Rd Artist

[jsp]

I own 2 RD Artists a 77 and a 79 unlike the picture mine has square mother of pearls on neck as opposed to dots and also has gold hardware. . One has a fine tunning tail piece and one does not. Weight in bewteen a Les Paul and Explorer. I believe Gibson made three models of Rd Artist. Both mine work ,the active electronics, Sound great the only problem I ever had was the little adjustment on back for the pick attack. It works but don't quite get the hang of how to set it for me. If these were played with a good over drive pedal or a tubscreamer great classic rock sound late 60's early 70's great clean sound all around sound is good even 80's heavy metal. If any one would like a copy of the owners manual and schematic just email me and I'll scan my origionals and some stuff gibson sent me. JP

 

[tommyfobia]

I have a '78 in natural. Mine has the ebony fretboard and MOP square inlays, gold hardware and the fine tuning tailpiece. The necks on them are incredible, very un-gibson-esque surprisingly.

The moog active preamp was cool for a bit, but I got a lot of feedback, so I took it out, and put it away, safely in a box, so she's now passive.

I love RD's, even though my main guitars have always been LPs.

Gibson sent me a photo-copy of the original owner's manual when I first bought the guitar, as I hadn't a CLUE what all the swiches did.

Unfortunatley I am, (as somepeople would describe) as 'vertically challenged', so the RD looks rediculous on me, as it is so big/long. But it feels/sounds incredible, so I don't mind.

 

[Jollyb]

I don't know why those guitars never caught on.......I love them personally. Problem is they are kinda rare and when I have a few bucks burning a hole in my pocket...........they are never available.

Post some Pics!!!!!

 

[ABKB]

Yes, post some pics. I have a friend who had a RD (with the ebony fretboard and block inlays) who had one, it was his first "real" guitar growing up. He sold it for $200 way back in the day, and he's cryin now. So some pics would bring back some memories.

And +1 on them never catchin on. Shame, they were a great axe and good sounding.

 

[HEY!YOU!]

My '78, all original.

[/IMG]

For sale, btw

 

[Cokeman]

How much?

 

[whitehall]

Time has healed many wounds. I was a Gibson dealer in those days and remember the RD all too well. We had a very hard time selling them. The standard would move when we heavily discounted them, the Artists were close to impossible. Remember in those days there was almost no information.customers would say :--- Is that a firebird ?
---- why does it have an LP custom headstock ? is it a parts guitar ?... why is it so heavy ? Are you sure it's not a bass ? what the heck is RD ? And on and on. The reps made it no better. In those days there was a lot of barganing at the dealer level. I remember having to take some RD artists in order to get some LP customs. Gibson was going in a lot of different directions in those days, the Sonex and Marauder were painful to sell. The firebrand was a xmas special , they sold pretty well. I have to laugh though, a lot of people asked us if we could paint them. Compared to some of Gibsons other endeavors at the time , the RD was a pretty well made guitar. As I recall they did play well, if you were 6 ft tall or better it was a pretty good fit. Hold onto them, all things Gibson are bringing money these days.

 

[HEY!YOU!]

Originally posted by Cokeman
How much?

$1850.
PM if interested

 

[Jollyb]

Originally posted by HEY!YOU!
$1850.
PM if interested

****. Like I said.........they are always only available when I have No Ca$h...........

 

[duckbunny]

...you know, the semi-hollow with no f/ holes? The electronics were a little funky (active, center-detented tone controls; compression, "expansion," and treble boost mini toggles) but the workmanship was first class, and it was hands-down the best feeling semi I've ever played. Traded it for something or other, and I sorry I ever did. It was # 17 off the line in 1980, too!


-db

 

[jezmond0]

I own 2 RD Artists a 77 and a 79 unlike the picture mine has square mother of pearls on neck as opposed to dots and also has gold hardware. . One has a fine tunning tail piece and one does not. Weight in bewteen a Les Paul and Explorer. I believe Gibson made three models of Rd Artist. Both mine work ,the active electronics, Sound great the only problem I ever had was the little adjustment on back for the pick attack. It works but don't quite get the hang of how to set it for me. If these were played with a good over drive pedal or a tubscreamer great classic rock sound late 60's early 70's great clean sound all around sound is good even 80's heavy metal. If any one would like a copy of the owners manual and schematic just email me and I'll scan my origionals and some stuff gibson sent me. JP

Can you please send Gibson RD Artist manual to me at [email protected]? any help be greatly appreciated!

 

[enocaster]

Can you please send Gibson RD Artist manual to me at [email protected]? any help be greatly appreciated!

jsp does not appear to be a current member of TGP - his post was made 6 years ago! I'd contact Gibson…

 

[musicofanatic5]

My '78, all original.

[/IMG]

For sale, btw

I can see why they "never caught on". Not quite a Firebird; not quite a...cool looking gtr.

 

[tsar nicholas]

I never loved the body shape, but the playability is awesome. The one I played years ago at Music Brokers was way heavy for me though.