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Ibanez Roadstar II - anyone know much about them?


Greggo
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I've acquired a semi-gutted Ibanez Roadstar II bass , similiar to the one in this picture :-

[url="http://images.canadianlisted.com/nlarge/1986-ibanez-roadstar-bass-240-surrey_8178133.jpg"]http://images.canadi...rey_8178133.jpg[/url]

Does anyone have any experience of them? All the pots which exception of what seems like a blend pot have been removed and it has no strings but other than that seems easy enough to get working again.

I assume its active because it has a battery comaprtment. The only info I can get is that were made in the 80's but other that little info on the way they play, what they sound like, etc.

Cheers

Edited by Greggo
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I have never owned that particular model, the RB850 (I think) but I have owned a couple of these Roadstar basses and they are really nice to play with IMHO the best necks.

There is an online catalogue archive for Ibanez guitars and basses here:

[url="http://s93105080.onlinehome.us/Ibanez-Catalogs/"]http://s93105080.onlinehome.us/Ibanez-Catalogs/[/url]

From what I can tell the RB850 was introduced in 1985 and from what I've read the J6 pickups are very well regarded.

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Thats great thanks for that!

The exact model is the RB850PR according to this.

[url="http://s93105080.onlinehome.us/Ibanez-Catalogs/catalog/1986/19.jpg"]http://s93105080.onlinehome.us/Ibanez-Catalogs/catalog/1986/19.jpg[/url]

I'll put in a wiring harness that I got from Kiogon thats in another bass into this bass to get it working, although the pots AFAIK I've got are 250k, is that too low for active? The blend pot (only surving bit of electronic) seems to have 1000k pot on it, would all the pots need to be that as well?

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[quote name='megallica' timestamp='1368615677' post='2079157']
I have never owned that particular model, the RB850 (I think) but I have owned a couple of these Roadstar basses and they are really nice to play with IMHO the best necks.

There is an online catalogue archive for Ibanez guitars and basses here:

[url="http://s93105080.onlinehome.us/Ibanez-Catalogs/"]http://s93105080.onl...banez-Catalogs/[/url]

From what I can tell the RB850 was introduced in 1985 and from what I've read the J6 pickups are very well regarded.
[/quote]

Are there any similiar back catlogue archive available for 80's Yamahas at all?

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[quote name='megallica' timestamp='1368721150' post='2080721']
I don't think so but I'd be interested to see them if they do exist - I love early Yamahas.
[/quote]

I dated my Yamaha rbx5 bass other day that I got years ago and have never known much about it - turns out from serial it was made 1988. I'm inadvertently collecting 80's basses - this one is 86!

Edited by Greggo
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[quote name='megallica' timestamp='1368721150' post='2080721']
I don't think so but I'd be interested to see them if they do exist - I love early Yamahas.
[/quote]

1981 Yamaha Guitar and Bass catalogue - [url="http://www.preservationsound.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Yamaha_Guitars_1981.pdf"]http://www.preservationsound.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Yamaha_Guitars_1981.pdf[/url]

...and here's the catalogues from 1966 - 2004 [url="http://www.vintaxe.com/catalogs_japanese_yamaha.htm"]http://www.vintaxe.com/catalogs_japanese_yamaha.htm[/url] (although it looks like you need to pay)

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1980 Catalogue - [url="http://brochures.yokochou.com/guitar-and-amp/yamaha/1980/en_index.html"]http://brochures.yokochou.com/guitar-and-amp/yamaha/1980/en_index.html[/url]

5 or 6 different catalogues on this page - [url="http://brochures.yokochou.com/index.html"]http://brochures.yokochou.com/index.html[/url]

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[quote name='Greggo' timestamp='1368616925' post='2079169']
I've got are 250k, is that too low for active? The blend pot (only surving bit of electronic) seems to have 1000k pot on it, would all the pots need to be that as well?
[/quote]

On active instruments, pots usually have lower impedance (often 25k). 1000k seems a bit unusual to me with active pickups?

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[quote name='chaypup' timestamp='1368783046' post='2081372']
1980 Catalogue - [url="http://brochures.yokochou.com/guitar-and-amp/yamaha/1980/en_index.html"]http://brochures.yok...0/en_index.html[/url]

5 or 6 different catalogues on this page - [url="http://brochures.yokochou.com/index.html"]http://brochures.yok....com/index.html[/url]
[/quote]

Thanks for the links chaypup - some models there I never knew existed.

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I got this Ibanez RB850 all wired up and working, has a pretty decent sound , doesnt really sound like anything in particular. Neck pickup is pretty deep and mellow and bridge pickup growly and middy. Not bad sound for a cheap 26 year old bass!

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[quote name='Greggo' timestamp='1369056674' post='2084309']
I got this Ibanez RB850 all wired up and working, has a pretty decent sound , doesnt really sound like anything in particular. Neck pickup is pretty deep and mellow and bridge pickup growly and middy. Not bad sound for a cheap 26 year old bass!
[/quote]


Post some pics when you get a chance, please.

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http://db.tt/GgUxAQvc

Now added electronics - its wired up like an active jazz so not the same as original which had blend - volume and tone, but gets it working. I'm not 100% sure, but I believe this model may have originally had coil tap push pull pots. I know some models in this range did.

Notice the bridge is a bit coroded and discoloured! I'm not that fussed though, still adjusts fine and adds to the character!

Headstock shot
http://db.tt/t98ujjEt.

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Yes a bit of TLC and it sings again. Poor little thing was just left to rot in the corner of rehersal room. Apparantly someone had dumped it years and years ago and everyone else had vultured its strings, electrics knobs and switches leaving it pretty bare bone. Even one of the tuning pegs has been bent at 45 degrees!Such a nice bass to play too, really light and neck is really fast as you've said before.

For me its nice to have a 4 string after owning 5 strings for years!

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[quote name='Greggo' timestamp='1369214291' post='2086270']
Yes a bit of TLC and it sings again. Poor little thing was just left to rot in the corner of rehersal room. Apparantly someone had dumped it years and years ago and everyone else had vultured its strings, electrics knobs and switches leaving it pretty bare bone. Even one of the tuning pegs has been bent at 45 degrees!Such a nice bass to play too, really light and neck is really fast as you've said before.

For me its nice to have a 4 string after owning 5 strings for years!
[/quote]

Please stop it, you're breaking my heart here.

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