Tokai. Just my preference. I always like warm and fuller instruments. It’s like old cars they have something you don’t get with a new car, but are they better.
I have an 84 goldstar tokai in red with a nice maple neck and I love it. Yours looks to be in amazing condition, and of course it sounds beautiful with you playing it.
Both hav a unique sound, but I am a fender guy all the way, I have to say you could play a tin can on a string and it would sound beautiful ! Get well soon....
Am a new sub from California. Love what you do! I liked both. The 84 was very clear clean but the 62 has a blended sound very melodic. I like the 62 better because I like the melodic sound...
Thank you for demo. Take care of yourself! We're having Flu out breaks here in the USA. Don't stress yourself about replys or Q&A. Your friends and fellow guitar fan will be here when you get better!
I genuinely couldn’t chose between them Dave. I would take either in a heartbeat. Take your time and get better. RnR and a ton of good videos and TH-cam and you’ll be better soon.
I played an 84 Tokai Strat in a shop today. It was as good and probably better, than most Strats - of any pedigree, that I’ve ever come across. The neck and fingerboard made it astonishingly playable.
love the sound of the tokia strat i have had one for 36years now and still own it ,even though i am a pensioner i still like to pick it up now and then (red goldie sound made in japan) thank you for uploading
Your vid started from another vid and I honestly thought the Tokai was the 62 Fender when I started listening. I then looked, and saw you playing the actual Fender, which sounded ‘less full’. Wow. I’m a Tokai lover, so was pleased, but had to watch it back to make sure. Oh, when I play my Tokai’s, they don’t sound like that. 😕
I have an 84 goldstar but with newer stewmac pickups... I agree with the comments about the Tokai being a bit more buttery in the mids and the lows...but i actually preferred the 62 sound as the trailing lower strummed notes and the highs seem to be more pronounced...a little more detailed in the frequency variance. Love them both though and anything that came out of the Fujigen plant in the mid 80s is actually a "real" instrument... Well made and with that Japanese commitment to quality!
I have a funny love hate relationship with Fender Strats! The Tokai, to my ear, kills the Fender! I always find that American Strats never quite cut it! I have a MIM Strat that is really close to the Tokai, has the "Strat" sounds but with a little extra spice!
Beautiful warm and full sound in the intro. The Tokai is really pleasing to the ear. But during the strumming I liked the punchier sound of the Fender. Go figure. (These shorter videos are okay too!)
I have 1987 Mij Fender st62 sunburst strat and i love this guitar... It has the most comfortable neck i have ever hold and great bright alnico piskups. I'll never sell it....
I definitely preferred the Tokai, especially the neck. Just seems more balanced and full. If you offered to let me play one of your Strats for a jam I'd probably immediately gravitate toward that one, or that new red Oswald cause that thing's nuts.
Great !!! I love those two guitars. Surprised of that tokai. What amplifier was used in the test? Same equalization parameters? Black Stratocaster from 1962, maybe it has been refinished? Tanks
I've got one of those Tokai strats in sunburst with the round laminated rosewood fingerboard! £70 😨 and funnily enough while sorting a '62 strat actually used the 3way switch from the Tokai to replace the fekt one in the '62 as they were practically identical. P. S . I also thought they were very close too.
To me the Tokai sounds like studio quality, gorgeous, I watched it on my cracked screen phone and so I had to go on the PC to see which was which, I was astounded that the Tokai was so much better to my ear.
Hello! Tell me please, what series is Goldstar TST-40,50,60? Does the guitar have nitro lacquer? What wood is the body made from? 1 piece of wood or 2 pieces?
I had a Tokai vintage 1957 stratocaster that I bought back in '84. That thing sounded and played so amazing. I lost it a few years later and unfortunately never found it (long story) but I must say as a 'strat guy' that particular guitar was one of the best I ever played. I really liked the music you were playing in the introduction is absolutely beautiful. Thanks, now I'm thinking about finding another Tokai.
I think both sound great! I happen to have a Tokai AST -56 I bought in about '84 so I wonder how that compares to the Goldstar. Will try to look it up. Anyway, it's a great guitar too. I will never sell either that one or my Martin. Both were hard to find and I feel very lucky to have found them. You playing is great as always, and an inspiration. Could never tell you are sick till you start coughing. BTW I am sick too just now! Keeps coming back...
Not even close, I had a £2.000 tokai that had more flaws than any mexican fender I have ever had. People repeating the mantra that all Japanese stuff is superbly made, made me buy that crap and it’s not true at all.
Fendrix 69 : I'm a bit surprised by that, this is the first time I have heard something like that. Now I know nothing about Tokai but everything Japanese I have laid my hands on (also non-guitar stuff) was absolute top quality. But exceptions exist I guess. In my experience though, if it says "made in Japan" on the thing it is top-shelf. Another discussion offcourse is : is it worth the money.....well...hmmmm.....
Love that story about how SRV was pictured with a Tokai - 'course he didn't use Tokai', says Fender - er? Is that why it was on the cover of his album ? We all now understand nowadays how PR and journalists create narratives that have sub-agendas.
hey mate could you help me identify my Goldstar? it has 5 digits serial number, 159, first 3 digits I think they were, and same headstock shape as the featured one here. Bit confused if it might be Japanese or just Chinese
The cure for what ails ya....a wee bit of honey...a wee bit of lemon juice and ..a shot of Jack Daniels....Toss away the honey and lemon juice ...and ..bottom up the Jack Daniels....repeat as necessary...😎🎸
Hi Dave hope you get well soon ….Tokais are so under rated …..i heard that Tokai flew a lot of older Fender technicians over to Japan to get the specs right …..80's Tokais are better than 80's Fenders ….i had that Flu before Xmas couldn't shake it off for 2 weeks , could only drink Bovril …..but on the plus side lost half a stone Love from Scotland X
i think these early-mid 80s tokais are a good investment. They currently sit at 600-700 quid for a decent one. Which is a tough sell when you could go and buy a nice vintera fender or something. But time will prove the Tokai to be the wiser choise. PS- Buying guitars as investments is FINE so long as you fully intend on using them in the iterim period lol
I prefer the Fender because it sounds a bit rougher and clearer. But the Tokai is also very good. Hope you recover soon. My wife has had a longtime cold too. I advice you to go to the doc. My wife had Kiefernebenhöhlenentzündung (maxillary sinusitis?) an had to take some pills.
No doubt, The Tokai has a richer voice ( and for me it plays far more comfortable) I have and play a Tokai '84 Goldstar for over 25 years now. I had a Fender '62 AVRI that I bought in 2011 that could stand up to the Tokai, got hardly any playing time for yours so I sold it and kept the Tokai :) Don't get me wrong the Fender was nog bad at all, The Tokai fitted me best.
Mid-80s Tokais are excellent. Heard solo like this, the Fender has more presence in the upper frequencies so would cut through a busy mix better than the Tokai. The Tokai was mellower in the high end. That said, with careful EQ you could get them to sound even more similar.
As I understood it, Fender engaged Tokai to make MIJ Fenders eventually. One would have to look up which 'Fujiwotsit' factory did what back then ... A pro guitarist mate of mine back then used to gig his Tokai and keep his prime Strat for studio and prestige stuff. In fact two old friends did that. Two quite different tones. Both nice though. The 62 is thinner sounding. Nicely thinner. More Frusciante perhaps ? The Tokai is stronger lower down. There's uses for both for sure.
@@MrBossei Aah Thanks for the clarification. So Greco (Matsumoku, Fuji-Gen Gakki), Tokai and others were making copies in the 70s. After the 'lawsuits' were settled, Greco get the first Fender contract. Later Tokai gets one too. It's all quite intwerwoven isn't it.
Take a small break Dave to recover, we will still be here, you need to look after yourself rather than us for a change.Hope you Get better soon Dave. I’m on the fence, there’s time when you want the jangly tones of the fender and the rounded tones of the Tokai, one of each thanks! 👍💪
They both sound great, tokai has more bass and the fender more treble, I like the vintage strat for the history, but tokai has more modern pickups , so sounds better to me. It all comes down to feel though, as a pedal can change the tone. Take good care of yourself, Dave. Every time I get sick I am amazed at the power of those little microscopic buggies! I just got an Izotope Spire today, so off to work on my "For Dave " album....
Loved the sound of the Tokai, but the 62 I think just had it over the 84, but I would live both. Can't go wrong with Japanese guitars, the quality and builds are amazing. Would be good to hear the Oswald's versus the 62 Strat, that would be awesome. Overall, great playing Dave, loved every second of it as usual
I thought the Tokai sounded warmer and sweeter, the fender was more spangly, but the fender is what the strat was meant to be, the Tokai is what I would buy if presented with both,,,,,, great video, get well soon Dave
Hope you're feeling better real soon Dave....look after yourself. Don't worry about us we won't stop following just because you can't post for a bit. 1962 Fender Strat.... seems to have a warmer, more direct purer tone.
Hey DAVE!! I wanted to let you know. Idk if there is any significance to this. But... i just bought a 1998 made in mexico Squire fender stratocaster sunburst from this Guy in Washington USA. Wow!!!!! No regrets. Apparently it was part of some Limited time only series and only a couple hundred were made. But I love this. And i played a couple fender strat American standards at different stores, i defintly perfer this over them.
Great playing, and fun shoot out. with cool chord prog. Tokai sounds great, a tad more detail msybe s, a hair brighter, chimier. The Fender is a tad darker, but they are so close, its crazy really. I was at Manny's in NYC to buy a Strat in 1980/81. Had a choice between a yellow 70's US and an Apple candy red Tokai. The one with the "Singing Voice" was clearly the Tokai. Sounded a tad more delicate and "Yin" the Fender more "Yang" , more blunt if you know what I mean...Maybe the finish had something to do with it (I was dressed all in red to see King Crimson live on the pier that day)..but seriously, years later that Tokai has mellowed into a masterpiece. Folks are finally catching with early 80's Tokais and prices are going up. anyway, thanks for this...
I like the Tokai more. The fender is more spanky but then that’s kind of what it’s supposed to do so that’s good too. Both great but if you blindfolded me and asked me which I just prefer then the tokai, it sounds fuller to me
Hope you get well soon!!! If you need to rest instead of making vids this week everyone will understand :) On the guitars, what a fascinating comparison. I'm kinda shocked how much brighter the neck PU is on the 62 compared to the Tokai. If I hadn't been watching you play, based on tones alone, I think I would've guessed the Tokai was the '62. For sure the Tokai neck PU sounds closer to my 2019 American strat, for what it's worth.
The Tokai sounds nice, but I think the Fender sounds better, and more balanced. There's quite a bit more low end in the Tokai neck pickup. Ultimately, the Fender sounded more of what I expect a Strat to sound like. The intro with you playing the Tokai was really nice! You have good ears, and you're an excellent player. You also have a ton of budget guitars that seem to suit you just fine, and you know how to get sounds out of them. With your ears and ability, you make them all sound very good.
Both sound good. I think the Fender would work better in the band mix as it seemed to be a bit more defined in the mids (less bass). I would be happy with either though - both are great guitars.
If you did a blind test between the Tokai and Squier Classic Vibe, do you think you could tell the difference? I've listened to loads of different guitar tests and think it's all subjective with very little evidence that one sounds better than another. Some are better made and feel better, but you could give a decent guitarist a cheap well made far eastern made guitar and they'd still sound great.
Tokia 👍, had a warmer tone...especially in the neck. Drink a little glass of whiskey, honey and lemon juice warmed up a bit it'll knock that sickness right out!
This is weird one for me....by a knats nadger the 62 sound wins, but ever so slightly....but I'm just really drawn to that tokai, have been since you first showed it....and I think I'd go for the tokai overall, I know I would play it more tbh.
I'm sure you've gotten a lot of suggestions so here's another one. Vitamin C 1000 mg per day. I'm 59 and thankfully it's worked for me anyway. Feel better soon. By the way the Tokai sounds killer.
I think if you changed the pickups in the Tokai - no contest; the Tokai is spot on. I had an '84 and installed a set of SD APS1s - A2 6.1k. Amazing. In a moment of bonkers logic, I sold it - so someone out there has my great '84 - I'll just have to get another - they are only just over £1k new, so more like the price of a Vintera if you take off the value of the retro tweed case you get with the Tokai (no case with the Vint..) It's way more guitar than a Mexico Fender and upgrade the Tokai pickups with SD, Fralin, Amber, or Lollar and you've a killer instrument that will hold its own against anything out there. You'll still be sub £1500 retail and could negotiate better than that.
I have an '84 Tokai Goldstar Sound and whilst it's a very nice guitar in its own right the tone is very warm and bass heavy. It's the most un-straty sounding Strat I've ever heard.
Goosebumps from the intro my man.. got some Gilmour vibes from it
holy shift, the tokai's tone sounded more rich and less bright to me. on blindfold challenge i would totally pick that one against the 62.
The Tokai sounds warmer with a nice buttery smooth sound compared to the 1962 Stratocaster’s brighter and jangler sound.
Get well soon bud. 👍🏻
Tokai. Just my preference. I always like warm and fuller instruments. It’s like old cars they have something you don’t get with a new car, but are they better.
This clearly is one of the most important comparison video comparison ever. Thanks! Gws brother.
Thank you. :)
Both are GREAT! I love my Tokai from 78!
I have an 84 goldstar tokai in red with a nice maple neck and I love it. Yours looks to be in amazing condition, and of course it sounds beautiful with you playing it.
Both hav a unique sound, but I am a fender guy all the way, I have to say you could play a tin can on a string and it would sound beautiful ! Get well soon....
i hate biased person
old fender strats to eternity and beyond!!! they just have a special touch and sound
Love my '64 strat!!!
Get Well soon Dave all the best from NZ
Am a new sub from California. Love what you do! I liked both. The 84 was very clear clean but the 62 has a blended sound very melodic. I like the 62 better because I like the melodic sound...
Both are great. I wouldnt say no to any of them ! Get better soon man !!
It's a real kick in the knickers when you think of the price point difference, compared to the sound/tonal difference... Makes me think anyhoo... 😳
Thank you for demo. Take care of yourself! We're having Flu out breaks here in the USA. Don't stress yourself about replys or Q&A. Your friends and fellow guitar fan will be here when you get better!
I genuinely couldn’t chose between them Dave. I would take either in a heartbeat. Take your time and get better. RnR and a ton of good videos and TH-cam and you’ll be better soon.
I played an 84 Tokai Strat in a shop today. It was as good and probably better, than most Strats - of any pedigree, that I’ve ever come across. The neck and fingerboard made it astonishingly playable.
Tokay for me Dave. Just that little bit warmer. All the best..🤒👍🇦🇺
love the sound of the tokia strat i have had one for 36years now and still own it ,even though i am a pensioner i still like to pick it up now and then (red goldie sound made in japan) thank you for uploading
Tokai all the way. The 62 sounds anemic compared to it. BTW the tone in your opening piece is sublime
wish you better soon Dave
Thanks for the comparison. I've owned a lot of Strats and my early '80s Tokai TST-62 is a keeper.
Your vid started from another vid and I honestly thought the Tokai was the 62 Fender when I started listening. I then looked, and saw you playing the actual Fender, which sounded ‘less full’.
Wow. I’m a Tokai lover, so was pleased, but had to watch it back to make sure.
Oh, when I play my Tokai’s, they don’t sound like that. 😕
I have an 84 goldstar but with newer stewmac pickups... I agree with the comments about the Tokai being a bit more buttery in the mids and the lows...but i actually preferred the 62 sound as the trailing lower strummed notes and the highs seem to be more pronounced...a little more detailed in the frequency variance. Love them both though and anything that came out of the Fujigen plant in the mid 80s is actually a "real" instrument... Well made and with that Japanese commitment to quality!
I prefer the Tokai by miles: she sings beautifully, way more mellow and rounded than the Fender, which sounds somewhat harsh to me.
I have a funny love hate relationship with Fender Strats! The Tokai, to my ear, kills the Fender! I always find that American Strats never quite cut it! I have a MIM Strat that is really close to the Tokai, has the "Strat" sounds but with a little extra spice!
Beautiful warm and full sound in the intro. The Tokai is really pleasing to the ear. But during the strumming I liked the punchier sound of the Fender. Go figure.
(These shorter videos are okay too!)
I have 1987 Mij Fender st62 sunburst strat and i love this guitar... It has the most comfortable neck i have ever hold and great bright alnico piskups. I'll never sell it....
I definitely preferred the Tokai, especially the neck. Just seems more balanced and full. If you offered to let me play one of your Strats for a jam I'd probably immediately gravitate toward that one, or that new red Oswald cause that thing's nuts.
Get better Dave mine was a week and now it’s back but I did walk in the rain Saturday
Great !!!
I love those two guitars.
Surprised of that tokai.
What amplifier was used in the test?
Same equalization parameters?
Black Stratocaster from 1962, maybe it has been refinished?
Tanks
I've got one of those Tokai strats in sunburst with the round laminated rosewood fingerboard!
£70 😨 and funnily enough while sorting a '62 strat actually used the 3way switch from the Tokai to replace the fekt one in the '62 as they were practically identical. P. S . I also thought they were very close too.
To me the Tokai sounds like studio quality, gorgeous, I watched it on my cracked screen phone and so I had to go on the PC to see which was which, I was astounded that the Tokai was so much better to my ear.
Hello! Tell me please, what series is Goldstar TST-40,50,60? Does the guitar have nitro lacquer? What wood is the body made from? 1 piece of wood or 2 pieces?
I had a Tokai vintage 1957 stratocaster that I bought back in '84. That thing sounded and played so amazing. I lost it a few years later and unfortunately never found it (long story) but I must say as a 'strat guy' that particular guitar was one of the best I ever played. I really liked the music you were playing in the introduction is absolutely beautiful. Thanks, now I'm thinking about finding another Tokai.
Thank you very much. :)
I think both sound great! I happen to have a Tokai AST -56 I bought in about '84 so I wonder how that compares to the Goldstar. Will try to look it up. Anyway, it's a great guitar too.
I will never sell either that one or my Martin. Both were hard to find and I feel very lucky to have found them.
You playing is great as always, and an inspiration. Could never tell you are sick till you start coughing. BTW I am sick too just now! Keeps coming back...
Japanese production of anything are gold.
Many say the gretsch guitars of today are better than the old american made ones. They have a point... I own 4 lol...
Not all Japanese guitars are great, but the higher end stuff can be unbeatable.
Not even close, I had a £2.000 tokai that had more flaws than any mexican fender I have ever had. People repeating the mantra that all Japanese stuff is superbly made, made me buy that crap and it’s not true at all.
Fendrix 69 : I'm a bit surprised by that, this is the first time I have heard something like that. Now I know nothing about Tokai but everything Japanese I have laid my hands on (also non-guitar stuff) was absolute top quality. But exceptions exist I guess.
In my experience though, if it says "made in Japan" on the thing it is top-shelf.
Another discussion offcourse is : is it worth the money.....well...hmmmm.....
@@gonebymidnight2881 £2000 Tokai ? What model was it?
Get well soon Dave!
Sounds great !........love your feel !
Love that story about how SRV was pictured with a Tokai - 'course he didn't use Tokai', says Fender - er? Is that why it was on the cover of his album ? We all now understand nowadays how PR and journalists create narratives that have sub-agendas.
The strat sounds just a bit more open and cutting, but that Tocai also has a priceless voice.
Two great guitars.
Get well soon Dave 👊🏼👍
hey mate could you help me identify my Goldstar? it has 5 digits serial number, 159, first 3 digits I think they were, and same headstock shape as the featured one here. Bit confused if it might be Japanese or just Chinese
Hey Dave, I have the chance of buying a 1983 tokia strat in sea foam green for €550 would you recommend me buying it?
I don't know. It really comes down to how it feels to you.
There stunning guitars but i would always say try before you buy.
The cure for what ails ya....a wee bit of honey...a wee bit of lemon juice and ..a shot of Jack Daniels....Toss away the honey and lemon juice
...and ..bottom up the Jack Daniels....repeat as necessary...😎🎸
Hi Dave hope you get well soon ….Tokais are so under rated …..i heard that Tokai flew a lot of older Fender technicians over to Japan to get the specs right …..80's Tokais are better than 80's Fenders ….i had that Flu before Xmas couldn't shake it off for 2 weeks , could only drink Bovril …..but on the plus side lost half a stone Love from Scotland X
i think these early-mid 80s tokais are a good investment. They currently sit at 600-700 quid for a decent one. Which is a tough sell when you could go and buy a nice vintera fender or something. But time will prove the Tokai to be the wiser choise.
PS- Buying guitars as investments is FINE so long as you fully intend on using them in the iterim period lol
I picked up a mid 80's MIJ Tokai Strat, in mint condition, hardly played, for 450 AU dollars (230 quid)
@@Mexxx65 that just means you had a great deal and scored a guitar at 2/3rds off market value. so congrats haha
I prefer the Fender because it sounds a bit rougher and clearer. But the Tokai is also very good. Hope you recover soon. My wife has had a longtime cold too. I advice you to go to the doc. My wife had Kiefernebenhöhlenentzündung (maxillary sinusitis?) an had to take some pills.
why i play several vintage Tokai ast, tst guitars, for the money, none better....rock on
Get well soon mate, preferred the Tokai TBH but the strat does sound very sparkly. Hard one to call.
No doubt, The Tokai has a richer voice ( and for me it plays far more comfortable) I have and play a Tokai '84 Goldstar for over 25 years now. I had a Fender '62 AVRI that I bought in 2011 that could stand up to the Tokai, got hardly any playing time for yours so I sold it and kept the Tokai :) Don't get me wrong the Fender was nog bad at all, The Tokai fitted me best.
Mid-80s Tokais are excellent. Heard solo like this, the Fender has more presence in the upper frequencies so would cut through a busy mix better than the Tokai. The Tokai was mellower in the high end. That said, with careful EQ you could get them to sound even more similar.
Get well soon Dave 🎸
As I understood it, Fender engaged Tokai to make MIJ Fenders eventually.
One would have to look up which 'Fujiwotsit' factory did what back then ...
A pro guitarist mate of mine back then used to gig his Tokai and keep his prime Strat for studio and prestige stuff.
In fact two old friends did that.
Two quite different tones. Both nice though.
The 62 is thinner sounding. Nicely thinner. More Frusciante perhaps ?
The Tokai is stronger lower down.
There's uses for both for sure.
Nope. Fender contracted Greco to make the japanese Fenders and Squiers. Starting in 1982 😊
@@MrBossei Aah Thanks for the clarification.
So Greco (Matsumoku, Fuji-Gen Gakki), Tokai and others were making copies in the 70s.
After the 'lawsuits' were settled, Greco get the first Fender contract. Later Tokai gets one too.
It's all quite intwerwoven isn't it.
Take a small break Dave to recover, we will still be here, you need to look after yourself rather than us for a change.Hope you Get better soon Dave. I’m on the fence, there’s time when you want the jangly tones of the fender and the rounded tones of the Tokai, one of each thanks! 👍💪
They both sound great, tokai has more bass and the fender more treble, I like the vintage strat for the history, but tokai has more modern pickups , so sounds better to me. It all comes down to feel though, as a pedal can change the tone. Take good care of yourself, Dave. Every time I get sick I am amazed at the power of those little microscopic buggies!
I just got an Izotope Spire today, so off to work on my "For Dave " album....
what pickups are in each of the strats? the neck on fender has a little more clarity I believe
I have a 82 gold star lefty love it bought in 1984 For £125 take care Dave
Get well soon Dave! Question, How small are the frets on the 62 and the Tokai? Are they tiny/vintage? Get rest brother.....
I'm on the fence a bit about tokai strats , love the tone and action but why make most of them with only 21 fretts,
Would love to know the amp and settings that Tokai is played through. Sounds incredible
The Tokai sounds warmer to me, thats the one I'd choose! I bet it's much cheaper than the strat too?! Both lovely guitars though, great vid Dave!
Loved the sound of the Tokai, but the 62 I think just had it over the 84, but I would live both.
Can't go wrong with Japanese guitars, the quality and builds are amazing.
Would be good to hear the Oswald's versus the 62 Strat, that would be awesome.
Overall, great playing Dave, loved every second of it as usual
I thought the Tokai sounded warmer and sweeter, the fender was more spangly, but the fender is what the strat was meant to be, the Tokai is what I would buy if presented with both,,,,,, great video, get well soon Dave
The brown sounds rounder to me 👍🏽 so I like it a bit more
Hope you're feeling better real soon Dave....look after yourself.
Don't worry about us we won't stop following just because you can't post for a bit.
1962 Fender Strat.... seems to have a warmer, more direct purer tone.
They both sound awesome. If I had to choose one, that would be a win, win situation. 😊👍🎸
Hey DAVE!! I wanted to let you know. Idk if there is any significance to this. But... i just bought a 1998 made in mexico Squire fender stratocaster sunburst from this Guy in Washington USA. Wow!!!!! No regrets. Apparently it was part of some Limited time only series and only a couple hundred were made. But I love this. And i played a couple fender strat American standards at different stores, i defintly perfer this over them.
Beautiful
Nice guitar shootout Dave! Both guitars have their own character. Love that Pink Floyd style solo too!
That tokia sounds glorious
Get rest. Your wellbeing means more to me than new content!!!
Cool , i love my Tokai 1979 Silverstar 😎👍
Great playing, and fun shoot out. with cool chord prog. Tokai sounds great, a tad more detail msybe s, a hair brighter, chimier. The Fender is a tad darker, but they are so close, its crazy really. I was at Manny's in NYC to buy a Strat in 1980/81. Had a choice between a yellow 70's US and an Apple candy red Tokai. The one with the "Singing Voice" was clearly the Tokai. Sounded a tad more delicate and "Yin" the Fender more "Yang" , more blunt if you know what I mean...Maybe the finish had something to do with it (I was dressed all in red to see King Crimson live on the pier that day)..but seriously, years later that Tokai has mellowed into a masterpiece. Folks are finally catching with early 80's Tokais and prices are going up. anyway, thanks for this...
I like the Tokai more. The fender is more spanky but then that’s kind of what it’s supposed to do so that’s good too. Both great but if you blindfolded me and asked me which I just prefer then the tokai, it sounds fuller to me
Tokai is diffidently warmer on the neck pick up. Thanks for the vid. I have a tokai goldstar sound, think its 82. Hope you're feeling better.
Hope you get well soon!!! If you need to rest instead of making vids this week everyone will understand :) On the guitars, what a fascinating comparison. I'm kinda shocked how much brighter the neck PU is on the 62 compared to the Tokai. If I hadn't been watching you play, based on tones alone, I think I would've guessed the Tokai was the '62. For sure the Tokai neck PU sounds closer to my 2019 American strat, for what it's worth.
The Tokai sounds nice, but I think the Fender sounds better, and more balanced. There's quite a bit more low end in the Tokai neck pickup. Ultimately, the Fender sounded more of what I expect a Strat to sound like. The intro with you playing the Tokai was really nice! You have good ears, and you're an excellent player. You also have a ton of budget guitars that seem to suit you just fine, and you know how to get sounds out of them. With your ears and ability, you make them all sound very good.
Strat is crisp and bright ...but I really like the Tokai is warm an full with loads of high end ...cool
I wasn't looking at the screen and was wondering who was talking for a second.
Both sound good. I think the Fender would work better in the band mix as it seemed to be a bit more defined in the mids (less bass). I would be happy with either though - both are great guitars.
1984 Tokai Goldstar flatters your playing style better but im thinking if you turned the gain down a bit with the strat they would sound identical
What song is that second riff from? Sounds like a Frusciante riff.
If you did a blind test between the Tokai and Squier Classic Vibe, do you think you could tell the difference? I've listened to loads of different guitar tests and think it's all subjective with very little evidence that one sounds better than another. Some are better made and feel better, but you could give a decent guitarist a cheap well made far eastern made guitar and they'd still sound great.
I have both a Tokai 1984 and a classic vibe. The classic vibe is great but definitely thinner sounding than the Tokai.
Ha, great timing I just rewatched your 62 upclose vid the other day! Beautiful sounds btw! 😊
Hey Dave, great video. Quick question, Is the Strat an American made ? If not, where from?
Thank you very much and the Strat is USA made yes. : )
i hope youre doing ok now my friend. great playing.
Tokia 👍, had a warmer tone...especially in the neck. Drink a little glass of whiskey, honey and lemon juice warmed up a bit it'll knock that sickness right out!
what pickups are in tokai? E or U stomp or...?
This is weird one for me....by a knats nadger the 62 sound wins, but ever so slightly....but I'm just really drawn to that tokai, have been since you first showed it....and I think I'd go for the tokai overall, I know I would play it more tbh.
The Tokai sounded richer to me. I didnt know wich was wich while listening, so my opinion was not biased.
Any idea if the tokai has the E or U stamped pups?
No idea. Sorry.
Dave how high is your action at 12th fret , high E and low E for example ? :)
Tokai 👍
Looking back now, it seems like Dave was an early Covid player.
Definitely.
Which one you recommend Tokai Goldstar Sound stratocaster or Vintage v6 ?
Hi @Dave Simpson maybe I missed it in the video, but do you know if your guitar is in fact an ST80 model from tokai?
Its the goldstar not the springy sound model. :)
😷
Just roll the tone off on the Fender a smidge and.....
now are they the same🎶
🍵🌿herbal remedies David~
always help😜
I'm sure you've gotten a lot of suggestions so here's another one. Vitamin C 1000 mg per day. I'm 59 and thankfully it's worked for me anyway. Feel better soon. By the way the Tokai sounds killer.
Don’t forget zinc.... seriously
Hi Dave i wish you better Mw
I think if you changed the pickups in the Tokai - no contest; the Tokai is spot on. I had an '84 and installed a set of SD APS1s - A2 6.1k. Amazing. In a moment of bonkers logic, I sold it - so someone out there has my great '84 - I'll just have to get another - they are only just over £1k new, so more like the price of a Vintera if you take off the value of the retro tweed case you get with the Tokai (no case with the Vint..) It's way more guitar than a Mexico Fender and upgrade the Tokai pickups with SD, Fralin, Amber, or Lollar and you've a killer instrument that will hold its own against anything out there. You'll still be sub £1500 retail and could negotiate better than that.
I have an '84 Tokai Goldstar Sound and whilst it's a very nice guitar in its own right the tone is very warm and bass heavy. It's the most un-straty sounding Strat I've ever heard.