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NBD 1985 Ibanez Roadstar ii

Chaser1

Chaser1

Aug 24, 2010
237
402
Canada
#1
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.
 

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Reactions: scourgeofgod, vmabus, devnulljp and 2 others
#4
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.
 
#13
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.
 
#15
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.
 

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