NancyJohnson Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 (edited) A long time ago, in a town not too far from me... My first proper original bass was an Ibanez Roadster RS-924, from memory it cost me about £180.00 from FD&H Music on Charing Cross Road and we parted ways when I either sold it on or part-exchanged it against a Travis Bean 2000 (£375, somewhere in Lewisham). I'd got fond memories of it, here's me, early 80s: You may have seen Chris @umcoo posting about restoring this baby - my heart did a little flutter and I kind of fell in love again. I don't actually know what I want to do with it yet. I'm never going to be able to find an original pre-amp fot it, so I suspect I'll fill the holes and stick a John East in there and some complimentary pickups. The body is a bit rough, so I'll get it refinished; I prefer a black bass, so probably black. Neck looks fine. I have enough on my plate at the moment, so there's not going to be any updates in the short term. I may start over Christmas. Edited November 9, 2021 by NancyJohnson Spelling, innit. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umcoo Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 I'm glad it's gone to someone who has a connection to the bass and I can't wait to see what you end up doing with it. Pictures a plenty, please! 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 Cream DiMarzios, wire it passive & paint it black so it becomes an RS824, like the one played by Steve 'Arris in the Run To The Hills vid. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 There was a set of pick ups on eBay recently - quick look but can't find them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 Just now, TheGreek said: There was a set of pick ups on eBay recently - quick look but can't find them... I've been looking too. Earlier I was trying to work out whether the differences between the RS824 and RS924 where just purely the active circuit. The knobs on both seem to be in the same places but the 924 has an extra switch on the front for the actives. I've seen these with cream pickup covers and black ones...right now, as I'm thinking about finish colours, a mate of mine has suggest a black/metal flake with matching headstock, it this was the case, I'd go with black covers (or large pole-piece Delanos) and chrome knobs. I'd need to procure a replacement decal and also get a truss rod cover made up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munurmunuh Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 22 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said: black/metal flake with matching headstock Might that be gilding the lily? 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 3 minutes ago, Ricky Rioli said: Might that be gilding the lily? How do the knobs function? 2 X Volume/Tone and a pickup selector switch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 2 hours ago, NancyJohnson said: I've been looking too. Earlier I was trying to work out whether the differences between the RS824 and RS924 where just purely the active circuit. The knobs on both seem to be in the same places but the 924 has an extra switch on the front for the actives. The 924 is v & t (both pickups), 3-way selector. active on/off, then bass boost/cut & treble boost/cut. I prefer the passive tone but the inability to blend pickups makes it a bit inflexible. The 824's v/t, v/t & selector. Nice quality trcs can be had from https://reproguitarparts.com/ in the States. I had one for a Musician & you would need to examine it through a magnifying glass to know it wasn't genuine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted November 10, 2021 Author Share Posted November 10, 2021 I wonder, with a bit of fettleing, I could put Spector circuit in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted November 10, 2021 Share Posted November 10, 2021 Sister from another mister to my 1982 RS924 fretless 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Seen this? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353761540165?hash=item525dd4b845:g:xTAAAOSw~2xhiW84 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 2 hours ago, TheGreek said: Seen this? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353761540165?hash=item525dd4b845:g:xTAAAOSw~2xhiW84 Not until now, no. I can't afford (or want) to liberate another one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 23 hours ago, JPJ said: Sister from another mister to my 1982 RS924 fretless Separated at birth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 On 11/11/2021 at 00:22, JPJ said: Sister from another mister to my 1982 RS924 fretless Very nice! If that's a factory fretless, that would make it an RS940 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted November 12, 2021 Author Share Posted November 12, 2021 I stripped the hardware off the body last night, stick the bridge in the dishwasher, it's come out super shiny. Started sanding; the finish is very thin, I got most of the front finish off with 60 grit in about five minutes. The top has nice grain and I'm thinking about just going with a few couple of layers of black Feblings leather dye (which should define the grain) and a satin clear coat. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 8 hours ago, LeftyJ said: Very nice! If that's a factory fretless, that would make it an RS940 Well it’s certainly a factory fretless, I’ll check the original hang tag and let you know 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 22 hours ago, LeftyJ said: Very nice! If that's a factory fretless, that would make it an RS940 Well spotted sir, the hang tag does indeed say RS940TV 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted November 13, 2021 Author Share Posted November 13, 2021 Little update. Body is fully stripped. It's a three-piece, the back gives nothing away but the front is nicely matched. The only worrysome thing is there's a small split in the jointing near the bridge/control cavity, so I'll dribble some superglue over it and rub any excess back. Some other small superficial dings that I'll try and rub back. Electrics? I'd like to put some Delano's in...the ones with the bigger polepieces. There's six holes and a side-jack. I generally play with everything open, so maybe a pickup selector switch > master volume > Darkglass Tone Cap. This will allow me to dowel/lose the smallest hole on the front. Dunlop Straploks. Definitely going with a black stain and clear coat. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 My old 924 had an additional hole, on top of those drilled in the factory. Rather than try to hide it, they always look terrible, I installed a series/parallel switch which added a useful tonal option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted November 13, 2021 Author Share Posted November 13, 2021 43 minutes ago, Doctor J said: My old 924 had an additional hole, on top of those drilled in the factory. Rather than try to hide it, they always look terrible, I installed a series/parallel switch which added a useful tonal option. I think I'm fortunate that the smallest hole - which used to be for switching the active circuit on - is plumb centre of a piece of the wood grain, so with luck it won't be so visible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted November 15, 2021 Author Share Posted November 15, 2021 Update. Put a dowel in the hole, sanded back, it's lovely and smooth. New batch of Leather Dye arrived about half hour ago, so I've blacked it up and rubbed back any excess. Went on lovely. I'll let this dry up overnight, give it a light sand and reapply. The photo doesn't really do it justice, it's a nice body. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 On 13/11/2021 at 11:46, NancyJohnson said: Some other small superficial dings that I'll try and rub back. If they aren't too deep you could try the old damp cloth and iron trick and steam them out. It's worked beautifully for me in the past on a body I refinished with a few dings in it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 36 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said: Update. Put a dowel in the hole, sanded back, it's lovely and smooth. New batch of Leather Dye arrived about half hour ago, so I've blacked it up and rubbed back any excess. Went on lovely. I'll let this dry up overnight, give it a light sand and reapply. The photo doesn't really do it justice, it's a nice body. Are you going to go for a gloss or satin finish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted November 15, 2021 Author Share Posted November 15, 2021 3 hours ago, TheGreek said: Are you going to go for a gloss or satin finish? I'm undecided at the moment; probably gloss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 On 11/11/2021 at 20:19, TheGreek said: Seen this? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353761540165?hash=item525dd4b845:g:xTAAAOSw~2xhiW84 was on my watchlist... was going to bid... then my 3 year old had a meltdown and at one point bit me. "did you bite me?" "no my sister did" "your sister was in a different room" "no she bit you" "She's also 6 months old, and only has one tooth!" And I missed the auction. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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