The early 80's Japanese Fenders or Fender type guitars were ahead of what
Fender was doing at the time. Fender has caught up since then.
It has been said that when some of the Fender execs went to Japan in the early
80's and saw what the Japanese were doing - one of the Fender guys actually had
tears. They said something to the effect, "That is what we have been trying to
do and we are not getting it right."
But later on the Fender folks got their act together and began to build some
really nice guitars. The Custom Shop stuff will easily stand up to the early
Tokai's - but will cost you a heck of a lot more money as well!
I am not sure about a standard American made 1000 dollar Strat against a Tokai
from the early 80's. I would probably go with the Tokai. But it would be a
matter of choice as the Fender guitars have come a long way.
Stevie Ray Vaughn, just before he died, was in talks with the the factory that
makes Tokias to begin to represent the guitar - but you would always see him
playing his "number one."
Get Zoom's opinion on this stuff. I believe that he would very likely have a
nice background of information on this stuff.
If you can find a Japanese Tokai Strat made in Japan in the early 80's - pick
it up and play it, there is a fantastic vintage vibe about the thing. Tokai is
now having a lot of thier guitars made in Korea!
Kirk
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