1980 Tokai LS-120 — A Study in Beauty and Perception

I acquired this LS-120 in February 2008 — my very first.

Some people, looking through the photos of my collection, may be impressed by how many beautiful guitars I seem to own.
At the same time, many may feel that, aside from the very expensive instruments, it’s rare to see such well-preserved examples in online auctions.
It’s only natural, then, to wonder whether I’ve been unusually lucky — or perhaps possess some secret ability to seek out only the most beautiful guitars.

The truth is half right and half wrong.

The difference lies in presentation.
In an auction listing, a guitar is a product, and its flaws must be clearly shown.
But on a personal showcase like this site, one is free to hide imperfections and highlight only the beauty.
There’s no obligation to draw attention to defects, and no sin in photographing the instrument in flattering light.
Just as a professional photographer can make an ordinary girl look like a model, a skilled eye and lens can transform a guitar.
I’m no professional, but I work in the same spirit.

So yes, many of my guitars are genuinely beautiful —
but not all are quite as breathtaking in person.
That’s what I mean when I say the truth is half right and half wrong.

This particular LS-120, however, really is beautiful.

Its top is extraordinary — a blend of tiger flame and blister figuring, creating a sense of movement like billowing summer clouds.
Even the subtle flecks in the maple suggest a grade equal to or beyond the LS-150 class.
The fingerboard is a deeply colored, wonderfully textured piece of Brazilian rosewood (Jacaranda).

When I hold it, I can’t help imagining that this must be what an authentic late-’50s Burst feels like —
the color, the texture, the spirit — everything evokes that timeless aura.

Pickups are DiMarzio PAFs.
Weight: 3.86 kg (including strings)
(Updated August 26, 2016)