Tokai Love Rock - Made In Japan 🎸 Banned in the USA! 🎸 Gibson Les Paul Alternative Reviewed 

True … there are no official dealers in the States, but we are able to purchase them from individuals and from Japan. They also are on Reverb and EBay. I purchased my first Tokai after watching your channel about a year ago. I’m totally hooked! Now I have several Tokai, Greco and Aria Pro ii Les Pauls to go along with my Gibsons… and it’s all your fault! And I gig with them weekly… Thank you, Colin!!!

I could listen to you talk about guitars forever. Awesome content. Love the guitar choice (as a proud Tokai LS95 owner myself). Loved to see the deep dive into it. Would be great to see more.

Loved the "Guitar Safari" episode! Love this Tokai review too! Great work Colin! 👍to growing this channel!!

You are now at my top tier list of RU-vidrs!!! That means that I give your videos of thumbs-up before I even watch them because I know they're going to be good!!! Thanks for all the killer videos....

I must admit, I enjoy the hell out of your channel. I admire your love for the guitar and I am also at a stage where I have played for many years and am now getting into guitars in general… as far as how they’re made, modifications, tone woods, brands. Watching you review them, modify them, is like seeing myself if I had a RU-vid Channel. Many of the projects you take on you figure out as you go and film it to share the experience with everyone else. I really enjoy your humor and just wanted to say, great job!! Keep up the good work.

Interesting , entertaining, informative and always useful in knowledge of guitars 🎸 many thanks Colin 😊 keep on keeping on dude 👍

Looks great both with and without pickguard/scratchplate. The fact that you feel more comfortable playing it without answers the question for me. Sounds great too.

Great video. My mom purchased a new Memphis Les Paul copy in the early 70's for me for my birthday and I loved it. I still have a 1982 MIJ strat and would never get rid of it. In fact I unloaded my American strats a long time ago. The Japanese simply put make a heck of a guitar!

Terrific video, this one. Looks a belting guitar. On a technical note, your lighting on your videos is superb. Very professional. I can’t imagine how much effort goes into that, but I for one really appreciate your production values. Bravo, mate.

My first guitar was a Tokai Love Rock, bought it second hand from McCormacks Music in 1988 for £225 but was too new to guitars to appreciate how good it was. Remember James Dean Bradfield playing one on Top of the Pops about the same time.

Once again an excellent review on a beautiful guitar with fantastic tone.

It's so awesome to watch as Colin works thru why he needs the next guitar which then leads to the one after that!

Just gotta say, I love how you play mate! Great phrasing and feel. Keep the riffs and licks coming 👌

That is one gorgeous Tokai! Congrats! I keep going back and forth with the pickguard thing. Sometimes I like it better with it on, sometimes I like it better with it off.

Love the shows! Can’t wait for the Gibson V Tokai shootout! Don’t worry about the playing. I like the fact that you do a loop and play over it. The fact that you play some of the same riffs/ideas I can get an actual tone comparison. Playing a different guitar with different music is of course going to sound different….. but is it?

I don't mind the title or thumbnail one bit, Colin! I'm watching all of your videos either way, and it's only a good thing if it helps your channel grow. You're doing something really awesome here, and I enjoyed this episode just like all the others. 🤘

I remember the Rev Billy Gibbons playing a Tokai, one of the first models. Great looking Les Paul and sounds sweet too, great video as always Colin. I too love the plain tops, they have a way of looking like an old guitar. ✌️

Thumbs up brother, may the crowd continue to grow,you speak guitars very well, and it's a blast watching the guitars come and go,us guitar affectionados eat this content up, you always present such fine specimens,thanks for sharing.

I've just watched this again for the third time. Man do I love this guitar, and your playing of it.

“I suppose I’ve got to have one really haven’t I ?” Spoken like a true addict.. cheers Colin 🖤

I, for one, appreciate your efforts at truthfulness!!

Hi mates, and thanks for another great video. I just wanted to say, don‘t push yourself too much. Most of the time your playing is great and i like that you don‘t make it look easy but show and tell how much effort it is to become the best guitar player one can be. By sounding similar it is easier to hear the differences between all these guitars. A lot of times i‘m looking up to you, thinking i want to sound like that someday. Greetings Jens.

I love this channel and as a fellow Englishman I appreciate a good winge! That Tokai is a thing of wonder, amazing quality and such a looker. Its very much like a classic car, hard not to look at! Thanks for your hard work on these vids!

It’s even more impressive in person! Great work as usual! Cheers!

I owned a black tokai TST-56 back in the 90s. Traded it to my friend long ago. He still has it. Still one of the best strats i have ever played.

That is an excellent sounding guitar. Absolutely love the hotter pickups, especially when you made that neck pickup growl. Frikin awesome.

That's a lovely finish on that Love Rock. The polyester looks fine and doesn't appear plasticky in the video. I'm not mad on overly figured woods either. I think that they start looking like a piece of furniture when the top is too striped, quilted or book-matched. A bit of unusual or distinctive grain can be more interesting.

For what it's worth, Colin, your channel offers so much more than how you play guitar...I don't watch your channel for the playing, I watch because I enjoy your content and I like your style of presentation; you entertain me!

I love how you play! Thanks for the great videos!

Colin , great show and nothing to knock with the banner. Im learning and loving it all the way and we know your playing is so much more than the glimpses that you tease us with , which is always tasty enough from where im at and i bet you dont get complaints about that . See ye next week.

Great show Colin, appreciate the effort every week for us guitar addict’s , you are a decent bloke mate a decent player and all round good egg , you do not need to be hard on yourself mate , we are all players of an average/good ability otherwise we would be all rock stars , it’s the love and passion of guitars and your honesty and humour we are here for mate 👍🏻👍🏻 and I’m a Strat lover 😆 Cheers 70s John

I just saw a Bengal burst Gibson Les Paul Axcess for the first time yesterday and I know theyve been out for a bit, but wow, it may be the best finish ever. The Tokai is lovely. Its cool that you got one.

International man of mystery. Goes where very few dare to go. You are killing it, Colin!

Once again brilliant video, a good deep dive into this guitar. Oh and pickguard on.

Relent in depth review as ever . But this time you covered the Japanese made one , I've owned mine for the last 14 years and it really is a special guitar , fantastic build and finish . The only thing I changed at one stage was upgraded pickups ,and to be honest I couldn't really hear any real difference ! Mine is the made in Japan LS 75Q and will definitely never let this one go 🎸👍

You can guarantee that the fit and finish on an MIJ Tokai is going to be close to perfect. I've often seen tool marks on the fretboards and binding of Custom Shop Gibsons, but never on Tokais. To the best of my knowledge though, Tokai copies of American guitars have never sold new in the US. They've sold some other guitars, or modified guitars. But the American companies have always pressured Tokai out of selling direct competition (and for a while in the late '90s through early 2000s, Tokai was building Fenders for Fender Japan). Unfortunately your guy at the shop wasn't super up to speed with the details. CTS pots are one of the perks with their premium MIJ guitars. There are some other subtle differences not much talked about - slightly different inlay materials - including the logo. And no, the Tokai Mk II pickup is not a PAF type. I believe it was designed as a compromise so that they have only one humbucker in their lineup. Hot enough for people who want high gain stuff but capable of a decent bluesy sound. It's a pro quality pickup, just that it's probably not going to satisfy either the high gain or the PAF camp. I think my bridge measured 12-point-something K. I put Bareknuckle PG Blues in it and it sounds absolutely stunning. Tokai's naming system - like lots of Japanese companies - is a bit insane and was designed for an era of virtually zero inflation. Those names you've been given are no longer the official names of these models. British distributers seem to have settled on the names from around 2010. My LS150 is from 2010 and is the Premium plain-top, the same as the current British LS150. But that guitar is actually currently called and LS214. It's suggested retail was 150,000 Yen in 2010, but it's 214,000 Yen now. Your guitar is actually an LS140 (Tokai might have stamped them with the British preferred names along with the modified British headstock, but that's what the model is generally called now elsewhere). It's all a bit painful. That neck shape though, is just perfect. All the MIJ Tokai LPs have the same neck. I far prefer it over my Gibsons. In fact the whole guitar is just better in every way than my Gibsons. I should probably baby it a bit more given that it now retails for over 2,000 pounds (!) but I do feel very comfortable gigging it compared to Gibsons too. It's a hair away spec-wise from a Custom Shop Gibson but you can feel comfortable taking it to pub gigs.

Looks and sounds great Colin! 👏👏👍🎶🎶

Great review, like always. Love your channel. Cheers

Another great video mate. Love the channel. You’re right with the comparison between this and The Eastman. I’ve owned a couple of Tokai’s in the past - one of which was a Lawsuit era with ‘Les Paul’ on the headstock. The Eastman is just too expensive for a Chinese made guitar - The Tokai is Japanese and have that reputation and lineage to go with it. There’s no comparison. Btw, you are right it does look like Nitro. I wouldn’t have thought it was Poly. I’d love to see you review an Edwards now 😉

Ive had a Tokai SG with the 3 pickups for years, I heard about the legend that the Japanese were giving Gibson a run for their money and I wanted to learn more so really enjoyed this video.They're a beautiful guitar and it was good to find out more about something that Ive had for years.

Fantastic channel, and insight into the world of Les Pauls. Inspired by this, and by chance, I just managed to make a trade for a nearly new Japanese Tokai LS140 in Violin Finish. Wow, it plays like butter. Love the plain top, and the neck is just right. I'd previously owned a Gibson Standard, Traditional and an Eastman SB59 but this is the first Les Paul that has felt truly comfortable to play and that I could actually bond with and play regularly. That's huge from a strat guy like myself. I'd sold on the others a long time ago and pretty much gave up on owning another Les Paul, despite loving their tones. The only singlecut I've ever kept in the collection has been a PRS Tremonti, which is its own thing. Now I'm thinking why stop at just one Tokai, if I make it to Japan next year I think another might just have to come home with me. If I can persuade the wife to break the one guitar in, one out policy.

Played one last month, the neck is awesome to play. I also have a 2022 50’s Standard LP, weighing in at exactly 4 kg and perfectly made. I have been lucky finding a Gibson, well made, plays great, and good weight, took me a long time finding it. Have owned several Japanese Tokais and they were all perfectly made great playing guitars, worth every penny.

Great video, once again, Colin. Love the MIJ Tokai, but I am also pining for that Pelham SG in the background. The Blackstar cab is blocking its shapely lower bout..😅 cheers.

I absolutely love your channel, sir. Just found it looking for the differences between the rash of Les Pauls Epiphone has released. Excellent breakdown and your knowledge, demeanor and presentation is more my style than others I’ve found.

Love this channel. Going to buy one of these now 😵‍💫🤩👊

Another great video my english friend!! Tokai makes fantastic guitars!

I do my best to watch as soon as it drops but for me it's 4am so a little hit and miss on that. Love the videos, I look forward to them all week .. cheers

second time watching this video, definitely my favourite so far! such a beautiful guitar as well, maybe the one I like most on the channel!

Colin, what an awesome video, thank you man. There arent enough horns to give you🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘 I will say, I dont care for the looks of a Les Paul pickguard, but for me, functionaly I do like it as a resring place for my fingers as Im picking more downward during certain licks, if that makes sense. Anyway, thank you so so much for what you do and please dont burn out on us, keep it coming. Your guitar community really appreciates what you do and needs you. Thanks brother!!🤘🤘😊

Would you ever consider reviewing a Kiesel? I think watching you customize and buy + review a Kiesel would make for a great couple videos!

sounded brilliant clean with no pedals, reminded me of the old les Paul sounds, Stan Webb etc.

I too truly like the standard wood grain finish vs the flame maple BUT my Eastman SB59 despite its flame maple top can’t be beat IMO. Great video again Colin.

Thank you for another superb review, Colin. I think the DC resistance of the bridge pickup puts it roughly in the ballpark of 498t, which is a solid hard rock pickup, in my opinion. Don't be hard on yourself, in terms of your playing Colin. You've got your own playing style we all appreciate and enjoy.

You’re right does look absolutely stunning! And better without pic guard!

I enjoyed this one but heck I enjoy all your reviews. Cheers Sir, I had a cup tea earl grey to be exact while watching. I got “Stuck In” again!

It looks much better without the scratch plate. I like the poly finish. It doesn't crack up over the long run. CTS makes more than one grade pot. For example, Epiphone metric CTS pots are lower grade than the Gibson Imperial pots. Also, Sprague orange drop caps are the originals and the gold standard. Unbranded or obscure orange drops can be anything. If you like a little microphonics, try the flat ceramic caps. Great vid, hope you're making money soon!

Love watching your videos when they drop. Have you had any thought on maybe doing some stuff on pedals and settings etc. your sound is great.

I’m in the ‘scratchplate off’ camp, I think it just looks prettier. Aesthetically, each to their own and all that, the Tokai violin burst is obviously your sweet spot. For me, the Stoner Les Paul you got last week looks gorgeous. There’s something about a lemon burst/lemondrop Les Paul that just does it for me!

Just ordered myself an LS156S Gold Top P90s single wraparound bridge. Very excited!

that thing sounds excellent too !! one of the best i've heard on here ..

MIJ guitars are typically really nice. From my experience with a few their weakness is frets. Not that the fretwork is bad, but they seem softer and wear much quicker. Love my Epi LQJ, looks very similar to this one.

Great stuff Col. Pick guard off gets my vote. That bridge pickup is a Van Halen kind of output.

I have an ‘82 Tokai Silver Star (their ‘Strat’) and I love it. It’s become my favorite guitar.

Proud owner of two MIJ tokai love rock here. LS126 and LS186 great guitars!

I look forward to your videos every Friday my friend.

Another excellent video there Colin, thank you ! Apart from it being a gorgeous guitar, your new Tokai doesn’t really need CTS pots. I get it that they’re the industry standard but a tone pot can be really good , even if it’s made in Korea. As for the caps, maybe try some paper in oil ones ? Cheers 🎉❤

Pickguard YES! My two cents, cheers mate, you've now have me wanting a Love Rock!

Treasure from Denmark Street. Well Done Mate. We Love It.

Yes Colin bring it❤ wish i could get a Tokai

Nice one Colin, I've owned four Tokai guitars in the past and my favourite was the Japanese LS80 Love Rock, built like tank and a bit on the heavy side but was a dream to play, another one I let go and regretted it ever since....

That's truly one bloody gorgeous guitar! While I enjoy playing SGs more nowadays, l still feel Les Pauls looks nicer haha I'm more of a pickguard on type person, but it still looks very nice without one Great video as always, really enjoyed it. Cheers!

Very Cool, Thankyou. Stunning Guitar and Playing as always. Would love one of these but bit beyond my means at the moment. Recently ordered/received an Artist Guitars AP59 'Apricot Burst' Les Paul copy for discount price and totally love it, Such an awesome Guitar and I find it has inspired me to play 'at my best'. Have been looking at a Tokai Vintage White 'Telecaster' with Rosewood Board, as I have fallen for White Tele's after watching yours. All the Best, Cheers.

Don’t sell yourself short Colin. Your playing is fantastic. That Tokai fit you well

Can I curse on here !? It’s a phukkin’ beautiful Les Paul !! Looks like nitro your right. It’s probably a thin Poly finish. Looks absolutely amazing! Would probably cost me $2400 total to ship statewide . But I WANT ONE! Collins, last weeks video was my all-time favorite of your videos. I was so excited to take a deep dive with you checking out this guitar! Great content as always! Can’t wait to see what you got for us next week! Great Guitar my man Congrats ⚡️🎸⚡️!

Great video and great job!

What a stunner, and the guitar is nice to!! lol Great vid. I would seriously think about getting one of these instead of a Gibo if I had the money for either. All the best Collin, have a great weekend mate.

To me, the pickguard, is how I always remember a Les Paul looking , growing up…without one, it looks more modern! Cheers!

One of the best guitars I ever had (and yet another 'I sold it' tale of woe) was an early 90's Japanese built Ibanez Artist with the builders signature on the back plate. I chose it only just above a Yamaha SG2000, and both guitars were better than the Les Pauls I tried at the time. It was an utter joy to play and those Flying Fingers pickups were awesome, but they just know how to finish a product properly - and to the highest degree. The bigger companies just slap things together and meeting targets seems to be more important than taking pride in their product. Same thing applies to their cars too. I loved that guitar but wasn't playing in a band for a while and it got sold. Deep regret.

@1:33 "...i couldn't resist.."..that pretty much sums up everything ever said. all the best - mike

Love a subtle plain / slight flame top at most.

That’s a stunning looking guitar Col. Can’t see it toppling the Eastman in a shoot-out, but will be very interesting to see how Tokai compare to the big G. Have a Tokai Explorer - it’s a superb gtr.

Hey mate, don't be too hard on yourself regarding your playing. You're a living legend and many of us enjoy your videos. True you're no Julian Lage, but none of us are and that's not the point of your channel. Now I'm more of a Tele guy and your channel is mostly LPs and 335 style guitars, but I just love watching your videos because of your love for the craft, and the sense of humor. I play an Eastman T59/v, a head to head with a 335 would be so awesome!

Hi, another great video. I love your work. Thank you. About 15 years ago I had a Japanese Tokai from the early 80’s. Les Paul custom, black, it was light and brilliant. I bought a Gibson 57 custom shop for far more money and it was a dog. I sold the Gibson. Eventually so sold the Tokai and I wish I hadn’t. They’re silly money now

Love your channel and you're a fantastic host . I've had Slash Epiphones , Vintage Lemondrop , Harley Benton Lemondrop , Chinese Love Rocks , but by far the greatest playing and feeling Les Paul is my Japanese Edwards LTS 2008 that comes standard with Thin Skin finish , Duncan 59 / JB pickups , Gotoh bridge and tailpiece , Gotoh Tuners stunning guitar and I'd put it up against any Gibson . Especially when I drop the OX4 pickups into the beast 👍

I've got a cute little 1998 Love Rock LS70-F 'burst (definitely Japanese-built) that I reckon I'd put up against any Custom Shop model (and maybe even an R9, and I LOVE Les Pauls!!) It's my daily driver for recording sessions (with a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover pickup update) and feels impeccable to play. Kudos to you for showing some TOKAI love👍🏼 Great channel - I'm a subscriber.

I picked up an old Japanese Hohner telecaster that was part of the "lawsuit era" of guitars. I love it!

Man oh man! That Tokai Love Rock along with those lovely "tone shoes" you have on, make for a great combination to my ears. What a smokin' hot bridge pickup too. Blessings from accross the pond to you. Cheers Colin!🎶🎸😊❤👍

This is great Colin. I’d buy it!

Here in Japan, the price of 129 has been revised to 140, and the actual selling price is about 120,000 yen, and the price of 148 with veneer frame top is the same. Les Paul Tribute is 150,000 yen, Studio is 200,000 yen, Standard is 350,000 yen, now. Tokai is worth trying.I tried a lighter Les Paul with weight relief and lost to the Tokai.

Hi Colin, perving on a bloody gorgeous, iced tea-ish burst. Lol. Cheers.

id love to see more strats on here. ive been binging your videos the last 3 days and i havent seen one or even heard why you maybe arent such a fan ? love to hear some opinions on such an iconic line

Great review of an amazing guitar. tokais are amazing and i think it is much cooler to see someone playa tokai rather than a gibson.

I especially like the colour of the back of this guitar as well!

A lovely guitar, absolutely 👌

Nice review! I currently owned and have owned since 1982, a 1975 Ibanez “law suit” Les Paul,, and still wouldn’t trade it for any of the new productions from Gibson..

I agree with you on flame tops, especially the veneers on Epiphones. I like the wood to look like wood.

Hi here I am again plugging the Epiphone Les Paul Muse: 7.27 pounds. You should try a Les Paul Muse. Greatest neck profile ever and super weight relieved! And the price is also very affordable ❤ About pickguard yes or no: yes when combined with pokerchip. If you take it off, the poker chip gots to go too 😅

Awesome guitar and great video! Love your playing and your way make the videos. I have a Tokai LS80 from 2006 and it blows away my Gibson Les Paul Tribute Future 2013 in everything. Now it has a Seymour Duncan Slash set and it is just as good as a Les Paul can be. I only wish it was nitro finishing. My next guitar will definitely be another Tokai, but a higher grade like LS196 or LS214. Greetings from Brazil.

Aw superb Col, a serious Guitar. So glad your showcasing one of these. I have a leftie and Shane, he runs the 'In the Blues' channel' over in Australia he swears by them has a leftie as well. Mine is an 80's one, got it for 400 quid. I was mega chuffed but it needed some tlc. It has uncovered cream HB's, came like that. It also has the open book Headstock, Tokia altered that i think. There are some made in Korea to and their really good also, apparently! They got the recipe right with these Guitars, they play and sound amazing and i'll never get rid of mine. I use it a lot. It's so comfy to play. Mate your just to good to us. Great show as always, thank you.

Really well made nice sounding guitar 👍