1981 Gibson RD Artist bass

• Bound maple body • curly maple top (CMT) • set maple neck • ebony fingerboard • second version active electronics • 34 1/2 inch scale

The CMT RD Artist bass, and corresponding RD Artist guitar were announced to dealers in March 1981, for delivery in April; right at the end of regular RD production. Only 100 guitars were to be produced - unfortunately bass figures are not available, but they were probably made in similarly small numbers.

The RD Artist had been in production since 1977, and by the time this bass was made in April 1981, they had already been dropped from the price lists. The serial number 80921089 tells us that this bass was stamped on the 2nd April 1981 (day 092), at the Gibson Kalamazoo plant, and was the 089th instrument stamped that day. A new price list starting just the day before (April 1st 1981) had no mention of the RD series at all.

The RD guitars and basses with a curly maple top (CMT) are the only ones with a bound body, and don't have the body contouring of the earlier versions; just a flat slab. The top is quite thin, as can be seen (right), this is probably more accurately described as a veneer rather than a 'top'; being considerably thinner than the maple tops seen on Les Paul guitars etc. Compare the veneer thickness with the size of the pickguard screw hole in the top left corner.

Only the last run of RDs with Curly Maple top also had body binding.

The RD Artist is fitted with Gibson Posi-Lok strap locks

The series V humbuckers were especially designed for the RD Artist, and were used in no other bass.

The RD Artist knobs are not all the same. Two are numbered 0 to 10 (both volumes), two are 5 to -5 (treble and bass controls).

The compression/expansion and bright mode are controlled by two-way mini-toggle switches. The pickup selector is a typical three-way switch.

The Gibson three-point bridge was used from 1973 onwards, on the EB-0, EB-3/3L, EB-4L, Ripper, Thunderbird, RD series and V-Bass.

The body reverse shows the very large control/circuit board cover and battery compartment.

As with all gibson guitars and basses built after 1970, the words MADE IN USA are stamped on the reverse of the headstock, just visible between the two tuning key backplates. In this case, the word SECOND is also stamped; the guitar would have had a small imperfection, perhaps in the finish, but be otherwise functioning and saleable.

The RD Artist bass headstock has inlaid Gibson logo and 'flying f-hole' design. The flying f-hole was designed by Gibson designer Charles Burge especially for the RD series. The lightning bolt through the centre of the f-hole signifies this is an active instrument; indeed a flying f-hole without the lightening bolt was also made for passive instruments.

With the finish somewhat faded on the reverse of this headstock, the 3 maple neck pieces (and extra two wings on the headstock) are revealed. The tuning keys are Schaller BM type.

Like all RD Artist basses, the guitar pictured above has mark V active humbucking pickups. Typical Gibson 3-point chrome bridge, and Schaller BM machine heads.

As of 1979, the moog board was controlled by two mini-toggles rather than a 3 view switch. See the general RD Artist description for details of the functionality, and the technical details page, for a better look at the Moog board and related switches. This allows expansion/compression whilst in bright mode, pre-1979 RDs had to chose one or the other.

One final feature on this bass, not fitted to older versions, is the use of the Gibson Posi-Lok strap buttons, replacing the older round style.

As can be seen, this instrument is marked as a factory second (the word SECOND is stamped just above the serial number) which usually points to a finish flaw (although no flaw stands out).

Gibson RD bass guitars for sale

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1980 Gibson RD Artist Bass Sunburst

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 ... more

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