Query failed: connection to localhost:9312 failed (errno=111, msg=Connection refused). NGD: 1977 Tokai Cat's Eyes CE-800 - Acoustics Discussions on The Fretboard
›
UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45

NGD: 1977 Tokai Cat's Eyes CE-800

What's Hot
monoaminemonoamine Frets: 506
edited March 2019 in Acoustics

This arrived yesterday from Japan, with a great deal of help from a forum member who I have known for years.

I was a bit worried because it sat in Coventry customs for 8 days and given that it is made out of what is certainly Brazilian rosewood (jacaranda) I thought they might choose to destroy it rather than give it to me, but thankfully it slipped through unharmed - without any CITES paperwork and undervalued by a significant margin, I might add astonished 

It is a wonderful recreation of a Martin D35 and is probably the nicest acoustic I've had in my hands to be honest. In terms of price, I got this for under a quarter of what a modern Martin equivalent would cost, let alone a vintage one. I think the fact this is over 40 years old really makes it come alive compared to modern acoustics anyway. Here are some glamour shots for you pervs out there like me!

1979 Tokai TE-85
1980 Tokai LS-80
0reaction image LOL 7reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter

Comments

  • sweepysweepy Frets: 4005
    HNGD, those Cats Eyes  Guitars are a bargain and great  Instrument in their own right
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 1reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • Andy79Andy79 Frets: 881
    What awesome figuring in that rosewood!
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • blobbblobb Frets: 2600
    Lovely. I've got a modern CE parlour, they still know how to make brilliant instruments. That's a real stunner.
    Feelin' Reelin' & Squeelin'
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • thermionicthermionic Frets: 8909
    What’s the significance of the “C F Martin”? Was there some connection to Martin?
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • blobbblobb Frets: 2600
    I think Tokai made some of the Sigma guitars before they started the CE range.
    Feelin' Reelin' & Squeelin'
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • MilkMilk Frets: 84
    These look amazing quality for the money. when in in a place to have abilities and finiances for a new guitar i will look at these.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • MoominpapaMoominpapa Frets: 1649
    Really lovely looking guitar - congratulations.
    Trading feedback info:  https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/134309/

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • bugilemanbugileman Frets: 54
    I have quite a few japanese acoustic guitars,  tokai cats eyes are good guitars. Does yours have a serial number. I thought the stamped braces were made from 1980. Prior to this they were paper lable. 
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • bugilemanbugileman Frets: 54
    The ce 800 has laminated back and sides, I believe the solid wood cats eyes were models ce-1000 upwards. 
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 1reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • monoaminemonoamine Frets: 506
    edited March 2019
    Nope, solid everything - Brazilian rosewood sides and spruce top. Here is the best info I have found on these, a translation of the specs sheet:

    https://i.imgur.com/usaB85L_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium

    This is best bang for buck there is in the range, and I haven't seen any before or since with as beautiful figuring (to my eye at least)!
    1979 Tokai TE-85
    1980 Tokai LS-80
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • StrangefanStrangefan Frets: 5820
    That is goegrous  
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • Jez6345789Jez6345789 Frets: 1652
    Truly gorgeousness personified
    not to be a Debby downer but I would perhaps check the grain on the side internals more out of interest as some Japanese classify the way they strengthen the wood with high quality lamination as solid.

    i had a long debate years ago with a Japanese seller about this he advertised solid wood back and sides but as it was Jacaranda which can split so it was always a laminate to make it solid. It seemed it was all in the definition of solid. My cousin still gigs it and it is a lovely guitar and for the money amazing. This was 15 odd years ago and not a tokai

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 1reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • bugilemanbugileman Frets: 54
    monoamine said:
    Nope, solid everything - Brazilian rosewood sides and spruce top. Here is the best info I have found on these, a translation of the specs sheet:

    https://i.imgur.com/usaB85L_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium

    This is best bang for buck there is in the range, and I haven't seen any before or since with as beautiful figuring (to my eye at least)!

    Sorry but that list even shows you it's not "solid everything". Look carefully at the list and only the top is solid. As I mentioned only the CE-1000 and up is solid. It's still a nice guitar though.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 1reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • bugilemanbugileman Frets: 54
    That's the Jacaranda version, the rosewood version is solid. My error was that the ce-800 rosewood version was actually the first model to feature solid wood. 
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • bugilemanbugileman Frets: 54
    https://reverb.com/uk/item/8225059-tokai-cat-s-eyes-ce800-d35-1979-natural-carrying-case
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.