Shipping totals for Gibson RD Artist and RD Standard bass guitars
| 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | total | |
| RD Artist | 504 | 1402 | 734 | ? | ? | 2640 |
| RD Standard | 388 | 425 | 103 | 916 | ||
| RD-77 | 6 | 6 |
The RD Artist was produced until April 1981, however shipping figures are unavailable past 1979. A batch of RD Artists with a curly maple top were the last to be produced in April '81 (probably numbering 100 or so).
Shipping figures mention six RD-77 basses right at the start of production. Mid 1977 Gibson literature refers to the RD Artist bass shown at the 1977 NAMM show as the RD-77, so presumably these are just prototypes or show models, that were listed with the original name. With the exception of the first prototype(s) which had a bolt-on neck(s), the early samples were no different to the production models; according to Chuck Burge who hand-built these instruments, they did not differ from the regular production models in any significant way. See the RD Artist timeline.
Once the RD Artist bass with second version (RD79) electronics was in production, the name RD77 was sometimes (though not universally) resurrected to differentiate the two variants. In the vast majority of cases the bass was simply called 'RD Artist bass'. The 77/79 designations were far more widely used for the six string guitar version as there was a bigger difference between the RD 77 and RD 79 guitars; on top of the revised controls, these RDs also had different scale lengths.
Gibson RD bass guitars for sale
Vintage Gibson RD Artist Bass Natural 1978
Brookfield, Wisconsin, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2999
Vintage Gibson RD Artist Bass Natural 1978
PLEASE CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR FOR AN IN-HAND DESCRIPTION
Ah, the '70s. A time when forced ingenuity trumped conventional wisdom & gave us amazing instruments such as this one. Like the line of electric guitars, the RD Artist bass features active preamp circuitry designed by Moog, long before Moog exploded onto the marketplace. This preamp combined with bulletproof all-maple construction makes for a white hot explosion of ... more
1979 Gibson RD Artist Bass Guitar with active Moog Electronics
Frankfort, Indiana, 460**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$6000
Gibson 1978 RD Artist Bass - Ebony w / Case
Pine Brook, New Jersey, 070**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$4600
Bass is in very good condition
All Moog electronics function
There had previously been a thumb rest which was removed and the holes patched. Still visible
There is slight damage to the finish on the back of the neck from the bass being hung
Comes with a case, but not the OHSC
... more
1976 RD Standard Gibson Jazz Bass Guitar
Mission Hills, California, 913**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3000
PICK UP ONLY Mission Hills, CA (LA ... more
Gibson RD Artist Bass w / Bag! -LL
Mesquite, Texas, 751**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3000
Item: Gibson RD Artist Bass w / Bag!
Description: You are purchasing a Gibson RD Artist Bass w / Bag!Neck had a break but has been repaired. See PhotoIT has some wear and tear from normal usage Beautiful flamed wood finish Plays and sounds Please ask any questions before buying if you have any Shipping: $100 00 shipping to the Lower 48 States! We ship overseas. Overseas shipping prices will vary. Overseas buyers pay their own import taxes Payment: We accept Paypal for your ... more
1978 Gibson RD Artist "NATURAL BLONDE" Electric (MOOG) Bass + OHSC
San Jose, California, 951**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$4000
" NATURAL BLONDE" FINISH
GIBSON NORLIN-ERA
Original MOOG ELECTRONICS
Made in USA (Kalamazoo Plant, MI)
Production # 102 (April 17th release)
Adult owned only. Children-free, Pet-free household. Kept inside case when not used
Up for sale is a BEAUTIFUL LATE-70's Gibson Bass Guitar (RD ARTIST)
EXCELLENT overall vintage condition. Standard surface scratches, light dings, marks on front / back body / ... more
1977 Gibson RD Artist Bass (Fretless) - Natural
Mansfield, England, NG18***, UNITED KINGDOM
£2599
The main talking point here is the original onboard Moog active circuitry. It was incredibly advanced for 1977, offering built-in compression and expansion modes that give the twin humbuckers a massive range of tones, from a deep punchy thump, to a very clear, ... more
1977 Gibson RD Artist Bass - Natural- MOOG Expansion and compression
Beckenham, Kent, BR3***, UNITED KINGDOM
£3200
Gibson RD Artist (MOOG) Bass (Simms Custom repaint) + Original Hard Case
London, NW5***, UNITED KINGDOM
£4837









