Ceramic magnet pickups get a bad wrap as being a 'cheap' alternative and yet can be very effective and great sounding, especially in high gain output pickups. The Silver Star here uses a ceramic magnet pickups, which, (I know this is sacrilege) I actually am a fan of in some instances. The main differences in the lines were the electronics. The equivalent production number for each in the series (ie: Silver Star SS-60, Goldstar ST-60 or Springy Sound ST-60) all used the same specs and hardware but some models were offered in much higher grade versions (not the Silver Star) which had nitro finishes and better timbers. These 'cheaper' models used the same timbers for the body and neck as their more expensive siblings, while top end models tended to have one (or two) piece bodies while these tended to have two or more piece bodies usually of Sen Ash. The large headstock, bullet trussrod, three bolt neck, all black plastic are all pure seventies Fender Strat. While Tokai made pre CBS Strats as Springy Sounds (until '83) and later Goldstar (still available) this Silver Star is all post CBS with a (very) distinct 70's aesthetic. These '97 to 2015 Fender Japan guitars are essentially the same quality and specs as the earlier Fugigen made versions. Tokai would eventually make the licensed Fenders from 1997 with an agreement in place that they would change the headstocks of their own copies to a less fender look.

Tokai did such a great job with these that by the early eighties Fender had entered into an agreement with the Fugigen factory to start making licensed versions of Fenders to try and slow the 'made in Japan' copies that were spreading out around the world, spearheaded by Tokai.

Tokai actually took real vintage Fenders apart and measured every last details and set up manufacturing to replicate these instruments precisely, something the Fender custom shop would do years later. Tokai started producing Fender replicas started around '75 and really were one of the first Japanese manufacturers to actually try their hand at vintage true replicas of Fenders years before Fender caught on to the idea. Some VERY big names in music have played and enjoyed Tokais over the years.

Tokai were also very progressive with models like the Talbo and made excellent Gibson replicas (Love Rocks, Reborns etc) and acoustics with Martin under the Sigma brand name. The Hummingbirds has always been one of my all time favourites in terms of aesthetics. Tokai are one of the oldest Japanese manufacturers and throughout the sixties made some the greatest bizarre guitars ever. While the Silver Star is generally looked on as being the 'inferior' Tokai Strat from this period behind the amazing Goldstar and Springy Sound versions, I personally think there is VERY little between these models and the Silver Star series in terms of timbers and construction.

Tokai springy sound stratocaster