Gibson RD Artist bass guitar soundclips

1978 RD Artist bass description of controls

The Gibson RD Artist bass is well renowned as a professional standard instrument; an excellent playing and recording bass, having an exceptionally wide tonal range. It has no passive mode; and sometimes the electronics can be a little noisy, especially when the treble is set at extreme levels. Sound clips below demonstrate some of the tones possible from this bass, with and without amplifiers, and the in-built electronic effects developed in conjunction with Moog: expansion, compression and bright mode.

This sheet describes the RD Artist bass description of controls, circa 1978, and applies to the first version of the RD Artist (or RD77).

Tonal overview

The following three clips are the ones used on the RD Artist overview page - see there for more details. Recorded directly into a mobilepre preamp. Recorded with flat wound strings. Pickup volumes on 10.

Range of tones

demonstrates the RD bass at its most mellow and then again at its most brash
Compression

natural sound of the neck pickup, without, and then with compression
Expansion

natural sound of the bridge pickup, without, and then with expansion
Bright mode

natural sound of both pickups, without, and then with bright mode

Pure RD Artist; DI bass (no amplifier)

These sound clips are of this 1978 RD Artist recorded directly into a mobilepre preamp. Recorded with flat wound strings. Pickup volumes on 10.

funky treble

bass -5 treble 5, bridge pickup only, bright mode
super bass

bass 5 treble -5, both pickups, compression/expansion mode
midrange

bass 5 treble 5, both pickups, straight active mode
bright midrange

bass 0 treble 0, bridge pickup only, straight active mode
mudbucker bass

bass 5 treble -5, neck pickup only, straight active mode
even brighter midrange

bass 5 treble 5, bridge pickup only, straight active mode

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

1978 Gibson RD Artist "NATURAL BLONDE" Electric (MOOG) Bass + OHSC

San Jose, California, 951**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4000

1978 Gibson RD Artist Bass Guitar + Original Gibson Hardshell Case
" NATURAL BLONDE" FINISH
GIBSON NORLIN-ERA
Original MOOG ELECTRONICS
Made in USA (Kalamazoo Plant, MI)
Production # 102 (April 17th release)
Adult owned only. Children-free, Pet-free household. Kept inside case when not used

Up for sale is a BEAUTIFUL LATE-70's Gibson Bass Guitar (RD ARTIST)
EXCELLENT overall vintage condition. Standard surface scratches, light dings, marks on front / back body / ... more