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This is my 1980 Tokai Springy Sound ST 50. A very clean example and IMO Tokai did the best job recreating the Strat of old with their amazing craftsmanship. In fact the Springy Sound model boldly displays the verbage "This Is The Exact Replica Of The Good Old Strat" right on the headstock logo! I have many Tokai's and it's time to pass a few on, this one was picked for no particular reason other than I have some more rare and collectable Tokai's.
The details you need to know is I swapped out the stock U stamp pickups and I am not sure if I still have them in storage. However a major upgrade was performed, this Strat has Chubtone pickups in it, more on that later. Also swapped out the wiring harness, including a King Tone 6 way switch and put some Raw Vintage springs in it. Other than that it's original. The "Oldies But Goodies" part of the logo was missing when I bought it but I have a new repro Tokai complete water slide decal I can include with this Strat. I never got around to replacing the "Oldies" part because it doesn't bother me and I try to keep them as stock as possible when a replacement part or upgrade isn't needed.
It's got the somewhat meaty U shape neck. It is fast and woody sounding. Great resonance and super easy to play. I set Strat's to float to get that slinky feel and give it a little give. This thing is a monster through a cranked Fender, it really makes my Silverface Twin sing!
This Strat is flat out awesome. The 6 way switch makes this already impressive blues rock machine and stone cold killer. Get your Hendrix and SRV chops ready to go so you can give it all you got! Check out the grain and clean routes. Frets show little wear and the neck feels great.
If you want this Strat and can live without the Chubtones I'll sell it without the pickups and harness at a discount. If you want me to replace the pickups I can but we'd need to discuss a price. I may have some old MIJ pickups around but nothing special. The Chubtone's are very well made but somewhat expensive, I paid $295 for this set plus another hundred for the wiring harness and another hundred for the King Tone switch. It has great sounding, high end guts. Comes with the case you see in the pics.
Text me first please and we can go from there.
About the Chubtone's !!!
If you are right handed and want the reverse stager like Jimi Hendrix.. this is it.
Handwound Chubtone Strat pickups by Michael Gray 2020
Chubone 1967 alnico V reverse (left-hand) stagger pickup set
Classic woodstock era recreations, but with overwound bridge to remove unwanted treble spike. More bass and top end than 65s. More clarity than pre-CBS style pickups. Often available in reverse (left-hand) stagger.
neck is 5.95k middle 5.95k bridge 6.70k
I've had Fralins ,Lollars, Antiquities on various Strats i had in the same period. I liked the Chubtones as much if not more than these.
About the King Tone switch
Its true bypass so it won’t effect your normal tone, but will you want to go back to your normal tone?
The Sound.
1-True Bypass, Your Normal Tone Is 100% Un-Effected
2-Treble Bleed Engaged, When you Roll Your Volume Down You Will Retain The High End, No More Dull Tones
3-Hendrix Edge Added, Fuller, Warmer More Focused Tone
4-100% Vaughan, Tubey Bite, Lots Of Attack, Fat, Warm
5-Albert – What Can I Say The Switch Was Named After Him
6-BB – Extremely Fat and Thick But Still Has Top End Bite