The Ibanez Roadstar Custom is an Ibanez electric guitar, currently around $669. Close alternatives include the ESP 400 Series, Electric Guitar, J and the Ovation Tornado. It pairs well with the Blackstar St. James 100 and the Swart MOD 84.
Ibanez Roadstar Custom
Ibanez · electric guitar
The Ibanez Roadstar Custom was part of Ibanez's mid-1980s Roadstar line, a range of general-purpose solid body electrics sitting between the brand's budget and premium offerings of the era. Tom Morello, Rage Against the Machine's guitarist known for building an entirely unique sonic vocabulary through pickup toggling, kill switches, and turntable-style scratching techniques applied to guitar, has played a Roadstar Custom as part of his famously eclectic and often modest gear collection, which favors functional, hackable instruments over premium boutique guitars. Morello's main guitar remains a heavily modified Kramer Pacer copy nicknamed Arm the Homeless, and instruments like this Roadstar Custom represent the wider, less publicized range of guitars he's used to develop and perform his experimental techniques.
- solid
- mid
- platform
- boutique
- homeless guitar
- whatever guitar
- otherwise straightforward rock riffing
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Ibanez Roadstar Custom is commonly used in
- Blues
- Jazz
- Rock
- Metal
Amps that pair well with the Ibanez Roadstar Custom
Blackstar St. James 100
Blackstar
17% matchBlackstar St. James 100 stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Swart MOD 84
Swart
17% matchSwart MOD 84 leans toward lush, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchRun mid-forward into Friedman BE-Mini Head for more high gain on top
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchPut Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchPut Synergy SL2 Module in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head
Hiwatt
tonal matchPut Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Coreblade layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Friedman Phil X Signature
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman Phil X Signature layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Pedals that stack with the Ibanez Roadstar Custom
Greer Black Mountain
Greer
19% matchPut Greer Black Mountain in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
ThorpyFX The Dane
ThorpyFX
18% matchPut ThorpyFX The Dane in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Cusack Music Carolina Reaper Overdrive Fuzz
Cusack Music
tonal matchPut Cusack Music Carolina Reaper Overdrive Fuzz in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchRun mid-forward into Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 for more fuzzy on top
Crowther Prunes
Crowther
tonal matchCrowther Prunes stacks fuzzy on top of the mid-forward already here
EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter
EarthQuaker Devices
tonal matchPut EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Blackstar ID:X Floor One
Blackstar
tonal matchBlackstar ID:X Floor One stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Friedman Box of Doom Distortion
Friedman
tonal matchRun mid-forward into Friedman Box of Doom Distortion for more high gain on top
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
See all alternatives to the Ibanez Roadstar Custom (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Ibanez Roadstar Custom?+
The closest matches in character are the ESP 400 Series, Electric Guitar, J, the Ovation Tornado, the 1978 Danelectro/Charvel Star. Boutique upgrades: Gibson Explorer Korina, Fender Brad Paisley Esquire.
What pairs well with the Ibanez Roadstar Custom?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Blackstar St. James 100, Swart MOD 84, Friedman BE-Mini Head — Blackstar St. James 100 stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here.
How much does the Ibanez Roadstar Custom cost?+
Around $669 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).