Tokai
Tokai Gakki Co., Ltd., aka To-kai Gakki Seizo- Kabushiki-gaisha, often referred as Tokai Guitars Company Ltd., is a Japanese guitar
manufacturer founded in 1947 and situated in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka prefecture. Tokai have produced acoustic guitars,
electric guitars, electric basses, autoharps, and melodicas. Tokai first started making classical guitars in 1965 and started
making Hummingbird electric guitars in 1968 and Hummingbird Acoustic guitars in 1970.
Tokai have also made Gibson and Martin Acoustic model replicas. In 1972 Tokai went into a joint venture with Martin to supply
acoustic guitar parts and also to build Martin's solid body Sigma guitars. In 1973 Tokai started making the "Cat's Eyes"
Martin Acoustic replicas. In 1983 Tokai started making a metal body guitar called the Talbo which the band Devo played at one time.
Tokai have built various Gibson and Fender replica models over the years such as the "Love Rock Model", the "Les Paul Reborn", the
"Springy Sound" and the "BreezySound".
The Tokai "Les Paul Reborn" model started in 1978 and by 1980 Tokai had changed the name from "Les Paul Reborn" first to "Reborn Old"
and then to the "Love Rock Model". Tokai also made Fender replicas starting in 1977 and Stevie Ray Vaughan played a
"Tokai Silver Star" Stratocaster replica at one time. Finnish guitarist, Jari Mäenpää continues to play a Tokai Telecaster replica.
Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom's first guitar was in fact a Tokai Stratocaster Replica. Brian May from Queen used a
Tokai Hummingbird Acoustic on some recordings. Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top and Robert Fripp have also played Tokai guitars.
Tokai have their own instrument making factory and have built guitars for well known brands. Tokai and Dyna Gakki currently build
the Fender Japan solid body models and have done so since 1997.