In 1978 Gibson published a series of single-page sheets, describing in detail the specific operation of some it's instruments with the least intuitive controls; the RD Artist was a good example of a bass with a huge tonal range, but with controls beyond the usual tone and volume. No equivalent sheet was produced for the much more conventional controls of the RD Standard.
The control description below is actually for the first version of the RD Artist bass, the RD77, circa 1977-1978. Have a closer look at a 1978 RD Artist bass. As can be seen, the three-way mode selection switch, (#7 in the image below) only allows expansion / compression, OR bright mode).
In late 1979 the controls were changed; the three way mode switch replaced by two separate two-way mini-toggle switches, allowing both expansion/compression and bright mode simultaneously; something that could not be achieved the earlier RD77 version. Basses with this second switch arrangement are referred to as RD79 basses. Have a closer look at a 1981 RD Artist bass.
There are several RD Artist bass soundclips on this site demonstrating the nature of the built-in effects, and showing some of the more typical settings I use on my RDs.
See also the equivalent sheets for the Ripper, G3, Les Paul Signature and EB3 basses.
Gibson RD bass guitars for sale
1980 Gibson RD Artist Bass Sunburst
Antioch, Tennessee, 370**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3999
