What's your favorite Roadstar?

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Author Message Floridanative Username: Floridanative Registered: 02-2007 Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 10:24 pm:    Hello everybody. I am looking to get my first Roadstar and it is so difficult to choose. So I thought I would turn to you Roadstar collectors out there and ask you. What is your favorite Roadstar (year/model) and why? Thanks in advance to all who reply. I will be taking notes. ;) Glennm Username: Glennm Registered: 04-2004 Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 6:52 pm:    Well, one RoadStar hardly qualifies me as a collector, but I can say that I really like my RS530. It's got 24 frets and IBZ 'buckers that can be split. It kind of depends on what your taste in tone gravitates to and which aesthetics resonate with you. You can go single coil or humbucker, or combination, depending on the model. I know Mr Roadstar prepared a chart of models/features, but I can't seem to locate it now. The Steve Lukather model RS1010SL has an ebony fretboard and Super 58 buckers, and is fairly rare. The Marine Sunburst finish is kind of special, too. That's the model I was looking for, but settled for an RS530. Jasma Username: Jasma Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 7:05 pm:    I'm another lover of Roadstars, I think it is one of the most underrated Ibanez's , but I'm hanging on to my 3, one day when people wake up they will be worth money!!! So go for it, when you can still get one at the right price. Jorn From left to right: RS315CS, RS320RD and RS505CS. Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 7:09 pm:    I like my RS1300, a lot. But it's the only one I've owned. Hopefully, Mr Roadstar will see your message and give you his thoughts. The Roadstar info pages that he compiled can be found here: http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/RSSpecs83-88-icw.html Follow the links at the top of the page for the rest of the Roadstar info. Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 9:09 pm:    While looking at Jasma's beautiful collection I saw something in the corner of my eye: the tremolo of my Hillman/Roadstar Hybrid: the Original Edge. http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-71/1?AID=5463217&PID=1802666&mpre=ht tp%3A//cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D180081547950 Now, why do I start about this tremolo, while you were asking about the best choice within the Roadstar range? Well, the story is as follows: Years ago I bought a custom made hybrid of a Dutch hand built Hillman Longhorn and a devastated high end Roadstar. Imagine: a guy comes into the workshop of Van de Heuvel with a devastated Roadstar and asks: "Can you repair this and what would it cost?" And Van de Heuvel said: "It's better and cheaper if I get one of my through neck longhorns, fraise the Edge routing and transplant all your usable hardware. The result: a totally natural MAPLE through neck Superstrat with an EBONY fretboard and most of the hardware of high end (probably 1991) Ibanez Roadstar RG570. It weighs tons, but it's a TOP guitar. That's why he traded it for something a bit lighter. And what's so good about it, when you talk about versatility, it has a H-S-H pick-up set-up with a five way selector switch! The bridge pickup is an F1 IBZ/USA (normally a neck pickup) and the middle pu is a S1 IBZ/USA, the neck pickup is some cream PAF replica which sounds pretty jazzy. So if I want a jazz sound I pick the neck humbucker. I can use the middle single coil for strat sound and the bridge pick-up for rock solo. An instruction PDF file for changing strings and adjusting the Edge vibrato unit can be downloaded. But not everybody likes vibrato units or as Leo Fender called them incorrectly "tremolos". There are some models with a Gibraltar II bridge and Quik Stop II stop tail. Type number SF470. The pickups are V1, S1 and V2. So they are a nice versatile option too. But that's all theory: combining a GOOD (no cheapos) H-S-H combination with a 5-way switch and a GOOD bridge/tailpiece. Mr. Roadstar surely will speak more from personal experience. I only have the hybrid, the RT240 and the RB630 (bass). BTW: The 540R you were after ain't bad either with these smoothed edges... very comfortable... and without the JS signature on it, you could have it for much less. Ginger Floridanative Username: Floridanative Registered: 02-2007 Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 11:05 pm:    Such wonderful replies so far!! Thanks so much. My problem is that I would have to buy a Roadstar sight unseen off of ebay as I don't have any in any guitar or pawn shops locally to go and try out the sound. I would like that rich sound from classic rock. Led Zeppelin and Blue Oyster Cult for example. I know that Blue Oyester Cult's Donald Roeser used both a Stratocaster and a Les Paul in the 70's but I don't know which one he used on Don't Fear the Reaper and Godzilla which I really like the tone of. I think Jimmy Page also used a Les Paul. I have heard that the 1983 RS505 with the 3 single coil super 6 pups is supposed to sound like a Les Paul. But I've also heard that the Original Edge bridge is the best one that Ibanez has made. I guess faced with so many awesome guitars it's really hard to choose. I know that the tone I am after is that nice rich tone from classic rock. Do you know which would be the best Roadstar for me? Thanks again for taking the time to answer my myriads of questions. I truly appreciate it. Floridanative Username: Floridanative Registered: 02-2007 Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 11:06 pm:    BTW Jasma, that is one beautiful collection! Which is your favorite? Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 11:35 pm:    3 single coils sounding like a Les Paul seems total nonsense to me. The could sound like a Strat perhaps, but for a dual humbucker sound you need 2 humbuckers that can be used SIMULTANEOUSLY! If you use a H-S-H setup it is mostly not a standard combination of the guitar. I know a wiring diagram to use the neck and bridge pickup of a strat together, and to use one pot as volume pot for the mid pickup, but then you need 3 potmeters to make it invisible from the outside. This way you get 7 positions without using an extra switch. You have a master volume, a master tone and a middle pickup volume pot. If you just want a Les Paul sound you could choose a set neck mahogany body with maple top guitar with two humbuckers, two volume pots and two tone pots, like an AR. But I thought you wanted more than that and all in one guitar. Ginger Jasma Username: Jasma Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Friday, February 16, 2007 - 7:25 pm:    Hi Florida, If I was you and wanted a LP, I would take the RS320 with the 2 humbuckers, if you wanted one that would do the lot, try to find a Roadster RS350 1980 (hard to come by)

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