Mr Anthony Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 Hello there! Wandered into the local Cash Converters on Friday, and saw this stood up on the display. Picked it up, had a play, looked it over and thought it was as if it's brand new. The paint was fine, in Vintage White which is less yellow in person, a couple of marks on the scratchplate that you can barely notice, the electrics are absolutely fine and it could do with a new set of strings. I left it there, and for the whole weekend it was bugging me. I was recording in the studio on Saturday, and I wanted it with me. So, on Sunday afternoon I went out and bought it. £159.99, I payed. Which, considering there a couple floating around on eBay at the moment for £200+, I'm quite pleased. Picked it up today, and I can barely put it down. Partly because I really had my heart set on one some 5 years ago, partly because OH MY GOD NEW BASS YAY, and partly because the neck is very wide and I need to get used to it. It sounds pretty good too, but until I can get to a practice or back in the studio or a gig, I won't really know for sure. Have some pictures! Cheers! - Anthony. Quote
Spike Vincent Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 Good bass, good price. I get massive neck dive on mine... Quote
grunge666 Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 I part ex'd mine last year, very underrated and IMHO a better bass allround that the Epi TB. I eleviated the neck dive by moving the strap button to the neck heel and used a wide 'grippy' strap. Enjoy! Quote
Mr Anthony Posted February 24, 2014 Author Posted February 24, 2014 Much neck dive. Almost an uncomfortable amount, which I shall fix by moving the strap button. Always fancied a thunderbird, thought that for the price, now would be my time to give it a go. Tried an epiphone a few years ago, and it was nice but I didn't want and couldn't afford to buy it. Haha. I'll have to try and get some sound clips up or something for you guys Quote
Mr Anthony Posted February 24, 2014 Author Posted February 24, 2014 I thought so too! Can't stop looking at how cool it is! Another problem besides the neck dive is that it has to go the opposite way on my rack, and with only a three space rack, and four -soon to be five instruments to put on it, it bothers me. Haha. Quote
jezzaboy Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 Nice bass. Never seen a bad Tokai. Get a set of flats on there and wheyyy heyyyyyy... Quote
Mr Anthony Posted February 24, 2014 Author Posted February 24, 2014 Well that's good then! Actually flats are exactly what I was thinking. Never tried flats before, so it'll be a learning experience. Quote
uncle psychosis Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 Thats nice. Everytime I think I'm cured of GAS something like this comes along to tempt me Quote
jon_kemo Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 Was this in Lincoln by any chance? If so the manager had slashed the guitar prices the day before. I managed to bag myself an Ibanez SR705 that they already priced wrong for £115! It was marked at £175 but didn't produce any sound plugged in so was sold to me as faulty without a warranty. I got it home and found that it was just the battery clip was a bit dodgy, so got myself a massive bargain! Quote
uncle psychosis Posted February 25, 2014 Posted February 25, 2014 [quote name='jon_kemo' timestamp='1393281045' post='2378336'] Was this in Lincoln by any chance? If so the manager had slashed the guitar prices the day before. I managed to bag myself an Ibanez SR705 that they already priced wrong for £115! It was marked at £175 but didn't produce any sound plugged in so was sold to me as faulty without a warranty. I got it home and found that it was just the battery clip was a bit dodgy, so got myself a massive bargain! [/quote] Jammy git!! :-D Quote
Mr Anthony Posted February 25, 2014 Author Posted February 25, 2014 Ah. GAS does like to just creep it's way in at irritating moments, I know. Yes. It was in Lincoln actually! Sounds like you got yourself an incredible deal there, nice one! Quote
Samashton12 Posted February 25, 2014 Posted February 25, 2014 £160 is a bargain for one. the neck dive is an issue though, you get used to it though. Happy New Bass Day Quote
Mr Anthony Posted February 26, 2014 Author Posted February 26, 2014 I haven't had a new bass day in three years, it's great! Haha. I'm adjusting to the weight and the thickness, and it's not as bad as I thought. Just need to find a bag or case big enough now because none of the ones I own are big enough. Oops. Quote
Samashton12 Posted February 26, 2014 Posted February 26, 2014 [quote name='Mr Anthony' timestamp='1393408594' post='2379777'] I haven't had a new bass day in three years, it's great! Haha. I'm adjusting to the weight and the thickness, and it's not as bad as I thought. Just need to find a bag or case big enough now because none of the ones I own are big enough. Oops. [/quote] That's another thing. They're really awkward to carry. The sound of mine & a VT Bass makes up for everything though Quote
Mr Anthony Posted February 26, 2014 Author Posted February 26, 2014 I know. Even more awkward since I don't drive and had to carry across town in a large plastic bag. I'll invest in a proper bag before taking it anywhere else. However, yes. I should certainly imagine that the sound of those two combined more than makes up for it! Quote
Samashton12 Posted February 26, 2014 Posted February 26, 2014 Depending on if the finish is consistent under the pickguard. TAKE THE PICKGUARD OFF! A friend has a black TB48, got it cheap after a guy tried to "relic" it. It's no longer glossed & the guy took a belt sander to the wood under the pickguard. I wasn't best pleased. Quote
Mr Anthony Posted February 26, 2014 Author Posted February 26, 2014 Aww, well that sounds terrible. What a fool. I've nothing against a nice relic'd finish, but a belt sander? Really? Ugh. Quote
theyellowcar Posted March 2, 2014 Posted March 2, 2014 Very nice! Steal for the price too. I never found an Epi Thunderbird that I got on with, but I've always heard great things about the Tokai equivalents. Quote
Mr Anthony Posted March 2, 2014 Author Posted March 2, 2014 (edited) I'm yet to really have a proper go with it, but I need to get my amp set up and find a time when I can really have a play. I'll hopefully get some new strings sorted soon, give the fretboard a proper scrub and away we go. Should feel great! It feels solid as a rock though, had to adjust the bridge as it had become raised from the body, so it's screwed back down now but apart from that it's just about spot on. Edited March 2, 2014 by Mr Anthony Quote
BigRedX Posted March 2, 2014 Posted March 2, 2014 [quote name='theyellowcar' timestamp='1393758616' post='2383984'] Very nice! Steal for the price too. I never found an Epi Thunderbird that I got on with, but I've always heard great things about the Tokai equivalents. [/quote] Perhaps, but looking at the photos of the Tokai the only thing it shares in common with the Epiphone version is a similar body shape. Hardly makes them comparable. Quote
Mr Anthony Posted March 6, 2014 Author Posted March 6, 2014 I suppose that's a fair point. I'm pretty much settled with the weight and feel now. New strings are still needed, and I fetched myself a set of strap locks when I visited home last week. Only problem is the screws are too small for the current holes and the current screws are too large for the strap locks. So, I'm probably going to have to plug and drill new ones out which is absolutely fine. Quote
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