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80's Ibanez Roadstar II RB885 5-string - Yea or Nay?

darwin-bass

darwin-bass

Supporting Member
Mar 29, 2013
5,462
9,170
Salem OR
#1
Found one for sale locally. Very narrow 5 string (which is what has me interested), mid 80's Japanese vintage. Active pickups with bass/treble preamp.

Are these good instruments or are they dogs in disguise? I'm mostly wondering about the low B knowing that good low Bs are hit & miss on lower cost instruments.

Arthritis in my hands makes it painful to play a regular 5 string bass and my BEAD 4 string has me missing that high string.

Bass appears to be in good shape for its age. Seller is asking $500 which I think is high.
 
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#4
Man, I paid $500 for a used one back in college and it was definitely high.

It is indeed super narrow spacing. That didn't work for me but it might suit you. I didn't think the low end was that great. My next bass was a StingRay 5 and I immediately sold the Ibanez.

If you can give it a spin through a proper amp it might be worth finding out if it's right for you.
 
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#7
Should be a very good bass as long as it's in good shape. $500 seems a little high but it might be worth it if it is what keeps you playing despite the arthritis?

There were similar narrow spaced 5 strings from Yamaha and Aria Pro II. Those may be more expensive when/if you find them, however. There was also an ESP...
 
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#8
My alternative is a Warmoth Stingray clone currently strung BEAD - and it has a solid sounding B string with a J neck and standard 4-string spacing. Very playable.

I remain undecided (which means I'll probably not get it)
 
#9
Matt Liebenau said:
As a general rule 80s Japanese instruments are going to be good quality or they at least were when new. Sometimes less than ideal things have occurred in the last 40 years. If you can give it a check out in person and the spacing suits you and the neck and truss rod are functional you're probably good.
Click to expand...

This. Especially the part about the neck and the truss rod. Also make sure the frets are in good condition or at least have enough height left for leveling/crowning. If not, factor in the cost of fret leveling/crowing (or a re-fret). Many of these old Roadstars are overdue a re-fret by now.
 
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#13
I'm not usually into swapping electronics on basses, but one of these with known good woodwork and not amazing electronics is crying to be experimented & tested on.

If the one you try is good unplugged and you have the time & patience, you might slowly turn it into a bass that is worth more to you than you can sell it for.
 
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#14
I have an 83 Roadstar II six string, which I have had since 86, and the build quality is excellent.
My buddy has it's counterpart, an 83 P-Bass 4 string copy, and it is still playing and gigging today.
Both instruments went through many a 80's desert show punk gig, and are still in great shape.
IMO, they were really well made instruments.
 
#16
darwin-bass said:
Found one for sale locally. Very narrow 5 string (which is what has me interested), mid 80's Japanese vintage. Active pickups with bass/treble preamp.

Are these good instruments or are they dogs in disguise? I'm mostly wondering about the low B knowing that good low Bs are hit & miss on lower cost instruments.

Arthritis in my hands makes it painful to play a regular 5 string bass and my BEAD 4 string has me missing that high string.

Bass appears to be in good shape for its age. Seller is asking $500 which I think is high.
Click to expand...

I had the 6 string, 886 model, in the early 90s and liked it. Good B. It was lightweight and a bit neck divey, but it was a 6, so more weight to pull it down. Played like a dream.
 
#17
I love all Ibanezeseses of that era and the Roadstars are gems.
Had one of these, got it pretty cheap a few years ago ($200-250 I think?) and was blown away by the quality of it. The sound was very hi-fi and modern, the construction was top notch.
Yes, the spacing is a very particular taste, some love it, some hate it. I wasn't super into it, but survived and there are times I wish I had it back.

And yeah, $500 is high now, but it wouldn't shock me in a few years to see them there on the regular. The passive PJ 4 strings of that era used to be $150 all day long, now they sit in the $600 range regularly (or had, not long ago). While that is all speculation, in all honesty, it's a well made bass that sounds really nice. I'd like to think that those are destined for upward momentum in the market.
 
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#18
Definitely check it out . I love me the Roadstars. I'll dissent and say $500 is right about in the pocket price wise now that pricing has gone insane on nearly everything.
Well made instruments, cool electronics, ahead of their time IMO.
 
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#19
darwin-bass said:
Found one for sale locally. Very narrow 5 string (which is what has me interested), mid 80's Japanese vintage. Active pickups with bass/treble preamp.

Are these good instruments or are they dogs in disguise? I'm mostly wondering about the low B knowing that good low Bs are hit & miss on lower cost instruments.

Arthritis in my hands makes it painful to play a regular 5 string bass and my BEAD 4 string has me missing that high string.

Bass appears to be in good shape for its age. Seller is asking $500 which I think is high.
Click to expand...
$500 is cheap and the basses are amazing. Buy it
 

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