Artist vs Roadstar II RB950

Thaddeus · Newbie Alert Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 2

Seen a lovely looking 1970s Artist Bass in the small ads - I currently play a Roadstar II RB950. As the Artist is up the other end of the country I can't really get to test it out before buying - any of you experts got any thoughts on the sounds and playabilities of the two basses?

And apart from that, has anyone else in the world got an RB950?? I can find no mention of it anywhere else online. I picked it up second hand in 1986, and it looks like a special custom job to me - all gold pots and pickup, and a fancy blue/turquoise sunburst. Any thoughts on that also appreciated!

Thaddeus

pfunk2112 · Newbie Alert Joined: 12 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

I also have the RB950, and can find almost no info about current prices. Actually for some reason there is almost no information on it at all, and was wondering why. But no hijack here, please answer Thaddeus if you can. I was just surprised to find mention of it here.

Thanks,
Steve

Thaddeus · Newbie Alert Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 2

Wow. Three years, almost to the day, but the reply will come in the end. Smile

Hi Steve - I'm still not much wiser. I've seen a couple of them go on Ebay in the last year or so - about £150-£200 if I remember. People don't seem to value them. Guess there's so many Ibanez's out there that this just gets lost in the crowd.

I don't play it any more - I didn't go for the Artist, but I'd always had my eye on a Fender Telecaster bass after playing one back in 1982 for 5 minutes. I managed to afford to buy a 1973 cream Tele about a year ago now and I've never looked back. The Ibanez just seems pale beside the massive sound I get out of the Fender. It just doesn't have the volume or the bass or the general attack in comparison. Still a nice guitar to hold though - i love the neck and the playing action.

pfunk2112 · Newbie Alert Joined: 12 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

Thanks for the reply on this. Glad you were still on board. My only complaint about the Ibanez was that the action on the thing was terrible for being a beginning bass player. I ended up with a Westone Pantera X750 (Don't worry, no one else has heard of it either..hehe). Played it exclusively till our band called it quits in 98. It was cheap (a friends dad sold it to me), and I loved the wide range in tonality that it offered. You could go from a super warm beefy sound, to a great slapping bass sound.

Anyway, thanks again for the info and grats on getting a sweet Fender.

Steve