NBD: 1977 Gibson RD Standard

Ampig · July 03, 2012, 03:42:22 AM

After 7 years of playing and buying different basses I finally got the chance to buy my "Holy Grail". I've always been intrigued by the shape of the RD basses, and a few weeks ago I finally got the chance to buy one. I was hesitating at first, because I recently bought an oversized les paul, and a telecaster bass, but my girlfriend convinced me I had to buy it. I guess she was sick and tired of me whining about it everytime I saw one on the evilbay.

So after a two-hour drive I arrived somewhere in the middle of a forest (literally), to meet the nicest guy ever. He was in his late fifties and selling some of his bass guitar collection. He said he owned almost every bass he wanted to own, and it was time for him to downsize his collection.

These were just the Gibsons he was selling:

Gibson SB-450 1972-1978
Gibson Les Paul 1991
Gibson Les Paul 1992
Gibson Les Paul deluxe V 1995
Gibson Grabber G1 1978
Gibson Grabber G1 1974-75
Gibson Grabber G3 1978
Gibson Grabber G3 1978
Gibson Grabber G3 1980
Gibson Ripper 1976
Gibson Ripper second 1980
Gibson Ripper 1975
Gibson Ripper fretless sunburst 1974
Gibson Ripper fretless black 1974
Gibson Victory bass standard 1981
Gibson Victory bass artist Sunburst 1981
Gibson RD standard 1977
Gibson EB0 733800 walnut 1966
Gibson EB3 512640 Sherry 1974
Gibson Thunderbird 1990
Gibson EB 650 1991

So he encouraged me to play anything I wanted, even though he knew I was only there for the RD. So after a long testing session and an equally long talk, I ended up taking my "Holy Grail" home.

I've only got one picture yet but more will be added.

The case is not original but I'm glad he had a case at all (I think it's a T-bird case).

gweimer · July 03, 2012, 05:16:28 AM

Are those Jazz Bass pickups in there? What kind are they?

Ampig · July 03, 2012, 05:31:36 AM

Those are the original pickups. The RD artist was made with the wider humbucker sized pickups, while the RD standard was made with jazz sized pickups. This version doesn't have the moog electronics either, it's completely passive.

More info: http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/RDstandard.php

godofthunder · July 03, 2012, 05:32:18 AM

Nice bass! Nice story! Those are stock RD Standard pickups.

Barklessdog · July 03, 2012, 05:35:23 AM

Quote from: Ampig on July 03, 2012, 05:31:36 AM
Those are the original pickups. The RD artist was made with the wider humbucker sized pickups, while the RD standard was made with jazz sized pickups. This version doesn't have the moog electronics either, it's completely passive.

More info: http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/RDstandard.php

I got schooled in this they are are not Jazz pickups.

Basvarken · July 03, 2012, 06:16:18 AM

Nice score. Was that guy perhaps Guy Celis from Belgium?

gweimer · July 03, 2012, 06:17:55 AM

Quote from: Barklessdog on July 03, 2012, 05:35:23 AM
I got schooled in this they are are not Jazz pickups.

I'm a little late for class!

Ampig · July 03, 2012, 06:36:21 AM

Quote from: Basvarken on July 03, 2012, 06:16:18 AM
Nice score. Was that guy perhaps Guy Celis from Belgium?

Yes it was, you might remember I posted this bass (and my other Gibsons and Epiphones), on basgitaarforum.nl.

nofi · July 03, 2012, 07:19:07 AM

kenny/herbie can fix that right up for you.

uwe · July 03, 2012, 08:00:16 AM

Like mine!

I prefer the more woody tone of the Standards to the processed and slightly sluggish signal of the Artists. Those pups are stacked humbuckers and I believe they were of Bill Lawrence origin. They are not barky-agressive in the sense TB Plus or sixties TB pups are, but far from meek. You get a strong, focused signal that is not sterile and let's you hear the maple of the bass. Bit ripperish with more focus.

Highlander · July 03, 2012, 02:12:02 PM

Welcome to the (strictly limited) club...

Uwe's fine ~~wine~~ bass notes yet again...

Quote from: nofi on July 03, 2012, 07:19:07 AM
kenny/herbie can fix that right up for you.

I looked in the shed last week (busy laying crazy-paving and steps out front whilst dodging the rain) and mines still there, unpainted, so I guess it might take a while yet...

uwe · July 03, 2012, 03:39:37 PM

Speaking of RDs, you can do Teutonic disco with them too!

The bass player and second keyboarder in this clip are btw identical with the ones in the Tokyo clip in the Music Vids with TBirds thread. They're all late seventies/early eighties Frankfurt sessioneers scene.

patman · July 03, 2012, 05:06:31 PM

I played one of those years ago and liked it a lot...congratulations...

Chris P. · July 04, 2012, 03:04:17 AM

Very nice bass!

Ampig · July 04, 2012, 03:34:38 AM

Big thanks to all of you for the nice comments!

@Uwe: I totally agree on the more woody tone, one of the main reasons I really wanted the Standard version (plus the fact that I really hate batteries). It completely fits the kind of music I play with my band (think Black Rebel Motorcycle Club/Queens of The Stone Age kind of stuff), and through my SVT VR in combination with my sola sound tonebender it sounds HUGE.