RBM1BK

Details & History

This Guitar is up for sale. Check out the classifieds.

This is an original 1991 RBM1, this is the top model made in Japan to the design of Reb Beach.
Solid mahogany body with a very high gloss black finish, rosewood fretboard on a maple neck.

There's a couple of different aspect about this particular RBM1. Namely That the bridge humbucker has been replaced with 'Joe's favourite' a FRED DiMarzio DP153. and for good measure it has been boldly signed on the back of the headstock by one Steve Vai. So with this guitar you get three great Ibanez artists in one.

the guitar is in pretty good shape with just a few dings and tiny chips in odd areas. The hardware is the best I have seen, and looks virtually new, there is NO pitting or bubbling as is the norm with the edge trem of this era and the headstock is equipped with Gotoh tuning machines. Fully equipped and has a hardshell case (non Ibanez).

Details & History

This is a '92 Ibanez RBM1 "Voyager" series model designed by Reb Beach (of Winger/Dokken) manufactured in Japan, #F225742. Twenty-two fret Bolivian rosewood fingerboard on a Canadian rock maple neck, patented Ibanez all-access neck joint on a solid mahogany (not basswood like all other Ibanez guitars, par prestige or customs.) RG style body but with the standout lower bout cutaway that makes the Reb unique. The finish is a beautiful black mirror, with all gold hardware and pickguard. This guitar is equipped with two SB1 single-coil-size passive humbucker pickups in the neck and middle positions and an HB2 passive humbucker in the bridge, wired to a five-way pickup selector switch and a coil-tap mini-switch for the HB2. The bridge HB2 pickup is the highest gain pickup in the Ibanez arsenal, but the coil tap cools things off a little if you want a mellower tone. The neck and middle pickups are a warm sound, great for smooth arpeggios. One volume knob. It has the Floyd Rose licensed Lo Pro Edge bridge and MIJ Ibanez tuners. The neck is very thin and fast (almost identical to a Jem neck) with a 430 mm fretboard radius and low, fat frets. Overall, an impressive instrument, wonderful to hold and play. The impression you get from it is the same as when you pick up a Jem or JS1000 or really good USA Jackson -- this is a shredder! They were only made for 4 years, so you don't see these very often. This is a great heavy rock/metal guitar. This guitar retailed at $1,199.95 when it was made.

{Note the updated look on the 1992 model compared to the 1991 below. Ed!}

Details & History

A little about the history of the RBM by Jimi D

The RBM Voyager models were introduced in 1991, I think... The first available models were the RBM1 and RBM2 - the RBM2 was the Koa "signature" guitar, and 150 of them were signed and numbered by Reb... no one's really sure but there's probably less than 500-600 RBM2s around, and some estimates are considerably smaller than that. In 1994, the original Japanese RBM models were replaced by the Korean RBM10 and RBM400 - the RBM10 was a true Korean RG guitar, and suffers from poor pickups and the TRS Trem... The RBM400 is basically an RBM1 with natural finish. They stopped making them after 1995. Reb is now with John Suhr Guitars. The dates here are tentative, but I can confirm them. Jimi D