1984 Ibanez Roadstar II Restoration | Part Four

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four

Electronics Work

This is the fourth and final part of the 1984 Ibanez Roadstar II Restoration saga. You can read the first part here, second here, and third here.

Many thanks to Eddie at ArchSign for crafting a single-ply black pickguard, Che'gu Awal for the pair of Epiphone BHC humbuckers that gave new life to this axe; and Brady Low for a pair of really cool speed knobs. You guys are the best!

Control and pickup cavities were shielded with carbon paint, and the back of the pickguard with aluminum foil. The Violet pots were replaced with 500K Alphas, and the faulty Gotoh DM-30 with a PCB-based 5-way switch (to cut costs). As the output jack was still in good working condition, it was retained (after servicing, of course).

1984 Ibanez Roadstar II Restoration | Part Three

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four

Refret and Neck Refinish

This is the third part of the 1984 Ibanez Roadstar II Restoration saga. You can read the first part here and second here.

After gently sanding the entire neck, the fretboard was refretted with Fender medium-jumbos. Surprisingly, the fretboard radius was a healthy 14". I was extra careful to preserve this radius while prepping the fretboard.

I also repaired the gouged out fretboard edge at the 6th fret with maple dust and super glue. The back of the neck and headstock face were refinished with Tru-Oil, and the fretboard with super glue.

1984 Ibanez Roadstar II Restoration | Part Two

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four

Tru-Oil Refinish

This is the second part of the 1984 Ibanez Roadstar II Restoration saga. You can read the first part here. The body was stripped down to bare wood (sans veneer) and refinished in Tru-Oil. The Brass I bridge was taken apart, thoroughly de-gunked/derusted, lubricated, and carefully reassembled.

1984 Ibanez Roadstar II Restoration | Part One

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four

Overview

Here's an instrument that's been played to death. There's even a deep mark on the upper waist that looks like someone hacked it with a machete. The neck on this guitar says "Roadstar II," and the neck plate serial number indicates that it "was made at the Terada Plant, Japan on April, 1984" (Guitar Dater Project). 

The neck appears to be from either a 1984 production RS 130, 135 or 225, based on these specs: (i) 1 piece maple neck, (ii) 22 frets, (iii) 25.5" scale length, (iv) graphite nut, and (v) Smooth Tuner II machine heads ("84 RoadstarII Standard Series" catalog, p.2). All these features appear to be stock.

The only non-stock feature is the mirror pickguard, which a previous owner had added for looks, I presume. The body features routing for 2 humbuckers, "Dead End" strap buttons, and a "Brass I" hardtail bridge. However, the only Roadstar II with a Brass I bridge is the RS130, but it has 3 single coils ("84 RoadstarII Standard Series" catalog, pp. 2-3). That means this body cannot be from an RS130.

The closest matches to this body I've found are (i) a BL-50 (1981 "Ibanez Electric Guitars" catalog, pp. 10-11) and (ii) a BL170 ("82 Ibanez Blazer and Studio Series Electric Guitars" catalog, pp. 4-5). The BL-50 features a solid mahogany body, and the BL170; solid ash.

Now, having removed the black paint job (apparently stock) and veneer on both the front and back, the body appears to be solid wood (3 pieces). However, it certainly is not mahogany or ash. So it couldn't be a BL-50 or BL170. In that case, what is it?

At my wits end, I turned to the good folk at the Ibanez Forum for help. Sad to say, no one there was able to identify the guitar either. On the bright side, a helpful soul did suggest that this Roadstar II could be a one-off model that never made it to the catalog. I think I'll go with that. So here it is, folks; a 1984 Ibanez Roadstar II.

This restoration involved bodywork and refinishing, a full refret, a new custom made pickguard (thank you ArchSign), and electronics upgrade; amongst other things. This post offers the reader an overview of this diamond in the rough.

Kramer 610 Restoration | Part Four

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four

Finally, it was time to install the electronics, put the 610 back together again, slap on a fresh set of 009s, take care of action and intonation; and set up the VS100N for optimum performance.

The electronics consisted of a CRL five-way switch, three DiMarzio EP1201 500K pots, a Sprague 0.022uF cap, and a DiMarzio EP1301 mono jack. The original brass "football" output jack plate was retained, as it looked rather spiffy after derusting and polishing. After a lengthy discussion with the owner, we decided to go with the "Jimmy Vaughan Wiring Scheme." 

This scheme provides a master volume and separate tone controls for the neck and bridge pickups. However, the middle pickup is "wide open" as it's not connected to any of the two tone pots. I'm rather fond of this wiring scheme because (1) you get a dedicated tone control for the bridge pickup, and (2), you're not loaded down by two tone pots when using the neck and middle pickups together (switch position 2).

Pickup-wise, a used DiMarzio DP155 Tone Zone humbucker was installed in the bridge position, the stock "Made in Korea" middle pickup retained; and the gnarly neck pickup replaced with an old Ibanez Blazer SB single coil. After juggling around with various pickup heights, I was able to achieve a pleasing balance between the three. Last of all, a new back cover, strap buttons; and Gibsonesque speed knobs were installed. Although it took a really long time to complete this restoration; I'm happy with the results.