1984 Ibanez Roadstar II RS230

Log Out | Topics | Search Moderators | Edit Profile

Author Message   Butts Username: Butts Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Saturday, September 22, 2007 - 4:32 pm:    I just bought this at a local music store. 200$ Canadian. Seems good so far. It will be the new "hang at the office guitar" although it seems very gigable. Neck is fast. Pickups sound good. The middle knob is some sort of parametric eq. It changes the tone from pure single coil to something closer to a humbucker. I have never played a guitar with this type of tone control. There's a few dings on her but nothing serious. These are some pics I just snapped. I'll post some better ones later. BTW I'm still having trouble getting the pics to show in the post so feel free to repost the pics. Thanks for your time! Best regards, Brian [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/Brian_Butts /DSC00892.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/Brian_Butts /DSC00891.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/Brian_Butts /DSC00890.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/Brian_Butts /DSC00889.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/Brian_Butts /DSC00888.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/Brian_Butts /DSC00887.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/Brian_Butts /DSC00886.jpg[/IMG]   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Sunday, September 23, 2007 - 4:33 pm:    The middle knob is NOT a tone control. It's a volume control for the middle pickup. The Bear   Butts Username: Butts Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Sunday, September 23, 2007 - 6:25 pm:    Hey Bear thanks for the info. I’m new hear but I’m guessin with your handle bein Mr Roadstar and all you know quite a bit about these guitars. I’ve owned a few Ibanez’s before but I defiantly am NOT an expert. That’s what I find so puzzling about your post. Rest assured the middle knob on MY GUITAR is NOT a volume control for the middle pickup. It drastically effects the tone of the guitar. But not like a normal tone control. The last knob is a normal tone knob. Turned fully clockwise tone is bright. Fully counterclockwise fundamental tone remains but gets darker with less output. Everything we would expect from a tone control. The middle knob is a tone shift. Fully counterclockwise all pickups have the chime you would expect from single coil/strat type pickups. Having only a three way switch it’s not got the quack of a good strat with a five way but it sounds very good. Roll the middle knob fully clockwise the tone shifts (gets more mid emphasis) and output increases somewhat. On very high gain amp settings you would swear it was a hum bucker…..well more of a P90 than a hum bucker but you get the idea. Here’s some shots of under the hood. Other than the output jack the solder looks clean and unmolested. I’m also not finding very much info on the RS230 on the net. Anyone else have one of these? [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/Brian_Butts /DSC00894.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/Brian_Butts /DSC00895.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/Brian_Butts /DSC00896.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/Brian_Butts /DSC00897.jpg[/IMG] Best regards, Brian   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Monday, September 24, 2007 - 5:23 pm:    What you are describing is EXACTLY the way the stock setup works. The 3-way switch only controls the Bridge and Neck pickups. The middle volume blends in the middle pickup regardless of the switch position. The photos of the control cavity appear stock as described. There is no capacitor on the middle pot. It is configured as a volume control. 'Course, you're welcome to argue all ya want. Seems like that's the primary purpose of internet forums. Folks come here looking for advice and then disregard what they're told 'cause it doesn't agree with their opinion or preconceived notions. The Bear   Roland_g303 Username: Roland_g303 Registered: 5-2007 Posted on Monday, September 24, 2007 - 7:43 pm:    That would also explain why your guitar sounds like a humbucker guitar when you turn the middle pickup volume all the way up. It's the same trick as when you put the pickup selector in the middle of a telecaster that is wired in a configuration to allow both pickups to be on at the same time. You can get the same 'humbucker' type sound. Patrick   Butts Username: Butts Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Monday, September 24, 2007 - 9:47 pm:    Hi Bear. I would never argue. Misunderstand......sure.......but never argue. So that's what's happening! When you said "controls middle pickup volume" I thought you meant controls the volume....as in no volume on the middle pickup setting. My bad. I see now what you mean is it "blends" the middle pickup. Makes a lot more sense explained that way. Sorry if I came across as trying to argue a point. Believe me, if I was actually trying to make a point/be a •••••....you would know it. Again, my thanks! Best regards, Brian PS Did they make many of these? It really is a great guitar with a lot of very good tones in her. Sounds killer with my 65amps SoHo. I hung my 2375 strat up on the wall at the office today. I think I will keep the roadstar around the house for those time when I don't want to take my vintage stuff out gigging. B

Add Your Message Here Post: -Color- Black Red Green Blue Yellow Purple Orange Cyan Gray White -Font- Arial Courier Symbol Times Verdana -Size- Smallest (-2) Small (-1) Normal Large (+1) Largest (+2) Enter Item number: Username: Posting Information: This is a private posting area. Only registered users and moderators may post messages here. Password: Options: Enable HTML code in message Automatically activate URLs in message Action: