1978 Gibson RD Artist Vintage Electric Bass Guitar Ebony w/ Moog Electronics
$2,999.99
$2,999.99
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Up for sale, a 1978 Gibson RD Artist Bass in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. Designed as a collaboration between Gibson and Moog Music (who were both owned by Gibson's parent company Norlin at the time), with input from The Who's John Entwistle, the RD Artist sports an active compression and expansion circuit designed by Moog, available at the flip of a switch. Perhaps best known for its use by bass players such as Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Beck, IMAROBOT, Nine Inch Nails), and Krist Novoselic (Nirvana), the RD bass has a wonderfully aggressive tone that translates the immediacy of the tonewoods and natural sustain of the instrument through the Mark V humbucker pair.
The RD Artist's tonal range is extremely broad, boasting Volume and Tone knobs for each humbucker and a pair of three-way switches, one governing pickup selection and the other engaging the active Moog electronics. With the Moog electronics disengaged, the bass dishes out plenty of midrange grind and low end punch, offering a distinct sound in every pickup position. Neutral in the middle position, the three-way Mode switch has a Bright setting when engaged in the Up position, and it's a fairly extreme tonal shift with tons of treble detail and cut. In the Down position on the Mode switch, the Compressor/Expander setting is similarly ripping and bright with (unsurprisingly) added compression. With maple construction throughout and a slab ebony fretboard, this RD Artist weighs 11lbs 10oz, professionally set up here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with 45-95 flatwound strings, comfortable action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Neck: Maple
-Shape: Medium C, measuring .855” at 1st fret, 1.010” at 12th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, dot inlay
-Frets: Medium jumbo, leveled/crowned, no wear
-Scale Length: 34 3/8”
-Nut width: 1 5/8”
-Tuners: Clover button, open-gear (Gibson branded)
-Serialization: Eight-digit serial stamped on headstock
Body Specs:
-Body: Maple
-Pickups: Mark V humbucker x2
-Controls: Volume x2, Treble EQ, Bass EQ, three-way pickup selector, three-way Mode switch
-Hardware: Three-point adjustable bridge
-Plastics: Five-ply black pickguard, black speed knobs, black switch tips
The gloss Ebony nitro lacquer finish has a small area of repaired tear out in the maple and touch-up adjacent to the three-way Mode switch. There’s buckle worming on the back and some minor dings and scuffs along the lower bout perimeter. The gloss finish on the neck profile is smooth and clean.
A gigbag is included.
The RD Artist's tonal range is extremely broad, boasting Volume and Tone knobs for each humbucker and a pair of three-way switches, one governing pickup selection and the other engaging the active Moog electronics. With the Moog electronics disengaged, the bass dishes out plenty of midrange grind and low end punch, offering a distinct sound in every pickup position. Neutral in the middle position, the three-way Mode switch has a Bright setting when engaged in the Up position, and it's a fairly extreme tonal shift with tons of treble detail and cut. In the Down position on the Mode switch, the Compressor/Expander setting is similarly ripping and bright with (unsurprisingly) added compression. With maple construction throughout and a slab ebony fretboard, this RD Artist weighs 11lbs 10oz, professionally set up here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with 45-95 flatwound strings, comfortable action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Neck: Maple
-Shape: Medium C, measuring .855” at 1st fret, 1.010” at 12th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, dot inlay
-Frets: Medium jumbo, leveled/crowned, no wear
-Scale Length: 34 3/8”
-Nut width: 1 5/8”
-Tuners: Clover button, open-gear (Gibson branded)
-Serialization: Eight-digit serial stamped on headstock
Body Specs:
-Body: Maple
-Pickups: Mark V humbucker x2
-Controls: Volume x2, Treble EQ, Bass EQ, three-way pickup selector, three-way Mode switch
-Hardware: Three-point adjustable bridge
-Plastics: Five-ply black pickguard, black speed knobs, black switch tips
The gloss Ebony nitro lacquer finish has a small area of repaired tear out in the maple and touch-up adjacent to the three-way Mode switch. There’s buckle worming on the back and some minor dings and scuffs along the lower bout perimeter. The gloss finish on the neck profile is smooth and clean.
A gigbag is included.
