Ibanez Roadstar 2

Has two standard Ibanez Humbuckers, a 3-way toggle, 1 volume (push), Floyd rose type locking bridge (sucks) and Smooth tuners

I play through a randall warhead combo, GFX-707 muti effects pedal and MXR M-104 distortion pedal. This guitar has sounded pretty awesome on any amp or setup.

Action was great made to play fast and hard. A little wear and tear . Ugly but unique mint green finish pretty sure its the original finish.

Haven,t used it live yet, but will in a few days. everything seems to be sturdy right now but i will bring a backup with me

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Been playing for about 4 years. I have a cheap acoustic a Strat and my first guitar that I ever owned a eavily modified harmony guitar. If it was stolen I would buy a ES-335 (The king of all guitars)

Japan '86
22 Frets
Bridge & Middle Humbucker (no neck pickup), 3-way switch
Pickups: Crappy Ibanez pieces of shite
Rosewood fingerboard
Ibanez locking tremolo

Kinda tough, since I've so heavily modified the thing. See

http://www.psych.ohiou.edu/people/grads/berger/Guitars.htm

It's the top one. I do seem to recall that as soon as the pickups were replaced, the guitar started to kick ass. For those too timid to check the webpage, I put a S/C in the neck and a Lawrence in the bridge. Since the factory electronics were such crap, I give it a 5.

Got it used, but after 12 years, I have played VERY few guitars with action I like better. The roadstars RULE!!!

It has withstood sporadic live playing for many years, though probably only because I replaced the stock bridge with an original Floyd Rose. My favorite story is when I did a "rockstar" guitar spin and my straplock fell off, and the guitar skidded across the floor, ttremolo springs flying everywhere (There was no backplate). I jacked up on the bar, replaced the strings, and THE GUITAR WAS IN TUNE!!!!!

Not applicable. What sort of moron would tear apart a guitar, throw away half the factory parts, and then call for support?

Playing for 15 years. I've played 2 (count them), 2 guitars I liked as much; a Satriani Ibanez (before they became 'S-Series' mass-produced pieces of shit) and a Steinberger graphite neck.

If someone stole my baby, I would hunt them down and kill them. But only after I made him or her watch me torture and kill everyone in his or her family. Have you ever thought about "the one thing you would save" in case of fire? This is mine.

Anything I wish it had? A twin.

In summary, I give the guitar a 10 AFTER modification!!! The stock pickups are shite, the factory trem sucks, and the electronics are crap. However, the body and (most importantly) the neck are as good as ANYTHING made in the last 30 years.

1982 Japan
24 frets(maybe jumbo)
2x IBZ HB pickups
2x volume,1x tone control(volume push/pull style knobs),3-way
basswood body,maple neck w/rosewood fingerboard
Black coloured body&neck (The body is like a weird strat looking one
ProRocker bridge-Floyd Rose style
Ibanez FineTuners

I play metal,progressive and heavy rock;sometimes also blues.I find this guitar difficult to use when playing metal(the neck is too thick),but it has really a 'soul' when I play blues.Maybe there is a problem with my other gear(Line6 Pod,Marshell 8008 and a Fender GE412 cab)or are the frets(never changed since 1984)?The pickups are noisy when used like single coils,but cool when humbucked.The sound is too muddy in the neck position and there is not enough tone on the clean sound presets.Maybe it is Pod's fault...But I must say I like it after all(It's my first guitar).

Action is quite poor,I had to change the bridge pickup(replaced with a Seymour-Duncan JB),but I still have some problems with it.The main problem was the tuning,until I fixed the bridge(ProRocker is an early and bad copy of the Floyd-Rose trem).Now it is more stable-Ineed to tune it only once a week when using it every day for 3 hours.The finish seems to be new.My friends didn't believe the guitar was actually 15 years old when I got it 2 and a half years back(they have all 3years old guitars and actally my guitar looks better than their ones).Finish:10!

It seems it will last more than I will(I'm 19 years old:)!!!!!It's really a tank!Once it fell from the wall and had a flight of a 6 feet high guitar stand(that happened to the previous owner)and would you believe?-No finish damages!!!

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I think it is a good guitar this RS-530...but i need something more powerful for my playing style-I'm thinking of buying a RG-507(520) and put on it dimarzios.When I'll get older and wanna play bluez it will be waiting for me.

Mine is a 83 that I traded to dealer for a Gibson Double neck SG that was not what I neede at the time. This ax has played from Alaska to Mexico and never let me down. It has 21 frets on a maple finger board, two humbuckers in what the dealer called a satin sunburst finish with a white pickguard and black trim. It has a five way switch, single valume and tone, and a phaser switch. It has a very thin neck, witch is cool because I have small hands, If I give it a nine, its because I know there must be something better somewhere for the money, but I havnt played it.

It is very vesitile. I use to play in a lot of country bands in bars around vegas and it was well suited to that. I played heavy metal in the late eighties and it worked well for that. Currently Im playing in three different Christian bands, 1 hard rock and two paraise and worship, and it still works really well. I can get a real nice strat sound sound for country. and with the phaser button and two humbuckers, I can get a nice Les Paul sound as well. And everything between.

I cant say how it was set up at the factory. I just don't remember. I got it new but that was a long time ago. The tech that sets my guitar up now loves it. There is no buzz with 8s and i could order 7s and it would still play fine. The satin finish on the body is just a little soft, but I take good care it and it has a lot of mile and will surly outlast me. But it stays in tune really well, I never have to adjust the pickups. I did have to replace the five way though, but that may have been my fault. The action is among the best Ive played

Enough said

I would love to find parts for this guitar. I would like to have a couple of different pickguards

I have been playing since I was eight. I have been playing well since I was maybe 16. I am now almost 40. Of all the guitars I have owned, this is the one I still play. It never fails. I suppose the best way to put it was told to me from a local dealer. If you are not making more than 30 grand a year playing. This is more than enough guitar for you!! Have a great day and God Bless!!!

I think it was mad ein 85...not sure...made in Japan....22 frets, 1 vol. 1 tone, 5 way, s/s/s.i think theyre factory pickups.they dont have magnetic poles tho, just these bars that run longways on the pickups..sound good tho...body-not sure, neck looks lke rosewood. Its balck, with a really really cool black metallic like pickguard.looks so sweet. Strat style, with floyd rose, and locking tuners. thin neck..great action.but not quite as low as my Epiphone G400..which is also a great cheap guitar..even if i coverd it in stickers....it also came with a randall 70 watt amp, and a hard case..not sure waht kind of case.

I play mainly punk, ska and reggae...and it suits all those, and im sure more.I use the randall, but that only plays clean. i have a crate 2x12, 120 watt......it has 16 built in effects, i also use ibanez distortion, and a really really old dod chorus pedal. its squeaks sumtimes, but i think thats just my amp....doesnt bother me much...the sound is very bright, and cuts thru alot of noise, such as bass and drums. I like that. i just wish it would squeak less.

I got it from a garage sale, so i cant say.

Will it withstand live playig? will fis h die if u take them out of water. this guitar takes major abuse. the locking system keeps it in tune mad good. u need to stretch and re tuen a few times which is a pain, but after that u never need to touch it. the finish seems like it will last. theres a few dings, but it doesnt seem that bad. the strap buttons i think arent factory and they remind me of the cadillac crest. whcih is cool cuz my strap never comes off it. very dependable, but id bring a backup to a gig, just to have in case anything did happen.

had no need too, it works great and if it broke i would be super pissed.

I ve been playing for about a year. I also own an old Sg copy bass, and a mapex drumset. i would definitley buy it again.if i could find it. i love the strap buttons, and the tone, but i hate the locking sysytem, altho it wont ever go out of tune. the headstock is pretty cool...very different from newer ibanez's. i just want to add that if anyone hs this guitar, and got it cheap.or used.or expensive, and new...its a great guitar, and the only way id ever give mine up is if my hands fell off.....and even then it would be questinable...but replace the pickups....it would sound even better.

1983 roadstar series II made in japan
22 frets
i dunno, its painted olympic white with a white pickguard
1 vol, 1 tone, 5 way pickup selector
three single coils; i think stock
uhmmm...what are active and passive electronics?
all maple neck
its painted
strat body style
floyd rose
just your basic tuners
the neck is maple, pretty thin, nice action
hard case

my style varies from metal to punk, and this guitar rules
i use a laney amp with some crappy noname head, and i use boss metal zone distortion, brownsville wah, boss auto wah
its pretty quiet, theres very little feedback, and i love it
sound varies from rich and full, to raspy, to a shimmery sound
i have it sounding like metallica, slipknot, saves the day, and dead kennedys...so theres a good variety
i love this guitar

the guitar has great action
the pickups are fine, but i want to throw on a duncan invader, a lipstick, and a soapbar
the top is fine as far as im concerned, and the bridge has withstood 18 years of abuse!
the guitar was perfect, and will most likely stay that way

i use this guitar for a lot of gigs, and it gets no feedback and always gets the sound i want
the hardware is fine for now, bt its starting to get a little misty
the finish is good, but im a spaz and drop it often, so theres some dings and dents, and the pick screws up the paint a little
the strap buttons are perfect
it is the most dependable guitar i have ever had over a long period of time, and i have quite a few
most of my gigs i use it without backup

ive never had to deal with the company, since the guitar is perfect
well, its 18 years old, so i wound up paying for a tune up
i have no clue about the warranty

ive been playing for 4 years, and i have an epiphone lp, a carlo robelli strat, a laney 4x12, a samson 1000 watt pa, 1983 tama swingstar, 1998 crate electra bass
i had nothing to say, since i got the thing for free
if it were stolen or lost, i would have to find it, and if i couldnt id buy another, just cuz it rules.
i love everything about the guitar, except the color, which is olympic white, and its kinda gross, but very unusual, so its cool
i absolutely love the neck...its so fast and easy to playand it fits unlike any other
i compared it to the ibanez iceman, the epiphone lp(which i bought), and a telecaster
i wish it had a himbucker...a duncan invader

1983. Got this when I was 19, I'm 37 now - just recently came to appreciate what I had. This model came during the Eddie VH era, stock with a humbucker at the bridge and a single at the neck. Three postion switch, volume, tone. Stock trem. All white this gal is.

I changed out the stock coils about 7 years ago, can't remember what went in! I liked it before, but the new p/u's pushed it over the edge. I split the rear humbucker, ripped out the tone control and threw a phase swtich in there. Added another switch to give me choice of front or rear coil of the humbucker. Many choices of tone.

I play what comes to my brain, which is mostly rock, but palette ranges from soft and melodic to knock your head of hard. This guitar does this with aplomb! I like I don't sound like anyone else, this guitar not only has it's own sound, but has a personality I miss everytime I pick something else up. It's strat-like, but the humbucker offers more than that. My custom wiring makes huge difference I think.

Goes from thin twangy to cruncha muncha fat at the flip of a swtich. Great for layering while recording. Again, the custom wiring allows thin to fat tones. Wanna hold some of the bottom, go fat with the humbucker, wanna cut through and make her sing, use the coil split - this guitar is there.

Plays well, though not amazing. I don't still have this guitar for it's wondeful playability, but it's far from bad. Tone to be had all over the neck, upper frets not all that smooth to get around on.

Tremelo is stock, and it works! Put new strings on, stretch them for a song or two, and wham, it's in. I can yank the trem pretty crazy and it stays in tune. I've learned how to make it go out, which is much better than learning how to keep it in. Don't know why this stock trem works so well, but it does, and at 18 years old, I think that's pretty amazing.

Built to last this thing. I've dropped it I can't count how many times in I don't know how many ways. Pick it up, and if the tuning heads didn't get hit, most likely she's still in tune. No kidding. It's scary this thing doesn't go out more than it does, but who's complaining.

Never had to deal with Ibanez over this gal. It just works.

Someone rated this one of the most under rated guitars - I have to agree. This thing has kept me happy for a long time. I've picked up everything I could get my hands on, where's there's been different, and sometimes classy or refined, this guitar has personality out oozing out the jack. A friend indeed.

If you have one you want to ditch, or know of someone who does, email me, I might be interested.

i don't know when it was made! i got it with a hardcase that is rock solid. it has 22 frets, 2 humbuckers, a floyd rose trem, and is painted in a weird candy pink, which looked more like a layer of plastic than colour. hmmmm. but it was cheap, wasnt it. pinky (hehe) has 2 push/pull potis. body looks like strat and is VERY!!! heavy, by far heavier than a les paul for an example. the neck is very slim, not painted and feels wonderfull, really. so lets go to the...

played without an amp it is the best tone i ever heard from an electric!!! i guess the heavy wood makes that. i love to play it at home while watching TV or write songs.
but if plug it in...uh oh! it sounds somewhat bland clean and very muddy, even crappy on high gain! even my cheapest epiphone sounds better! i think i got the production line with the pickups out of the ass....
i play in an very fast punk rock band, and there is absolutely no defination with this babe. tried over many amps, believe me.
i know a guy who has exactly the same miss piggy and replaced the PUs with emg81 and this guitar sounds very very good! so maybe if i have too much money someday...(please send some!)

the setting was very good when i got it. very low action, and i love the neck. but then...at a very lousy gig i got so mad that i trashed it on the stage several times and then jumped on it with my docs. so the trem was dead, the potis were stomped into the body with the surrounding wood. the headplate was burst and the pink plastic wasnt so nice anymore... glued and fixed it the next day, screwed down the trem cos i hate floyds anyway. so now piggy is one big optical disaster. but i call that style!

as mentioned above, i killed it then i glued it and then i played it.
try this with an gibson and you will end up crying! the finish lasted very much till that night, it is like a layer of plastic, damn solid.
i replaced all my guitars strap buttons with schaller locks, cos iz my only chance to minimize the damage.
depend on it? piggy yes, sound NO!!!!!!
i don't gig without backup anyway.

i hate them! i mailed them several times with different answers and never got any reply. very strange.

i play since 1988, i own a gibson sg61 reissue, a epiphone sg400 (which is a very good cheapo guitar!), a fender jagstang which i love!!! and a completely wasted and broken east german jaguar copy - the allmighty musima 25 deluxe. what a piece of shit!!!
i had a marshall VS100 head which sucked very much, last year i bought an sovtek mig100h and cant stop grinning since then. i play through a (tatahhhhh....!) cable direct into the amp, then in an park 4x12 cabinet which had the shitty 35 watt celestions but i replaced them with H&H speakers, now iz ok.
if it were stolen i wouldnt buy another one. it just doesnt fit my style in look or sound. i would have sold it, but iz so fucked up that i wouldnt even get 50 bucks for it, and i dont want to give it away for free. someone interrested? (hehe)
i think with the right pick ups this guitar is a very good thing to buy. it isnt too expensive anyway. but for high gain sounds i wouldnt use it in 1000 years. just the wrong piggy for punk!

1983 22frets solid top wjvolume,tone five way selector sss passiove electronics, maple, dark flamed top, strat, schaller? rosewood,

country and rock, accostic 12 fenderm 80 etc, some noise on single setting, dry or tely sound when i switced the bridge and middle pickups, inexpensive but used it for eight years professionally

good action, pickups need constant adjustment, every thing was good when new

used it for eight years plus many casuals and it h as held up very well

never needed repair

40 years, couldnt find another one, comparable to strat, great guitar for price

I won two Roadies, one is a '83 the other a '85. The '83 is the strat copy with 3 single coil pickups, 5 position switch, gray-black metalic body, rosewood neck. I swapped out two pickups with Duncans. This is the toally versitil guit-fiddle. My '85 is a flat top start with bookmatched stripped maple top, electric blue color. It has the duel single to humbucker pickups making it the ultimate guitar. Both are better than my other Epiphone/Fender/Cort/Washburn electrics by far.

They have the best sounds, I can sound like any other guitar you want.

The '83 has very good action, but the '85 has the best action I have ever played. It is so low and smooth. I have yet to have played ANY other guitar with action as good as my '85. The finishes are great, very detailed, no mechanical flaws, all joints fit smoothly. The frets are smooth and thin.

both have tumbled, fallen, bounced, slid, I even had an old 50 lb. Advent speaker fall on the '83 in it's case. It put a huge hole through the top of the case but no damage was done to the guitar. not even a blemish. These babies are built to last. I have gig'd in all sorts of weather, and never had issues with the necks.

Never needed it

IF you find one of these, buy it. You will not be disapointed. I just saw one in a shop for $199. It had some dinks, but it was worth it. These guitars might not have the Gibson or Fender name, and if that's what matters to you please don't buy one. Let the real musicians grab it up and take care of 'em. These are the real deal! once you own one you will understand. Good luck Hunting!

my ibanez is the best guitar i have ever played out fenders squiers and gibsons id take my ibanez. it has a red flamed paint job, 24 frets, h/h pickups that change to single coil pickups when your press the volume knob down, it also has a iabanez rock r' locking bridge, and a string lock at the nut, a three way switch for the pickups, two volumes and one tone. it has a mple knech and a rose wood finger-board the body

i use a fevender reverb amp and i am getting a behringer workstation but the guitar sound great on all the amps ive played it on, good range. and the bridge humbucker sound particularly good with distortion. it has a very full sound to it also and it plays a wide spectrum of sounds.

the action is set up for speed and the fretboard is really falt but it makes it easier to play fast. the 3 way pickup switch make a little noise and the nut on the trem are kind of hard to deal with while muting but all around the factory guitar is excellent

the hardware is mint and the guitar is an 85' so it does last. it is a very dependable guitar i would play without a backup any time.

ive been playing for 7 years and i also own an accoustic and have played about 10 differnt top name electrics. if it were stolen i would get fricken' medevil on the person who took it.

Mine's a lefty '84 i've had since new. Black, probably basswood body and all maple neck. 3 single coils that i replaced with Dimarzios. I hate noise! It's a brilliant guitar that i have played constantly. Already had it refretted and it's due for another.

I play my own particular style from clean to mean and all sounds are fantastic. Unplugged it's a great sounding guitar and this is the best indication for a good electric sound. I've had many amps from Fenders to Voxs to Marshalls and always got a useable sound. Have a Boss VF-1 at the moment and the sounds are impressive.

It was cheap to buy so let's not get carried away. One flaw is that the high E string is misaligned and actually nearly runs off the fretboard by about the 20th fret. Never mind. I don't play up there. The bridge saddles used to chew up D strings constantly until i fitted Graphtecs. Standard trem used to be troublesome but has played in over the years. Had a graphite nut from the start though.

Have played 100's of gigs with it. Broke a string......once! She is well battered now and nothing to look at but who cares....she rocks! I can depend on it but only a fool would play a gig without a back-up. I've dropped it heaps....never broken.

Never used it.

I'm always on the look-out for Roadstars and being a lefty makes it nearly impossible. They are well worth the trouble. They are simple, great sounding working guitars. They must be dirt cheap. Try one if you see one. I will never sell mine and would be devastated to lose it.

Mine has 22 frets and was made in 1983. It has a 2 tone sunburst finish and it includes a 5 way switch and one tone and one volume knob. it still has its original pickups, i think. it has a strat body for this guitar is a strat copy. It has a Floyd Rose bridge and a S-S-S configuration. The only flaw with this guitar in terms of general info is the weight. This guitar is heavy compared to the Ibanez guitars made today and it hurts your shoulder after a while.

Im sure this guitar fits any music style, for i like to play hard metal and the previous owner plays more old-fashioned rock. Check my Ibanez Smashbox review if you want to know about my stuff. Only the middle setting on my 5 way switch doesnt work. You can get a dark sound from the first switch setting and a brighter tone from the 5th setting. Overall great sound.

I bought this thing used about a little more than a year ago and there were a few paint stratches, but a Sharpie fixed those. it has a loose input jack, but i doubt that it had it when it was made. The finish is fadd, but thats no problem

this thing is very durable. im not sure what it is made out of, but it is very strong. i have V-hooks on mine, so putting a new strap on is very hard. I can depend on it, but not without a backup, only because of the input jack. otherwise, i would use it without a backup in a heartbeat.

i havent dealt with them

I have been playing off and on for 5 years and this was my first electric. It was a great buy for the cost and even if it was 300 dollars more expensive, it would be worth it. I would definitely recommend trying to find one if you are in search of a nice guitar with good sound. If it was stolen, i would be mad

Not sure what year...early 80s I think. Solid top, cream finish, black Pickguard, S/S/H, coil splitter on humbucker, Floyd Rose with Locking Nut. Nothing spectacular

I can't stand the sound. I play mostly classic rock and some new age. The metal heads seem to like the sound of these guitars but it doesn't suit my style at all. It just doesn't seem to have any tone at all, very bland.

Bought it used, but it was set up pretty nice. Had a few nicks bt nothing major

I have mixed feelings about this category. In general this guitar is a beast. very strongly built and I am not worried about banging it around. Even extreme temperatures don't put it out of tune or hurt playability. I have only had to adjust the neck once in the 14 years that I have owned it. on the other hand, I have had to replace the jack, the tone knob, and the 5-way blade. Both the wood and the finish seem quite soft. doesn't take much to put a fairly deep dent in it and almost all of the screws are stripped. The tuners are crap, but it doesn't matter much with the locking nut.

I've been playing for 14 years and this was my first guitar. I have played mostly acoustic guitars over that time which is why I haven't replaced it yet. I have ordered a Carvin TL60 and am anxiously awaiting it. This guitar has suited my needs but it has not excelled at it and I definately would get something else if it were lost or stolen. I don't like the floyd rose and I have added extra springs to stabalize it (I don't use trem). I'm not crazy about the color either but niether of those things are the fault of the guitar. The only redeeming quality of this guitar is the neck. the face is a beautiful rosewood and the back is unfinished. the action is great and the playability of the guitar is really nice. I am considering pulling the neck, replacing the tuners (With sprezels), replacing the locking nut and putting it on another body, but that is a future project. If not for the neck I would have given it an overall rating of about 4

This is your basic strat inspired guitar.But i actually like the body shape more than a fender, its horns have extra corners on the inside.Im not sure what year it was made, but it shows definated signs of aging. It has Three of the best sounding single coils i have ever heard.Black body,white pickguard,fixed bridge,maple neck and board,the headstock is a bit ugly though.The Ibanez smooth tuners look like they were made a few years ahead of their time, they are more modern looking than the rest of the guitar. the neck is surprisingly thin for an older guitar.oh yeah,it has 22 fretts.Its nice and simple but has gooooood tone and playability, i think it could kill a strat.

I have never liked fenders but everyone told me to use one for my music(Sadly i am wasting my talent in a punk rock band that sounds like blink 183 or whatever).I have been switching off between a Kramer,a Gibson,and a Danelectro for a while, but i could never find the right sound i was looking for.I am anti-fender so i would never get any guitar directly inspired by one, but my sisters boyfriend had this old ibanez laying around that he gave me( i never liked that guy before, but after a free guitar how can you not love somebody?)It was old so i thought the tone would at least be alright, but i was wrong, it was PERFECT!I hit the jackpot, the exact tone i was dreaming of was living in this guitar, waiting for me for years.If you play punk(maybe not gutter punk)than you NEED one of these guitars.

I never got to see the factory set-up, it was all tweaked out when i got it.the finish looks alright, but over the years it could no longer resist the abuse, there are a number of chips on it(perfect for taking on the road,pre-battered).It had Good action after i got through with it.

I got it pre-thrashed so i am not afraid to bump it or anything.it seems pretty solid though.

Oreo

I am in love with this guitar, it replaced a Kramer, a Gibson, and a Danelectro.And i got it for free!And yes,I would try to find another if something happened to it.This axe has all the sound i have ever wanted and it is a little chipped and stuff so im not afraid to take it with me places.I think all guitarists should have one of these,my ibanez could beat up your strat any day!After 5 years of playing i think i found my choice guitar for life.

My 1985 Ibanez Roadstar was made in Japan. I think it has 22 frets, but I don't have it with me right now. It has three single coil pickups, volume and tone controls. I know nothing about the electronics, only that I just had it rewired. Solid maple neck. Solid black finish on the body, black on the top of the head. Strat style body, but I like it way more than any strat I've played. Floyd Rose Bridge. Ibanez Easy Tuners? I think that's what they're called. This guitar spanks any Strat with a braided belt.

I don't know what kind of music my band plays. Not heavy, but not soft. Just a rock band, I guess. I have a Peavey 112 amp with Black Widow suspension and I just use the distortion on the amp with the footswitch. Just straight up guitar through an amp and I just mic the amp at shows because the pre-amp out sounds like sh*t. I just had the guitar rewired, so there is no noise on any channel. Beautiful. Some strange feedback on heavier overdrive when I'm not playing, but it sounds kind of cool. We cover RITFW by Neil Young, but we do it like Pearl Jam does it, so that feedback at the beginning is pretty cool. I hated the buzzing on clean channels until I got it rewired. Just an old guitar. I got it a few weeks ago. I love the sound.

I don't know how well the guitar was set up originally, but I love it now. Someone's had some fun changing everything on it. I got it at a pawn shop and am fixing it up now. It's almost there. The back pick up cover is missing. The finish was sh*t when I bought it, but some Gibson polish has it looking like a million bucks. The guitar plays and sounds like new because I put money into it, but only 30 bucks. Don't give up on these guitars!!!!! Put a little cash into them and they blow away Strats.

This guitar is the Iron Man. If there was Nuclear war, roaches and my Ibanez guitars would still live. I use this guitar and my 92 Ibanez Talman in our shows, but I would trust it without a back up. Dependable: Like a rock.

Too old for warranty. Ibanez are good people, though. A Fender tech rewired it for me in a matter of hours, so it's easily repaired.

I've been playing for 4 years, so I'm not the wise sage-like player, but I do know one thing: Ibanez makes (or made, I guess) a few great guitars. The Roadstar is one of them. Again, my other guitar is the 92 Talman. I have all the faith in the world in Ibanez. When I bought my Roadstar, I was thinking about a Strat for 650 new. Not a bad deal. I was in a pawn shop looking for a foot switch when I saw the Roadstar. Played just as well as a Strat, if not better. Don't get me wrong. Strat's are a great traditional guitar, but they're like the Gap and Abercrombie's of guitars. I like to be a little different, and I like paying 400 dollars less for a guitar that's twice as cool.

I think it's a 1985. Humbucker at bridge two single coils, push switch on volume pot. Strat Style body. Maple Neck.

Great out of phase sounds, hot on the bridge PU. Suitable for any style music. I used it exclusively for about a year playing rock and country.

I bought it in 1999 used. It was cosmetically beat but rock solid and the neck was dead straight.

I would recommend this guitar to anyone for most applications except excessive whammy bar wanking.

Never contacted them.

I've been playing for over 30 years. This guitar caught my eye during a lunchtime shopping trip and as soon as I held it I knew I wanted it. I've since given it to a young aspiring guitarist but I played it consistently for about a year and half. I wouldn't mind having another one at all. I have 4 Fenders I use presently and just didn't need it.

I purchased my Roadstar 2 in 1985 new from a local music store. It is a Japanese made guitar with 22 frets, 3 single coil pickups and a Ibanez tremolo bridge. It is basically a Strat clone (one of the best ones I have ever seen). The body is made from Poplar with a solid blue epoxy finish. It has the same controls that are on a Strat. The neck is maple and is extremely fast with low action. I replaced the nut with a aluminum one and it brightened up the sound. Even with the stock Ibanez whammy bar (non-locking) and the stock Ibanez tuners (probably Gotoh's) it stays in tune without a problem. A number of years ago while at a jam session some bozo tripped over the guitar stand sending my guitar smacking face down on the floor. Outside of a broken pickup select switch and a couple of chips from the finish it didn't even go out of tune!!!! It is built like a S#!*T Brickhouse.

At the time I purchased this guitar, I was playing a Gibson Les Paul Custom. I instantly gravitated to the Ibanez because it had the growl I was looking for. It also had a good weight factor as well (try wearing a Les Paul for 4-6 hours....shoulder bursitis or Les Paul hunch for sure). I have been playing this guitar since I bought it in 1985 and I currently play it in conjuction with a Alesis Quadraverb GT, a Digitech IPS-33B and a IVL Pitchrider 7000. When I first got the guitar I was not that impressed with the pickups. I felt that they were a little wimpy. I replaced them with 2 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails and a JB JR. humbucking pickups. Nice and crunchy, hot signal. Because I had to change the pickups I rate this at a 7.

I believe that no matter what you pay for a guitar you will still have to do some sort of setup on it. It was no different with my Roadstar. (each player has their own preferences) The interesting thing is I have a friend who purchased a Roadstar at the same time I did (from the same store too!) and his is a piece of Crap (doesn't stay in tune, sounds thin and weak, and his action is yuck, he never set it up either). My hardware and finish (with the exception of the dings) has held up remarkably well for a guitar of 16 years.

This guitar has been on many gigs and jams. Outside of breaking strings occasionally it has been one solid piece o' hardware. I have played this guitar everyday for the past 16 years and nary had a problem with it (except for the broken switch, which I replaced). This is a 10 all the way! I would by another one if mine were destroyed or stolen in a heartbeat.

Never tried.

I own 27 other guitars and after 16 years this is still my favorite. Like I said I would definately replace this guitar with another Roadstar in a heartbeat!.

This a a 1983 model made in Japan. The body is a solid piece of maple with a transparent finish, and is cut in the classic stratocaster shape. Controls include volume and tone, a 5 way switch and a phase shifter. The pickguard is black, as are the 3 single coil pickups. The neck is also maple and features 21 frets. It's a thinner design and very comfortable to play. Everything on this instrument is factory, as I bought it in '83 and haven't changed a thing.

Sounds great run through a Fender Stage 185. I used to play it dirty with an Ibenez distortion pedal. It sound pretty decent clean now. Sound is not a full as it could be, perhaps with different pickups but I don't want to change it now. Only difficulty with noise comes every once in awhile with the 5 way switch ... can be noisy during switching.

The reason I bought the guitar was because the action is terrific. Very low to the neck but no vibrating on the frets. 18 years later, everything still works like day one.

Playing 18 years, albeit the last few very seldom. I also own a strat and a Fender acoustic, peavy sidekick amp, Fender Stage 185 amp. I would be hearbroken to lose this guitar since it is the one I learned on. It looks great, sounds great and guys who have played lots more than me think its a super guitar. The guy I bought it from has told me many times that he wishes he'd kept it for himself.

22 frets, Volume, tone, 5-way selector, 3 single coils, Strat style body, only complaint is the neck is a little thick for my tastes.

The sound is great. I wish I had a humbucker in it, though. I mostly play grunge. I am using it with distortion and chorus mostly. The feedback I get from this guitar is awesome.

I bought it used, so it was pretty banged up when I got it. But it should last for a long time.. Made in 84

This guitar would get through any gig.

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In my opinion, the mid-1980's Roadstar II is one of the most underrated electric guitars ever made. I've owned plenty of Strats and Les Pauls but dumped them all and started buying-up Roadstars. They're VERY easy to play, sound AMAZING through a tube amp and absolutely refuse to go out of tune (assuming you get the locking nut/fine tuner bridge version). I currently own 12 of them and have bids out on several more on ebay. If you have one to sell or parts (epecially the factory whammy bar) please email turnkey@tir.com

By looking at the serial number you can tell when your Ibanez-guitar was manufactured. The first two numbers indicates the year, the letter after those numbers indicate the month. The rest of the numbers are just random numbers.
On my guitar the serial number start with 85E. Thereby it was built in May, 1985.
I guess the features are similar to other RSII-series guitars.
The bridge is called rock'n'roller (as I recall it). Splitable humbucker, with so called hot rails in bridge position. Single coil in neck- and middle position. 1 volume pot. 1 tone pot with which you also split the humbucker.
Standard hardcase.

This guitar sounds quite good. I've had plans on replacing the pickups, though.
I play mostly with a distorted sound. Heavy/Rock-style.
I mainly use the humbucker. I use the neck-pickup occasionly for softer, mellow solos.
Soundwise it's a rather versatile guitar. The fact that the humbucker can be splitted adds to its versatility.

I bought it used. There is some scratches and other stuff that really doesn't bother me.
The main thing that does bother me is the bridge. I bend a lot of strings in my style of playing. The bridge moves way too much when I do that. As I bend one string, all the other strings get out of tune.
I also have to be very careful with the tremolo bar in order to keep the guitar in tune.
Otherwise it has a great neck. The frets really allow me to bend strings. Tonality is also great.

This guitar has already lasted for a very long time. I've had very few problems with it. I see no reason for why it wouldn't last for another 15 years. Note that I have not always treated the guitar very kindly.
Sure, I would call it a quality guitar.

only spare part I've ever bought was a tremolo bar, a couple of years ago. It was available...

I've played the guitar for 6-7 years. Bought my IbanezRSII about 5 years ago.
You can tell that my guitar has been well used just by looking at it.
I bought it from a friend of mine for a cheap penny(1000SEK, approx. 80-90USD). For that kind of money: The best guitar I'll ever buy.
If it was stolen, I'd want it back. I have played on other Roadstars but none of them has matched up with mine. It seems that the quality varies from one guitar to another.
I will keep this guitar for as long as it lasts.
It won't be my main instument, but it certainly will stick around.

Mine was made in approx. 1984, which was 2 years before i was born, and i have no clue where it was made. It has 22 frets with 1 vol. and 2 tone and 5-way selector. The pickup configuration is S/S/H whichc suits me pretty well. It has a solid top, basswood body, and rosewood fingerboard. It has a black finish, with a somewhat strat finish. The bridge is an Ibanez make, which is somewhat like a Floyd-Rose, but not. the tuners are lock, but i have no clue what kind. It came with a brown case.

I play heavy-metal and hard rock, mainly some Metallica-type stuff, so this guitar suits me well. I use a Marshall MG-30RCD with it as well as a Danelectro Black Coffee pedal with it and it gives it a sound that kicks ass. It is noisy whenever it goes past halfway on the volume settings on my amp. It has a very rich full sound, that has a tremendous range. I can make it(with a vintage pedal) can make it sound like a 50's strat to a death-metal Slayer sound. I love it.

There is nothing wrong with the Action, Fit, or finish of my guitar, even though i bought it from a Frickin pawn Shop.

My guitar will withstand any live play that I feed it. The finish is as good as it was in 1984, although i wasnt alive. The strap buttons are perfect, and it is my most dependable guitar i own. I would use it in a gig w/o backup on any day.

The pawn shop guy was really nice and friendly the whole time I was there. I have never gone to get it repaired b/c it doesnt need it.

I have been playing for about 2 or three years now and along with my Roadstar, I have a B.C. Rich Bronze series Warlock, Martin Sigma acoustic, an Ibanez acoustic guitar, and a Takamine G-230 acoustic, and my roadstar is the best one. If it were stolen, I swear to God, I would kill the person that stole it. I love everything about it, and i hate nothing about it.

I think it's from the early 80's (some guy told me), but I don't know where its from. 22 frets; it's got a volume knob and and a tone knob; a toggle switch for pickups; S/S/H and a five-way selector. Solid top. Black and white.

It sounds great for any style. I play anything on this baby, from punk to classic rock to metal to ska to blues and all the way back. I'm using it with a cheap matrix amp, which sounds like crap on my Marlin guitar, but I love it with my Ibanez (and with my synth, but that's a different thing altogether). It sounds great, and I like the sound better when I turn up the gain on my amp, than when I use my distortion pedal, because I get a low metallish sound (I find my dist. pedal WAY too high pitch). I don't know about the variety of sound really, because I got it used, and whoever owned it before me did something to it (I have no idea what they did but they totally @$#!ed it up), but it sounds the same with the 5-way selector in any place, and the pickup doesn't make a difference either. I love this guitar.

The guitar was set up beautifully, and I have no complaints here except that some guy messed it up before I owned it. It still looks beautiful, though.

This guitar has been used live, and I've had no problems there. Sometimes the selector is touchy and will turn the whole thing right off, but that's because the previous owner sucked. I've banged this thing around for almost three years now, and it has no problems here, because it's perfect. I'd definately use it on a gig with no backup. The guy who owned it before put a crack on the case of it, but it's almost invisible, plus I covered it in stickers.

I don't know because I've never hadto get in touch with the company and I got it used (no warranty).

This is my favorite guitar above my other two (Marlin - which is a peice of.. male cattle excrement, and my acoustic Degas.) I like everything about this and I'd recommend it for anyone, beginner or pro. I've been playing for just over three years, and I love this thing now as much as when I got it.

Made in Japan. Purchased new at Music World in Spokane, Washington on January 6, 1984. Model# RS335BK. Serial #H830248. This axe has a 22 fret rosewood board on a maple neck and Ibanez Smooth Tuner II tuners. The black 'Strat' style solid body with white beading supports S/H pickups with a 3-way selector, one volume and one tone control. The finish is near prestine for its age.

I play blues and the single coil is perfect with a Peavey 400 Series amp. Full reverb and depth is where I like it. I alternate a heavy base line with full bar chords - rough but it works.

The finish is still in great condition, the neck very good and the fret board a bit worn but well taken care of. This was a good guitar right out of the box. It is not a Stratocaster but I'm not Clapton.

This guitar thrives on abuse. I've smashed the guts out of it for 15+ years and it has never failed.

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I've played off and on and on and on for the past 25+ years. I have two other guitars, one hollow body electric and an acoustic, but the Roadstar is my favorite. If it were stolen, I would buy a 'Strat'. If you steal it, 'you betta run'.