Skybone

I have seen the catalogue pictures on the t'interweb, just can't recall where I saw them. Backstory: about 20-odd years ago, I became a bit deluded and had started playing guitar almost axclusively (sic). During that time, as you do, I bought & sold a lot of gear, including a few Gibson LP's. Also during that time, Tokai UK had started importing Tokai Gakki instruments into the UK. The Tokai Love Rock's were gaining very favourable reviews in the UK guitar press, so I bought one. Then another... then another... Again, during this time, I was doing a fair bit of research into Tokai guitars, and the Tokai Registry / Tokai Forum started up. During my "research", I saw a few copies of Tokai Catalogues from the late 70's, showing, not only Love Rock's, ES, Strat & Tele, P & J copies, but also copies of Rickenbacker guitars AND basses. There was a hell of a lot of misinformation regarding the "Lawsuit" era MIJ guitars & basses, so all these resources were proving invaluable to the discerning MIJ players & collectors. The market of "vintage" MIJ instruments was "hotting up", and traders from Japan started selling direct to the oversea's customers (mainly US, but some Europeans). On these sites, I saw mainly Ibanez, Kasuga, and Aria 4001 copies, but I also recall seeing a few (just a few) Tokai 4001 copies. These were generally snapped up pretty quickly by the MIIJ collectors. Other things happened, and I ended up acquiring a small collection of late 70's Ibanez guitars, but that's another story...

Bad Reputation - Thin Lizzy

Did Tokai UK commission them? They just bought a load of basses and guitars that were already in production, between 2000 & 2012. They were being sold under the guise of the "Rebelrocker" in Australia and as the Bass Collection Californian here in the UK. The location of their manufacture is still a bit of a mystery, though more than likely China. Tokai UK then proceeded to advertise them in the UK & European Guitar magazines, alongside the Tokai guitars & basses. Which brings us to the "Tokai Rockinbetter" "myth". It's just iffy advertising. Tokai Gakki did actually make Rickenbacker copy guitars and basses that were advertised in their catalogues in Japan in the late 70's & early 80's, but obviously, these were made in more smaller batches than the money making Gibson & Fender copies.

Rockin' the Black Metal vibes

Seven by Seven - Hawkwind

Seven Tears - Goombay Dance Band

Sound Of The Underground - Girls Aloud

Special Brew - Bad Manners

Strange Brew - Cream

I've owned copies of them all... except for the Fender Jazz (MIM if that counts). Only ever really wanted own a Ric out of that lot though. And a Thunderbird.

Mama Weer All Crazee Now - Slade / Quiet Riot

Yup, cocktail sticks or matchsticks. Use PVA or some other wood glue. Again, like @mcnach says, I've sometimes just used the sticks on their own, but the glue adds a little "piece of mind" (even though it can get a little messy).

Always remember the Aria Pro ads from the mid-late-80's with @neilmurraybass. Also remember being dragged along to "We Will Rock You" (herself loves a musical, and it was the only one I'd agree to go to!), and being thoroughly overjoyed at realising that it was Neil Murray himself on bass.

Wind of Change - The Scorpions

Wouldn't you be better tuning it to D - G - C - F - A# - D, same as a guitar tuning?

Coptic Times - Bad Brains

Now that's pretty cool, though I would expect that the less than PC punters would use it to question the bass player's sexuality. However, I doubt that any of the 30 will ever be played in public.

I remember looking at a checker bound Jetglo 4001, that was decidedly "relic-ed", but the shop was still asking big bucks for it in the late 80's.

Remember You're A Womble - The Wombles

The back of the Blue Burst was... blue burst. A friend of mine back in the late 80's had an Azureglo, gorgeous bass, I was of course, insanely jealous, and of course being the 80's, he got it for a song.

Gloria - Patti Smith

Must admit, I was saddened when they decided to discontinue the Midnight Blue option, always thought that (and the 4001 Azureglo) was a great colour. And although I have a Jetglo, I do prefer the natural finishes. Just wish they'd use more figured woods for the Mapleglo basses. The Walnut one's are great because they have more variation in the wood.

More, More, More - Bananarama

Real Wild Child (Wild One) - Iggy Pop