[Michael Harris]

Hi all,

It was recommended to me to post this on this site to maybe get some more info. I recently bought a Roadstar II that by the serial # was made in March of 1986. I pulled the neck while doing the set up on it and found what appears to be the model written on both the neck and the pocket - RG142. The neck also has sample stamped on it. The neck is scalloped. When I first picked it up I thought it was done after the fact, but someone on a facebook forum told me the RG142 is actually the scallop necked version of the RG140. However they said the RG142 never officially went into production.

Anyway, I'm just trying to verify if that is indeed the case. Also if anyone has any idea of the value that would be appreciated. I'll attach some pics as well.

 

[Rich]

Having had plenty of samples I can say the premium is definitely not much but it's dependent on how desirable the model is to begin with. These are not guitars in high demand so being a sample isn't going to change that, just give it a little bump in value. There is a difference between prototype and sample, samples being less desirable.

 

[Michael Harris]

Ok I get that. However what if it is a sample that never went into production? I'm not wanting to sell it anyway - it's a cool little guitar. Just curious of the value. RG140's seem to go for $300 to $400 but I can't find any RG142's for sale. In fact if you google it the search doesn't turn much up at all.

 

[Rich]

Prototypes have that panache of being "proto", samples say what they are, this is what we're making, here is the sample of it. The difference comes down to what exactly is different, and does anybody want what's different more and how much more they'd be willing to pay, or models that there just isn't that much interest in. Not that tastes couldn't change and 10 years from now everybody wants the old blazer headstock with the defunct surface mount trems, but it's not likely.

 

[Michael Harris]

From what I can tell the only difference between the RG140 and the RG142 is the scalloped neck. They did this right around the time Yngwie was becoming a big thing so I can't help if that didn't have something to do with it.

 

[Michael Harris]

Oh for crying out loud I can't post image links until I have 5 posts lol

 

[Michael Harris]

This will be number 5....

 

[Michael Harris]

Neck pocket

edit*** hmm pic not showing for some reason.

 

[jemsite]

Interesting axe, thanks for sharing the pics. The problem with the worth here is what was posted already... the guitar line itself is more or less irrelevant to any Ibanez fan & superfans. If you like the axe IMHO keep it rather than essentially dump it for a $200-300 or whatever someone on reverb will offer after months of waiting.

 

[Michael Harris]

Thanks - yeah I'm not planning to sell it just like to know if it is valuable. I got it more for nostalgia than anything. My first guitar I bought was a Roadstar II back in 1985. I got this one for $100 with a small Marshall amp so its not like I have a lot invested into it.

 

[jemsite]

I'd call the guitar "interesting" much more than "valuable" or "desirable". For $100 you got a nice & unique axe and could flip it to easily double or triple what you paid and have a free amp. Seems like a great axe to have lying around for $100!

 

[FireEagle]

Cool guitar! You'd be hard pressed to find a more playable guitar than the old Roadstar II's...but yeah, that's just me. I really like them and just bought an RG135 a while back for like $150 or so... has that same crappy PowerRocker tremolo. I just really like feel of the necks on them. Keep it and enjoy it!

 

[Michael Harris]

Got it back from the luthier I took it to for a set up yesterday. The thing sounds and plays great now. I had him block the tremolo which almost seems a shame given I have the original tremolo arm, but I never use it and it is annoying when you break a string. He did a full fret level included in the set up which I thought was above and beyond. He also dug into the history on it a little and said it appeared to be a prototype made in 1983. So I'm guessing that might make it among the first Roadstars. I'm not 100% on that - he said he based that on something in the pocket. The serial # seems to indicate March of 1986 and it is a Roadstar II, but a lot of this guitar has been replaced and or modded. However the neck and pocket info does seem to match so who knows. Anyway, I'm going to rock it like it is 1986 - now if only I could grow hair again...

 

[sepulchrave]

- now if only I could grow hair again...

Confirming that hair growth has actually been re-allocated to the eyebrows, nostrils and ears :wink2: