Im looking to buy a cheaper Les Paul Style Guitar, I have a Les Paul already but want a spare. Has anyone had an experience with Tokai, there is a cheaper Chinese model and a more expensive japanese one. Are they any good or are there any imports I could look into.

Epiphone Les Paul Customs (not standard, their top of the range ones) are excellent.

Really excellent.

I had a sunburst one, couldn't fault it, neck and action was awesome.

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lapaz62
Are they any good or are there any imports I could look into.

Import into which country?

Im in Australia, maybe Europe or Asia have something that we dont know about. I had an Epiphone Les Paul Honeyburst, it seemed a little small for me and its got an ugly head stock, traded it for an Epiphone 335 dot, that was a cool guitar. I only have a Carlsbro 85 watt combo and a Boss GT-10 effects processor, looking for that sound that I still havent found.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-05-18 16:35 by lapaz62.

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lapaz62
and its got an ugly head stock,.

I really like Epiphone Headstocks.

Tokai's more expensive japanese models are very nice. The chinese ones are like any other chinese made guitar = the quality is very different from instrument to instrument even between the same model. Some are great value for the money and some make you wonder how they could let it leave the factory.

Epiphone's more expensive guitars are really good although I liked them better when they were made in Korea. I agree about the ugly head on their Les Pauls and SG:s!

Well, my advice would be that you keep your eyes open for the japanese made copies of Les Paul that were made in the 70's and 80's. Some of them are really excellent and they are still quite cheap. Hondo, Duke, Burny, Greco Kasuga, Sigma, Harmony...the list of names to look for is long!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-05-18 16:43 by tonterapi.

[www.mylespaul.com]

Thanks for the tip on the Edwards, will try to find a dealer and check them out. The prices are similar to the japanese Tokai, over $1000 but the Aussie dollar is up, maybe I will get a bargain.

Japanese Tokai were at their peak in the early 80s. I have an '85 SG. I haven't tried a Chinese made Tokai but they are supposed to be good.