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Hipshot bridge to replace the Gibson three-point bridge

A direct replacement bridge for your Gibson 3-point bass bridge that uses your existing hole pattern. Gold, Black or Chrome.
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1978 Gibson RD Artist
1978 Gibson RD Artist bass, fireburst finish with an ebony fingerboard

Maple set neck and body, rosewood, maple or ebony fingerboard, custom designed active electronics with built in compression and expansion modes. 34 1/2 inch scale.

1978 Gibson RD Artist bass. Body detail 1978 Gibson RD Artist bass. Twin series V humbucking pickups. 1978 Gibson RD Artist bass. Body detail - switch details 1978 Gibson RD Artist bass. Body detail - Volume and tone knobs 1978 Gibson RD Artist bass. Body detail - headstock with mother-of-pearl flying f-hole inlay
1978 Gibson RD Artist bass. Body detail 1978 Gibson RD Artist bass. Body detail 1978 Gibson RD Artist bass. Bridge detail - 3 point bridge 1978 Gibson RD Artist bass. As with all gibson guitars and basses built after 1970, the words 1978 Gibson RD Artist bass. Rear headstock detail

Gibson produced the RD Artist bass for just four years; 1977-1981, making this example one of the earlier examples. The serial number 70568120 tells us that this bass was stamped on the 25th February 1978 (day 056), at the Gibson Kalamazoo plant, and was the 120th instrument stamped that day.

RD Artist bass controls, 1977-79This RD bass has the first series switch configuration, as detailed in the diagram (left). See the RD Artist technical page, for a view of the mode switch from inside the body of the bass; it is not a simple three-way toggle. The technical page also shows the two-switch system that replaced it. The disadvantage of this early switch system is that expansion/compression could not be used simultaneously with the bright mode. On later models it can.

Fireburst finish was one of the initially available colours, but was discontinued (at least, removed from the price lists) in June 1979. This burst uses much stronger colours than is typical for a Gibson sunburst; it's even been called a ketchup and mustard burst.

Like all RD Artist basses, the guitar pictured above has mark V active humbucking pickups, the standard Gibson 3-point chrome bridge, and Schaller BM machine heads.


US ebay listings

1978 Gibson RD Artist Bass

Current price: $701.99
buy it now
Time left: 5d 1h 53m
GIBSON RD ARTIST BASS GUITAR 1981 - w/original case

Current price: $1475.00
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Time left: 4d 4h 10m
Gibson RD Custom Circuit Boards

Current price: $20.00
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Time left: 1d 23h 51m
1980 GIBSON RD ES LES PAUL ARTIST ACTIVE GUITAR PRINT AD

Current price: $12.99
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Time left: 2d 18h 59m
1978 GIBSON RD ARTIST BASS & GUITAR PRINT AD

Current price: $12.99
buy it now
Time left: 3d 57m
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