Gibson RD Artist bass time line
1975
 | | Bob Moog |
 | | The Gibson '78 magazine |
Development starts.  We started with the "musical purpose" theory, which of course is to determine what the musical instrument is supposed to accomplish. Once the theories were developed and our "musical purpose" guidelines were established, then we went to our outside review board, which consists of many telented players throughout the United States. Many of which are the finest in the business. Their reactions to the concept and early prototypes were most favourable. From there, we went to the drawing board and began working out the various details to pull the project together in a final prototype form. At the same time I discussed the project with Dr. Bob Moog of Moog Synthesizers and between Bob, Roger Cox and our entire design team we collaborated on the design of the instrument and the internal electronics
Interview with Gibson product development director Bruce Bolen, 1978 Gibson magazine
John Entwistle is pictured on the cover of the November 1975 issue of Guitar Player magazine, wielding a 1964 Thunderbird.
I thought I might as well try it out on stage, and it was perfect, though it didn't have enough treble, and it still doesn't. Once I realized Thunderbird was the bass I was going to be playing for a few years, I panicked because they stopped making them. Thunderbird necks tend to be too thin down at the bottom. I get my fingers all tangled up when I go to the first fret.
Was the desire for a Thunderbird with more treble, and a wider neck the motivation for the RD series?
1976
At least one visitor to the Gibson factory reports seeing a single-pickup RD prototype with a Thunderbird headstock.
Spring 1976 In relation to John Entwistles visit to the Gibson Kalamazoo plant
Later.. he signed a Moog Product Endorsement contract and made plans to visit the Gibson factory around NAMM time to discuss the "Return of the Thunderbird"
Norlin artist perspective leaflet, 2nd quarter 1976.
Late 1976 Gibson are trying to make me something similar using the same tone circuitry as the Alembic. They're getting together with Moog to work something out. They made a prototype which they were going to put Alembic electronics in, but we managed to convince them it was going to be senseless to make me twelve Gibson guitars all with Alembic stuff on. There's one thing about Alembic — it can be hard to vary the controls while you're playing because there are so many, so it would be nice if, when they did the Gibson one, they could give me some floor controls so I can either control it from the guitar or the floor.
Interview with John Entwistle, Jan 1977 issue of International Musician and Recording World.
1977
The RD series is launched at the Atlanta, Georgia NAMM show (June 11th-14th 1977).
Summer 1977 The John Entwistle RD-77 Gibson active electronics instruments are previewed at NAMM... among the prototypes... the fabled "spiderbass" that Entwistle will play himself.
Norlin artist perspective leaflet, summer 1977.
Gibsons RD series of guitars and basses, with Moog electronics, created substantial talk because of their abilities to cross-over from the screaming sustain of rock to the mellow richness of jazz.
Review of the 1977 NAMM show, Guitar Player magazine, Sept 1977.
I am looking for pictures of the RD basses displayed at NAMM 1977. Where you there? can you help?
1978
 | | Ralphe Armstrong with a mahogany fretless RD Artist. He also had a maple fretted version. Read more in the GibsonBass Ralphe Armstrong interview. |
January 15th 1978 The RD Artist bass appears in its first price list at $699. Listed finishes are Ebony, Natural and Fireburst.
early 1978 With the ghost of Orville Gibson looking over his shoulder... Bob Moog dips his designer's hands into the second generation Gibson active electronics guitar the Gibson RD-77... already in use by the Who's John Entwistle recording in the United Kingdom... The RD-77 shows more Moog technology blended with Gibson tradition...
Pat Aldworth previews the RD-77 to Rex bassist; Louis Van Dorn, CBS All star Steve Kahn, during their Gibson/Kalamazoo visit.
Norlin artist perspective leaflet, 1978. This leaflet contains a very interesting picture of Bob Moog at work on an RD-77; the instrument pictured clearly has a bolt-on neck! See image here
May 1978 Ralphe Armstrong features in an advertisement for the RD Artist bass. He is pictured with his Mahogany-bodied RD, with fretless ebony fingerboard.
May 15th 1978 The RD series are pictured on the cover of this price list. Prices and finishes are unchanged.
The RD Artist bass has its first catalogue appearances in the 1978 Gibson Catalogue and 1978 RD Catalogue.
The RD Artists is Gibsons best-selling bass, shipping 1402 instruments, compared to 808 Grabbers, 1025 G-3s and 991 Rippers.
1979
 | | Basses loaded. RD Artist advert from Guitar Player magazine, March 1979. |
January 1st 1979 The first price list of the year listed an extra finish, Antique Sunburst, for the fretted bass. It also announced the new fretless version, in Antique Sunburst and Natural finishes only. Both were priced at $749.
June 1st 1979 The second price list of 1979 didn't change any prices, however Fireburst was dropped as a finish for the fretted model.
September 30th 1979 The fretless RD Artist was dropped from the third price list of 1979. Prices unchanged.
The switching system of Artist basses changed from the three-way switch that allowed either bright mode or expansion/compression, to a two mini-toggle system that allowed either of these modes individually, and perhaps most crucially allowed both at the same time. Have a closer look at the two switch configurations.
Shipping figures are almost halved on the previous year, yet the RD Artist is still Gibsons best-selling bass.
1980
1980 The last catalogue appearance of the RD Artist bass was the 1980 Gibson Catalogue
January 7th 1980 The RD Artist bass price was raised to $899.
July 1st 1980 Price unchanged. This was the last appearance in a price-list before the models deletion.
1981
The RD Artist bass was withdrawn in 1981. The pricelist of April 1st '81 had no mention of any RD guitars or basses.
March 1981 A small number (perhaps 100) CMT (curly maple top) RD Artist basses were produced in March/April.
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