TOKAI UES78 SB Semi hollow body electric guitar, Sunburst finish

Tokai Guitars is a Japanese company with a long history of producing quality guitars. The company was founded in 1947 by Tadayouki Adachi under the name Tokai Gakki Co., Ltd. Tokai originally began as a manufacturer of acoustic pianos, but later shifted focus to include guitars in their product line.

Tokai first became truly known internationally in the 1970s and 1980s for their replicas of classic American guitars, particularly the Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul models. These replicas were so close to the originals, both in quality and craftsmanship, that they were often considered "lawsuit guitars" and sparked lawsuits from the American manufacturers.

Tokai continued to develop their own original designs and became recognized for their craftsmanship and reliability. Their guitars range from budget-friendly models to premium, hand-crafted instruments, and they have gained a strong following among both amateur and professional musicians.

Tokai still produces guitars today and continues to maintain their reputation for quality and craftsmanship. They offer a wide range of electric and acoustic guitars, as well as bass guitars, that appeal to a wide spectrum of musicians. Tokai remains a popular choice for those looking for well-built instruments at a reasonable price.