The Tokai ATE-120S in Metallic Blue is a distinctive Made in Japan T-style electric guitar that takes a familiar bolt-on format in a warmer, more individual direction. Instead of the usual ash or alder construction and traditional neck single-coil, Tokai uses a double-bound African mahogany body, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard and LP-OLD P-90-style neck pickup.

Paired with a TE-Vintage MK3 bridge pickup, the ATE-120S can move from warm, full-bodied neck sounds to the brighter attack and definition expected from a traditional T-style bridge position. Its 25.5" scale, Gotoh hardware and straightforward three-way controls keep it practical for rock, blues, indie, alternative, country and studio work.

This Pre-Owned example is finished in Metallic Blue, carries serial number 200403, is graded Very Good condition and includes a hardcase.

At A Glance

Key Detail	Information
Brand	Tokai
Model	ATE-120S
Origin	Made in Japan
Finish	Metallic Blue
Pickup Format	P-90-Style Neck / T-Style Bridge
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good
Included	Hardcase
Main Appeal	Mahogany T-style guitar with an unusual, versatile pickup combination
Best For	Rock, blues, indie, alternative, country, recording and live use

Pre-Owned Condition Report

Very Good Condition

This Tokai ATE-120S Metallic Blue is offered in Very Good condition.

Very Good condition reflects a well-presented Pre-Owned guitar that has seen normal previous use while remaining suitable for regular playing, recording, rehearsals and live performance.

No faults, repairs or modifications are noted for this listing.

What’s Included?

✔ Tokai ATE-120S Metallic Blue
✔ Hardcase

✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Condition Notes

This ATE-120S is graded Very Good, making it a strong choice for players looking for a clean Pre-Owned Japanese Tokai that can be played regularly rather than kept purely as a display instrument.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This Pre-Owned Tokai ATE-120S has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before sale.

Our checks include:

• Neck and bridge pickups tested
• Three-way selector checked
• Volume and tone controls tested
• Output socket checked
• Frets inspected
• Rosewood fingerboard assessed
• Neck condition checked
• Gotoh tuning machines inspected
• Bridge hardware checked
• Strap buttons inspected
• General hardware 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 Tokai ATE-120S?

Mahogany T-Style Construction

The two-piece African mahogany body and one-piece mahogany neck give the ATE-120S a different foundation from a conventional ash or alder T-style guitar, making it especially interesting for players wanting something warmer and less predictable.

P-90-Style Neck Pickup

Tokai's LP-OLD neck pickup brings extra body, midrange and character to the neck position, making it useful for blues leads, fuller clean sounds, gritty rhythm work and pushed amplifier tones.

TE-Vintage MK3 Bridge Pickup

The bridge position retains the brighter cut and definition associated with a traditional T-style guitar, creating a useful contrast with the fuller neck pickup rather than giving both positions the same basic character.

Double-Bound Metallic Blue Body

Front and rear binding gives the ATE-120S a more dressed-up appearance than a conventional slab-bodied T-style guitar, while the Metallic Blue finish adds a distinctive visual identity.

Made In Japan Tokai Build

Japanese manufacture, Gotoh hardware and a bone nut make the ATE-120S particularly appealing to players who value Tokai's reputation for well-made vintage-inspired electric guitars.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Tokai ATE-120S vs Traditional Fender Telecaster

A conventional Telecaster is the natural choice for players wanting the classic two-single-coil recipe and familiar ash/alder character, while the ATE-120S offers a warmer mahogany construction and fuller P-90-style neck sound without losing the sharper T-style bridge position.

Tokai ATE-120S vs Tokai ATE-101

The ATE-101 follows a more traditional Tokai T-style formula with conventional single-coil pickups and alder construction, whereas the ATE-120S is better suited to players wanting a more individual voice, mahogany construction and stronger neck-pickup output.

Tokai ATE-120S vs Fender Telecaster Deluxe

A Telecaster Deluxe generally moves further towards a fuller dual-humbucker-style sound, while the Tokai retains more traditional bridge-pickup bite and combines it with the open midrange character of a P-90-style neck pickup.

Tokai ATE-120S vs Les Paul Special-Style Guitar

A P-90-equipped set-neck guitar will usually offer a shorter scale and more uniformly thick pickup response, whereas the ATE-120S keeps the longer Fender-style scale and contrasting bridge pickup for greater tonal separation between positions.

Who Is It For?

Rock And Alternative Players

The combination of a full-bodied neck pickup and cutting bridge pickup works particularly well for players who move between driven rhythm sounds and more defined lead or chord parts.

Blues Guitarists

The P-90-style neck position provides plenty of warmth and dynamic response for expressive lead playing, while the bridge pickup gives access to brighter, more direct tones.

Indie Players

Its unusual pickup combination and distinctive Metallic Blue appearance make the ATE-120S a natural fit for players who want familiar ergonomics without choosing an entirely conventional T-style guitar.

Country And Roots Players

The bridge pickup retains the definition needed for sharper rhythm and picking styles, while the neck pickup considerably expands the warmer side of the guitar's tonal range.

Studio Guitarists

Two pickups with deliberately contrasting voices make the ATE-120S useful for layering parts without needing to change guitars every time a different tonal character is required.

Suitable Genres And Uses

• Rock
• Blues
• Indie
• Alternative
• Country
• Roots
• Pop rock
• Punk
• Classic rock
• Rhythm guitar
• Lead guitar
• Studio recording
• Rehearsals
• Live performance
• Pedal-based guitar setups

Why Combine A P-90 With A T-Style Bridge Pickup?

A P-90-style neck pickup and traditional T-style bridge pickup create a particularly useful contrast. The neck position offers more midrange weight and fullness than a typical T-style neck single-coil, while the bridge retains the clarity, attack and cutting character that makes this guitar format so effective in a band mix.

That gives the ATE-120S a broader personality than a conventional two-single-coil setup. It can move from warmer blues and rock sounds to cleaner rhythm work and sharper bridge-pickup tones without relying on complicated switching or active electronics.

Looking for advice on choosing the right Tokai guitar, Made in Japan T-style electric guitar or P-90-equipped Pre-Owned guitar? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Story & Context: Tokai ATE-120S

Tokai Gakki was founded in Hamamatsu, Japan in 1947, initially as a musical-instrument research business. Classical guitar production followed in 1965, with Tokai moving into electric-guitar manufacture in 1968.

During the 1970s, Tokai increasingly developed its reputation around carefully made Japanese guitars inspired by important American designs. That vintage-focused approach became a major part of the company's international identity and remains visible across its modern Japanese-built ranges.

The ATE series represents Tokai's take on the classic bolt-on T-style electric guitar, but the ATE-120S deliberately moves away from a strict vintage recipe. Its double-bound mahogany body, mahogany neck and P-90-style neck pickup give the familiar format a noticeably different construction and tonal character.

Rather than simply reproducing a traditional specification, the ATE-120S shows how Tokai has continued to evolve familiar guitar designs while retaining the straightforward controls, long scale and practical layout that made the original format so enduring.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Solid Body Electric Guitar
Brand	Tokai
Model	ATE-120S
Series	Vintage Series
Country of Manufacture	Japan
Finish	Metallic Blue
Body Material	2-Piece African Mahogany
Body Detail	Double Bound
Neck Material	1-Piece African Mahogany
Neck Construction	Bolt-On
Neck Profile	Medium U
Fingerboard Material	Indian Rosewood
Scale Length	25.5"
Number of Frets	22
Nut	Bone
Nut Width	42mm
Pickup Configuration	P-90-Style / Single-Coil
Neck Pickup	Tokai LP-OLD
Bridge Pickup	Tokai TE-Vintage MK3
Electronics	Passive
Controls	Master Volume, Master Tone
Pickup Selector	3-Way
Bridge	Tokai TE-VB
Tuning Machines	Gotoh
Electronics Components	Gotoh / Switchcraft
Wiring	Modern Style
Finish Type	Thin-Skin Polyurethane
Serial Number	200403
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good

Power Requirements

No battery or external power supply is required for the ATE-120S's passive electronics.

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

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

Buying Pre-Owned can be an excellent way to find unusual specifications and discontinued variants that are harder to encounter within current guitar ranges.

The ATE-120S is a particularly good example because its mahogany construction and P-90/T-style pickup combination offer something genuinely different from the more conventional instruments that dominate this category.

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

Fair Deal Music Verdict 

★★★★★ 5/5

The Tokai ATE-120S Metallic Blue is a strong choice for players who like the simplicity and feel of a traditional T-style guitar but want a warmer, fuller and more individual sound. The mahogany construction, LP-OLD neck pickup and TE-Vintage MK3 bridge pickup give it enough personality to stand apart without compromising its practicality as an everyday working instrument.

Best suited for: Rock, blues, indie and alternative players wanting a distinctive Japanese-built T-style guitar.

Customers usually upgrade from: Entry-to-mid-level T-style guitars and more conventional dual-single-coil instruments.

Most commonly paired with: Valve or modelling amplifiers, overdrive, fuzz, boost, delay and reverb pedals.

Our tip: Use the neck pickup for thicker lead and rhythm sounds, then switch to the bridge when you need extra attack and definition in a busy mix.

Showroom feedback: The contrasting pickup voices are the real strength of the ATE-120S, giving it considerably more personality than simply fitting two similar pickups into a familiar body shape.

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 within 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 a less-common Japanese guitar such as this Tokai ATE-120S, our team can also help with questions about playing feel, pickup choice and whether its specification 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 looking to upgrade your guitar, keyboard, amplifier, 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 the gear you no longer use while making your next instrument even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the P-90-style neck pickup suitable for higher-gain sounds?

Yes. A P-90-style pickup works particularly well with overdrive and distortion, offering strong midrange and plenty of definition. As a true single-coil design, some background hum can be more noticeable at higher gain settings.

How does the 25.5" scale affect the playing feel?

The longer scale provides slightly firmer string tension than shorter-scale set-neck guitars when using the same string gauge, helping give the ATE-120S its clear attack and defined response.

What string gauge works well on the ATE-120S?

A 9–42 or 10–46 set will suit most standard-tuning players. A significant change in gauge may benefit from a corresponding setup adjustment.

Is this guitar suitable for pedal-heavy setups?

Yes. The contrasting pickup voices work well with overdrive, fuzz, modulation, delay and reverb, making the ATE-120S a versatile foundation for more elaborate pedalboards.

Does the mahogany neck change the feel compared with a conventional T-style guitar?

It gives the ATE-120S a different construction approach from the maple-neck format normally associated with this style of guitar, contributing to its distinctive overall character while retaining familiar bolt-on ergonomics and scale length.

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.