Ibanez Roadster Fretless Bass

RS-940TV (1981)

Serial# H812780

Bought this second hand on a whim. It was strung with round-wound strings, and after a year or so they kind of cut the neck to bits. In 2000 I got the neck refinished by a luthier in San Rafael, who did and excellent job: the surface is smooth and rock-hard. Now I have flatwounds on it and it sounds pretty good, at least "acoustically".

Over the years the original active electronics got very buzzy and I couldn't fix it, so right now it's got passive DiMarzios. The sound isn't great, but the bass is such a delight to play physically that I haven't given up on it. I'm thinking of trying some components from Carvin - perhaps J99 and/or H50S pickups.