TOKAI CE1500 Cats Eyes Martin War D-28

( Brand: Tokai ), ( Manufacturer Part Number: CE1500 ), ( Model: CATS EYES CE1500 ), ( Model Year: 1981 ), ( Country/region Of Manufacture: Japan ), ( Body Type: Dreadnought ), ( Body Material: Spruce, Rosewood ), ( Body Color: Cashew Lacquer ), ( Type: Acoustic Guitar )

Review TOKAI Cats Eyes Martin licensed Pre war Spec D-28 Case

Introducing the Tokai CE1500 Marty Friedman Signature Cats Eye D-28 acoustic guitar, a masterpiece crafted with the rich heritage of Martin guitars in mind. This pre-war style instrument, released in 1981 under the Tokai brand with a Martin license, boasts an authentic C.F. Martin & Co. D-28 look and feel.

The CE1500's solid Sitka spruce top is hand-selected for its exceptional tonal qualities. Its solid mahogany back and sides provide a resonant, warm, and balanced sound. The 14-fret neck is crafted from mahogany, ensuring a comfortable playing experience and producing clear, articulate notes.

The guitar features a traditional 11-hole Cats Eye rosette, a classic design element of Martin guitars. The Cats Eye inlay pattern continues on the headstock, adding an elegant touch to the instrument's appearance. The dark ebony fingerboard, with its 20 frets and 14-inch radius, offers a smooth playing surface for intricate solos and intricate chord shapes.

The CE1500 comes equipped with a set of authentic-sounding gold plated Gotoh SG301 tuning machines, ensuring your strings stay in tune superbly. The guitar's bridge is also crafted from ebony, providing a stable platform for the strings.

This Tokai CE1500 Marty Friedman Signature Cats Eye D-28 is a testament to the craftsmanship and dedication to creating an instrument that pays homage to the legendary Martin D-28. Its vintage appearance, combined with its rich, resonant sound, makes it an excellent choice for any guitar enthusiast or collector seeking a high-quality, handcrafted acoustic guitar.

The Tokai CE1500 1981 Cats Eye Martin-licensed pre-war D-28 is a vintage-style acoustic guitar that has gained popularity among guitar enthusiasts. This guitar is a replica of the Martin D-28 model from the pre-war era. Let's discuss the pros and cons of buying this guitar to help you make an informed decision.

1. Authentic Pre-War Look and Feel: The Tokai CE1500 1981 Cats Eye Martin-licensed pre-war D-28 is designed to closely replicate the pre-war Martin D-28, featuring the classic Cats Eye inlays, solid Sitka spruce top, and solid mahogany back and sides.

2. Affordability: Compared to the original Martin pre-war D-28, the Tokai CE1500 is more affordable, making it an attractive option for guitarists who want a vintage-style instrument without the hefty price tag.

3. Playability: Many players report that the Tokai CE1500 1981 Cats Eye Martin-licensed pre-war D-28 is a joy to play, with a comfortable neck profile and excellent intonation.

4. Tone: The guitar produces a rich, warm tone that is characteristic of vintage Martin D-28 models, making it a popular choice for folk, country, and acoustic music genres.

1. Build Quality: Some players have reported issues with the quality control of the Tokai CE1500, including uneven frets, loose tuning pegs, and finish imperfections.

2. Lack of Authenticity: While the Tokai CE1500 1981 Cats Eye Martin-licensed pre-war D-28 is a faithful replica, it is not an original Martin guitar. This may be a concern for collectors or those who prefer the authenticity of a true vintage instrument.

3. Set-Up Costs: Due to its vintage-style features, the Tokai CE1500 may require additional setup costs to ensure optimal playability, such as adjusting the truss rod, setting up the bridge, and adjusting the intonation.

The Tokai CE1500 1981 Cats Eye Martin-licensed pre-war D-28 offers a vintage-style acoustic guitar experience at a more affordable price point. It provides a rich, warm tone, comfortable playability, and an authentic pre-war look and feel. However, it may come with some build quality issues and additional setup costs. Ultimately, the decision to purchase this guitar depends on your personal preferences, budget, and playing style. If you value authenticity and are willing to pay a premium price, you may prefer to consider an original Martin pre-war D-28. However, if you're looking for a vintage-style guitar with excellent tone and playability at a more affordable price, the Tokai CE1500 is definitely worth considering.

Details:

On many Cats Eyes model's, the on serialized instrument labels would also directly reference Martin, stating C.F. Fret board: Ebony, snowflake inlay. Plastics: Leopard tortoise pick guard. Offering richness and depth, this CE1500 has ample projection, highly responsive to player inputs.

Marquetry: Herringbone purling top, multi-ply rosette. Wood: Mahogany. This is a crack-free, well-kept example, and the cashew lacquer finish has cambered on top. The neck profile is smooth to the palm, with a few similarly light marks along length that don't distract palm while fretting.

Japanese Counterpart. Notes simply leap off the fingerboard, with excellent balance across all strings and in registers, top has a worked-in quality befitting instruments age. A black Rolex hard shell case is included. Wood: Spruce, Indian rosewood all solid.

The Cats Eyes model's are among the finest steel string acoustic instruments to ever come out of Japan: this CE1500 square-shouldered dreadnought pairs a solid spruce top with Indian rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard. A rare, upscale model produced exclusively for the Japanese domestic market, this CE1500 is a remarkably faithful iteration of Pre-War Martin D-35, with solid tone woods throughout, scalloped X-braced construction, herringbone purling, torch head stock inlay, long slotted belly bridge, and gloss cashew lacquer finish. Tuners: Tokai single-line Jolson-style. Hardware: Ebony belly bridge with long slotted bone saddle.

Up for sale, a 1981 Tokai Cats Eyes CE1500 in near-mint, 100% original condition and perfect working order, compete with hard shell case. Bracing: X, scalloped. Head stock: Torch inlay, diamond volute.

part #: ce1500 prices

• $388.00-$2999.99

specifications acoustguitmusi:

• brand: Tokai
• mpn: Ce1500
• model: Cats Eyes Ce1500
• model year: 1981
• country/region of manufacture: Japan
• body type: Dreadnought
• body material: Spruce, Rosewood
• body color: Cashew Lacquer
• type: Acoustic Guitar

seller acoustguitmusi:

• city: Seattle, Washington
• # reviews: 3661
• rating: 100.0%

returns acoustguitmusi:

• policy: No Returns

payments acoustguitmusi:

• credit card: Mastercard
• other
• wallet: Paypal

general acoustguitmusi:

• condition: Used
• Musical Instruments Gear > Guitars Basses > Acoustic Guitars

shipping acoustguitmusi:

• cost: $150.00
• type: Fixed
• transit: 4-8 Days
• service: FedEx Express Saver
• class: Expedited
• carrier: FedEx

offer acoustguitmusi:

• availability: In Stock
• sold: 0
• started: May 30, 2025
• options: Ship-to-home
• quantity: 1

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