LeftyBassist.com

$300 shipping?! Something doesn't sound right, unless there have been some drastic changes in Australia's shipping fees. I bought my Gaskell X-Bass in 2009 for $689 shipped to the US. The shipping charge was only $100. I'd double check with Kevin to see if that cost is correct. You can mention that I bought the X-Bass a couple of years ago (and wrote the review on Harmony Central), and shipping was only $100. I'm curious what he says.

will do

Hey Carmine,
I'm a new guy on here and have a question on how you guys got those Tokais. My dream bass is a thunderbird but I can never really find a lefty and Gaskell as good as they look seems too expensive for me right now.
I live in Texas so Idk how I can get a Tokai at all and you guys seem to know.
Also, how'd you get the pickguard like that? Cause Tokai doesn't make the exact thunderbird pickguard and stuff. And I didn't think there was a Gibson truss rod cover like that.
I also have to say you're bass is just straight up badass I wish I had a bass that cool.
If any guys can help me please do

Thanks for the kind comments on the bass, I appreciate it! I think most of your questions have been answered elsewhere within this thread, but to summarize:

I've had 3 Tokai Birds: a black one I bought on ebay several years back, and sold to wolf; a sunburst one I had imported from the UK; the white one I traded a fellow leftybassist member for a few years ago.

As I outlined, the white one has been extensively modified: however, the Pickguard is original -- the older Korean built Tokais did in fact come with this more accurate pickguard; the newer China built ones do not.

As far as where to get one: You can hope to get lucky and find one used on ebay; a new one can be purchased from various UK stores when available, but according to the other folks who are looking, it seems no store has any in stock right now.

As some time went by I just wanted to say that there is still no evidence for new lefty Tokai TB48s. The Tokai UK homepage says nothing about the Thunderbird also available as a lefty (just sent them an email, you'll hear from me ).

@GIO6027: I know that your post is from August, but I've found out that Tokai and Dillion Thunderbirds are produced in the same factory - although they differ in some minor details. (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/tokai- ... ne-541131/ - look at #8)

So you could get the Dillion at http://www.adirondackguitar.com for 549$ which should be less than the costs of buying a Tokai from Europe


Edit: Wow, just got an reply to my email within ~10 Minutes They say that the new TB48 is available as a left handed version and that they will have more lefty TB48 basses in December.