Tokai Guitars have a well-earned reputation for making high-quality electric guitars and basses, often “inspired” by vintage designs. This time we got three semis from the very top of Tokai’s Japanese model range for review.

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The Tokai ES-138 (current price in Finland: 1.368 €, incl. hard case) is the company’s version of a 1958 Gibson ES-335, available in either see-through red or piano black.

Tokai’s ES-145G(current price in Finland: 1.431 €, incl. hard case) is a lightly updated variation on the theme, which comes equipped with gold-coloured hardware and a black finish.

The Tokai ES-162(current price in Finland: 1.628 €, incl. hard case) is the most expensive model of the three on review. The ES-162 comes with post-1962 style small block markers, brass bridge saddles, and a light aluminium stopbar. The icing on the cake is this models’ vintage-style nitrocellulose finish – you can choose…