Because this will be incoming soon too
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a57/mdeayton/Bass%20gear/Guitar1.jpg)
Congrats Mark, info please? How much, where from, what about it pushed your button?
Nice. And superior to the Artist if you want to hear wood and not just a battery. Bit like a Jazz Bass.
That looks really good in black. I briefly had a black basses only policy, till a natural Ripper blew a hole in it.
Nice score! Mark your on a roll!
Rockin! Nice score.
Congrats Mark! First a Hobbit, now the RD Artist. You've scored the two most complexed basses of Gibson's experimental '70s. I think I've seen fewer in black than in fireburst & natural. Enjoy!! :toast:
Very nice...
Just as a matter of interest, how many of you have heard an RD Artist pup in a normally aspirated condition...?
I have one in the PC and the other is awaiting replacement in her host and I still have to post a sound clip... eventually... :sad:
My mistake............... looks like a RD Standard......... still way cool!
That's a beautiful RD! I love them in black!
Thanks guys. The Hobbit went a few months ago - the neck was just too skinny for my liking. I've always loved the RD body shape, especially in black, but wasn't keen on the complexity of an Artist. I also figured that the Standard might be lighter than an Artist, since there are less bits and pieces inside. So, black Standard = just what I was looking for.
This one was advertised in the classifieds at Jules' forum.
Congratulations Mark!
I'm quite jealous :) play her in good health
Quote from: Aussie Mark on May 20, 2011, 05:58:12 PM
Thanks guys. The Hobbit went a few months ago - the neck was just too skinny for my liking. I've always loved the RD body shape, especially in black, but wasn't keen on the complexity of an Artist. I also figured that the Standard might be lighter than an Artist, since there are less bits and pieces inside. So, black Standard = just what I was looking for.
This one was advertised in the classifieds at Jules' forum.
Actually I bet the Artist is light due to how much wood they hog away for the bid circuit board. Anyone weigh each for a comparison?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/exbody-1.jpg)
I think mine is a bit over ten pounds. Use a really wide strap and all is good.
Don't ask me why or how, but my Artists are as heavy as my Standard if not a tad bit heavier. Must be the lighter natural fin of the Standard. Finsh influences weight - have we discussed that here yet? We really should.
Fin(n)ish influences even economy. :D
Always liked the Standards better than the Artists
Quote from: uwe on May 23, 2011, 08:09:37 AMFinsh influences weight - have we discussed that here yet? We really should.
You joke, but bondo's a lot heavier than wood. ;D
I guess a black bass absorbs more sunlight, while a white one will reflect it. So a black bass must be heavier.
So, the RD has made it from the seller in Wales to the 3rd party shipping forwarding company in London that I'm using. It saved me more than $250 on shipping by using the 3rd party. The shipping forwarders took a photo to show me that the seller has packaged it well.
I'm expecting the bass to arrive downunder around the middle of next week.
Quote from: Chris P. on May 25, 2011, 03:14:37 AM
I guess a black bass absorbs more sunlight, while a white one will reflect it. So a black bass must be heavier.
If the bassist is a bit on the heavy side, the black is somewhat slenderizing............................ :P
Quote from: Grog on May 25, 2011, 07:18:57 PM
If the bassist is a bit on the heavy side, the black is somewhat slenderizing............................ :P
Chris has no weight issues. He says so himself. 8)
No, Wait! If the bass is black then it is the bass which will look more slender. This of course means the player will look bigger. Hey Grog, how are you off for black jeans and T-shirts? ;)
Quote from: Freuds_Cat on May 25, 2011, 10:04:19 PM
No, Wait! If the bass is black then it is the bass which will look more slender. This of course means the player will look bigger. Hey Grog, how are you off for black jeans and T-shirts? ;)
Sounds stealthy............. The last time I did that, I wore a new pair of white tennis shoes, screwed up the whole camo thing! ;D
Quote from: Grog on May 26, 2011, 11:03:48 AM
Sounds stealthy............. The last time I did that, I wore a new pair of white tennis shoes, screwed up the whole camo thing! ;D
LOL ;D
(http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/uu280/kjrstewart/Front%20Page/20090314023.jpg)
(Kenny in stealth mode... ;D)
I only see a drummer?
talk about blend in :o
OK, my black RD Standard arrived today from the UK. Where is the serial number located on these? I expected the usual stamped serial number on the back of the headstock as per other Gibsons, but I can't see a serial there. When I get home tonight I'll pull the control plate and check the pot codes.
Back of the headstock is where it should be...
That don't sound right...?
Quote from: Kenny's 51st State on June 07, 2011, 03:11:00 PM
Back of the headstock is where it should be...
That don't sound right...?
That was the first place I looked. I've owned other 70s Gibsons where the stamp is really hard to read unless the light is shining in the right direction, but no matter which angle I look at this one there is absolutely no sign of a serial number in that location. The finish is all original, and there are no signs of the headstock being resprayed at all. The pots are all 1977, and everything else about this bass is correct, so it is unusual to not have a serial.
Not that it worries me, I set it up last night with a set of TI Flats and it plays beautifully and sounds great!
The RD Standards came up before the Artists and the very early ones might have still be from the decal phase of Gibson, hence no stamp. Plus I'm not aware that at that time anybody copied an RD well, the Jolana versions were. Horrible at first sight and the ESP ones only came up this decade.
The Standards were not produced for long either, a year or maybe two. Once the RD Artists were established, they faded their passive sibling out.
So you do like its sound? Didn't I say so!!!
From S. P. Fjestad (Blue Book):
During the period from 1975-1977 Gibson used a transfer that had eight digit numbers, the first two
indicate the year, 99=1975, 00=1976 and 06=1977, the following six digits are in the 100000 to 200000
range. MADE IN USA were also included on the transfer and some models had LIMITED EDITION also
applied. A few bolt on neck instruments had a date ink stamped on the heel area.
I wasn't aware that the RD Standard was out as early as 1977, but since yours has 1977 pots, this very well could be missing a decal.
Quote from: Dave W on June 07, 2011, 05:58:01 PM
I wasn't aware that the RD Standard was out as early as 1977, but since yours has 1977 pots, this very well could be missing a decal.
According to Jules' website the Standard was produced in 1977, but as we know, the 1977 pot codes could also mean it didn't come off the production line until 1978.
http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/RDShippingFigures.php
I'm surprised that everyone is surprised about the early date - my RD Standard was made on the 266th of 1977 according to its stamp, I believe most RDs are from either 1977 or 1978, I've never seen a later one, due to the short production span they are in fact rarer than the Artist models. The RD as a prototype shape definitely already existed in 1976, albeit in maho rather than maple. The fact that it was lurking in the aisles as the new model probaly had a lot to do with the fact that Gibson did not retain the Bicentennial Birds as a steady model in the following years. After all, the RD was to be the new, better (and cheaper to produce) TBird.