harpethguitar]

Peterson Strobosoft for iPhone

[@stu-j]

I'd have a Japanese Tokai over a Gibson any day! Gibson QC is horrendous

[@meltedwheeliebin]

But it’s Wednesday????

[@harpethguitar]

Hump Day!