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The Gibson RD Standard Bass Guitar

Gibson bass guitars | RD bass main page | RD Standard

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).

1978 Gibson RD Standard bass, Natural finish with a maple fingerboard
1978 RD Standard bass in its original hard case
1978 RD Standard bass in its original hard case

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.

1978 RD Standard bass catalog page

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.

Both pickups, tone on 10

Typically warm maple sound
Bridge pickup only, tone on 10

The bridge pickup gives the bright highs and mid tones
Neck pickup only, tone on 10

The neck pickup gives a rich bass sound
Both pickups, tone on 0

This has a honky Rickenbackeresque vibe. Lovely maple.

Gibson RD bass guitars for sale

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1977 Gibson RD Standard BASS Black

1977 Gibson RD Standard BASS Black

Carbondale, Illinois, 629**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3590


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Olivia's Vintage would like to present this 1977 Gibson RD Artist Standard Bass in its original Black finish. It has a great playing neck with great frets. It's all original and 100% complete along with the original hardshell case (missing handle and some damaged on the sides of the case). This RD Bass looks great with some nicks + dings (some are touched-up) and other cosmetic wear. The bass itself remains structurally sound with no cracks, breaks or ... more
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