Tokai LS-50 / LS-60 — The Entry-Class Les Pauls

The LS-50 and LS-60 represented the more affordable end of Tokai’s Les Paul lineup.

At the time, Tokai built every model in the LS series — even the lower grades — with carved maple tops, not laminated ones.
The higher-end LS-80 and above featured Honduran mahogany backs,
while the LS-50 and LS-60 were listed simply as mahogany —
most likely referring to African mahogany (Khaya).
The headstock angle was also shallower, 14° instead of 18°,
and the finish was polyester, not lacquer.

On the back of the headstock, the serial number was stamped in ink rather than impressed.
According to the now-defunct but once-excellent site “Tokai LS-60/80 by Daizo,”
between 1980 and 1981, LS-50 and LS-60 models built at the Nagano factory were given inked serials —
and the second digit in the serial always appeared as a “1.”

The original pickups were open-type LS Hot models,
powerful and somewhat unruly by nature.
In this guitar, they’ve since been replaced with Gibson humbuckers,
which provide a more balanced and refined tone.

Though it lacks the visual drama of the higher-end LS models,
this guitar is beautifully balanced in every way —
a true pleasure to play.

Weight: 3.95 kg (including strings)
(Updated August 27, 2016)