Been playing my RS440 for almost 38 years.. bought 1986 for £200 "almost new".. my go-to guitar for many years.. I've recently started using this again as my 335 is being serviced.. it still plays and sounds brilliant...rock solid, always in tune, great sounds and is really playable..
That’s way cool! I wish I had played one of these years ago. Love that you’ve been playing that thing for nearly 40 years! Keep on rocking my friend! 🤘🎸👌
I bought my RS430 new and still have it. It has 3 singles. I like the look and sound. It is essentially identical except for the pickups. Great review!
Thanks a bunch! 🙏That sounds like a killer axe! Funny your should mention the RS430. I just bought one a few months ago and literally just posted up a review on it as well. Super nice guitars! 🎸👌
Hey Dex. I've got the Royal Violet '85 Ibanez RS 440. Bought it new, even have the plush HSC it came with. People are grabby, 'cause the price has gone up so much on them. My band members and friends tell me to sell for the money. But I gave money to get the music. The music is what is important to me. And I'm happy. I have written, and performed so much music on this fretboard. The ways it sounds clean pounding out that rythm, is perfect to bounce a lead off. Clean, loud, rock n roll is where it excels.
Awesome stuff - glad to hear you’ve got one and it’s getting tons of love! I’ve got the metallic green SSS version as well. Such excellent instruments 👌🎸
I had one in dark red. Bought it brand new in 1986 (or '85?). I beat the hell out of the trem (I was inspired by Brad Gillis lol) and it never went out of tune. You have the original bar. It has the two white collars that help it lock in. I don't know how this happened, but I did a dive and the bar slipped under the high E string and when the bar came back up, the string sliced off the plastic tip on the bar. Pickups were kind of weak though. I didn't know it had coil split until my instructor reached over and pushed the tone knob. Salesman at Sam Ash never pointed that out. lol Michael J. Fox used a black one in the band tryout scene in the beginning of Back To The Future.
Thanks for verifying the bar - sounds like this one is original. Funny, I just watched Back to the Future and saw the black one Michael J Fox was playing - very cool. Rock on! 🎸🎸
Amazing video! Love the detailed explanations. I have an Ibanez destroyer from about the same time and it’s amazing! Love the V5 pickups and strap locks!
I'm about to grab the rare purple color rs440 for $300 in 2 days. Has a set of Kirk Hammett pups installed and even comes with a hard case and cheap practice amp. I'm stoked I think it's a great find.
I got the exact same model. Not nearly in that good condition though cause it was sitting in a basement for 20 years. It’s rusty, chipped, and the electronics are fried, but against all odds, it still plays decently. I wish I had the resources to restore it.
Bought mine in 85. 350 bucks. Black, bummed that I didn't pick the violet. The V5 Humbucker can drive everything. The neck pickup is great with a boss octave pedal. Dial to a fourth or fifth and both notes are separate and distinct. Trem is a pain in the ass but has been kind to strings, 9s. Blocked the trem due to the out of tune problem. Now it will never go out of tune. Drop the awesome original case with the guitar inside. Nothing. Stays in tune. Exactly in tune. It's a rock. Nothing hurts it. Nothing. Drop it into the Grand Canyon, it hurts the Grand Canyon.
Between the RS and RG series guitars they had the PL line. If you want something super cool get a PL2550. I have one that I bought used in 1988 and I will never let it go.
Those are super cool guitars, but you don’t see them pop up too often. Definitely guitars worth grabbing when they do. Let’s just hope the pricing on them stays sane! 😆
My first real guitar when I was 15 was a guitar just like this one in black. I really loved it and it got stolen at a gig one night in the late 90’s. I have always missed it. That pickup does sound really good. Now I can get another one for $400. Thinking about pulling the trigger on it. How did you block the tremolo system?
I used a tremol-no, but that is only because this one is really clean and I didn’t want to drill into the body. For most other guitars, I usually just buy an L bracket, brass bolt, nut and some screws from the local hardware store and build an adjustable stopper. Literally costs a dollar or two in parts. If you don’t want to go through the hassle, you can buy some nice brass trem stoppers from FU Tone or even Amazon these days for around $20. Good luck!
The other guitarist in my band has a black one, he says it was the one used in back to the future during the rehearsal scene where they say 'your just too damn loud' 👍🤘
@Dex Deimos that probably came across wrong, it's not the actual one in the movie but an identical model, he said his dad got him it when he was 12, and he's had it 30 years now, he says it's the best guitars he's played and despite having many others, he always goes back to that one , a killer axe indeed 😉
I don’t know of any Roadstar II after 1987. I have the first Ibanez RG 460 from 1986 with the Same Roadstar II headstock. only made for one year then the Pointy RGs came out!
I have a black RS440 that is just collecting dust because I need a few more parts for it to be playable. I need a plate for the Top Lok(which I stupidly took off and never replaced it until I inevitably lost it), as well as a couple parts for the Pro Rock 'r bridge. I forget how I got this guitar in my possession, but its been a project guitar ever since.
Oh nice! Yeah, tracking down parts is always tricky. Have you checked in with Whammyparts.com? They seem to have all kinds of newly manufactured reproductions for quite a few oddball trems. Maybe you’ll get lucky and they’ll have some of your missing pieces. Good luck! 🎸
Sounds like worn springs guy, if it doesn't stay in tune. Later guitars used a Takeuchi TRS-101, which was the base for the Ibanez Edge series to my knowledge. Also that bridge, the saddles seem very similar to Kahler, which Jackson was using on their customs at the time. Sweet guitar dude!
Thanks! I think I swapped out the springs when I bought it, but you could be right 🤔. I use this for some drop D stuff so decked seems to suit it well enough. I’d love to see if anyone has one of these things that is set up for full float and isn’t a disaster! 😆👌🎸🙏
Thanks! Yeah, it’s crazy to watch the prices on these climb. I remember a few years ago when they were bargain bin cheap. Hang onto that thing! Cheers 🎸🍻
I need a back plate for my purple one! Do you know where I could find one? I wish Ibanez would bring back this headstock. Whoever is in charge at Ibanez is missing an opportunity to boost there sales! Limited Edition Reissues of these old guitars!
No idea where you can get one - sorry! Maybe whammyparts.com? It’s not terribly difficult to cut your own if you can’t find one. I’ve had to do that for a few guitars I couldn’t source parts for 🤷♂️. Good luck! 🎸
Thanks! 🙏 Oh nice - those are killer guitars! I’ve been keeping a lookout for one to complete the collection. I recently picked up an RS430 and am having the same tuning issues I had with this one. Is there anything special you had to do to get yours to float nicely? I’m trying to avoid decking the new one if I can. I’m thinking standard setup like I would a Floyd with new springs and strings. Hoping that’s all it needs; fingers crossed!🤞🎸
@@dexdeimos425 Yeah, just set it up like a floyd. Raise the bridge lower the saddles and place something under the bridge while you work to keep it level. Don't forget to stretch the strings. My only complaint about this one is the access to the truss rod. Anyway great review man. I'm gonna make another video with the rs 410. I installed the pickup wrong in the last one. Doh!
Thanks for the great video.. deifinitely my new facorite line of guitar i want to collect these and i usually have no interest in collecting instruments.. i have a feeling these may go up in value
Thanks! I agree - very cool guitars. I noticed an increase over the last three years in their value. Right now they seem to be at peak pricing used but they are not moving like they used to on Reverb. There are a few I have my eye on, so here’s hoping we get a dip in pricing soon! I’m looking for at least two more to complete my collection 👌🎸🍻.
Thanks so much - glad you liked it! 🙏 Oh man, that’s a great question! I can’t believe I forgot to mention that. You’re 100% correct, the strings come up through the bottom of the trem more like a conventional bridge. That being said, the only way to restring this is by taking the back plate off. It’s actually quite inconvenient to do! Cheers! 🎸🎸🎸
Got one in 85 new, gigged a ton. Nothing changed. Blocked. You can also get a Philips and loosen each string in the trem. Take the piece out and stick the ball end of the string in and re screw. Kinda similar to an acoustic.
If you liked this video, check out this one on my RG 425 🎸🎸 Ibanez Roadstar II RG425 Review
th-cam.com/video/oakKsZvuIsg/w-d-xo.html
Been playing my RS440 for almost 38 years.. bought 1986 for £200 "almost new".. my go-to guitar for many years.. I've recently started using this again as my 335 is being serviced.. it still plays and sounds brilliant...rock solid, always in tune, great sounds and is really playable..
That’s way cool! I wish I had played one of these years ago. Love that you’ve been playing that thing for nearly 40 years! Keep on rocking my friend! 🤘🎸👌
I have a 83 . a black one. Played it out SO many times. cheers!
Killer axes! 👌🎸
I bought my RS430 new and still have it. It has 3 singles. I like the look and sound. It is essentially identical except for the pickups. Great review!
Thanks a bunch! 🙏That sounds like a killer axe! Funny your should mention the RS430. I just bought one a few months ago and literally just posted up a review on it as well. Super nice guitars! 🎸👌
Hey Dex. I've got the Royal Violet '85 Ibanez RS 440. Bought it new, even have the plush HSC it came with. People are grabby, 'cause the price has gone up so much on them. My band members and friends tell me to sell for the money. But I gave money to get the music. The music is what is important to me. And I'm happy. I have written, and performed so much music on this fretboard. The ways it sounds clean pounding out that rythm, is perfect to bounce a lead off. Clean, loud, rock n roll is where it excels.
Awesome stuff - glad to hear you’ve got one and it’s getting tons of love! I’ve got the metallic green SSS version as well. Such excellent instruments 👌🎸
The RoadStar 2's are one of my favorite Ibanez lines of all time!
Such killer underrated axes for sure! 🎸🪓
I have a Roadstar II - - - love love love it!!!
I had one in dark red. Bought it brand new in 1986 (or '85?). I beat the hell out of the trem (I was inspired by Brad Gillis lol) and it never went out of tune. You have the original bar. It has the two white collars that help it lock in. I don't know how this happened, but I did a dive and the bar slipped under the high E string and when the bar came back up, the string sliced off the plastic tip on the bar. Pickups were kind of weak though. I didn't know it had coil split until my instructor reached over and pushed the tone knob. Salesman at Sam Ash never pointed that out. lol Michael J. Fox used a black one in the band tryout scene in the beginning of Back To The Future.
Thanks for verifying the bar - sounds like this one is original. Funny, I just watched Back to the Future and saw the black one Michael J Fox was playing - very cool. Rock on! 🎸🎸
Amazing video! Love the detailed explanations. I have an Ibanez destroyer from about the same time and it’s amazing! Love the V5 pickups and strap locks!
Thanks so much! 🙏 Such an awesome line of guitars. Destroyers are epic! 🎸
OMG what that dirt tone! Juicy! Thanks a bunch!
Glad you liked it! Thanks a bunch! 🙏 Ibanez really nailed these old pickups 👌🎸
I'm about to grab the rare purple color rs440 for $300 in 2 days. Has a set of Kirk Hammett pups installed and even comes with a hard case and cheap practice amp. I'm stoked I think it's a great find.
I got the exact same model. Not nearly in that good condition though cause it was sitting in a basement for 20 years. It’s rusty, chipped, and the electronics are fried, but against all odds, it still plays decently. I wish I had the resources to restore it.
Sounds like a cool worn battle axe! If it’s still playable, that’s half the battle! 🎸🤘
Having rocked as a teen through the 80’s I have a few dings as well…
😆😂🤣
Recently bought a purple 84 rs440 that needs the string stops for the trem doing
Bought mine in 85. 350 bucks. Black, bummed that I didn't pick the violet.
The V5 Humbucker can drive everything. The neck pickup is great with a boss octave pedal. Dial to a fourth or fifth and both notes are separate and distinct.
Trem is a pain in the ass but has been kind to strings, 9s. Blocked the trem due to the out of tune problem. Now it will never go out of tune. Drop the awesome original case with the guitar inside. Nothing. Stays in tune. Exactly in tune. It's a rock. Nothing hurts it. Nothing. Drop it into the Grand Canyon, it hurts the Grand Canyon.
I think the Headtock is awesome and way better than most modern headstocks...that Guitars seems pretty cool.
Thanks! I totally agree. I really wish they would bring it back. 🎸🙏
Between the RS and RG series guitars they had the PL line. If you want something super cool get a PL2550. I have one that I bought used in 1988 and I will never let it go.
Those are super cool guitars, but you don’t see them pop up too often. Definitely guitars worth grabbing when they do. Let’s just hope the pricing on them stays sane! 😆
My first real guitar when I was 15 was a guitar just like this one in black. I really loved it and it got stolen at a gig one night in the late 90’s. I have always missed it. That pickup does sound really good. Now I can get another one for $400. Thinking about pulling the trigger on it. How did you block the tremolo system?
I used a tremol-no, but that is only because this one is really clean and I didn’t want to drill into the body. For most other guitars, I usually just buy an L bracket, brass bolt, nut and some screws from the local hardware store and build an adjustable stopper. Literally costs a dollar or two in parts. If you don’t want to go through the hassle, you can buy some nice brass trem stoppers from FU Tone or even Amazon these days for around $20. Good luck!
The other guitarist in my band has a black one, he says it was the one used in back to the future during the rehearsal scene where they say 'your just too damn loud' 👍🤘
That’s super cool! He better hang on to that thing!!! 👌🎸
@Dex Deimos that probably came across wrong, it's not the actual one in the movie but an identical model, he said his dad got him it when he was 12, and he's had it 30 years now, he says it's the best guitars he's played and despite having many others, he always goes back to that one , a killer axe indeed 😉
Such a Kool headstock 🤩🤘🏼❤️🔥
Yeah, I love this quirky shape. That company ‘built’ seems to be using a version like this now. 🤷♂️
@@dexdeimos425 That’s true!
I don’t know of any Roadstar II after 1987. I have the first Ibanez RG 460 from 1986 with the Same Roadstar II headstock. only made for one year then the Pointy RGs came out!
I have a black RS440 that is just collecting dust because I need a few more parts for it to be playable. I need a plate for the Top Lok(which I stupidly took off and never replaced it until I inevitably lost it), as well as a couple parts for the Pro Rock 'r bridge. I forget how I got this guitar in my possession, but its been a project guitar ever since.
Oh nice! Yeah, tracking down parts is always tricky. Have you checked in with Whammyparts.com? They seem to have all kinds of newly manufactured reproductions for quite a few oddball trems. Maybe you’ll get lucky and they’ll have some of your missing pieces. Good luck! 🎸
Sounds like worn springs guy, if it doesn't stay in tune. Later guitars used a Takeuchi TRS-101, which was the base for the Ibanez Edge series to my knowledge. Also that bridge, the saddles seem very similar to Kahler, which Jackson was using on their customs at the time. Sweet guitar dude!
Thanks! I think I swapped out the springs when I bought it, but you could be right 🤔. I use this for some drop D stuff so decked seems to suit it well enough. I’d love to see if anyone has one of these things that is set up for full float and isn’t a disaster! 😆👌🎸🙏
Have the same one, same clour made Nov 84, not as great shape, missing back plate. Nice review , no idea it was worth that
Thanks! Yeah, it’s crazy to watch the prices on these climb. I remember a few years ago when they were bargain bin cheap. Hang onto that thing! Cheers 🎸🍻
I need a back plate for my purple one! Do you know where I could find one? I wish Ibanez would bring back this headstock. Whoever is in charge at Ibanez is missing an opportunity to boost there sales! Limited Edition Reissues of these old guitars!
No idea where you can get one - sorry! Maybe whammyparts.com? It’s not terribly difficult to cut your own if you can’t find one. I’ve had to do that for a few guitars I couldn’t source parts for 🤷♂️. Good luck! 🎸
What trem bat are you using? Cant find anything anywhere. Would really help lol
I got lucky and am still using the stock one.
@@dexdeimos425 Ahh damn haha. The one im using was my dads, but apparently when he bought it it never came with one lol. Thanks tho
Nice one. I have the rs 410 single humbucker with the same bridge. Bridge is floating.. no tuning issues. Supeb guitars.
Thanks! 🙏 Oh nice - those are killer guitars! I’ve been keeping a lookout for one to complete the collection. I recently picked up an RS430 and am having the same tuning issues I had with this one. Is there anything special you had to do to get yours to float nicely? I’m trying to avoid decking the new one if I can. I’m thinking standard setup like I would a Floyd with new springs and strings. Hoping that’s all it needs; fingers crossed!🤞🎸
@@dexdeimos425 Yeah, just set it up like a floyd. Raise the bridge lower the saddles and place something under the bridge while you work to keep it level. Don't forget to stretch the strings.
My only complaint about this one is the access to the truss rod.
Anyway great review man. I'm gonna make another video with the rs 410. I installed the pickup wrong in the last one. Doh!
I remember when used Ibanez RS guitars were a dime a dozen.
i stupidly got rid of one of these a few years ago. i'm kicking myself
I hear you brother. Killer guitars and the prices are really starting to jump on them. 🎸
I hear this constantly.
Got mines for 150 ruby red original case and price tag. Posted a short utube video of my guitar. Type RG440.
Be very careful while adjusting the saddle height screws. The teenut breaks easily.
Thanks for tip - I bet it would be a royal pain trying to find a replacement! 🤯🎸
@@dexdeimos425 tell me about it!
I had the red one when I was a kid.
Thanks for the great video.. deifinitely my new facorite line of guitar i want to collect these and i usually have no interest in collecting instruments.. i have a feeling these may go up in value
Thanks! I agree - very cool guitars. I noticed an increase over the last three years in their value. Right now they seem to be at peak pricing used but they are not moving like they used to on Reverb. There are a few I have my eye on, so here’s hoping we get a dip in pricing soon! I’m looking for at least two more to complete my collection 👌🎸🍻.
awesome! thats so good to hear you thjink they've peaked at their price... fingers crossed they go down!@@dexdeimos425
I got a beautiful birdseye maple one. It’s sweet
Nice!!! Hang on to that thing! 🎸👌
Do the strings feed through the back of that bridge?
Nice review. I really felt how good the quality is on that guitar
Thanks so much - glad you liked it! 🙏 Oh man, that’s a great question! I can’t believe I forgot to mention that. You’re 100% correct, the strings come up through the bottom of the trem more like a conventional bridge. That being said, the only way to restring this is by taking the back plate off. It’s actually quite inconvenient to do! Cheers! 🎸🎸🎸
Got one in 85 new, gigged a ton. Nothing changed. Blocked. You can also get a Philips and loosen each string in the trem. Take the piece out and stick the ball end of the string in and re screw. Kinda similar to an acoustic.
@@carlsith4359 right. That's how I string mine.
Ohh i have the royal purple
Roadstar...not roadster!
Bridge pickup is awesome. Clean sound of singles is poor enough. Do not play country music on it 😂