Made By Tokai Gakki Cat's Eyes Ce450d 1982 Martin D35 Style Acoustic Guitar

Cats Eyes CE 450D by Tokai. Most acoustic guitar players around the world know that since late 1960s Japanese makers were creating wonderful copies of Martin, Gibson and Guild guitars. Many experienced players know that many of these copies sound better than the originals. This fame especially applies to Sigma guitars made by Martins Japanese partner, Tokai Co. In fact, some of these Sigmas were also made by Yasuma Gakki, Terada Gakki and perhaps other workshops. In 1975 Tokai launched their own line of acoustic guitars branding them as Cats Eyes and advertising them as made in partnership with Martin. Made basing on Martins blueprints and enhanced by Japanese ingenuity and highest level of craftsmanship, these guitars quickly became very popular and recognized by majority of international players as Martins made in Japan. Higher grade instruments became more and more expensive, while lower priced ones were made for less and less.

That led to decisively declining exports and meant the end of Golden Era for Japanese guitar makers. Some makers were gone for good, some incorporated into larger entities, while others seriously restructured.

Tokai kept making their first generation of Cats Eyes guitar until mid1980s. After over a decade long break, by late 1990s, Tokai re-started making Cats Eyes with lineup of new models, however ending it around mid2000s. The fame of Cats Eyes lives on. The guitar you are looking at was made in 1982.

Although it was one of lower end models in Tokais acoustic guitars lineup of that era, it wasnt cheap guitar at all. It was priced 45 000 yen when Starting Yearly Salary of Japanese College Graduate was equal to around 105 000 yen. Even though it is all plywood construction it was priced higher than solid top models TCE30 (30 000 yen), TCE35 (35 000yen), TCM40, CE400CF (40 000 yen). The lowest all plywood Tokais models of that era were CE250, CE300. CE320D, CE280D, CE200D, TCE25, TCE20 (priced accordingly to their model numbers 20 000 - 32 000 yen).

The reason was (and still is) very simple. Besides ornamental extras model CE450 sounds better that lower priced solid top models. Although it cant be described as concert level this is truly great sounding instrument, that can please even quite demanding non-believer right from the start. With its current action it plays very easy.

Despite its age this guitar remains in overall excellent condition. Besides few very minor marks on its body (the most conspicuous one is capo mark on the back of its neck) and very mild cloudiness of its finishes, this guitar doesnt show serious signs of use. Most importantly it has straight neck, its fingerboard and leveled frets are in great shape, its original tuning keys work just fine. Top: Spruce/Martin style X bracing with not scalloped braces /urethane.

Back & Sides: Indian Rosewood/urethane. Neck: Nato with 2-way truss rod. The action is set to 2.50 mm under E6 and 2.0 mm under E1, with very little extra room on the saddle.

Real Value of Japanese Vintage Guitars. The key to understand value of vintage Japanese guitars is to acknowledge galloping devaluation of Japanese yen in 1960s & 1970s. This devaluation was somewhat slower in 1980s. The best measure of this devaluation is Starting Yearly Salary of Japanese College Graduate (SYSJCG).

SYSJCG in 1965 was 19 600 yen, in 1969 34 600 yen, in 1970 39 200 yen, in 1972 62 300 yen, in 1975 79 200 yen, in 1977 86 200 and in 1980 - 100 000 yen. During 1960s and most of 1970s model numbers of Japanese guitars were strictly interconnected with their prices in Japanese yen.

In late 1970s and during following decades model numbers were no longer strictly associated with their prices. Many Japanese guitar makers introduced model names instead of model numbers. Others were still using model numbers with addition of letter abbreviations or other symbols.

The best and only logical approach while evaluating real value (real grade) of vintage Japanese guitar is to compare its price in Japanese yen with SYSJCG during the year guitar was made. Any guitar priced 100 000 in 1970 (labelled usually as No10) would be priced 200 000 yen in 1975 (relabeled to No20 or 2000), 300 000 yen in 1977 (labelled as No3, No30 or 3000). Starting in 1977 Masaru Kohno introduced his new models No40 priced 400 000 yen and No50 priced 500 000 yen. By 1984 Kohno started using model names instead numbers and was raising their prices as he was pleased.

Model 50 became model Maestro, model 40 became model Special, model 30 became model Professional-J. Naturally other Master luthiers were doing the same name/price changes. Knowing all of that, you can bet on that Masaru Kohno No50 made in 1982 is practically the same grade instrument as Kohno No20 made in 1972, or Kohno no 30 made in 1976.

Kohno No40 made in 1982 is exactly the same grade instruments as Kohno No15 made in 1972 or Kohno No20 made in 1975. The item "MADE BY TOKAI GAKKI CAT'S EYES CE450D 1982 MARTIN D35 STYLE ACOUSTIC GUITAR" is in sale since Thursday, September 5, 2019. This item is in the category "Musical Instruments & Gear\Guitars & Basses\Acoustic Guitars".

The seller is "victork1962" and is located in Alpharetta, Georgia. This item can be shipped worldwide.

Non-Domestic Product: No
Modified Item: No
Custom Bundle: No
Brand: Tokai