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Ibanez RS824 restoration

#21
MPU said:
I prefer the looks of RS824 over many other basses. I remember my first bass teacher having either a Roadster or Musician back in the middle of 80’s.
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Don´t get me wrong, my ´79 Roadster (That one exactly RS924) is beautiful. I just can´t get over the very assymetric body which they introduced in 79/80 for the 24 frets (that is just a matter of personal preference). My 2 favourites from the MIJ are:
Artist 2617: 2617
MC800: MC800 - Oooooh that one!
 
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#22
Nicely done!

You can add me to the list of folks who love Ibanez’ basses from this era. …and I actually like the way they look, too.

My first bass was a 1979 ST-924 (which I still have) and I’ve amassed a small fleet of ‘79 Ibanez since then. I’m actually on the lookout for one just like yours.

The idea of cloning the original preamp is nice but, to be honest, the original preamps on these basses, and on the more upscale models, are really nothing special. What made them stand out was the fact that so few production basses at that time had onboard preamps at all - especially with onboard EQ. Just about any modern preamp is like to be quieter and sound better than the originals.
 
#23
Gilmourisgod said:
Per usual, you seem to get more done in a few days than I do in months. Looking forward to at least a few uninterrupted shop days in retirement, but that’s still 5 years off. Nice work!
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As I’ve said before, I really need my time in the shop. I see it as preventive mental care for myself. After something over 50 basses (I’ve quit counting) I have developed a quite effective work flow with very little unnessessary moves. I have worked something like 2-3 hours per day during weekends, around 1-2 hours during evenings in week days. We are two adults (our 24 years old son is living on his own), mrs likes to knit and watch soap series so I have plenty of time. I’m not going to spend my time with soap series as long as I can crawl to my shop and do something with my hands.
 
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#24
Lo-E said:
Nicely done!

You can add me to the list of folks who love Ibanez’ basses from this era. …and I actually like the way they look, too.

My first bass was a 1979 ST-924 (which I still have) and I’ve amassed a small fleet of ‘79 Ibanez since then. I’m actually on the lookout for one just like yours.

The idea of cloning the original preamp is nice but, to be honest, the original preamps on these basses, and on the more upscale models, are really nothing special. What made them stand out was the fact that so few production basses at that time had onboard preamps at all - especially with onboard EQ. Just about any modern preamp is like to be quieter and sound better than the originals.
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I have HAZ clone in a pedal box, that fills my needs for a preamp quite well. I may leave this one just as it is, maybe make a split coil J pickup if single coil hum begins to bother me.
 
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#25
I got the bass assembled tonight. Still some adjusting and setup to do but first notes are out. Can’t say much at this stage.
 

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#27
THANK YOU!
My friend gave me the RS924 back. (It was in its case in his... attic).
It had not moved at all. And I had forgotten how GREAT they were: Super comfy neck, low action, deep, full sound, sustain for years.
Honestly, those Japanese craftmen were just unbeatable.
So thank you for giving me the impetus to get it back.

And if I ever have a neck problem with it... well, I've never visited Finland you know.
 
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#28
Bertr said:
THANK YOU!
My friend gave me the RS924 back. (It was in its case in his... attic).
It had not moved at all. And I had forgotten how GREAT they were: Super comfy neck, low action, deep, full sound, sustain for years.
Honestly, those Japanese craftmen were just unbeatable.
So thank you for giving me the impetus to get it back.

And if I ever have a neck problem with it... well, I've never visited Finland you know.
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Nice! Great you could recover that bass!

No dead frets?
 
#30
MPU said:
I may leave this one just as it is, maybe make a split coil J pickup if single coil hum begins to bother me.
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I would have sworn that these Super J4 pickups were the same design as Dimarzio, being a side-by-side humbucker, ala the Model J.
But I've also never looked underneath one, so I guess it's merely an assumption.
 
#31
P pickup is very similar, J is singlecoil vs DiMarzio humbucker. These Super P/J pickups are adjustable steel poles with ceramic magnets, just like DiMarzios. I didn’t measure the resistances so can’t say anything about that. I like the sound of these a lot, I’m waiting to hear this bass played thru my HAZ preamp pedal.
 
#33
44 years of GHS L3045 (WE warrior: 2 hours a week tops though) , not even an indent on the frets.
I don't know what they used, some Samurai sword grade metal maybe? But this is just amazing.

As I wrote before: for recording, nothing I know (Rics, MM, PB, JB, SG, Wwicks) can beat those.
No surprise studios were running after them. MPU, you have a keeper! Well done for caring for a great instrument, rather than for a fashionable instrument.
 
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#35
MPU said:
Yesterday I got the bass set up and made that cream washer under the pickup selector switch. The original washer pulverized when I disassembled the bass. Very solid feeling bass, sounds great, is easy to play. Only downsize is the weight but I think I can live with it, I’m not going to play more than two hours at a time anyway.

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Beautiful. What a great touch with that cream washer under the switch! Fantastic idea!!

Enjoy it!!!

.
 

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