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| Author |
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Funkle (Funkle)
| | Posted on Sunday, December 01, 2002 - 7:28 pm: | |
Radius question (Mr. Roadstar, Help!)
I'm sure Steve can help me with this... I've been toying with picking up a radius style axe as an affordable whammy equipped guitar, and because I like the smooth ergonomics of the JS model. When I start getting into all the models, it gets quite confusing. It looks to me like, for the radius models, you've got the 442r, 540r and 542r. Is that it? What're the major differences?
But then there are these Roadstar models which look similar: RS530,rs525,rg525,rg530. Are these pretty comparable to the Radii? Is the rg525 like the Radii, or is it more curved on top?
As soon as I get into Roadstar land, I get thoroughly confused. It seems like the line comprises all sorts of body styles; there are strat styles, radius styles, and then the Blue Horizon page shows a 430/440/450s style which looks all of the world like the current Sabre. The nomenclature gets confusing too, because you have RS, which makes sense, then you have RG which also refers to the pointy horned rocker body style currently produced. What does it all mean?
Steve, how's that Roadstar data sheet going? That would be very helpful at this point.
--
-Sven |
Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar)
| | Posted on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 12:00 pm: | |
Sven,
Data sheet is done! Didn't you get a copy? I'll send one to you tonight.
Okay, I'm doing this from memory, so no charges of lying under oath, okay? 
The closest a Roadstar body got to the Radius shape, was the RS/RG525. It had a flat back with a curved top.
The RS/RG530 has a flat top with binding.
The 400 series is very Strat shaped. Except for the '86 RG410, RG420, and RG425, which have a sharper radius on the body edges, and no pickguard. The corners are not as sharp as the later "RG Series" shape.
The Radius has a rounded airfoil shape and is the direct ancestor of the JS (Satriani) models. The various models in the Radius series have the same body, but different pickup/trem/control combinations. There was a one year only (1987) Roadstar Pro that used the Radius shape. Possibly the forerunner of the Radius? Unfortunately, I have incomplete literature for 1987. That was the year all hell started breaking loose! I won't even get into the Power series...
As for the Saber (S) series, nothing in the Roadstar line comes close. The (thick in the middle, thin at the edges) Saber shape was, and is, unique to that series.
While the Blue Horizon site has a lot of good info, accuracy is not 100%. The 430/440/450S models are Sabers, not Roadstars. All Roadstar model numbers begin with RS (1983-85) or RG (1986-88). The "RG Series" grew out of the first sharp cornered Roadstar model (RG550) in 1987.
Keep in mind that all the early Radius, Saber, and Power model numbers have the letter as a suffix (442R, 470S, 540P). And , there were 540 models in all three lines! The model numbers changed to the current prefix letter format around 1991-92.
Cheers
Steve |
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