Saving My Dream Guitar - Ibanez Roadstar II

This is the guitar that always managed to evade my ownership. The Ibanez Roadstar II 135. White with maple neck. In this video, I repair a severe body crack and bring this bad boy back to life. This is my long overdue Dream Guitar Rescue.
Special thanks to Stew for gifting this guitar. What an amazing thing to do.
I found some cool tools and stuff that are not ridiculously expensive: (Affiliate Links)
KAIWEETS Digital Multimeter - amzn.to/443ChTx
Adhesive Copper Foil Tape Double-Sided Conductive - amzn.to/3KBSvMW
FretGuru Guitar Fret Crowning File - amzn.to/3saBQcM
IBANEZ Prestige 449EG61X Electric Guitar Saddle File Set - amzn.to/45r9Ksl
SOCIAL:
/ risingsunguitarmods
/ risingsunguitarmods
TUTS:
Noisy Guitar? Try This: • 3 Easy Solutions to Fi...
...and this: • Guitar Hum Frustrating...

[@blazerMcfly]

Hands down the most undervalued guitar on the market.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Agree!

[@blee5587]

I just purchased one of these today. I played a couple of Mexican fender strats as well. This just totally blew away. This is just like mine. Same finish 1984 model. It's incredible. The out of phase switch is really cool as well

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Massively underated guitars, with a good set up and a little TLC they are as good as any USA Strat in my opinion.

[@BrianMcCullarMusic]

@@RisingSunGuitarMods I posted a side by side comparison with a USA Strat, I actually think the Roadstar sounds better! Certainly has a nicer neck on it

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

@@BrianMcCullarMusic I've compared mine to three US strats and I like the feel of mine better, sound is a little bit subjective as depends on what you like, my pickups are going a bit microphonic with age so no good for high gain. But it is still a fav. I'll head over to you chanel now and have a look. :)

[@Übereine]

Wirh a pair of blackout dunkans and a 12-62 setup she makes dark southern goth sounds like no other. She has a very dark sound from factory which helps. Ibanez back then had a different mindset. Pure joy of a guitar all class.

[@calebstratos2387]

That's my baby!!!! Hands down, best guitar I ever played, and I have fingered a lot of guitars ;)

[@blakerunyon8523]

Just found a used 83 at GC. The feel off the bat was impeccable. Spoke to me right away. Dude at the counter said it was just sold by some 80’s artist who said it was in music videos and videoed live performances. Vintage Ibanez with Mystery lore for $399! Everyone, grab yourself one if spotted! I get to pick mine up in a week!

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

@@blakerunyon8523 awesome deal. Great guitars and very playable once set up. ✌️

[@gringogreen4719]

I got my Ibanez RS135 today from my buddy. It has mad fret sprout and needs some love but I am up for the challenge. 😎👍✨

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

@@gringogreen4719 Awesome guitars. Absolutely worth the effort as with some effort these things play amazingly. 🤘🏼

[@tonydaicar1663]

I just found your channel and subscribed! Really enjoyed this video! I bought a new Roadstar II in 1985. Being an idiot I gave it to an old girlfriend’s brother around 1989. Missing it, I found another one (same year and same colour- black) about 30 years ago. It was rough so I refinished it completely in gold. It looks pretty good but your vid has inspired me. I think I’m gonna bring it to the wood and really get her nice!! Keep up the good work 🤘

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Awesome, thanks for the sub mate. We all have the one we wish we still had, but awesome that you found another one. It is so worth doing mate, they are beautiful guitars. Did you see this one? kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYPUmoZuZrZ2ba8si=9zNSW2cAakFEgtiJ I did this for a viewer. Great guitar in the end.

[@qtip4881]

i picked up a 1983 RS135 II in black today. I dont like the color but it sounds sooooo good. No matter what i want to play, the ibanez keeps up.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

They are such good guitars, I'm working on a Blazer for a viewer at the moment. Video coming soon. :)

[@cypriananders4863]

Very nice, detailed restoriation! Definitely waiting for more

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Thanks for the comment. Appreciate it. ✌️

[@aoldatabase]

Just bought an identical one of these (in red in black, wish i had your colorway though!) for $400, completely all original with the OG case too! So cool to see someone else love this guitar. It's my favorite I've ever played and owned...

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

It's a massively underrated guitar, with a good setup they are as good as, if not better than any US strat I've ever played. Absolute steel for $400, I paid $600 AUD for mine, now valued around $12 - 1500 AUD, but mine isn't for sale. :) Check out the Blazer I did for a channel viewer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYPUmoZuZrZ2ba8si=RSwOzJDrNs5BgDZN

[@eterniturtle]

I found a comet series model today in the yellow color, I've never owned a strat or strat style guitar before but I really enjoyed playing it. I'm really wondering if i should go for it.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Do it man. Great guitars. I love mine. 🤘🏼

[@ColeyBBQ]

I’ve got the green! Ugliest thing in the world, but owned it 40 yrs now, and absolutely love it.

[@eterniturtle]

@@ColeyBBQ update: I bought it! It needed some contact cleaner on the electronics, the frets and screws polished, and some strings. But now it's set up and playing awesome

[@carpballet]

Super most excellent careful detailed caring resto job. My gd hats off to you. Killer guitar.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Thanks for the nice comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@CorbenEdward]

Wicked job at restoring that one, very cool guitar! As for fret polish, I use Semichrome polish and it works wonders with an old sock and a bit of elbow grease.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Thanks for the tip!

[@MiniShowProductions]

got a roadstar series 2 black HH in 1990 second hand for 100 uk pound absolutely wonderful neck and pick ups also got a usa custom shop tele strat hybrid gibson sg and les paul usa strat and my fav is the roadstar still

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Underrated guitars. A good setup and they are awesome. Man that’s a good deal, about 190 AUD or 130 USD. Absolutely stole it. ✌️🤘🏼

[@weiner19]

Came across this looking for RS 525 info. Great job on the finish and a new sub! Cheers!

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Awesome, thank you!

[@wkester6951]

I’ve got an Ibanez roadster II at home but it’s a single humbucker cherry burst. It’s been loved and played but can’t beat the sound!

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

They come in a lot of variations. I’d love to find a couple of different ones. Such great guitars. 👍

[@123pap]

I have one of these I have had it since 1985 bought new and still have it

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

That’s awesome! Such amazing guitars. 🤘🏼👍

[@zacharyprice9890]

I own an identical model from 1984, the phase switch started messing with the overall sound of the guitar so I just wired it out of circuit and now I have a unique sounding and looking strat with a fun fidget toy. Awesome video man, keep it up 🎸🎸🎸

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

There are a heap of things you can do with the switch, one I really like is to wire it up to have the switch bypass the 5-way selector and activate both the bridge and neck pickups simultaneously. It's kind of the Les Paul middle position on a single coil set up.

[@missourifreedominitiative4248]

A worthy guitar. A worthy owner who takes take of his guitar. Providence.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Thanks for the kind words. 🤗

[@TadMichaelMasterson]

I picked up a roadstar ii rs335 from a pawn shop a couple of years ago. It had already been filled with aftermarket parts and was STILL a mess. I've since rewired it and replaced the pickups and knobs. Kept the super weird original trem. The necks on these roadstar ii guitars are incredible. I want to get every version of the roadstar ii now

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

I have another one coming from a viewer. Should arrive I’ve tomorrow. It’s in pieces and he wants me to do a similar job on it to mine. Subscribe and hit notifications as there will be a video on it. 🤘🏼

[@GlennFordism]

Just had my 84 RS135 re fretted. Awesome guitar

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Indeed. I have always loved these guitars. Massively underrated in my opinion. 🤘🏼

[@samizdat113]

Back in 87 this was my first guitar with a tremolo.

[@A_Cute_Backpack]

I found one of these laid next to a garbage can like 1-2 years ago... Hands down the luckiest I've ever gotten. Took getting used to, and needed some TLC. But it's a BEAST of a guitar still :)

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

WOW!!! What a score! ... Man I always see people finding guitars in the trash, a local person found one close to where I live and was looking for its owner... I've yet to have such luck. 🤟

[@A_Cute_Backpack]

@@RisingSunGuitarMods I didn't expect it to be worth much of anything when i found it lol. I just wish I had the power rock'r trem, but i won't complain :P

[@IamCceeLL]

I owned one too. and is indeed a player's guitar! it is old and beaten but is a keeper . mine has black pups and pickguard and a rosewood fretboard and a "V shaped" strap pin. already replaced the frets with stainless steels. really loved that guitar and its nice to see other people weilding it! i just wonder what the switch does till now lol

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Ah the v shape strap pins are original to them. Mine were missing. Wish I had them. Great guitars. I like playing it more than a fender. It’s just got such a good feel.

[@IamCceeLL]

@@RisingSunGuitarMods yeah but my switch between the controls and pup selectors were not doing anything at least to my ears lol. do you know what they actually do?

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

@@IamCceeLL the toggle switch is a phase switch. It puts the bridge pickup out of phase. Should give you a thin twangy sound. If not it is possible it’s been disconnected or messed with.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

@@IamCceeLL I should have mentioned for the phase to work you need to have two pickups on. So it will only work when your 5 way is in position 2,3, or 4. If you have it on bridge or neck only there is nothing for it to go out of phase with. Hope this helps.

[@IamCceeLL]

@@RisingSunGuitarMods oh i see now!! thank you very much man. i think i got to resolder 😁

[@stewartb.9105]

Great vid dude sounds great have to get it cranking on the tube amps one day

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Indeed!

[@carthinis]

Far Behind! Never heard anyone but Candlebox play that! You've inspired me to learn it.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

It's a great song, my timing is a bit sus but I love playing it. :)

[@jackburton4892]

I have the exact same guitar, same year, everything. Except it's the opposite, black. I have the bridge locked down. All original. I might have to sell it. 😢 I don't know.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Beautiful guitars mate, shame you may have to sell it, but we do what we need to these days mate. Take care.

[@sakatana79]

What a gem !!!

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

It’s definitely a keeper. Probably my most played guitar. ✌️

[@hisproperty1438]

G'day RSGM, Thanks for a great video. I bought Torch Vintage Series Strat in the mid 80's, so I'm very interested in watching the videos on this restoration series. I don't think that I've seen the guitar this century, but it's safely locked away in its hardcase. I'll have to drag it out soon, & give it a polish. Keep up the good work, & I'll catch you later Andrew BTW, can you please introduce yourself in your videos? I'd prefer to address my letters to you than your company. 😃

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Hi Andrew, my name is Phill. Nice to meet you. I did use to intro myself but the KZbin gurus say nobody cares. I guess they are wrong. 👍 you should get it out of the case and play it. Check out this resto I did for a viewer of the channel. I Restored and Modified an Ibanez Blazer BL450 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYPUmoZuZrZ2ba8

[@TribalScience]

Thanks for the tip on cutting, I have been looking for new ways to injure my hands. 🤣👍

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

😂🤣

[@wolfegaming36]

This is awesome! I was gifted a 1984 RS430 a few years ago that I've been wanting to fix up since the pickups are a little rusty and it doesn't work when plugged into an amp. Feels like a nice guitar though so I'm looking around for some replacement parts like pick guard etc. I'm nowhere near experienced enough to go as detailed as you did here, the most work I've ever done on a guitar is replacing knobs and a switch on an old Squier Strat. I'd be terrified to mess with the nut or finish haha. Yours turned out awesome, I love that thick crunchy tone you're using on Hey Joe!

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Thanks man. Just take your time with your one and make it yours. When set up they are very nice guitars to play. 👍

[@m4rk05R5]

Amazing job👏👏

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Thanks for the nice comment

[@karmicselling4252]

Thanks for the great video. Back in the 1980s I bought one of these band new and not long after an MIJ Fender '57 Reissue Strat. They were chalk and cheese in terms of playability and tone. I set both up to my liking but the Fender was just so much better. To this day, I don't know why that was. They were both decent instruments. Both decently built and QC was great on both. Nearly forty years later, I still have the Fender. I part traded the Ibanez on a Ric back in the late 1980s. Different strokes for different folks as they say. Cheers from the Deep South recently known as the Lockdown State.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Thanks for commenting mate, I was lucky enough to move to The Sunshine Coast from Gippsland at the start of 2019, before everything went to cactus! I think all guitars have a little something that makes them unique. I have set up many guitars in my life and have been able to compare the same models side by side with the same setups, and they still feel different. It's a mystery. That's awesome you still have your fender. Must be made for you. :)

[@TravisBrock-p4p]

I have the same model in black. I love it,, but…. I feel that it sounds almost like a hollow body, not sure why? Sustain isn’t great… I’m considering a different bridge set up with more mass and maybe change pickups. Extremely well made and absolutely love the neck. I just think that the tremolo/bridge on these could possibly the weak link…

[@soundofwinter]

Love the AH10 Allan Holdsworth signature model.

[@cankapan8020]

Very cool guitar

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Thank you. I love it!

[@DavidFernley]

i have a black one these from 1980 blows my 1997 Strat out the water, great vid

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Great guitars. I’ve always thought they were underrated. I’ve wanted one since I was a teenager but could never get my hands on one. 🤘🏼

[@cosmitron67]

Fantastic video!

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Thanks mate. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@RavnerRavner]

I love my Roadstar! RG 600 BKT

[@donpedalo7139]

Realy nice guitar. Got one in black from 1984. Recently I dressed the frets and unfortunately some of the lacquer came of when removing the masking tape and now I am thinking about refinishing the neck. What kind of lacquer did you use for your neck? Did you remove all the old paint or just what was on the fingerboard? Thanks in advance and regards from germany.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

The original finish on these is actually a polyurethane, if the finish doesn't have any discolouration you can just sand it smooth. I wonder if it has had a refinish and wasn't properly prepared as it isn't common for it to come off with masking tape unless there is already some damage. If you are going to lacquer it, you will want to sand it back to the wood. Check out Brad Angove's channel, he is all about guitar paint and finishing. Great channel.

[@Speds]

Hell yeah!

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Thanks man!!!

[@danmartin1200]

Just bought a black RS225 with maple neck/dual humbuckers. One of best necks i have ever played. Going to replace pickups with Dimarzio Super D in bridge and PAF pro in neck. Amazing guitars!

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Agree, totally under rated. A little bit of work on the frets and it will play better than most Fenders.

[@stephenleung9189]

If you can find a prestige line, especially the ones made in Japan, they are just as good as Fender or Gibson custom shop models.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Agree, I’ve compared mine to a couple of strats one MIJ and one US and I like the feel and sound of the Ibanez better. 🤘🏼

[@stephenleung9189]

@@RisingSunGuitarMods concerning Ibanez guitars the only comments I heard was the neck is too thin, I suppose it was designed by oriental people for orientals in mind. Finally I wish Ibanez would offer more choice of pickups for better selection.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

@@stephenleung9189 Their modern guitars have very thin neck profiles, the Blazer I restored in another video had a beautiful c shape, a little thinner than the normal but had a nice radious on the finger board which made it feel amazing. The neck on my Roadstar in this video is perfect, c shape and has plenty of meat on it. I wouldn't want it any thicker. Neck profiles are very much a personal thing though, I have guitars with all kinds of profiles, from a 64 year old hofner with a baseball bat neck to Gibson Firebird with a vintage feel, I've also owned a couple of Ibanez RG series including a 7 string with a super thin but wide neck. Very different but just added to the experience in a different way.

[@keithmckinzie9646]

Does anyone know were I can get a wiring diagram or video. I have a 1984 version I am redoing and can't seam to find anything on it.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

What configuration is it man, same as mine or is yours a bit different? if you go to 0:51 time stamp you can pause and copy the original wiring from there, or 5:02 and copy the new wiring. The new wiring is still factory style but just upgraded the parts.

[@keithmckinzie9646]

@@RisingSunGuitarMods looks the same as yours. I'll pause it and get a screen shot

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

@@keithmckinzie9646 let me know if you can’t get it bro and I’ll draw up a basic diagram for you. ✌️

[@fiftyfathoms8182]

Wow! You did a great job on this guitar! I just got mine back after almost 20 years. I‘ve got a black one. The front still looks pretty good, but the back is beaten up pretty heavy. I hope I can achieve a similar result. The rewiring that you did is just for aesthetic reasons or did I get something wrong here?

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Thanks for the nice comment, appreciate this. The original wiring was perfectly fine, I like the vintage cloth push-back wiring, it is purely for my own liking. It does not change the way the guitar sounds, but it does look awesome and in my personal opinion is of much better quality. Also gave me the chance to make it really neat and tidy. Just a personal thing. If you put it side by side with the original and compared the sound you would need some kind of superman's ears to hear any difference. All the best with your one, if you decide to video it, drop a link here. I'd love to watch it.

[@trex3173]

Nice restauration!! 😀I bought last week a damaged roadstar 2 rs 130 sss model and mooded it to RS135 with PowerRocker Tremolo and phase switching knob. Very cool guitar. Where can I find the wireing plan you used.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

I didn’t change the way it was wired, I just upgraded the wire. If you pause the part of the video where I show the finished wiring you should be able to see it good enough, or google it. There will surely be a diagram somewhere. Did you make a video of yours? I would love to see it.

[@thomasnonsense]

I use a Gorgomyte cloth for polishing my frets. It works wonders! It's not cheap but it's much better than using steel wool. Give it a try.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Thanks man, I have ordered some, will give you a shout when I try them out.

[@thomasnonsense]

@@RisingSunGuitarMods How did you go with the Gorgomyte?

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

@@thomasnonsense hey man I’m planning on doing a video on it. But to be honest I’ve been so busy with work I’ve not tried it yet. But I am hoping to get back into making vids really soon. ✌️

[@thomasnonsense]

@@RisingSunGuitarMods I look forward to that video. I love the stuff so it'll be interesting to see you use it for the first time.

[@willmarshall4685]

Lovely guitar. I have have my eyes on one. I see zero reason to buy a new 1200 dollar guitar when this is in the world.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

@@willmarshall4685 as good as any Fender mate. Just give it a good setup and a little love on the fret dressing and boom! Great feeling and sounding guitars. Massively underrated.

[@OmarGonzalez-re3jz]

Exaaaaaactly bro… That’s what I did 3 years ago. Best decision ever.

[@xavierpacheco7297]

I'm needing to wire one of those. You wouldn't happen to have a wiring diagram would you?

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Pause the vid where I show the wiring. It’s clean enough you should be able to replicate it. I don’t have the diagram sorry, electrics just make sense for me so I don’t usually need a diagram unless it’s complex. I can see if I can dig one up for you. Might take a day or two as busy with family and work at the moment.

[@dwells37]

I enjoy your narration, and forgive me for saying this, but I'd love to hear the voice-over replaced by Ozzy Man! 😂

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

hahaha thanks man.

[@johnhowe4079]

The only thing missing that a Fender has are the clay dots on the fretboard. Nice playing. I would have kept the original finish, but that is just me.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Yea I also liked the original finish but with the damage I didn’t have the skill to colour match it. I’m not a fan of fake relics but some people love them. I tried to keep it to more of a play wear look. I’m pretty happy with the result.

[@jensk4140]

I owned his older brother, the ibanez roadster instead of a roadstar. Wish i kept it.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

The Blazer right through to the Roadstar II we’re all awesome in my opinion. Check out the blazer I fixed up for a viewer of the channel. I Restored and Modified an Ibanez Blazer BL450 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYPUmoZuZrZ2ba8

[@jensk4140]

@@RisingSunGuitarMods great work!

[@roymenke1909]

Had a sunburst and sold it to fix my car to go to college 30 years ago. I wish I could have kept it.

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

I feel your pain mate, I sold a Gibson Les Paul Studio that I loved so I could move to Australia. Still regret selling it but don't regret moving.

[@fabianleonardo5516]

Beutifull, for the price that you paid for a squier classic vibe(ultra mega china) you can buy a "Real guitar", have the same and i love her, can you tell me the height that use you for the 3 pickups in milimeters?, thanks a lot, cheers from Italy

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

I honestly don’t measure them. I set by ear. If you listen you will hear where the sweet spot is. But I can measure for you and let you know. 👍

[@fabianleonardo5516]

@@RisingSunGuitarMods i really apreciate that, thank you pall you're great!!!

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

@@fabianleonardo5516 No problem, okay so from the top of the pickup cover to the bottom of the string. Bridge low E: 2.5mm, high E: 2mm. Middle and neck are the same at Low E: 3mm, and high E 2.5mm. This was the sweet spot for my sound, everyone is different with how they like their sound, I don't believe there is an exact measurement fits all. Especially with these older pickups, mine are becoming microphonic so you might find yours sound a bit better with a little more space. My advice is to play around till they sounds right to you. Basic rule is the closer to the string the more output, but the further away the deeper the tone, find the spot that has a nice balance, then get your volume output as close as you can across them all. :)

[@fabianleonardo5516]

@@RisingSunGuitarMods thanks, ill give it a try and see whats hapen,

[@O_FAROL]

i have 1, and she is better than all

[@RisingSunGuitarMods]

Underrated guitars for sure.