Tokai SG Guitar Dating & Model Identification Guide

Tokai has produced SG-style guitars in Japan since the early 1980s, with model names, specifications and pricing changing considerably over the years. Because Tokai frequently renamed models to reflect changes in Japanese retail pricing, two guitars with different model numbers may in fact be essentially the same model from different production periods.

This guide is intended to help identify the approximate age and model of Japanese-made Tokai SG guitars using model numbers and physical specifications.

For exact identification, it is always worth considering the serial number, country of manufacture, hardware and construction together rather than relying on the model number alone.

Reference: Solid Guitar Wiki - Tokai SGs

Early Tokai SG Models - 1982 to 1989

Tokai's first SG copies appeared in late 1982/1983 as part of the company's Reborn Old period.

TSG-50 / ASG-50

Approx. production: 1982-1989
Original price: ¥50,000

The TSG-50 was Tokai's interpretation of the mid-to-late 1970s Gibson SG Standard. Models exported to the United States were designated ASG-50.

Identification features include:

• Two-piece mahogany body

• Set mahogany neck joining at the 18th fret

• Small block fingerboard inlays, including an inlay at the first fret

• Narrow open-book-style headstock

• Headstock volute

• Large "Angel Wing" pickguard

• Harmonica-style bridge

• Black Speed knobs

• Chrome hardware

Earlier examples generally used Tokai '57 PAF pickups, while later examples used Gotoh versions.

TSG-60 / ASG-60

Approx. production: 1982-1989
Original price: ¥60,000

The TSG-60 was based more closely on an early 1960s SG Standard. American export versions were labelled ASG-60.

Typical characteristics include:

• Two-piece mahogany body

• One-piece mahogany neck

• Neck joint at the 22nd fret

• Trapezoid fingerboard inlays

• Bound neck

• Open-book-style headstock

• Two humbuckers

• Kluson-style Gotoh tuners

• Black reflector knobs

• ABR-style Tune-O-Matic bridge

• Aluminium stopbar

A short-lived SG-60G version with gold hardware was also produced in 1985.

SG-58 / SG-60 - 1990 to 2003

Tokai replaced the TSG-60 with the SG-58 around 1990. The guitar was subsequently renamed SG-60, largely reflecting its increased Japanese retail price.

Approx. production: 1990-2003

Typical specifications include:

• Two-piece mahogany body

• One-piece mahogany neck

• Rosewood fingerboard

• Trapezoid inlays

• Bound neck

• Two Gotoh '57 PAF MK-II humbuckers

• Gotoh Kluson-style tuners

• Black reflector knobs

• ABR-style bridge

• Aluminium stopbar

The truss rod cover can be particularly useful for dating these instruments.

Earlier examples generally have Tokai's pointed two-screw truss rod cover, while guitars from approximately 1999-2003 use the distinctive fish-shaped Tokai truss rod cover.

A gold-hardware SG-60G was also briefly produced in 1990.

SG-70 / SG-75 - Early to Late 2000s

The SG-70 replaced the SG-60 during the early 2000s. It was subsequently renamed SG-75 as the Japanese retail price increased.

Typical features include:

• Two-piece mahogany body

• Polyurethane finish

• One-piece mahogany neck

• Rosewood fingerboard

• Trapezoid inlays

• Bound neck

• Two Gotoh '57 PAF MK-III humbuckers

• Gotoh Kluson-style tuners

• Fish-shaped truss rod cover

• Gotoh ABR-style bridge

• Zinc stopbar

UK-market versions were sometimes designated USG.

SG-85 / SG-88 / SG-92 / SG-104 / SG-118 / SG-124 / SG-136

These model numbers represent successive versions of essentially the same Japanese-made Tokai SG as prices increased.

Period	Model / Price designation
2009	SG-85
2010	SG-88
2012-2013	SG-92
2015	SG-104
2016-2017	SG-118
2018-2022	SG-124
2023-2024	SG-136

These guitars generally feature:

• Two-piece African mahogany body

• Polyurethane finish

• One-piece African mahogany neck

• Hide-glue neck construction

• Rosewood fingerboard

• Trapezoid inlays

• Bound neck

• Gotoh '57 PAF-style humbuckers

• Full-size 500k pots

• Orange Drop capacitors

• Switchcraft output jack

• Gotoh Kluson-style tuners

• Fish-shaped truss rod cover

• Black reflector knobs

A useful point when identifying Tokais from this period is that the model number was closely associated with the guitar's Japanese retail price, rather than representing an entirely new design each time.

The SG-92S, offered around 2012-2013, can be distinguished by its large batwing-style pickguard.

A limited SG-118G version was also offered with gold hardware.

Premium Japanese Models - SG-155 through SG-242

Tokai introduced a higher-specification SG model around 2006.

Its designation changed repeatedly:

Period	Model
2006	SG-155
2009-2011	SG-175
2012	SG-185
2016-2017	SG-211
2018-2022	SG-215
2023-2024	SG-242

These are substantially higher-specification instruments than the regular Vintage Series models.

Typical features include:

• One-piece Honduran mahogany body

• Honduran mahogany neck

• Nitrocellulose lacquer finish

• Hide-glue construction

• Rosewood fingerboard

• Gotoh '57 PAF MK-II S humbuckers

• CTS pots

• Switchcraft switch and output jack

• Orange Drop capacitors

• Gotoh Kluson-style tuners

• Aluminium stopbar

• ABR-style bridge with brass saddles

The SG-215GH was a limited version with a two-piece body, black finish and gold hardware.

Other Tokai SG Models

USG-100

A limited UK-market model featuring three humbuckers and gold hardware.

The combination of:

• Three humbuckers

• Gold hardware

• Ivory finish

• Standard SG-style body

makes this one relatively easy to distinguish from the regular USG/SG models.

SG-188S

Production: 2008 and 2010

A three-pickup SG Custom-style guitar featuring:

• Three humbuckers

• Gold hardware

• Block fingerboard inlays

• Ornate headstock inlay

• Ivory or Black Beauty finish

SG-150 Custom

Production: approximately 2010-2012

Another Custom-style model with:

• Three humbuckers

• Gold hardware

• Block inlays

• Ornate headstock inlay

• Lacquer finish

Known finishes include Ivory, Black Beauty and Wine Red.

SG-90JNR

Production: 2008-2009 limited run and 2011-2012

Tokai's SG Junior-style model.

The easiest identifying features are:

• Single P-90 pickup

• Dot fingerboard inlays

• One volume and one tone control

• Wraparound bridge

• Small pickguard

USG-P90

Known production: approximately 2003-2004 and 2007

SG Special-style model featuring:

• Two P-90 pickups

• Dot fingerboard inlays

• Wraparound bridge

• Small pickguard

These models do not appear consistently in Tokai catalogues, so exact dating can be more difficult.

SG-92S Prototype

Production: 2013

A special model sold through Tokai retailer The Guitar Shop.

Distinctive features include:

• Batwing pickguard

• Alder body

• Two humbuckers

• Brown Sunburst or Off-White Blonde finish

Tokai SG Paisley

Tokai produced several limited runs of paisley SGs between approximately 2004 and 2020.

Known finishes include:

• Metallic Pink Paisley

• Black/Red Paisley

• Metallic Black Paisley

• Blue Flower

The 2016 Guitar Shop exclusive version was known as the TGS-SG.

USG-BP

Production: 2019

Limited export-market paisley model with:

• Metallic Black Paisley finish

• Two humbuckers

• Dot fingerboard inlays

• Standard Angel Wing pickguard

SG-180CM

Production: 2023

A distinctive higher-specification model featuring:

• African mahogany body and neck

• Ebony fingerboard

• Gold hardware

• Snow White finish

Current-Generation Models

SG-101

Introduced: 2024

The SG-101 replaced the SG-136 during 2024.

Importantly, Tokai's model number from this point no longer directly corresponds with the Japanese retail price.

Typical features include:

• Two-piece African mahogany body

• Polyurethane finish

• African mahogany neck

• Rosewood fingerboard

• Hide-glue construction

• Gotoh PAF Vintage MK-II humbuckers

• Nickel hardware

• Kluson-style Gotoh tuners

• Gotoh ABR-style bridge and zinc stopbar

Limited SG-101 CM2 guitars appeared in 2025 in Pelham Blue and See-Through Yellow.

SG-220AG

Introduced: 2024

The SG-220AG is immediately identifiable by its All Gold finish and gold hardware.

Specifications include:

• Two-piece African mahogany body

• Lacquer finish

• African mahogany neck

• Rosewood fingerboard

• Two Gotoh PAF Vintage MK-II S humbuckers

Some examples were reportedly manufactured in late 2023 ahead of their 2024 release.

SG-201

Introduced: 2025

The SG-201 replaced the SG-242 premium model.

It features:

• Two-piece Honduran mahogany body

• Honduran mahogany neck

• Nitrocellulose lacquer finish

• Hide-glue construction

• Rosewood fingerboard

• Gotoh PAF Vintage MK-II humbuckers

• CTS pots

• Switchcraft electronics

• Gotoh aluminium stopbar

As with the SG-101, the model number no longer represents the Japanese retail price.

Quick Tokai SG Identification Tips

Check the country of manufacture

Japanese Tokai SGs are the primary subject of this guide.

Chinese-manufactured Tokai models can often be distinguished by:

• A serial number beginning with CN

• A three-screw truss rod cover

Japanese models generally use a two-screw truss rod cover.

Look at the truss rod cover

The shape of the truss rod cover can help narrow down the period:

• Pointed Tokai cover: commonly seen on earlier Japanese guitars

• Fish-shaped cover: increasingly common from the late 1990s onwards

• Three-screw cover: commonly associated with Chinese production

Don't assume the model number indicates a different guitar

Tokai historically changed model numbers when Japanese retail prices increased.

For example:

SG-85 → SG-88 → SG-92 → SG-104 → SG-118 → SG-124 → SG-136

These designations largely represent different periods and price points of the same underlying model series.

Likewise:

SG-155 → SG-175 → SG-185 → SG-211 → SG-215 → SG-242

represents the evolution of Tokai's premium Japanese SG model.

Check the pickups, bridge and construction

Where a model number is unknown, construction details can help separate the different grades.

Particularly useful clues include:

• One-piece versus two-piece body

• African versus Honduran mahogany

• Polyurethane versus lacquer finish

• CTS versus standard full-size pots

• Zinc versus aluminium stopbar

• Number and type of pickups

• Fingerboard inlay style

• Gold versus nickel/chrome hardware

When identifying a vintage Tokai, it is best to use several characteristics together rather than relying on any single feature.

This guide is intended as a general identification reference. Tokai specifications occasionally varied between production runs and export markets, and transitional instruments may not correspond exactly with published catalogue specifications.

Reference: Solid Guitar Wiki - Tokai SGs