The 2005 Tokai ES-155 in Sunburst is a high-quality Made in Japan semi-hollow electric guitar built around the classic twin-humbucker, centre-block format. Its maple body, mahogany set neck, rosewood fingerboard and PAF-Vintage MK2 humbuckers give it the warm response, clarity and natural resonance that make this style of guitar so useful across blues, rock, jazz, soul and studio work.

The ES-155 sits firmly within Tokai's long tradition of producing detailed vintage-inspired instruments, with a lacquer finish and traditional appointments that make it particularly appealing to players looking for a premium Japanese alternative to more familiar American semi-hollow models.

This Pre-Owned 2005 example is offered in Very Good condition, carries serial number 0510461, and is supplied with a hardcase.

At A Glance

Key Detail	Information
Brand	Tokai
Model	ES-155
Year	2005
Origin	Made in Japan
Finish	Sunburst
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good
Included	Hardcase
Main Appeal	Premium Japanese vintage-inspired semi-hollow
Best For	Blues, rock, jazz, soul, indie, recording and live use

Pre-Owned Condition Report

Very Good Condition

This 2005 Tokai ES-155 is offered in Very Good condition.

Very Good condition means the guitar has been previously played and can show light signs of normal ownership while remaining well presented and suitable for regular musical use.

No faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this listing.

What’s Included?

✔ 2005 Tokai ES-155 Sunburst
✔ Hardcase

✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Condition Notes

This ES-155 is graded Very Good, making it an attractive choice for somebody looking for a clean Pre-Owned Japanese semi-hollow that can be played and enjoyed rather than treated purely as a display instrument.

Its Sunburst finish gives the guitar the traditional appearance closely associated with classic semi-hollow electric guitars.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This Pre-Owned Tokai ES-155 has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before sale.

Our checks include:

• Neck and bridge pickups tested
• Pickup selector checked
• Volume and tone controls tested
• Output socket checked
• Frets inspected
• Rosewood fingerboard assessed
• Neck condition checked
• Tuning machines inspected
• Bridge and tailpiece checked
• Strap buttons inspected
• General hardware condition assessed
• Tuning stability checked
• Overall playability assessed
• Hardcase checked for basic usability

Service / Setup Work

All Pre-Owned electric guitars at Fair Deal Music are set up and checked before leaving the shop.

Our assessment includes:

• Action checked
• Neck relief checked
• Frets inspected
• Intonation checked
• Tuning stability checked
• Electronics tested
• Pickup output checked
• Bridge setup assessed
• Hardware checked
• General playability assessed

Please note that guitar setup can shift slightly during delivery because changes in temperature and humidity can naturally affect wooden instruments in transit.

Why Choose The 2005 Tokai ES-155?

Made In Japan Construction

The ES-155 belongs to Tokai's Japanese-built semi-hollow range and reflects the company's long-established focus on traditionally constructed, vintage-inspired electric guitars.

Semi-Hollow Maple Body

The maple semi-hollow body and central block provide the open, resonant character associated with this guitar format while retaining enough focus and sustain for amplified rock, blues and lead playing.

PAF-Vintage MK2 Humbuckers

Tokai's PAF-Vintage MK2 humbuckers give the ES-155 a vintage-inspired twin-humbucker voice with enough warmth for smooth neck-pickup tones and enough definition for articulate bridge-pickup rhythm and lead work. The MK2 units are documented on ES-155 models from this period.

Lacquer Finish

The ES-155 was distinguished within the range by its lacquer finish, adding to its more traditional high-specification character and helping separate it from lower-tier ES models.

A Less Obvious Semi-Hollow Choice

For players who appreciate Japanese guitars, the ES-155 offers a compelling alternative to the usual Gibson or Epiphone route while retaining the familiar ergonomics and tonal versatility expected from a traditional dual-humbucker semi-hollow.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Tokai ES-155 vs Gibson ES-335

The Gibson ES-335 is the obvious choice for players who prioritise Gibson heritage and the original badge, while the Tokai ES-155 is especially attractive to players interested in Japanese craftsmanship, vintage-inspired construction and a less common alternative built around the same broad semi-hollow concept.

Tokai ES-155 vs Epiphone ES-335

An Epiphone ES-335 provides a more accessible route into this style of guitar, whereas the Made in Japan ES-155 is aimed more towards players seeking higher-tier construction, traditional appointments and a premium Pre-Owned Japanese instrument.

Tokai ES-155 vs Yamaha SA Series

Yamaha's SA guitars offer their own distinctly Japanese interpretation of the twin-humbucker semi-hollow format, while the Tokai places greater emphasis on recreating the feel and appearance associated with classic late-'50s and early-'60s American semi-hollows.

Tokai ES-155 vs Heritage H-535

The Heritage H-535 is another premium interpretation of the classic centre-block semi-hollow concept, but the Tokai will appeal more strongly to players specifically interested in Japanese-made guitars and Tokai's established vintage-reproduction heritage.

Who Is It For?

Blues Players

The semi-hollow construction and twin humbuckers provide plenty of warmth and dynamic response for clean passages, pushed amplifier tones and expressive lead playing.

Rock Guitarists

The centre-block design allows the ES-155 to handle overdrive effectively while retaining more acoustic character than a conventional solid-body guitar.

Jazz And Soul Players

The neck pickup and semi-hollow body format make it well suited to warmer chord voicings, melodic lines and cleaner rhythm work.

Studio Guitarists

Its combination of humbucker warmth and semi-hollow articulation makes the ES-155 useful when layering parts that need to sound fuller than a single-coil guitar without becoming overly dense.

Players Interested In Japanese Guitars

The Made in Japan construction and relatively uncommon ES-155 designation give it particular appeal to players who already value Tokai, Greco, Yamaha, FGN and other high-quality Japanese instruments.

Suitable Genres And Uses

• Blues
• Classic rock
• Jazz
• Soul
• R&B
• Indie
• Alternative
• Pop
• Country
• Rhythm guitar
• Lead guitar
• Clean amplifier tones
• Overdriven valve-amp sounds
• Studio recording
• Rehearsals
• Live performance

Why Choose A Centre-Block Semi-Hollow Guitar?

A centre-block semi-hollow combines elements of hollow and solid-body guitar construction. The hollow sections contribute natural resonance and an open response, while the solid central section gives the bridge and pickups a stable mounting platform and helps control feedback compared with a fully hollow electric guitar.

This makes the format particularly versatile. It can deliver warm clean sounds for jazz and soul, responsive edge-of-breakup tones for blues and enough focus for rock, indie and overdriven lead work, giving the ES-155 genuine crossover appeal.

Looking for advice on choosing the right Tokai ES guitar, Made in Japan semi-hollow or Pre-Owned 335-style electric guitar? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Story & Context: Tokai ES-155

Tokai Gakki was founded in Hamamatsu, Japan in 1947, initially working with instruments including pianos and harmonicas. The company moved into classical guitar production in 1965 and began producing electric guitars in 1968, gradually becoming one of the important names in Japan's guitar-manufacturing industry.

By the late 1970s and early 1980s, Tokai had built a reputation around carefully produced interpretations of established American guitar designs. Its ES semi-hollow family became part of that approach, and a 1982 Tokai catalogue already included several ES-335-inspired models at different specification levels.

The original ES range was developed with close attention to classic semi-hollow construction, including laminated maple body structures, centre blocks and traditional set-neck designs. Early examples established the template that later Japanese-built Tokai ES models continued to develop.

By the mid-2000s, the ES-155 represented a premium version of that long-running idea, combining Japanese production with lacquer finishing and PAF-style MK2 pickups. A 2005 example therefore connects Tokai's modern-era production directly with a semi-hollow design philosophy the company had been exploring for more than two decades.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar
Brand	Tokai
Model	ES-155
Year	2005
Country of Manufacture	Japan
Finish	Sunburst
Body Material	Maple
Body Construction	Semi-Hollow with Centre Block
Centre Block	Maple
Neck Material	Mahogany
Neck Construction	Set Neck
Fingerboard Material	Rosewood
Scale Length	24.75" / Approx. 628mm
Nut Width	Approx. 1 11/16"
Pickup Configuration	HH
Pickups	Tokai PAF-Vintage MK2 Humbuckers
Electronics	Passive
Bridge	Tune-O-Matic-Style
Tailpiece	Stopbar
String Configuration	6-String
Serial Number	0510461
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good

Period ES-155 references document the maple semi-hollow body, maple centre block, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, 24.75" scale, lacquer finish and PAF-style/MK2 humbucker configuration associated with the model.

Power Requirements

No battery or external power supply is required for the guitar's passive electronics.

Connect it to a guitar amplifier, pedalboard, modeller or suitable audio interface using a standard 1/4" instrument cable.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

Buying Pre-Owned is an excellent way to find discontinued Japanese guitars and specifications that may no longer be readily available in current ranges.

For a guitar such as the 2005 Tokai ES-155, it also provides access to a particular period in Tokai's Japanese production history, making the individual instrument more interesting than simply choosing a modern semi-hollow alternative.

At Fair Deal Music, our Pre-Owned guitars are individually checked and assessed before sale, helping customers buy older and less-common instruments with greater confidence.

Fair Deal Music Verdict 

★★★★★ 5/5

The 2005 Tokai ES-155 Sunburst is an excellent choice for players looking for a high-quality Japanese semi-hollow with traditional construction, a versatile twin-humbucker voice and a strong vintage-inspired character. Its Made in Japan build, lacquer finish and PAF-Vintage MK2 pickups make it particularly appealing to players who want something more distinctive than the most obvious semi-hollow choices.

Best suited for: Blues, rock, jazz, soul and studio players looking for a premium Japanese semi-hollow.

Customers usually upgrade from: Epiphone ES-style guitars and more affordable semi-hollow electric guitars.

Most commonly paired with: Clean or lightly driven valve amplifiers, overdrive, boost, delay and reverb pedals.

Our tip: The ES-155 is particularly worth considering if you want classic semi-hollow feel and tone but place greater importance on the quality and individuality of the instrument than the name traditionally associated with the design.

Showroom feedback: A strong option for players who want a substantial, traditional-feeling semi-hollow with plenty of warmth but enough clarity to remain useful across several styles.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

From our Birmingham showroom, our knowledgeable musician-led team helps players find the right equipment whether they're purchasing their first serious instrument, upgrading an existing setup or searching for something distinctive in the Pre-Owned market.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians
• Carefully checked new and Pre-Owned musical equipment
• Decades of experience buying and selling guitars
• Large Birmingham showroom
• Secure online ordering
• UK delivery
• Friendly support before and after purchase
• Extensive experience with used and Pre-Owned instruments

For an individual Japanese guitar such as this Tokai ES-155, our team can also help with questions about playing feel, suitability and whether the semi-hollow format is right for your setup.

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're upgrading your guitar, amplifier, keyboard, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of gear you no longer use while making your next instrument more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a semi-hollow guitar suitable for overdrive and distortion?

Yes. A centre-block semi-hollow can handle overdrive very effectively, which is why this type of guitar works so well for blues and rock. At very high gain and stage volume, amplifier positioning can help control unwanted feedback.

What string gauge works well on the Tokai ES-155?

A 10–46 set is a popular all-round starting point for a 24.75" scale semi-hollow. Lighter strings can make bending easier, while heavier gauges can provide a firmer response.

Can the ES-155 be used with modern pedals and amp modellers?

Yes. Its passive electric-guitar output works with conventional amplifiers, pedalboards, multi-effects units, modelling systems and compatible recording interfaces.

Is this style of guitar comfortable for rhythm playing?

Yes. Semi-hollow guitars are particularly popular for chord work because the combination of humbuckers and resonant construction can provide a full sound without sacrificing note definition.

Is an older Japanese Tokai suitable for regular gigging?

Yes. A well-maintained Pre-Owned guitar can remain an excellent working instrument regardless of whether its original model is still current. Setup, condition and personal playing preference are the important considerations.

Can I request a closer look before purchasing?

Yes. For an individual Pre-Owned instrument such as this, our Request a Video Demo option is useful if you would like a closer look before making your decision.