Tokai AST-52 (Affordable Stratocaster Alternative?)

Tokai AST-52 (Affordable Stratocaster Alternative?)
Is this a good alternative to a Fender Strat? It's certainly more budget friendly, coming in at around $500. That's not dirt cheap, but it's not very much for a good Strat either. So the question is, is the Tokai Strat any good. Let's find out.
Enjoy!

[seanbarker]

Tokai are the past masters of emulating classic guitars, the 70's models are now highly collectible!

[machs]

I just got the Tokai AST-95 MIJ and its better than any fender i´ve ever played

[AdrianNWB]

My first guitar that I still own is a Tokai Goldstar Strat copy. Wonderful guitar.

[daniellarson]

I could tell you liked this one even before you said anything.. You played it a lot more than some of the really cheap ones. This guitar was sold by a Japanese company. Looks like the Japanese keep the quality up even when they have their stuff built in China. This Tokai seems a lot better than the Zuwei you demonstrated last week. Good playing. Have a good one.

[OldGeezer]

One more suggestion:
Maybe you should do a " best inexpensive guitars " video with maybe the top 3 or 5 guitars you've demo'd? Just a thought. Kinda a zoom out video. 🤘♥️🤘

[Barbarapape]

The orignal Tokai's that were made in Japan were an excellent alternative to a Fender Strat,
and are now sought after, sadly i sold mine to buy an Ibanez which was far easier to play.
As for this sample, typical issues from guitars made in China, no problem for us, but a new
player would need to pay for a setup.
I would pay a bit more and go for a Sire S7, better spec and setup out of the box, they are
so good that i bought one last year.
Thanks for showing us this Tokai Elmo.

[elsalves]

Another great video as always elmo :)
Thanks for giving us your honest reviews always :) love this Chanel

[RickMichaelis]

Thanks for the review Elmo, Cheers 😎🎸🎶✌🏻

[AdrianvanEeden]

Yeah, the way you play, I bet you could make a Ukelele sound like a Gibson LP. Thanks for the review, you convinced me, I just placed an order on a lefty secondhand.

[friedrudibega]

Perfect Strangers…love that whole album.

[alejandromorabalboa]

It sounds so great. You played awesome that amazing guitar! I hope something like that using Laney CUB-SUPER12 😢

[bobbillnolan]

Possibly one of the best guitar demo’s I’ve ever seen 🥷

[dimitrioskarastamatis]

I remember in 1980 that many dealers told me the 1980 Tokai Strats were better than Fender.

[nieko]

As a wise man from Finland once said, bwoah..

Body looks a bit bumpy in the reflections of the light. Looks like thick paint.
A local store here sells Tokai Les Pauls.

[geraltnroach]

I need to hear it side by side with squier cv

[mattiisosalo]

Tokai does make quality stuff. I have a MIJ Tokai P-bass which I prefer over my Fenders.

[ingve]

Tokai guitars are amazing value for money, even the ones made in China. I have a couple of Tokai Les Paul Juniors that are from their Chinese operation, just replaced the pickup and the electronics and I'd put it up against anything Gibson markets. Beautifully playable, good quality woods and well finished. I'd always been wary of Chinese made guitars, but it seems that under the QC of a top flight Japanese company, they do get it right. I have read that quite a few Japanese makers have been outsourcing at least some of the manufacturing to China for quite a while now, even if they do often finish them off in Japan. But seriously, if it's good, who really cares where it was made, as long as the workers aren't being exploited?

[mrbungle]

It has the same price of the Squier Classic Vibe but is a lot better in every aspect!

[philiptaylor]

I’ve had one in white for a while now. Top looks to my eyes to be going creamy. A little bit heavy to be sure. I have had some tuning stability issues using the whammy bar moderately. A couple of the frets also a little rough when I bought it. But I tried three Fenders in the store and didn’t like any of them. The owner said try this Tokai and I bought it on the spot. And mine came with a Tokai padded gig bag. Well worth a look I’d say.

[danmar]

This may be my favourite guitar review of all time. :-)