FS/FT: '81 Ibanez RS824 Roadster - custom Japanese beauty - 2x2 headstock, cream pups

TimBosby · #1 06-19-2011, 08:21 AM

The baseball tickets I was going to throw in are no longer included, but I couldn't edit the title, so I'm re-listing again.

For sale is an '81 Ibanez Roadster. I picked this up a few years ago, but now it sits largely unplayed due to the fact that I recently acquired a Stambaugh custom. This bass, like most early 80s Ibanezes, was made in Japan by expert craftsmen. This is an awesome, unique monster of a bass, but G.A.S. is the devil...

It was originally black, but I had the body completely refinished by Pat Wilkins in a gorgeous red that fades into a darker red. His finish work is flawless and the color is absolutely beautiful. The frets have some wear, but they have a lot of life left in them. Nice low action with no fret buzz. There is some wear on top of the headstock, some wear at the fingerboard edges, and a couple tiny flaw along the back surface of the neck (finish only and barely noticeable.) Overall, while it is certainly in pretty good condition for a 30 year old bass.

Weight is approximately 9.2 lbs.
Nut width measures 1.5 inches. Thin, comfortable neck (much like the modern SDGRs)
String spacing at the bridge, saddle to saddle, is right about 3/4"

P and J cream pickups... pretty sure they are DiMarzios. They are the original pickups and sound great. The controls are; P-pickup volume, J-pickup volume, master tone, Preamp boost volume, 3 way pickup selector switch, and series/parallel switch for the P-bass pickup. THIS BASS THUNDERS!

Previous owner added large mother of pearl dot inlays on the neck (one of them is a little wonky looking - tried to get pics - it's not that noticeable), and did the custom mountain scape inlay on the headstock. Everything else original. It comes with the original Ibanez hardshell case (with awesome green interior!) The case is missing the leather on one side, but I've covered the whole thing in stickers anyway. It is completely battered and worn, but the latches work and it serves its purpose.

I've added chrome Schaller straplocks and it is strung with fairly new DR Black Beauties.

Cash is king but run anything by me. The worst I can say is no.

$375 + actual shipping o.b.o. to the lower 48. The Wilkins finish alone cost me $300. I will certainly consider any offer.

PM or better yet, e-mail if interested.

pbass888 · #2 06-19-2011, 12:24 PM

bump for a great bass! I think these are the 'answer' when it comes to the p/j issue and also bump for a great tb'er

RBetoGT · #3 06-19-2011, 12:25 PM

that's a beauty! loving the head as well!

TimBosby · #4 06-19-2011, 01:30 PM

Thanks, gentlemen. This bass is thunderous, that's for sure. I believe the headstock picture may be one of the reasons I'm having difficulty selling this baby, but I think it's unique. I forgot to mention in my above posting: if you don't like the case, I've had some interest in it locally (just the case, that is) so if you'd like to make an offer, sans the case, I will entertain that.

kjpollo · #5 06-19-2011, 08:53 PM

bkbirge · #6 06-19-2011, 08:59 PM

I've got those pups in my 78 P bass and they are my goto sound for passive. I also used to have one of those cases with a G&L L2000e and I always wondered what bass the case was originally meant for. Mine was wallpapered in stickers too, great memories. Tempting bass for sure, that is a funk machine I have no doubt.

GaryLC · #7 06-20-2011, 06:43 AM

I had an '81 Musician bass back in the day, bought it new with a case like that.....and I too covered that case with stickers!

What is it about those cases that makes us want to wallpaper them?

TimBosby · #8 06-20-2011, 06:49 AM

My old guitar player for years kept his Strat in the guitar version of this Ibanez case and his was also covered with stickers.

In the case with the one in this thread, though, I started covering it with stickers because one side is completely stripped to the wood of the case underneath.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryLC