Is the Tokai Goldstar Sound all hype?
As luck would have it, I got to play a Tokai Goldstar Sound.
This requires some backstory.
Rewind the clock back to the early-to-mid 1980s. This is just before Fender was "bought back" in 1985 and became the company we know today, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation or FMIC for short.
Tokai Gakki Company Ltd. or just Tokai for short, a Japan brand, released some guitars in that early '80s era that were near-exact copies of famous classic Fender designs...
...but they weren't bad guitars. They were good. Really good, actually. Much better than anything Fender was making at the time.
There is debate as to whether this is a "lawsuit" era guitar being it's such a close copy to a Fender. I say it's not. What I know as lawsuit guitars are mostly from Ibanez copying Gibson guitars from the mid-to-late 1970s and not the early '80s Fender copies. But then again, if it is in fact a lawsuit guitar, feel free to email me and I'll post a correction.
While perusing the guitars at a Guitar Center, I saw it. My eyes lit up instantly because there it was, a real-deal Tokai from the '80s in what appeared to be really good condition.
So I played it.
This is what I would call a decent Strat copy. But I don't think it lives up to the hype that surrounds this guitar.
Is this a good guitar? Yes. Is it better than what Fender was making in the early '80s? Also a yes.
But is it better than a new Squier Classic Vibe '50s Stratocaster?
No.
If the Squier CV '50s Strat didn't exist, the Tokai would be the best bargain for a vintage Strat without the Fender price tag. But that's not the case. The above Squier does exist, you can get it right now, and it is the better guitar.
I can understand it if certain players want the Tokai anyway
There is a certain charm to non-Fender early-'80s Strats from Japan. That is the era when Squier produced JV Strats, which are the most sought-after collectible Squiers. The Tokai guitars are fairly close collectibles to the Squier JV Strats.
Some guitarists just really like early-'80s guitars from Japan and won't settle for anything less, and I can understand why.
However, as to whether they are better than new Squier CV guitars, they're not. The new models are without question just as good and better simply for the fact there's no need to worry about worn parts, dead pickups, worn frets or other some such.
My experience with the Tokai was like this:
The guitar was badly in need of a setup, and the plain strings would not stay in tune. This could have been either caused by strings that weren't stretched properly, tuners that needed replacing, or both. The sound of the Tokai was good, the neck was slightly fatter than average (which is period-correct to vintage Strats,) and the sunburst finish was actually very pleasing to the eye as it appeared to be a 3TSB with some red in it. I will also say the guitar felt real solid.
With setup and possibly a tuner swap, that Tokai would have been a great Strat...
...but the thing was selling for almost $700.
I can get a new Squier CV '50s Strat for $400 and it's the same guitar.
For you "must have vintage Japan" guitar guys out there, hey, don't let me stop you from getting a Tokai Goldstar Sound. Again, it's a good guitar and many have weathered the years quite nicely considering their age. Just remember what you're paying for.
Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder needs a hardtail version
Wow, what a neck on this guitar...
...which is almost a reason to buy it. Almost.
Now before I get into that, the exact make and model of this guitar is the Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder FR. The SKU number for this particular model with the all-maple neck is 1280.
I saw one of these used in a guitar store, and that didn't stop me whatsoever from wanting to play it, so I did so.
I don't shred and don't like Floyd-Rose tremolo systems. But I had a feeling the neck on this guitar was going to be something good, and oh yes, I was right.
The neck on this Schecter felt not just good but amazingly good. That combined with the just-right weight and a body with its nice contouring really makes this a good player guitar...
...if it weren't for that stupid FR system and the electronics it comes with.
This guitar has "shredder" right in the model name, so of course it has to have the prerequisite dopey FR system and "hot" pickups with active electronics.
If there were a version of this guitar with a pair of passive zebra alnico 2 humbuckers and in a hardtail flavor, this guitar would be unstoppable. Yes, it's that good.
You might be thinking that Schecter already makes this with the C-6 model. Not quite. The headstock on the C-6 is a 3x3 while the Super Shredder has them all on top, inline style. Also, the C-6 does not offer an all-maple neck version either.
Only the Super Shredder has that oh-so good feeling all-maple neck with the tuners on top. It is seriously one kickass guitar...
...if the FR system was dumped and the electronics changed to passive zebra humbuckers.
This guitar is so close to being a gem it's not even funny. All it needs is a tremolo system delete and an electronics change.
Hopefully, Schecter will make one. It will require a model name change, but that's easy. Instead of Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder, change to Schecter Sun Valley.
It is impossible to enjoy yourself in an expensive guitar store
I played an expensive guitar recently, and I didn't enjoy it at all.
The guitar I'm played? The Fender Eric Johnson Signature Stratocaster Thinline.
Here's my review of the guitar:
Meh.
At no point did I think to myself, "Wow, I could make some serious music with this." All I saw was the price tag, and that's what ruined the experience with what is one of the best Artist Series Stratocaster guitars Fender makes.
I know this guitar is a feat of engineering, even though I believe this model is a bad idea. It is a very trick thing that Fender was able to keep all the contours of a traditional Stratocaster body with semi-hollow construction. But again, that price tag just ruins it all for me.
Said very honestly, I had much more enjoyment playing a $149 Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS at a Guitar Center.
As is pretty much true on all Squier Bullet guitars, the neck was great on it. And it actually felt and played better than the highfalutin EJ Strat. It wasn't perfect, but hey, you can't really complain about a guitar that sells for 149 bucks new.
There was also something else. I had fun playing the Squier. I had no fun playing the EJ Strat.
One would think...
...that being in a ritzy guitar store where all, repeat, all guitars start at 4 figures would be magical, where if you don't have at least grand to blow, don't bother going. I didn't have a grand to blow, but I went anyway.
One would think it would be a dream to go into a store like this where all the guitars of your dreams (more or less) are right there, all sparkling, all in absolutely pristine condition...
...except that's not how it is.
The best word to describe the vibe of a ritzy guitar store like the one I went to is museum.
The floor echoed when you walked on it. The overall feeling was cold. I felt nervous in there. It was not a place for musicians. Rather, it was a place only for those with very deep pockets.
And, of course, you must ask to touch any guitar for sale. Pick up and play? HA! Not happening here, pal.
I cannot enjoy myself in a guitar store where every axe for sale is a high-priced trinket.
To give you an idea of what I mean by "high-priced trinket", at that rizty guitar shop was also a Gibson Johnny A Signature. How much? I'm not certain what the store was selling it for, but I'm pretty sure it's over 5 grand to buy it. And there were also a bunch of Suhr guitars. Those I do know the price of. They're all either close to or over 3 grand to buy. Each.
The EJ Strat was actually one of the "cheap" guitars for sale, if you can believe it.
Ritzy guitar stores sell nothing but regret
Every guitar player has to make that one big purchase before realizing what a stupid idea it was. I've explained this before but will again because guitarists need to hear it.
You want to buy That Expensive Guitar. You've been eyeing it for some time, you want it and want it bad. But it's too expensive.
Buy it anyway. Get it out of your system. Do whatever it takes to buy That Expensive Guitar. Go right ahead. I'm not joking. Use cash or credit card or financing or whatever. Just do it.
After buying That Expensive Guitar, purposely wait until the return policy runs out. That's when you're going to feel the pain about what you bought. You just spent anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000, but your guitar playing didn't get any better, you don't sound any better and...
...UH-OH! Something went wrong with That Expensive Guitar. Yeah, you thought it would be perfect. Nope. You thought you were paying for "quality". Nope. It wears and tears just like any other guitar you've ever owned. In fact, it wears out faster because it's a boutique instrument.
You may hang on to That Expensive Guitar for a few months or a few years. But you will eventually sell it. And you won't get anywhere near what you paid originally. At best you may get back, oh, about 40%, and only if it's in absolute mint condition. Yes, that means you lose 60%. You thought car depreciation was bad? Ha! Boutique guitars are even worse.
But seriously, I mean it. Go buy That Expensive Guitar. Do it, feel the pain, feel the regret, sell the stupid thing later for less than half of what you paid for it, THEN NEVER DO IT AGAIN. Let that regret always remind you of why you should never buy That Expensive Guitar.
What is a guitar that's worth spending cash on?
Easy answer: The guitar you build yourself.
Whether it's a parts guitar from pre-built pieces, or planks of wood you shape yourself, the guitar you build is the one where you can really make something special.
You can go cheap, go expensive or anywhere in between. The best suggestion I can give when building your own is this: Buy a pre-built neck, because the neck is the toughest part of a guitar build. And as I've said before, a neck is what ultimately makes a guitar good or not. Even a cheap pre-built neck is better than doing it yourself if you've never shaped a neck before.
Whatever you end up building, you will get much more enjoyment out of it compared to a multi-thousand dollar boutique electric.
At some point I will put together my own parts guitar (or at least try to just for the experience.) Squier guitars are great, but I do want to try my hand at a guitar build.
On a final note, I did at one point buy That Expensive Guitar. It was a Fender Jazzmaster. But that's a tale for another day.
5 of the best and easy rock chord strumming songs
If soloing is not your thing (and it isn't for most guitar players) and you just want some cool songs that are easy to rock out to, these are 5 of the best you could learn.
Before showing you the songs, here are a couple of questions answered.
Why aren't there more simple, easy rock songs out there?
Some believe that every simple guitar chord progression possible has been copyrighted by someone at some point, and that's why more simple rock songs don't exist. True? Not really.
Guitarists will routinely, and often, add in needless complications to songs just for the sake of doing so.
If more guitar players would subscribe to the "less is more" way of doing things, there would be more good, simple songs out there.
Is there any way to find new simple rock songs these days?
Yes.
I'll write up another article about that, because truth be told, it's not easy unless you very specifically know where to look.
The songs
867-5309/Jenny by Tommy Tutone
Insanely catchy riff that has definitely withstood the test of time. This one is played in standard E tuning and there are only two riffs. The main riff, the small switch when the "I got it!" lyric is heard, then back to the main riff.
There is a solo, but the nice part is that you can play it however you want. Nobody cares as long as it's in the right key.
A Girl Like You by The Smithereens
This song is played in Eb, so you'll have to tune down. Easy riff with short easy solo. However, it does have that "sounds more complicated than it is" vibe to it. Trust me, it's not complicated. The riffs are simple.
Basket Case by Green Day
This song is also played in Eb. Simple chugger riff in the beginning, and then after that all the chords are played open afterward.
Believe it or not, this can be played 100% acoustic and it will work. The chords are that simple. This means you can clean it up, slow it down and totally get away with it.
Born On The Bayou by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Back to standard E tuning for this one, and is another song with an insanely catchy main riff. What really makes this song sound like it does is the use of a rotary effect (a.k.a. rotary speaker).
Jet Airliner by Steve Miller Band
This is the only one here that's slightly weird, because you have a choice of what key to play it in.
Using standard E guitar tuning, the studio version of this song is played in B. However, when played live, it's in A.
The easier of the two is A. Strum style, it's A, G, D, back to A. And that pretty much covers almost the whole song.
I honestly believe what Steve did in the studio was play A-G-D, but stuck a capo on the 2nd fret so it was B-A-E instead. That's what it sounds like to my ears.
Fender Player Jaguar, a modern take on the Jag
This is an interesting modern take on a Jag. But whether players take to it remains to be seen.
My pros and cons of this guitar are as follows:
Pros
The Fender Player Jaguar is available in Sonic Red. Great color for this guitar shape. The other good color is Tidepool, which the Jag body also takes to very well. Black and Sunburst are also available, but are decidedly boring.
Satin urethane finish on the back of the neck. Very comfortable for long play sessions, doesn't get squeaky/gummy from sweat.
Medium jumbo frets. This suits the Jag better than jumbo.
Center-grooved string saddles. Great choice by Fender here for this particular guitar.
Splittable humbucker with alnico 3 magnets, and a Jag-specific alnico 2 single-coil. Good combo, good brightness without being screechy. Does have that "sounds like a Jag" tone to it.
Cons
The "JAGUAR" is not the stylized Fender Jaguar logo, and it's itty-bitty. That's a let-down.
Slider switch to toggle humbucker split has a stupid position at the upper horn, which is exactly where guitarists don't want it. The switch should have been eliminated entirely, the upper horn left blank, and the toggle assigned to a push-pull on the tone knob.
POSSIBLE PHOTO GOOF BY FENDER: The Sonic Red version seen above does show a vibrato plate with a lock switch and traditional Jaguar knobs, while every other color like the Sunburst shows skirted amp knobs and no vibrato lock switch. Fender considers a locking vibrato a highfalutin option reserved for American models, so if you order a Sonic Red Jag, don't be surprised if the vibrato has no lock switch and the knobs have the switcheroo done to them.
Buy or not buy?
It's a buy, provided you like short scale guitars. The Jag does have a 24.0" scale, after all.
The best part about this guitar is that because of the pickup combo, it's a pedal-friendly guitar. You can pretty much throw any sort of effect at this Jag and wrangle a good sound out of it. This means it will work well with most if not all overdrives and distortions, but also take well to the more unique effects like uni-vibe and phaser.
I'd personally go for the Sonic Red or Tidepool color as mentioned above. Those are the eye-catcher colors.