One stays in tune ....and the other one has « Gibson » on the headstock ! 😂

Japanese Craftsmanship Love it.

I have a Tokai and you won't be disappointed if you get one!!

@tenodogblu

8 жыл бұрын

It's a great guitar for blues!!

@tenodogblu

8 жыл бұрын

Yes mate, they are really good quality guitars. Electrics can be easy and quite cheap to fix but a damaged neck, now that's another thing.Thanks for your reply, take care and good luck with the new Tokai!!

@phillecompte3438

8 жыл бұрын

+Apollo Was yours a Korean model or Japanese ?

@slashingbison2503

4 жыл бұрын

Japanese 80s if you can

Tokai for me

Would be interesting to swap the pickups round. And do another comparison !

Tokai Japan Love Rocks are awesome. And consistently awesome too. Flawless build quality. Embarrasses Gibson really.

I would be happy with either one.

The wood grain in the Tokai body is beautiful

I own two Gibson Les Paul's and I preferred the sound of the Tokai by a long shot.

I have a tokai and it is my favorite guitar, since 1979 I have owned everything, can't really hear any difference in that vid, my one sounds superb, and it has a nice flame top .. thing is, I was actually trying out an amp and just randomly chose it to play through, I forgot about the amp and bought the tokai .. can't say more than that ..

I have a Prestige brand LP copy and a Agile 2800 copy. I like alternatives to the Gibsons. The Prestige has Seymour Duncans stock (JB and 59). The Agile V Alnicos. I like them both. The most important think for me is to improve my playing. I've got an Egnator amp which REALLY makes a lot of the sound.

I have a 1980 Love Rock - the standard edition, nothing fancy. Out of the dozens of expensive Gibson LP customs etc I had tried, the 1980 Tokai sounded the best. The guitar never goes out of tune. It’s unbelievable. The wood for 78 to 80 models was said to use the best wood they had access to in Japan. They wanted to make a Les Paul better than anyone lol

@Guitar_Magic

7 ай бұрын

Tokais are super fine guitars

Hm I prefer Gibson here it sounds more "transparent" and fuller while Tokai sounds thin. Everytime i check these videos MIJ Les paul always somehow sound "thinner" maybe its because of the pickups and electronics. Would be a nice test if someone would compare both guitar with same electronics and pickups :)

Hi there. Could anyone compare this Tokai model (what is?) to Tokai LS 186 and LS 128. Thanks

Now that's Koss!

WHICH ONE WAS THE FENDER ?

How does it sound riffs?

Nice video, well presented, well played and straight to the point, thanks for taking the time....I thought that the Gibson had a really nice grunt, with the Japanese slightly brighter and the Chinese slightly muddier, but from the point of view of a listener, the differences seem almost microscopic to me.... Would be interesting to know how each feels in the hands. I play Japanese LP and SG, they feel very solid and I love their sound. Had to change stop bar, bridge, tuners and pickups switch in both, they were useless, but now I'm very happy with the guitars. In comparison, a Chinese SG I had previously, felt lighter than the current one and had a thinner neck, but it still was a very good guitar. I also play a Chinese ES60 (the cheapest 335 copy), and strangely I haven't felt the need to change anything. I thought I was buying it as a stepping stone while gathering the funds for a Japanese one, but once I plugged it in I decided that the guitar was a keeper. Never played enough any Gibson to make an informed comparison, but I gigged my Tokais long enough to know that I have 3 good guitars for less than the price of just one Gibson, and I love the fact that unless one goes looking too closely on the headstock, it's hard to spot the difference (unlike Epiphones, whose headstock are a complete put off for me).

@Guitar_Magic

7 ай бұрын

Japanese and USA LPs have a slightly different feel, hard to put into words. Both are awesome.

Essentially identical.

For the money you cant beat Tokai, Gibsons are overpriced & overrated! Yes some sound great & if you get a good one they can be fabulous but they have quality issues which you should not get at the prices they charge. Tokai all the way, give me any Japanese made guitar over a gibson any day,

@phillecompte3438

8 жыл бұрын

+Andrew Cannon Agreed I,m getting mine this Sunday an 81 Tokai LS 60 love rock.Except for resale I would go with Japanese Les Pauls etc.

@Fektthis

7 жыл бұрын

law of diminished returns. you pay more but get less in terms of quality increasing with price. there are certainly 4,000 dollar les pauls out there as well. The ESP Horizon is actually a bit under 2000. It's even cheaper than that for the LTD. Personally, I don't own either of the ones in the video. I have an LTD 400 with the JB humbucker not the EMG. I'm more than happy with it and it sounds and plays as well as any Les Paul I've ever tried.

Buy tokai and change pickups. Now you have sound equally good as in the gibsons, but you save over 1000euros or dollars.

@thecaveofthedead

7 жыл бұрын

In my opinion, few Gibson pickups sound any better than stock Tokai MkIIs. Either way, I'd end up changing the pickups. In fact I did. Both in my Tokai and my Gibson. The Tokai is a lot cheaper for a guitar that totally matches or exceeds a Gibson.

@boboutelama5748

6 жыл бұрын

3'000 dollars. Just compare a VOS59 of 6'800 Euros and a LS230 with pickups upgrade (around 2'000). Same sound.

which was the first song?btw tokai sounds better.where i can find one

They sound identical to me.

@wojteo1745

9 жыл бұрын

They sound a little different, but not XXXX$ different :D

@johanndaart7326

3 жыл бұрын

@@wojteo1745 They sound "turn one knob on your amp by a hair to the left" different ;)

@somebodyelseuk

3 жыл бұрын

@@johanndaart7326 Most sensible comment on the video.

Gibson has higher output pickups the tokai more closely resembles an acc vintage lp. Tokai is also more articulate under gain. I wonder what the gibson sounds like with lower output pickups

Tokai all day (Japanese 80s) not sure about newer ones That gibbo is nice though

like tokai

Muy bueno , traigan la guitarra a la Argentina

Gibson has that classic “fat” sound, Tokai a little bit brighter and darn good too! Nicer timber on the Gibbo!

That Tokai has beautiful burling on the top.

@Guitar_Magic

8 ай бұрын

Really good guitars, super craftsmanship on the Tokai!

I liked the Gibson best in this video.

Ερωτας αυτη η κιθαρα❤ gary moore❤

I bought the same Tokai model : beautiful woods, feeling and finish. But the mk2, what a deception ! Especially in clean. Compared to Gibson 490T & R, they are mutted and dark sounb. I changed them for Ox4 low wind ; now i have a nice Les Paul :-). For clarity, shime and full sound on Neck position, the 490 were a very good choice too.

@johanndaart7326

3 жыл бұрын

I think MK2s are really good pickups. They do 90% of that vintage tone people want. At the same time, Tokai knows that people will swap them for their favorite/dream humbuckers to chase that last, elusive 10% of tone. MK2s are "good enough" pickups even for the highest models and that says a lot about them.

@Guitar_Magic

7 ай бұрын

MK2's are not half bad! They can cover a wide variety of sounds but a good PAF will bring out the best of any LP.

Man I want one these guitars are like Gibson custom shop at a fraction of tge price

Does anyone know what model Tokai Love Rock this is? Thanks

@Guitar_Magic

7 ай бұрын

It was called LS-95 at that time I made the video.

that is a MiJ Tokai. The bridge gives it away, The Korean and China models have slotted screws where the MiJ do not (MiJ Tokai bridge has poles similar to Gibson in appearance)

@CrazyDiamond1968

8 жыл бұрын

+Ted Mac . Every MIJ Tokai model uses a vintage correct ABR-1 bridge made by Gotoh. The Gibson in this video is a Custom Shop "Historic", that's why it has an ABR-1 bridge. A Gibson Les Paul Standard uses a Nashville bridge, not ABR-1.

@OscarGoldmanomesayin

8 жыл бұрын

+CrazyDiamond1968 Exactly! That is correct. What I was saying is the MIJ Tokai's do not have slotted posts and you need to adjust the action with the thumb screws. The made in Korea or China models have flat head slotted posts that you can adjust the action with a screw driver (Like the made in china Epiphones) Both the Nashville and the ABR-1 need to be adjusted by hand(No slots)

Hi, how does it feels in the hands, I mean compered to gibson.

@Guitar_Magic

7 ай бұрын

Well, Tokai and Gibson uses different fret wire so there's a slight difference. Both are really nice playing intruments.

Gibs has open pickups, Tokai closed. Different sound

The Tokai is a class above...

The Gibson sounds more present and open, the Tokai sounds muted, slightly wooly

@ky9999

9 жыл бұрын

because the gibson does not have cover on the pickups, so it may sound louder

@boboutelama5748

6 жыл бұрын

"Wich pickup's was used" must be the first question you ask yourself. I know Tokai personnaly. Have several of them, and on some series, the pu's are just "the thing to change". When changed, the premium range LS's are simply killers !

damn the top on that tokai is beautiful i must say. gibson sounds better tho, but hey pickups can be changed. idk y i just have a thing for tokais haha

Tokai

Only a Gibson is good enough; the Tokai at half the price will just blow you away!

Better looking - Tokai. That's a gorgeous instrument. Better sounding - Gibson. - Tokai is muddy - Gibson bell-like in clarity. This from a guy whose most cherished guitar is an early 80's Springy Sound Tokai Strat. Even so, I cannot lie...

@KitaristChannel

8 жыл бұрын

+Tablature Butler Also a proud owner of Tokai Springy Sound ST80 its from 1979 :) Great guitar :P

@davidmatney5163

8 жыл бұрын

You think the plain top Tokai is better looking than the flametop Gibson?

@tablaturebutler2823

8 жыл бұрын

David Matney - Yes I do. I've got nothing against a flame-top instrument - I own two, and think they're beautiful - I just think the one-piece top on the Tokai has a stunning grain display and a more subtle, sophisticated 'burst. That's why ice cream comes in many flavors, one supposes...

@davidmatney5163

8 жыл бұрын

+Tablature Butler true, it is all in preference. I prefer the look and sound of the Gibson and I currently play a Tokai LS85Q that I installed a Burstbucker 2&3 set in. Killer guitar and i do think it compares favorably against Gibsons at the same price point. I personally think it's comparable to a production Gibby Standard,Classic or Traditional. But i do love Gibsons and Tokai love rocks. Both great, just depends on the amount of money one desires to spend I reckon.

@phillecompte3438

8 жыл бұрын

+Tablature Butler Well perhaps but still ,for the price difference Tokai is way ahead.Just good economic sense.

The Tokai sounds better Lol!!

People hearing with their eyes again...you could record it all on the tokai but show the pictures of the Gibson and people would still say the Gibson sounds better

@somebodyelseuk

3 жыл бұрын

Or the Tokai, depending on how they're biassed. I own both... makes. An R9 and a topend Tokai. Both outstanding guitars. I wouldn't touch a Tokai made outside Japan or a Gibson made outside of the Custom Shop. Gibson USA and Gibson Custom are as different as Volkswagen and Porsche. They're both owned by the same parent company, but they don't share common parts and the employees of one factory aren't allowed in the other.

Tone wise I have to with the Gibson here. It just sounds fatter and beefier to me. I have no doubt that the quality of the Tokai is every bit as good or better than the Gibson though. I've heard that the 2016 Gibson's are better but I still would worry about shelling out over 2 grand for a Gibson LP.

@johanndaart7326

3 жыл бұрын

The difference is miniscule. If you just heard one of them, you couldn't tell if it was real Gibson or not. The difference is nothing you can't compensate with a tiny turn of a knob on your amp or change of pickup height. Then obviously, even without any tweaks, the difference would drown in a full mix.

Sounds like you have to work harder to dig the notes out the Gibson. Slightly more treble from the Gibson, but the notes seem more fragile.

I had a Burny … it was so much better than my actual Les Paul.

@phillecompte3438

8 жыл бұрын

+Rj Bron Yes Burny are known to be the best bang for your buck in Asian guitars.

The Tokai sounds much better than the Gibson, the Gibson sounds to distorted and muddy

What model range of Tokai was that? Super pricey? Affordable-ish? Cheaper?

it may be my ears or the humbuckers bit the Gibson sounds richer, fuller in tone while the tokai is a bit harsh

Tokai is better

@ilovemyeggs

9 жыл бұрын

It just isn't..

@cocolucho4465

9 жыл бұрын

no

@stanlee5755

9 жыл бұрын

*****​ you're right. My opinion sucks

@lidltraut8258

8 жыл бұрын

+MartinGuitarLover1 yeah and the problem is the most people with too much money would rather buy a mercedes than a toyota just because its a mercedes.

Ahí me parece mucho mas bonita la Tokai japan que la propia Gibson

I own an 85 Japanese Fender Contemporary Strat.Paid $500 but they,re worth 3 times the price.Problem these days is that collectors are buying up all the Japanese and Korean made guitars .Greedy bastards.

@enzotiong

8 жыл бұрын

Funny I've also been on a good streak of luck lately. I've tried a hell lot of strats, dinkys, teles, jags, LPs, etc all in search for the "one". My criteria was simple: versatility and solid tone. Then I came across a Fender Japan ST 535 with HH config and TBX controls. Priced at a little below 500$, at first I was meh (because of the price) but when I tested it on a medium range amp, suddenly all Ibby prestiges (yes even the JS series) went in to a black hole. Lol. I hope you have one with the Schaller System 1 trem. It just kicks so much behind.

The Tokai sounds more like a vintage les paul.

Gibson has a bit more bottom end

A strange comparison. Tokai made very different guitars for different budgets. Some, like the LS90 are more affordable and are a compromise to the sound. But a premium LS 250 will be an other story. I had several Les Paul, but lost them in a robbery in the late 90's. After testing out every Les Paul available in my country in several years, I got a Tokai. I modified the Tokai with vintage Gibson paf humbuckers and just putted a bumblebee condo. If you want to know the sound I get out of this, just listen to a Led Zeppelin album... it's this sound, - completely.

Which Gibson versus which Tokai? This could be like comparing the cheapest Epiphone with an R9, on the other hand it could be like comparing two consecutive mode;s off the production line. Gibson make several different specs of Les Paul as do Tokai. Besides which, a lot of Gibson and copies sound crap, just because people have no idea how to set the pickups properly... ... that said, I've actually abandoned plans to get an R9 recently in favour of a high end Tokai.

@johanndaart7326

3 жыл бұрын

What Tokai did you get man? :) What's your method of setting up pickups? :)

@somebodyelseuk

3 жыл бұрын

@@johanndaart7326 I bought an LS150F - it's now listed as the LS196F... and I did get a 60th Anniversary R9 last year. I adjust pickups by ear. Takes longer than doing single coils. If they're a bit muddy raise the pole screws and then drop the pickup a little. Keep adjusting until yer happy. Before you replace pickups, check the pots with a meter. Don't assume CTS pots are any better than cheap Chinese pots - they're not. Check them with a meter before you fit em. If your pots measure less than 475k on 500k pot, they ain't good enough. Once the pots are sorted, see how the pickups sound BEFORE you order new ones. Last thing, Gibson's pickups aren't the best available, but it'll cost you at least a couple of hundred quid a pair to improve on them. Same goes for Tokai. I put Amber Spirit Of 59s in the Tokai.

@johanndaart7326

3 жыл бұрын

@@somebodyelseuk Woah, those Amber ones are expensive... I think Tokai's stock MK2s ar not bad at all. Thank you for the pole piece tip and pot tips! How do you like R9? Is it really a dream come true, the end of the road? ;)

@somebodyelseuk

3 жыл бұрын

@@johanndaart7326 Tokai uses 3 different pickup suppliers. The Gotoh pickups are very good, the other two are nothing special. No guarantees as to which pickups you get except the cheaper models don't get Gotohs. Needless to say, mine weren't the Gotohs. The R9... I played Yamaha SG2000s during the 80s, because Gibsons back then were really bad. That was my reference point. I tried production Les Pauls over the years and nothing measured up. The first thing that struck me about the Tokai was how much it felt as good as the Yamaha. The R9 is breath taking. The Tokai is built exactly the same, but the R9 edges it just - it's something about how the guitar resonates/sustains. I was sceptical, but the only thing that may be different is the hide glue joints...? I've also had a Tokai Strat since the early '80s, so I already knew how good they are. Bringing the LS home was just as special a day as when I got the R9. Dream come true? I've never really had a dream guitar. The Yamaha was my first 'good' guitar... I got my dream guitar first time out. After a while, it was a case of trying to rationalise things so I didn't have to drag around a pile of guitars for gigging, so since the 90s, I've been using HSS Stratalikes. End of the road? Well, I quite fancy an R7 - I have big hands. If you're asking me whether an R9 is worth the money... If you won't miss ~ 6 grand, yes, it's worth every penny. If you need an LP and 2-2.5 grand is your limit, I'd go Tokai over Gibson every time.

Zwei sehr schöne Gitarren ,Gibson für mich bringt bisschen mehr druck.

It’s hard to compare when you have similar pickups running through the same amp. Once you have a comfortable guitar and great pickups, it’s up to the player to make it sound good, with articulation, touch, the way you pick size of your fingers.

Gibson sounds a bit deeper.Are my ears right?

@andrejilievski

5 жыл бұрын

rockrabbitt yes

Only Gibsons sound like Gibson, tokai is awesome too but it's different

price / quality = tokai

Epiphone smokes both of them

What is a today's Gibson Les Paul?? 'weight relief'^^

Is this a Chinese or Japanese Tokai?

@tiimalasi123

8 жыл бұрын

+Sebastian Dior I actually think its Korean.

@JohnSmith-te5oo

8 жыл бұрын

+4nza If that incredible violin top on that Tokai is a Korean Tokai, I'm impressed. That is an incredible top.

@CrazyDiamond1968

8 жыл бұрын

+Sebastian Dior . It made in Japan, Tokai don't make guitars in Korea anymore, their current Traditional Series models are made in China.

@Guitar_Magic

7 ай бұрын

Japanese of course.

Gibson sounds better

Tough... i must say TOKAI is the winner here.More transparent, more soild, more articulate, more healthy LP twang, better tuning in sound (Gibson have problems with tuning for years, unfortunately).

@johanndaart7326

4 жыл бұрын

Les Paul designs creates problem with G string tuning. It's inherent to Les Paul. But my Tokai stays in tune well ;)

gibson

Buy Tokai, it will be more valuable as it's rarer. I got one :)

@gibsonmarney4375

8 жыл бұрын

I have owned 2 Tokais and they are great guitars. However they will never be more valuble than Gibsons.

@LocalAutist

4 жыл бұрын

@@gibsonmarney4375 haha, tokai's barely lose value here, cheapest gibson new is 1200 here, used value drops to almost same as epiphone, which is 300-500. Cheapest vintage tokai is 700, cheapest new is around 550

For me tokai sounds better on bridge and middle and gibson on neck. :)

@PaQPawelROCK

7 жыл бұрын

But i prefer tokai

Tokai es más clara Gibson más fluida, Tokai más volumen, gibson más opaca. Las dos son demasiado burbujeantes para mi. Son dos guitarras distintas o suenan distintas. No me gustan. Gracias y dedito arriba

what tokai is it ? Ls 160 maybe?

@johanndaart7326

9 жыл бұрын

Nah, that top finish is used on low end Tokais. More like LS-80?

@hydexjapan

9 жыл бұрын

LS-110 www1.odn.ne.jp/tokaigakki/products/vintage/ls110.html

Bloody tuning ....hello...???

I want the original not the knock off.

The Tokai sounds okay, but not the best. The Tokai sounds modern and not in control. The Gibson sounds more compact an push more (darker)....it is more a Billy Gibbons sound. I would pay more for the Gibson. But you have to hold them for the final verdict. The Tokai sounds far better than a Gibson studio (shit guitar).

@johanndaart7326

4 жыл бұрын

It's nothing you couldn't modulate with tone knobs and your amps. Even Billy does it, because he has some Tokais ;)

Modern Gibsons are just disappointing.

Japan❤👍 Usa 😤👎