Ibanez RB650 Roadstar II questions

[bigtone23]

Great score, well worth the elbow grease to get it up and running. I have a RB620 from the same era and it's a fantastic bass.
You could just bend the jack back so it makes sufficient contact for testing purposes. Then connect the pickups, one at a time, directly to the jack to determine if they are working correctly. If so, then get pots and a new jack. If not, then you can get whatever system you desire.

 

[Engle]

I bought one off marketplace. Didn't really need another PJ. To make a long story short, I got it for $100. He was asking $750 and my initial offer after seeing the bridge, pickups and missing strings, was $300. I told him I'd have to look at it first. After checking it out, I backed out. He isn't a musician and just wanted to move it.

Here is what I know. Pots are frozen, will not move. Bridge and pickup poles are corroded. Output jack needs to be replaced or the contact bent back into position. Everything else seems solid. Looks like the owner swapped the original pups for Dimarzio's.

Questions… should I attempt a bridge cleaning? Is it possible to clean the pickups?

I know it's getting new pots / wiring. Would you just replace the pups and bridge or just clean them?

I would just clean up the pickups and bridge.

 

[definenredefine]

OP- $750 to $100. You did well. Nice score.

This! I say vol/3way/tone and a Gotoh 201B, assuming the original pickups still work.

 

[theos]

Update... Saturday night I soaked the pots in deoxit gold. Checked the pots yesterday and they move freely and make no noise what so ever... they act like new. Ordered strings last night which have already delivered. The plans this evening... remove the bridge and clean it along with the body. Hoping to have the strings installed and setup tonight. I'll post a pic when I am done!

 

[theos]

Update #2. I got everything cleaned up for the most part. The output jack is jacked again lol. I can manipulate it in such a way that the buzz goes away.

I'm taking in in for a setup. The nut needs to be filed and I don't have files. Strings are way too high at the first fret. At that point I stopped. A setup will do everything else needed like pickup height and intonation.

Even at this point, it sounds great! I can't wait to hear it when everything is set right.