Billy gibbons tokai2/14/2023 In fact, the two companies made a deal in 1997 – Tokai could continue to produce some of its replicas with subtle changes to their branding and headstock shapes if they would agree to supply Fender with guitars. While the popularity of Tokai’s replicas remained strong in the Japanese market, the introduction of Fender’s Japanese-made models (made by FujiGen Gakki from 1982-1997) into America and Europe largely forced Tokai out of these markets by the late 1980s.Ĭollectors often lump these models together with other Japanese replicas as “lawsuit guitars.” However, Fender never actually sued Tokai. Stevie Ray Vaughan posed with a Tokai Springy Sound on the cover of his 1983 album Texas Flood, and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top was spotted with his Tokai Strat on the road. But they started to gain notoriety in the 1970s and ‘80s with their production of high-quality Fender and Gibson replicas that captured the old school vibes of the original instruments at a fraction of the cost.īy the early 1980s in Japan and also the UK, Tokai’s Stratocaster replicas-known as Springy Sound, Goldstar Sound, and Silverstar Sound-were surpassing Fender’s American-made Strats in popularity. ![]() Founded in 1947, Tokai Gakki Company, Ltd., or Tokai Guitars, began as a small Japanese musical instrument manufacturer.
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