Ibanez Roadstar II guitar info?

[blackba]

A buddy of mine just gave me an old Ibanez Roadstar II guitar to fix up. Does anyone know much about them?

This one was built in 1984 from the serial and looks to have had SSS stock, somebody routed the guitar for a humbucker in a bridge, than later stuck a hot rails looking pickup there. The switch looks to be a phase switch for the two single coils.

Here are some before pictures, she has been used and abused that is for sure....

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

My second guitar in life was a RG440 black and white...I believe it was an 85. I loved that axe. Wish I still had it.

 

[blackba]

I found a little more info on this site:

http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1984/index.htm

looks like I have an RS135WH.

I think I am going to change the phase switch to a coil tap switch for the bridge humbucker. I got it pretty well cleaned up and the 2 ground wires that were off resoldered back on.

There is some finish coming off the back of the neck and the frets look really worn. I will see how it does when I get some decent strings on it.

How was the neck on that RG440, supposedly those early to mid 80's ibanezs are supposed to have really thin and fast necks?

 

[vultures]

Roadster necks are sorta like strat necks, but a bit thinner. They're C shaped, sorta feel like a JS, here's a chart; http://www.jemsite.com/jem/necks.htm

A buddy of mine's got a Roadster sitting in his living room, he doesn't even play guitar. I've been trying to get it for years, but it was a gift and has 'sentimental' value

 

[Marshall Freak]

My first real guitar was an 83/84 Roadstar II. I sold it about 8 years ago, then about a year ago I bought one just like it. They're great guitars IMHO.

 

[blackba]

Roadster necks are sorta like strat necks, but a bit thinner. They're C shaped, sorta feel like a JS, here's a chart; http://www.jemsite.com/jem/necks.htm

A buddy of mine's got a Roadster sitting in his living room, he doesn't even play guitar. I've been trying to get it for years, but it was a gift and has 'sentimental' value

Sounds like I will like the neck as I am a strat guy. Kind of sounds like these guitars are a well kept secret, maybe a diamond in the rough.

It looks like I can get a replacement pickguard here: http://home.comcast.net/~pickguards/JeannieIbanez.html

So if I go that route I may stick a JB JR pickup in the bridge, otherwise I will try to figure out what full size humbucker to put in there.

I hope to have the guitar in playing condition tonight....

 

[blackba]

I got the guitar all cleaned up and put some new strings on it.

It plays really nicely. The neck is pretty thin and fast. Its too bad the finish is gummed up a bit on the neck, it slows the playing down a bit.

I put a full sized humbucker in the bridge for the time being from my MIJ tele. I need to find a good pickup to put in there, but this will work for now. The volume pot is hit or miss so that needs to be replaced too.

Overall not a bad guitar, still a work in progress....

 

[blackba]

Here is the guitar now. I think it looks alot better. I ended up sticking a JB pickup in the bridge. I am thinking of putting the pickup bracket around it. You can see it with and without in the pictures.

Guitar plays great, I am trying to resist the urge to keep it

 

[TodNeilPage]

iVE GOT A MINT ONE WITH VIBRATO ARM
. ANY ONE WANT IT?

 

[japetus]

Marty McFly played a Roadstar. Always wanted one due to that.

 

[zendra]

roadster was ibz answer to fender strat...probably first guitar that made a dent in fenders market and Ibz original 'look'....

they were eeeeverywhere....cheaper and frankly as good or close, as fenders....something like today is yamaha pacifica lineup...

weren't sexy or funky but got the job done ! working muso's gigger !

all colours and all configurations...i think the pinnacle was steve lukater signature model !

...and then RG lineup squeezed it out...they just sorta went out of fashion...much like fender strat at that time...eddie and floyd roses finished their world !....att least for a decade or so....

 

[Nigel]

A buddy of mine just gave me an old Ibanez Roadstar II guitar to fix up. Does anyone know much about them?

This one was built in 1984 from the serial and looks to have had SSS stock, somebody routed the guitar for a humbucker in a bridge, than later stuck a hot rails looking pickup there. The switch looks to be a phase switch for the two single coils.

Here are some before pictures, she has been used and abused that is for sure....

Marshall Gallagher of Teenage Wrist uses one with an Invader in the bridge.

 

[JackBootedThug]

iVE GOT A MINT ONE WITH VIBRATO ARM
. ANY ONE WANT IT?

hell yeah if your giving it away...lol...those are actually nice guitars...

 

[romanianreaper]

Great guitar!!! I traded Robert Keeley my Aria Pro II for his Roadstar II in ebony when we were in high school (86' or 87'). I had that guitar until the early 2000s and even gigged in South Korea with that guitar. My Dad put a Dimarzio in the bridge and can't remember what one it was.

 

[romanianreaper]

Don't mind the nerd pic. Doing a gig in Taegu, South Korea in the Air Force and had to have short hair, otherwise I would have been the mullet king ???

 

[TodNeilPage]

Where are you located? Maybe help me dig it put of the barn and show me a cool lick snd its yours.

Otherwise make me an offer and pledge 1/2 to a chatity or musician support org and ill work something out.

Just saw you are a moderator here. I am freaked at the amazing good people who have contacted me here. All from on reply i made about a guy who was just like these nice people. Its weird man and you must be part of thst. Moderater away and i am a new fan of this site. But this is the first time ive ever commented as myself so tell me, are people nice, humble and beautiful on most internet sites? Incant imagine. Peace

hell yeah if your giving it away...lol...those are actually nice guitars...

 

[JackBootedThug]

Where are you located? Maybe help me dig it put of the barn and show me a cool lick snd its yours.

Otherwise make me an offer and pledge 1/2 to a chatity or musician support org and ill work something out.

Just saw you are a moderator here. I am freaked at the amazing good people who have contacted me here. All from on reply i made about a guy who was just like these nice people. Its weird man and you must be part of thst. Moderater away and i am a new fan of this site. But this is the first time ive ever commented as myself so tell me, are people nice, humble and beautiful on most internet sites? Incant imagine. Peace

HAHA-you'll change your mind about this place once you hang out long enough...lol...just kidding-this place is great and full of righteous dudes.