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Tokai: Serial for Gibson & Fender Style Models

Gibson style models’ serial numbers

All Tokai replicas of Gibson guitars, during the first 8 years of their production, had a serial number with 7-digits. The first digit was the year of manufacture. Serial numbers can be found at the following locations:

Models Location
LS, LC
Impressed on back of the headstock
ES
Impressed on back of the headstock and oval sticker in the f-hole
SG
Impressed on back of the headstock
FV, EX
Impressed on back of the headstock

Serial numbers start as follows …

Year Serial Number
1978
800xxxx
1979
900xxxx
1980
000xxxx, 001xxxx
1981
101xxxx
1982
201xxxx
1983
301xxxx
1984
401xxxx, 402xxxx
1985
502xxxx, 503xxxx
1986
603xxxx
  • In 1980, the mark of 10,000 manufactured guitars was reached.
  • In 1984, the mark of 20,000 manufactured guitars was reached.
  • In 1985, the mark of 30,000 manufactured guitars was reached.

In 1987, serial numbers had completed a complete cycle and in 1988 the year of manufacture was designated by the first two digits.

Year Serial Number
1988
880xxxx
1989
890xxxx
1990
900xxxx
1991
910xxxx

The serial numbers of LS and LC series guitars, produced in 1979/1990 and 1980/2000, start with the same first 2 digits. We can therefore rely on the visible differences on these models to identify them:

Year Model TRC Headstock Tuners Serial Number
1979
LS: Les Paul Reborn
Bell
Open Book
2-ring Tulip
900xxxx
1980
LS: Reborn Old
Bell
Open Book
2-ring Tulip
000xxxx
1980
LS: Love Rock Model
Diamond
Open Book
1-ring Tulip
001xxxx
1990
LS: Love Rock Model
Diamond
Dimple
1-ring Tulip
900xxxx
2000
LS: Love Rocke Model
Bullet
Dimple
1-ring Tulip
00xxxxx

Fender style models’ serial numbers

All Tokai replicas of Fender guitars, during the first 5 years of their production, had a serial number with 7-digits. The first digit was the year of manufacture:

Year Serial Number
1977
7000xxx
1978
800xxxx
1979
900xxxx
1980
000xxxx; 001xxxx
1981
101xxxx

Serial numbers can be found on the Models in these location:

Models Location
ST (’77 – early ’78)
Small plate, under neck heel
ST (early ’78 – up)
Stamped onto large neck plate
TE
Stamped onto large neck plate
SS
Transfer underneath logo

From 1982, only SilverStar continued the 7 digit number:

Year Serial Number
1982
201xxxx
1983
301xxxx
1984
401xxxx; 402xxxx
1985
502xxxx; 503xxxx
1986
603xxxx

In 1982, Tokai began a new numbering system for Models with steel neck plates based on the numbers used by pre-1964 Fender guitars. They were issued according to the year of the model being replicated and, like Fender, are not sequential to the year of manufacture:

Year Numbering System
1948-57
4 digit
1958-62
5 digit
1963-65
L + 5 digit
1966-70
6 digit
Year 4 Digit 5 Digit L + 5 Digit
1982
0001
1100
00001
12900
L00001
L04000
1983
1101
1500
12901
13600
L04001
L06000
1984
1501
2600
13601
19500
L06001
L17000
1985
2601
3300
19501
22500
L17001
L30000
1986
3301
22501
L30001

The Fender replicas with 5 digits Maple neck as well as those with L + 5 digits Rosewood neck 50 series are the models that were mainly produced during the first 4 years of the change.

These tables cannot be deemed 100% accurate, they are designed as a guide only to help determine the manufacture year of your guitar.

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Comments :

25 Responses

  1. Hi there

    I have a Tokai SG88 model with the serial #1126877, can anyone tell me what year this would have been made?

  2. Yes and I also have a 6 digit Tokai SG custom dimple head 100100 ?

    Any ideas where and when it was made?

    I have been trying to sort this out for ages, it appears that there may be some anomalies in earlier Tokai numbers, for example I have heard that some Tokai Gibson numbers between 1979-1981 were inked on with 6 numbers instead of being stamped.

    Can this be verified as correct by anyone out there?

    Thanks.

  3. I’ve a Tokai Guitar (les Paul Shape) and it has 8 digits of Serial Number (CH 08083578) . Let me know the made of my guitar and the year of production please.
    Thank you a lot ….!

  4. L03040 is the serial number of my Tokai Telecaster indicating early 1983, which is pretty spot on. At a recent service on the guitar, in the control cavity I had put a sticker indicating the date I bought it, April 7, 1983…
    Beautiful guitar, still my main stage instrument, plays like a dream still

  5. Tokai Love Rock model — “stamped” serial number back of headstock 0004095 —Anyone know year, country of origin? Thanks!

  6. Hello there, I have an Tokai ES86SR. Serial nr.: 209178.
    Can’t find nothing about it. It says: Hamamatsu, Japan.
    Can you tell me more?

    Greetings, and thanx in advance,
    Frans

  7. Hi, does a Tokai Tele Breezysound with an 8 digit serial number, starting with 16 sound legit. Im thinking of buying it but want to make sure its a Tokai

    No other markings.

  8. Hi, looking to acquire a breezysound which is a TE70 in wine red, double bound, 6 saddle bridge. I have been told this is from the 80s and owner thinks it is 1985, however, there is a 4 digit serial number on neck plate which contradicts all the previous info I have researched on this model. Many experts have told me that this model should have a 5 serial number. Very confused and need some help…. Would be appreciated thanks.

  9. Hi, looking to find info about Tokai Goldstar Sound “strat” serial number L30369.

    Cheers,
    Wade

  10. Hello,

    looking for info on this Tokai strat super edition with HH config and a Wilkinson Floyd Rose type bridge, I don’t know but looking at the features and the serial num as well as the catalogs, I think this was made in 1985 but then the serial num says otherwise according to this page. L + 5 digits on this site says it was made between 1963-65, any help? Thanks

    serial number
    L21544

    1. Nope, according to this page it was not made in 63-65. Please read carefully, thanks.
      “In 1982, Tokai began a new numbering system for Models with steel neck plates based on the numbers used by pre-1964 Fender guitars. They were issued according to the year of the model being replicated and, like Fender, are not sequential to the year of manufacture:”

  11. Thank you for your research / hard work.
    On a rainy day, I started to look into my Breezysound because I was changing strings / cleaning the hard to reach places.
    I’d always assumed it was a 2000’s model, but 4 digit neckplate and some other details make me suspect it’s an ’85 /’86.
    The only anomaly would be the 4 digits are 1570, but it comes with an ATE style headstock ( 1985 was the first year of this, I believe ).
    I’m guessing that neckplates are in a big heap at the factory and this one found it’s way on to my guitar because it was lying around :).

    At some point, I’ll take the neck off for further exploration, but I appreciate your efforts – I was unaware that I owned a ” vintage ” guitar 🙂

  12. I HAVE ALOVELY TOKAI SPRINGY SOUND STRAT TYPE SERIAL 10904 MUCH MODDED,FLOYD ROSE TREM (period pukka) SEYMOUR DUNCAN PICKUPS ANYONE HELP WITH ACCURATE DATE? MAYBE 1980s.

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