• Maple set neck and body • ebony fingerboard • flying f-hole headstock motif • custom designed active electronics with built in compression and expansion modes • 34 1/2 inch scale
1978 Gibson RD Artist bass, in three-tone fireburst finish with an ebony fingerboard. With it's maple body and neck, and comparatively large size, this is a heavy bass - typically weighing between 5 and 5 1/2 kg.
Gibson produced the RD Artist bass for just four years; 1977-1981, this bass, from early 1978 is one of the earlier examples. It had a May '78 list price of $699 in the US. 1978 was, in fact, the peak year for production; this bass was one of 1402 shipped that year. See Gibson RD shipping statistics here.
Fireburst finish was one of the initially available colours, but was discontinued (at least, removed from the price lists) in June 1979. This burst uses much stronger colours than is typical for a Gibson sunburst; sometimes referred to as ketchup and mustard burst.
This RD bass has the first series switch configuration, as detailed in the diagram (left). See the RD Artist technical page, for a view of the mode switch from inside the body of the bass; it is not a simple three-way toggle. The technical page also shows the two-switch system that replaced it. The disadvantage of this early switch system is that expansion/compression could not be used simultaneously with the bright mode. On later models it can.
Like all RD Artist basses, the guitar pictured above has mark V active humbucking pickups, the standard Gibson 3-point chrome bridge, and Schaller BM machine heads.
The RD Artist pickups and associated electronics are unique to the RD Artist. The bridge, however, is the Gibson
three-point adjustable combination bridge, first used in 1973. The pickups are
series V humbuckers with expansion/compression and bright mode controlled by the switch at the bridge end of the guitar. Note the three-piece maple body, with defined patterning in places.
The back control cover is actually split into two. The very top section (right hand side of the image) is a separate battery compartment, containing the 9v battery that powers the active electronics. Have a look under the control cover
here
Twin scratchplate-mounted
series V humbucking pickups, especially designed for the RD Artist bass. The RD Artist was Gibson's first active bass, being powered by a 9v battery. The associated electronics were designed by Bob Moog (Moog and Gibson were both owned by Norlin at this time).
RD basses were always equipped with speed knobs. Note that the two left hand knobs (volumes) show the range 0-10, whilst the two on the right are marked 5-5; these control treble and bass, and operated in a range +5 to -5, with 0 being the neutral position.
The RD Artist bass controls are not straightforward. The top switch - or trick switch, has three positions: compression/expansion, neutral and bright/lead mode. The switch below is the pickup selector. The compression only affects the neck pickup, whilst expansion only affects the bridge pickup. You can read more about the controls in the original Gibson literature:
RD users manual.
All RD basses were fitted with the Gibson
3-point bridge; the bass could be strung from the bridge, as shown here, or, with
extra-long scale strings strung through the body. This bridge was first used by Gibson in 1973, and is still fitted to some Gibson basses to this day.
Like many sunburst bass guitars produced by Gibson, this RD has a walnut-finished reverse side. Note the large control cover, which housed the Moog circuit board. Like the
Gibson Ripper, the RD Artist had a 34 inch scale maple neck, set to a solid maple body.
The serial number 70568120 tells us that this bass was stamped on the 25th February 1978 (day 056), at the Gibson Kalamazoo plant, and was the 120th instrument stamped that day. As with all Gibson guitars and basses built after 1970, the words 'MADE IN U.S.A.' are stamped beneath the serial number - though somewhat obscured by the tuning keys.
Inlaid Gibson logo, with mother-of-pearl 'flying f-hole', designed by Gibson employee Chuck Burge. The lightning bolt through the f-hole signifies this to be an active instrument. The truss rod is typical Gibson bell-shape, with model designation and revealed edge.
Like the majority of seventies maple-necked basses, this RD artist has a volute to strengthen the area directly behind the truss-rod cavity. This bass is fitted with Gibson branded
Schaller BM machine heads.
Gibson RD bass guitars for sale
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Antioch, Tennessee, 370**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3999
Very good condition 1980 Gibson RD Artist Bass. All original, outside of the removal of the Moog electronics. Original pickups sound MASSIVE and have tons of low end on tap. Really a special bass from Gibson that was not made that long. Original sunburst finish looks great on this specific bass. Some signs of play as pictured, but nothing crazy. All electronics have been tested to be working perfectly. Recently set up as well. Kept in a smoke free, pet free studio for recording purposes. Comes ...
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