1983 Ibanez Rocket Roll II RR550 – Cherry Burst Custom Hardtail

1983 Ibanez Rocket Roll II RR550 – Cherry Burst Hardtail Custom

This is a one-of-one, a Custom creation starting with the bones of an original ’83 Ibanez Rocket Roll II RR550 Flying V made in japan, set-neck beauty in Cherry Sunburst. It came from the Fujijen factory spec’d with an Ibanez HardRocker tremolo in February 1983. The guitar was modified poorly between then and 2018, being routed for various tremolos and then filled in with a solid block to transform it into a string through setup. This was not pretty, but bad things happen to Flying V.

The instrument was professionally rebuilt in 2018/2019 here in LA and converted to a hardtail with vintage Gibraltar bridge setup ala Destroyers and Rocket Rolls from 1978-1982 and other high end Ibanez instruments such as PF Performers and AR Artist series instruments. A new flamed top was added, binding was replaced, and then the instrument was painted up as far as its original headstock so the serial number from the factory is retained. Everything above the level of the volute is original finish, looking very good. The pickups are black D’Marzio Super Distortion in the bridge position which make a lot of noise, and a Maxon/Ibanez Super58 in the neck position, making for a very versatile guitar that can do a lot of things. Any hardware not vintage Ibanez is Gotoh Japan. The guitar has a custom brass and bone nut, Ibanez black flat-topped switch to match the hockey puck and pickup rings, chrome bridge and tailpiece and vintage SureGrip knobs with new rubber grip rings retrofit from a later model, custom Rocket Roll II truss rod cover, flat, wide neck with 22 jumbo frets, and a beautiful rosewood fretboard, professionally wired, and is obviously for the very few.

All the woodwork was done by Randy at RWR Guitars in Los Angeles, the setup was handled by the guys at Eric’s Guitar Shop in Van Nuys, CA.

Weighs 7lb and 6oz, setup on 10’s, comes in an as-new TKL hardcase.

Condition

Extra holes drilled for original tuners, patina on metal parts, none of the hardware is original to the instrument. The paint on the horns reacted to the first case that this was kept in which affected the finish, hard to spot unless you look. There’s also wear on the tips from resting on the ground or in a stand, a few small flakes missing from the front between the pickups from play, typical V wear, but presents as excellent. Impressions on the back from a stand or strap, harsh lighting required, guitar presents as excellent. Not new, not pristine, looks fantastic. See the pictures, ask for more. As always, lots more pictures of this one at my site which Reverb doesn’t want me to link to, but if you put a dotcom behind my shop name, you’d already be there.