2018 Gibson basses. New basses, new topic :)

[Granny Gremlin]

Yeah, the few bassers on the local guitar board I hang at were likewise not so hot on it. ... not quite as ignorant as some of the FB commenters who don't realise its not a new design; guitar players - whatchagonnado.

[Dave W]

It seems obvious that most of those negative comments on its appearance come from people who have never seen the original RD. No problem, there were plenty of detractors back in the day. The design isn't for everyone.

[Highlander]

38 years happy with mine... mostly...

[uwe]

It seems obvious that most of those negative comments on its appearance come from people who have never seen the original RD. No problem, there were plenty of detractors back in the day. The design isn't for everyone.

Yup, the look of the RD (and the weight!) was divisive even when they were introduced in the latish 70ies, Fender people hated them even where they had to admit that they didn't sound bad (or from a Fender player's viewpoint: better than anything Gibson had offered before). To me it's more of an "axe" in feel than the thin-bodied and sleek-necked TBird which feels elegant in one's hands, the RD is much more robust in handling and feel, more "take no prisoners". There are days when I like that.

But OTOH it is a design that has hardly been copied by others - they were introduced too late for Japanese pre-lawsuit copycats to flood the market, and until the Nirvana guy picked one up again, they were largely forgotten (or often mistaken as Thunderbirds, kind of like the Corsair/Hellcat conundrum).

[Chris P.]

The new Fantomen of Hagstrom (guitar only) is nice. And of course there were some other RD kinda basses . Forgot which brand(s), but not many indeed.

[uwe]

Yeah, the guys from Ghost dig the shape.



But they are in league with Satan!

As must be Dir En Grey ...



... with their pleasant variation of largely acoustic Japanese folk music ...

[Ken]

How is the neck thickness of the RD compared to the NR Thunderbird?

[doombass]

My RD is semi chunky. About the same feel as the Ripper neck.

[uwe]

Yup.

[Highlander]

... (or often mistaken as Thunderbirds, kind of like the Corsair/Hellcat conundrum).

Any easy mistake to make, they are so alike...

[uwe]

As the saying goes: With a mind of a squirrel, anything will look like a tree hole.

[Basvarken]

A little more effort put into it than the Eastwood...
Waghorn RD Artist Bass.

[bassilisk]

WoW!! Now THAT is gorgeous!!!! And I'm sure all that bling was a goodly pile of shekels as well, though clearly well spent.

For a while I had a 77 RD Artist (mustard/ketchup finish) in great condition. Other than its usual detractions (ungainly and heavy) I thought it was fairly easy to play and it sounded wonderful as long as I kept it passive. Quite honestly I had no use at all for any of the Moog Magic. If I could get that passive sound into a more streamlined shape I'd still have it. I had to try it out though, just to see what it was all about. A unique instrument, without a doubt.

[uwe]

Those Waghorns look nice, kinda Gibson gone through a PRS Custom Shop.

[TBird1958]

That's a pretty cool take on an RD! I dig the block markers on the neck!