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I want a Blazer, settle for a Cimar or Roadstar II?
- Thread starter XrisThaBassman
- Start date
I fully agree - if put into today's terms, the Ibanez copies would be like what the Squier CV or VM would be compared to a Fender, the Cimar is like a Lyon. Not quite as horrible as First Act.
Thanks for the info, I knew the model was on the back of the headstock, I just have not looked in a long time
Having the money banked and exercising some prudent patience while keeping an ear to the ground is the best way to shop used.
Took me something like 30 years to finally score something I truly wanted in the condition I was looking for at a price I considered worth paying. But I got exactly what I was hoping for even if it was an extreme time to wait.
But it works even when you’re shopping new. I wanted a Supro Huntington II with a mahogany body from the day I first heard and saw one. But I wasn’t too keen on buying something I quite frankly didn’t need for the grand or so they were initially going for.
Prices in Huntingrons have since dropped to a bit below $900. But I lucked out and found a dealer who was willing to let a new one go for $700 and change with shipping included. So I jumped in it knowing that by simply waiting for few months saved me about $300. Which left enough over to finally get a Smoothie compressor I also wanted.
Patience is a virtue. even if it can be a drag at times.
Took me something like 30 years to finally score something I truly wanted in the condition I was looking for at a price I considered worth paying. But I got exactly what I was hoping for even if it was an extreme time to wait.
But it works even when you’re shopping new. I wanted a Supro Huntington II with a mahogany body from the day I first heard and saw one. But I wasn’t too keen on buying something I quite frankly didn’t need for the grand or so they were initially going for.
Prices in Huntingrons have since dropped to a bit below $900. But I lucked out and found a dealer who was willing to let a new one go for $700 and change with shipping included. So I jumped in it knowing that by simply waiting for few months saved me about $300. Which left enough over to finally get a Smoothie compressor I also wanted.
Patience is a virtue. even if it can be a drag at times.
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Yeah, Ibanez was seemingly competing with the iconic basses with the Blazer and Roadster/Roadstar Standard & Deluxe lines. The Musicians and some Soundgears were their high end and Cimars were their Squier/Epiphone. Roadstar Standards were already a bargain (a RB630 was about 1/2 to 2/3 the price of a new P bass) so the Cimars took it to entry level budgets. Not saying that one couldn't find a decent Cimar, but I'd just take my chances with Ibanez.
Yep, Roadsters were the mid line basses around 1979-1982 and Roadstars replaced them around 1983.
My first bass was a Roadstar II P bass. It's the one I no longer have that I wish I still had. One day I'll buy a used one.
The red Roadstar PJ looks killer.
The Ibanez Challenger Js (lawsuit?) were pretty sweet, too, but that's another topic for another day.
The red Roadstar PJ looks killer.
The Ibanez Challenger Js (lawsuit?) were pretty sweet, too, but that's another topic for another day.
My brother bought a 1986 RB850 Roadstar II back in 1990 and I cobbed it from him in 1996 and it has been my main bass and played at every gig I have ever played since then. Awesome glorious bass!
I started playing bass in 1989. I have never owned an Ibanez Roadstar but I am very intrigued about them.
I like the way they look. They just look 'solid'.
What about the tone? Do they sound like Fender's or do they have their own thing going?
I am asking because I love Yamaha BB's as well and, to me, even if a BB is some kind of PJ, they do not sound like Fender's. They have their own tonal character.
I am asking because I love Yamaha BB's as well and, to me, even if a BB is some kind of PJ, they do not sound like Fender's. They have their own tonal character.
Wait for a Blazer.... nothing, and I mean NOTHING sounds as fat as that DiMarzio Super P5 pickup. I have a set in a box waiting for a build. It is my favorite pickup of all time.
The Sunburst RB620 - 630 is a weird laminate. It's like a plastic countertop material that looks like wood. I was upset and ditched mine for that reason. The natural ones use Ash, the painted are basswood or birch.
The Blazers / RoadstErs are all great wood, but only the natural Ash Roadstar has the wood that I like.
Standard Roadstars have the Super P4 which according to catalogs is also the P pickup in Blazers and RoadstErs too.
The Blazers / RoadstErs are all great wood, but only the natural Ash Roadstar has the wood that I like.
Standard Roadstars have the Super P4 which according to catalogs is also the P pickup in Blazers and RoadstErs too.
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i a/b'd a roadstar with a fender pure vintage 63 pickup with an american special p and they sounded pretty much the same. the stock pickup is hotter and in my opinion, doesn't really do the classic p sound. not as woody and kind of woofy on the low notes. they kind of sound better with overdrive than vintage output pickups, though.
There are a few reeeaaaal interesting Roadstars on the GC used site right now......
LOTs have the paddle headstock. These are the two best Vintage Ibanez resources that I've found Have at it.
Vintage Ibanez Guitar Catalogs - 1971 through 2007
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Vintage Ibanez Guitar Catalogs - 1971 through 2007
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I can't speak for the tone of the passive older Ibanez basses as mine has their first take on active pickups, that said, I will say that mine has it's own tonal character in relation to fender basses. I have owned a Fender 1975 RI MIJ Jazz, a late 90s Fender "California Special" P-bass, and also a 2000s MIA P-bass. I typically always prefered the Ibanez tone everytime but I now own a Squier VM PJ (bought as a back-up) that I added GZR PUs to and the EMG GZRs sound really damn good.
UPDATE!
So, I can't really afford it right now, but hey - when does that stop us? I just pulled the trigger off this 1981 beauty from Reverb. A touch higher than I wanted to pay but he knocked $50 off the original asking price, so I got it for $460 out the door. I love the finish. The last Blazer I had was natural and the hardware was a bit rough. This one is in great shape, I couldn't care less about the buckle rash on the back. All in all I'm going to be super happy, even comes with the original case! Thanks to all who convinced me to wait for the real deal. Now I need to get some stuff posted in the classifieds...
So, I can't really afford it right now, but hey - when does that stop us? I just pulled the trigger off this 1981 beauty from Reverb. A touch higher than I wanted to pay but he knocked $50 off the original asking price, so I got it for $460 out the door. I love the finish. The last Blazer I had was natural and the hardware was a bit rough. This one is in great shape, I couldn't care less about the buckle rash on the back. All in all I'm going to be super happy, even comes with the original case! Thanks to all who convinced me to wait for the real deal. Now I need to get some stuff posted in the classifieds...
