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NBD 1985 Ibanez Roadstar ii

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by Chaser1, Dec 27, 2014.

  1. Dec 27, 2014 #1
    Chaser1

    Chaser1

    Aug 24, 2010
    Canada
    Hey everyone,

    Found a pretty great pickup off of craigslist today. It's a 1985 Ibanez Roadstar ii RB960, in amazing condition with hard shell case. Few tiny little bumps but no chips or anything, it even has the stickers still on the pickups 29 years later! I absolutely love the feel and shape of this bass and it has some great tonal possibilities. I got it home and swapped out for a fresh set of strings and did a quick setup. It plays like a dream. It has a really nice neck profile somewhere between a precision and a jazz but there almost seems to be no taper from the nut to where it meets the body. So far I am stoked to have it. Also added a family photo next to my modded Matt freeman, both in their aged white glory, only one of them due to time.
     

    Attached Files:

    scourgeofgod, vmabus, devnulljp and 2 others like this.
  2. Dec 27, 2014 #2
    davedblyoo

    davedblyoo "All the mayhem and none of the sticky mess."

    Nov 15, 2012
    Augusta, GA
    Very cool! I so lusted for one of these back when they first came out. Enjoy it for both of us!
     
  3. Dec 27, 2014 #3
    Philonius

    Philonius

    Mar 22, 2009
    2k W of the Duwamsh
    Great basses, I love the pinstripe body. Excellent score!
     
  4. Dec 27, 2014 #4
    Chaser1

    Chaser1

    Aug 24, 2010
    Canada
    Thanks, I have been playing it non stop since I got it home. Comparing it side by side it's is completely different. These pickups are really hot, it has a great slap tone and feel. I never play slap because I suck at it, but on the Roadstar it makes me sound a lot better than I am. I can't beleive this bass is 29 years old and is in the shape it's in. It's either built bombproof or it's been hiding in its case for most of its life.
     
  5. Dec 27, 2014 #5
    OldDirtyBassist

    OldDirtyBassist

    Mar 13, 2014
    Hell yeah that thing's awesome. Didn't Gordon Sumner have one of those?
     
  6. Dec 27, 2014 #6
    Justice

    Justice

    May 24, 2002
    Houston TX.
    Color me jealous. That is one of my favorite Roadstar body styles. Great bass!

    Gordon Sumner played an RB888
     
    OldDirtyBassist likes this.
  7. Dec 28, 2014 #7
    devnulljp

    devnulljp Supporting Member

    Oct 13, 2009
    BC, Canada
    Admin on the D*A*M Forum
    Nice! I love those old Ibanez basses. Love that headstock shape too.
    Is it active?
     
  8. Dec 28, 2014 #8
    SirMjac28

    SirMjac28 Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion

    Aug 25, 2010
    The Great Midwest
    Every few months or so I go on a search binge for one of these I don't want to pay collector prices so I'm looking for one like this a closet classic in beautiful shape congrats on a great bass.
     
  9. Dec 28, 2014 #9
    Pimmsley

    Pimmsley

    Nov 29, 2012
    Melbourne, Australia
    Last edited: Dec 28, 2014
  10. Dec 28, 2014 #10
    sii.pepenk

    sii.pepenk

    Jun 3, 2010
    Indonesia
    i got an Ibanez Roadstar too, but another series RB620 which is precision bass model with single split pickup, here's the video sample



    but now that bass has changed a lot since i modified it to PJ configuration
     
  11. Dec 28, 2014 #11
    LowEZ

    LowEZ

    Mar 29, 2011
    Central NJ
    Congrats! My '84 RB850 purchased new,

    ibby2.jpg
     
  12. Dec 28, 2014 #12
    Smooth_bass88

    Smooth_bass88 vaxx!

    Oct 31, 2006
    Western Hemisphere
    Hello Ibanez! Time to reissue these, along with the Musician Series (fretted and fretless).
     
  13. Dec 28, 2014 #13
    Chaser1

    Chaser1

    Aug 24, 2010
    Canada
    Thanks everyone,

    I agree that they should re-issue these. The shape is still modern enough that it doesn't scream this bass was made in the 80's. LowEz that one is a beauty the black (or is it a blue) with red looks awesome. The pickups are active in it but as Pimsley said it does not have an active eq. Has to do a search to find out what a low impedance pickup was. Prior to finding it on Craigslist I had never even seen a Roadstar bass, I guess probably because this bass came out the year after I was born. But when I saw it, it just sucked me in and I had to try it out because it's different and unique but with almost a rick shape vibe to it.
     
  14. Dec 28, 2014 #14
    Chaser1

    Chaser1

    Aug 24, 2010
    Canada
    Sii.pepenk great playing. I love the tone and look of yours. I can see why people collect these. Watching you play yours I now want to keep an eye out for one like it.
     
  15. Dec 28, 2014 #15
    wraub

    wraub

    Apr 9, 2004
    ennui, az
    I bought an '85 RB855 Roadstar II 5 string as a back up to my fretless Musician, as the bands I was in at the time preferred a fretted bass. Sadly, I eventually sold the Musician (and still miss it), but, a few decades later I still have that Roadstar.

    It's been all across the country with me, on tours, gigs, and sessions. It has many scrapes, dings, dents, and other wear, but it's all mine. :) It does have a certain sound that is fairly unique, but can still approximate the tones of a variety of other basses, even without active eq.

    In fact, I liked it so much, I searched for a few years to find another like mine, just to make it fretless.
    I hope to never sell either one.

    I think you have a good one there. Any bass that makes you play more and sound better is a keeper.
     
  16. Dec 28, 2014 #16
    Plucky The Bassist

    Plucky The Bassist ZOMG! I'm back from the dead! Supporting Member

    Jul 30, 2010
    Tejas

    Nobody cares what bass that unnamed nobodies play ;)
     
  17. Dec 28, 2014 #17
    Justice

    Justice

    May 24, 2002
    Houston TX.
    No offense, but that looks like a RB760, not a RB850
     
  18. Dec 28, 2014 #18
    LowEZ

    LowEZ

    Mar 29, 2011
    Central NJ
    My bad, it's a 750. I had an 850 and hated it.
     
  19. Jan 12, 2015 #19
    JCooper

    JCooper

    Oct 21, 2009
    Denver
    Roadstars are great, I have a couple...
    Congrats!