Greggo Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 (edited) 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 May 15, 2013 by Greggo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megallica Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted May 15, 2013 Author Share Posted May 15, 2013 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 Hi Greg - I'll PM you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted May 16, 2013 Author Share Posted May 16, 2013 [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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megallica Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 I don't think so but I'd be interested to see them if they do exist - I love early Yamahas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iiipopes Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 With three knobs, if the pickups work in passive mode, the most straightforward thing to do is just wire it like a Jazz bass, V-V-T, and be done with it. 250kohm pots if you want mellow, 500kohm pots if you want a little brighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted May 16, 2013 Author Share Posted May 16, 2013 (edited) [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 May 16, 2013 by Greggo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaypup Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 [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) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaypup Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 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] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted May 17, 2013 Author Share Posted May 17, 2013 Cheers! - its interesting looking at these old catalogues. Old guitars dont seem to age the way old cars do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 [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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megallica Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted May 17, 2013 Author Share Posted May 17, 2013 Its makes you think doesn't it, where any of these surviving old old models are currently living - i reckon are loads that are probably sat in someones loft, bedroom or basement gathering dust, which is a shame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clauster Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 One of them (an RB950) is sat in my lap as I type . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted May 18, 2013 Author Share Posted May 18, 2013 [quote name='clauster' timestamp='1368810224' post='2081888'] One of them (an RB950) is sat in my lap as I type . [/quote] Nice! What year is that one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted May 20, 2013 Author Share Posted May 20, 2013 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megallica Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted May 21, 2013 Author Share Posted May 21, 2013 Some pics Condition acquired in http://db.tt/B4rv5Cmd After a quick clean up and restring http://db.tt/PZGPlula Will get more up soon of general condition (it is fair condition for 26 year old bass) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted May 21, 2013 Author Share Posted May 21, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megallica Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 Nice work Greg, another old Ibanez is given a new lease of life. I'll sleep better knowing that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted May 22, 2013 Author Share Posted May 22, 2013 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megallica Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted May 22, 2013 Author Share Posted May 22, 2013 There needs to be a group set up for rehoming unloved basses, kind of like the RSPCA for musical instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megallica Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 I'm just off to register bassrescue.com - that idea is a winner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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