Sunburst

I’ll take a ‘plain top’ Les Paul over a veneer top any day. The mystery of maple’s fungal growth patterns is that it changes depending on the angle of the light and how you look at it. Every slab of wood is completely unique. In just the right light, the faintest hint of flames becomes visible on the top of my 2010 Tokai LS150. And patterns that mean that it’s completely identtifiable - like that odd little curl and the deeper flame near the toggle switch. This is a workhorse rock guitar. It’s been banged up and played hard. But it’s still the best guitar I own against some pretty stiff competition.

The couch is getting crowded with different kinds of stuff to practise. I’m tempted to bring down a fourth for some rockabilly stuff I’m working on too.

I grabbed a few pics this morning for @haywardcustomguitars. This is a handmade guitar in the style of the greatest electrics built in 1959. It’s 3.81kg (8.4lbs). Only once before have I played a guitar of this style that light that has a completely solid, 1 piece mahogany back. And Graeme’s hand-wound pickups completely nail that airy ‘59 humbucker sound with the sharp attack - almost a single-coil feel. And that top… that flamey top… Had to grab a few pics cos this is likely sold. But Graeme is truly open for business. I imagine that the prices in South African Rands would be very attractive to people in North America, Europe, and Asia.

I’m old enough to remember when ‘Made in Japan’ was code for cheap and shoddy goods. Even then it was out of date. I own American originals and this guitar smokes ‘em.

Yes. The perfect sunburst Les Paul does exist. And it’s made by Tokai Japan.