andypowe11

@LeftyJ, One other thing... if you look at the image top right on the 1981 catalog page that I refered to above - see [url="http://s93105080.onlinehome.us/Ibanez-Catalogs/catalog/1981/12.jpg"]http://s93105080.onlinehome.us/Ibanez-Catalogs/catalog/1981/12.jpg[/url] immediately above "24-fret models" - you'll note that the fretboard on that bass is also very dark. That said, the bodywork on that bass doesn't seem to fit other Roadster models on that page so this image might well be a red herring ??

Thanks for all the responses so far. @LeftyJ, I've put some images at [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/andypowe11/sets/72157631914640688/"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/andypowe11/sets/72157631914640688/[/url] (taken with flash so they're not perfect but you'll get the idea). Once again, I'm very interested in any further light people can shed on this bass.

My mother-in-law has asked me to sell her partner's RS-940 fretless bass and I'm trying to find out a little bit more about it before I do so. Her partner died about 16 years ago and it hasn't seen any use since then. Prior to that It was used for some live gigs, but not a huge number. It's in very good condition and has always been kept in a Hiscox Liteflite hard case as far as I know. The bass is an Ibanez Roadster RS-940 brown sunburst finish. The serial number is B812310 and it is marked Made in Japan. From that I'm guessing February 1981 as month of manufacture. I've found the Ibanez catalog for that year - see [url="http://s93105080.onlinehome.us/Ibanez-Catalogs/catalog/1981/12.jpg"]http://s93105080.onlinehome.us/Ibanez-Catalogs/catalog/1981/12.jpg[/url]. However, this bass has a very dark fretboard - I'm assuming it's Ebony - which I don't see mentioned in the catalog. Can anyone confirm what this fretboard will be made of. Also whether it makes it much rarer than the ones with lighter coloured fretboards? Anyone care to hazard a guess at a value? I can supply photos if it helps. I am planning on selling it on Ebay but if there are any better (more targeted) places I'd be interested in hearing about them. Thanks in advance for any advice. Andy