The RD Standard bass was launched alongside the active RD artist in 1977, and sold just over 900 instruments to 1979 when production ceased. Both guitars were produced side by side at Gibson's Kalamazoo plant, Michigan, USA. The Standard was the passive model, fitted with two newly designed Gibson series III /series IV humbuckers unique to this model. The body was solid maple, typically three-piece, with a three-piece laminated set maple neck. Fingerboards were either maple (for the Natural models) or Ebony (for the black models).
The first catalog appearance of the RD Standard was in the 1978 catalog, along with the RD artist bass, and a range of RD guitars (see RD bass Prices & Publicity).
As mentioned above, the Standard was fully passive, and therefore featured vastly simpler electrics than the RD Artist: just a volume control for each pickup, and a master tone control, each topped with a black speed knob, numbered 0-10 (see RD Standard circuit details here. The pickups were described as 'explosive' in the 1978 catalogue. Being all-maple, and long scale, all RD basses had a distinctly brighter sound than many of the older mahogany short scale Gibson basses, irrespective of any circuitry, and their very original styling was a major contrast to the very much fifties and sixties bias of the EB series basses. They were heavy though; in fact the Standard, with it's smaller control cavity than the Artist was the heaviest of all Gibson basses, typically weighing around 5.4kg.
The RD Standard was offered in two finishes: Natural and Ebony. Thanks to Brandon Howell for the Ebony RD pictured.
Gibson RD Standard Bass sound clips
These sound clips are recorded directly into a mobilepre preamp. Recorded with round wound strings, and played with a pick. My favourite setting is the fourth, with the tone turned down on both pickups. These recordings were recorded with low gain, but this bass really growls when you turn it up a couple notches.
Compare these clips with those of the RD Artist here.
Typically warm maple sound
The bridge pickup gives the bright highs and mid tones
The neck pickup gives a rich bass sound
This has a honky Rickenbackeresque vibe. Lovely maple.
Gibson RD bass guitars for sale
1980 Gibson RD Artist Bass Sunburst
Antioch, Tennessee, 370**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3999
