Ran into an old Roadstar II...

[lamarjones]

and didn't expect it to be this nice.

I did a deal with some dude who said he had a Roadstar II, didn't tell me what kind so I assumed it was one of the lower end ones. As such, it was a pretty good deal.

He opened the case and I was like, for real? I think people are just unloading things these days they aren't using and sometimes you get a little gem. As best as i can tell, this is a Roadstar II RB950MS, and if anyone can correct that or tell me what years they made this bass, that would rock. I think 84?

It doesn't nail any one particular sound if you think about classic tones, but it gets real close to a lot of them. No joke, there is a semi-p tone and a killer ric tone, and then some various j tones in it as well. Neck is killer, and the condition is not bad. No idea if the electronics are original, but two of the knobs are push pots (not push pull, so I have NO idea which mode they are in) which control selecting pickups. Not sure if that is series parallel, or single-humbucker. Anyone who knows anything about these things, would love to hear from you.

Anyways, just had to share some pics of this thing. I know these were pretty cheap basses back then, I assume. But this thing just does not feel like a cheap bass at all. Except gold hardware, most people probably think gold hardware is classy. i am not one of those people, but it looks good enough on this.

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[Electra Player]

Well, I would say that htis was nice, but I have a strict "I hate Ibanez" policy.
Thing is, this is too nice looking to pretend I don't like it. Good deal, looks at least like quite a nice instrument.
Enjoy it.

 

[bassrique]

Nice. How much was it?

 

[Michael Vee]

Lamar - Beautiful bass! Wow, that blue-green burst over birdseye maple! Heckuva score. I'm very jealous. I had the same Roadstar II in basic black back in the 80's and loved that bass. I wish I had it back. If you decide you don't want to keep this bass, then I would love to have first shot at buying it from you. May I?

The push/pull controls, as you described them, are exactly the same as my old bass, so they are the stock controls. You are correct in assuming they are series/parallel switches for the pickups.

 

[axpro]

It is scary how cheap those old roadstar II's are going for... they are quite nice... had a few come through the shop in the last few years and kick myself for not getting one of em to come home with me!!!!

Good score!

 

[flipper_gv]

sexy

 

[iamlowsound]

You have scored.

lowsound

 

[jimbilly]

Awesome! Those are the stock electronics, I had one similar. I have never met an MIJ Ibanez bass I didn't like. I love the 'I hate Ibanez' policy so many guys have, it keeps the prices down on gems like that.

 

[bass_lord_mutha]

That bass is no good. You should send it to me so I can properly dispose of it immediately, and by dispose, I mean "play the sh!t out of it for hours" Nice bass, man.

 

[metalupyourjazz]

WOW! That is a really nice lookin' bass.

 

[lamarjones]

Thanks for the reply fellas. It's gorgeous, plays and sounds great, and in general I don't really do 4 strings. I told MichaelVee he has dibs on it should I flip it, which I don't know what would be fair if I did. On the flip side, it's one of the coolest basses I ever had run by me (no joke) so I am up in the air about whether I should just make it a part of the stable and not use it much or flip it.

I do know that a passive bass with this electronics setup would rock, and that I like these pups better than I like some of the other new dual coil pups I have tried. Too bad they are freakin huge!

 

[Busker]

That looks really sharp, and way nicer than the RB630 I used to have.

 

[danomite64]

Those basses are so cool; I remember trying to order one (in that color, too), but they didn't offer it in a lefty.

 

[Electra Player]

I love the 'I hate Ibanez' policy so many guys have, it keeps the prices down on gems like that.

Than you should thank us.
Still, this is an nice bass, although I gotta say the pickups just look kinda funny, probably because I've never seen ones in that style mounted like that.