Time for me to get back in the gym

[Aussie Mark]

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!

[uwe]

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!!! 

[Dave W]

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.

[Aussie Mark]

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

[uwe]

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.