NBD! Just scored a 1985 Ibanez rb650

devon8822 · #1 09-12-2011, 12:38 PM

Hey guys, this is my first bass (I am a guitarist) and I plan on getting into the bass further. I hear you guys have no trouble getting gigs? I scored the bass on Craigslist for $225 CAD.

I am not that knowledgable on bass gear and parts as I am with guitars so I was hoping to get some help. First up... I am wondering about switching the bridge to a Badass. Do people tend to swap out bridge for a Badass bridge for tonal purposes or just better intonation abilities? Maybe my current bridge is fine? Can I swap out the bridge without any mods? I wouldn't want to do it if i need to screw holes into the body.

Next up, pickups... its got a J style and a P style, and I am not sure which company to go with. Dimarzio is my favourite for guitars so they are great btu I have heard good things about Barts and EMGs. On guitar I'm not much of an active pickup fan because they seems a little more compressed. I guess it depends on what sound I am after really, and honestly I'm not sure yet. Any wisdom on pickups?

Just Bill · #2 09-13-2011, 07:02 PM

Devon8822, If you're happy with the way that the bass feels and sounds, leave it as is.

I'm a fan of these Roadstar II basses and it looks like you have a fine one. All original, down to the strap buttons. They're really good basses. Not just in a "they're good, for what they are" way but good basses, period.

doktorfeelgood · #3 09-13-2011, 07:46 PM

I suggest you just do a good set-up on the bass with a properly intonated new set of strings and just play the bass for awhile BEFORE you make ANY mods. They are good basses and you might be happy with it as it is....But you won't know that 'till you play it as it is for awhile. If you do want to swap out the PUPS later on, you can't go wrong with DiMarzio's... I use nothing but DiMarzio's in all of my basses....

bolophonic · #4 09-13-2011, 07:51 PM

I would just set it up and play it as is before making any mods. It probably sounds awesome.

Marton · #5 09-13-2011, 08:03 PM

I would leave it stock seriously, these mis-80s Ibanez basses were great, and are pretty cheap today. Unless you want something really specific, leave the electronics/bridge stock, and invest in a good setup and fresh strings. And using the cash for some lessons could be a great idea too !

Pilgrim · #6 09-13-2011, 09:59 PM

Another vote. If you're new to bass, learn the bass. Leave that bass alone, get a good setup so it plays well and use the controls on the bass and amp to get a good sound. Don't modify the bass to correct issues with your playing as you are still learning the instrument.

Six months from now, if you have identified specific problems that need to be solved, consider modifying the bass - or even better, leaving a nice, clean, original bass alone and finding another that suits your needs. Maybe even pick up a second bass with different characteristics, then switch as needed.

Keep in mind that the style of bass and pickup you have are responsible for a huge percentage of the great rock music recorded and performed over the past 50 years.

Standalone · #7 09-15-2011, 08:23 PM

sometimes a vintage type bent metal bridge is actually exactly what makes the tone of the bass what you want. BA bridges aren't necessarily better!

Also, I believe that those Ibanez pickups were modelled on DiMarzios, so an "upgrade" might not matter that much...

I have a similar bass, a blazer P. The one thing I'm not sure I like is the frequencies where the tone knob works. I modded an SX bass with an orange drop resistor, and might do the same to my Blazer. That and a good pro setup are all I would ever want to do to that bass!

jrfrond · #8 09-16-2011, 09:16 AM

Funny you should mention this, because this is mine here, WITH the Badass and DiMarzios. Both were a good improvement over the originals. The basswood body benefits in the sustain department from a mass-ier bridge, and the original pickups were OK, but lacked character. The DiMarzios are hotter and warmer.

BTW- this one is for sale too.

devon8822 · #9 09-19-2011, 07:09 PM

Thanks for the advice guys.

jrfrond, did the badass bridge swap right in, without any extra holes?

as for the "If you're happy with the way that the bass feels and sounds, leave it as is" advice i'm getting, I have to say I disagree... If the only bass that existed was a Squire bass and everybody had one, you would all think it was great because you didn't know any better. So I may be happy with it, but with the potential upgrades I could see a lot of improvement.

also I set it up right when I got it (it was basically mint with almost perfect setup).

neways, I have decided to upgrade the pickups to dimarzio P and Js, since I have heard from many people including jrfrond, that the stock pickups are modelled after the dimarzio but not quite as good.

**Lazarus.Bird** · #10 09-19-2011, 07:18 PM

Holy smokes that is a clean looking Roadstar. Typically those pole pieces are tarnished. Another vote for leave it how it is. The Ibanez-made Super J4 and P4 pickups are awesome.

jimbilly · #11 09-21-2011, 09:26 PM

I've got an '84 RB924, it's staying stock, there's no way I'd mess with it.
How long have you had it? I think what everybody else is saying is to give it some time, through a great amp, before you start swapping out parts.