Gibson RD bass
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The Gibson RD guitars were launched in 1977, There were two bass models, the RD Artist and RD Standard, plus 3 guitar models. The basses were both similar in looks and construction; maple body and neck, with maple fingerboards on natural instruments, and ebony fingerboards on black/sunburst. The difference between the two basses was in the electronics. The RD standard was a typical passive bass, with two pickups, two volume controls, and one tone control. The Artist was very different. Gibsons first attempt at active electronics, it featured complex expansion/compression circuits designed by Bob Moog (Moog and Gibson were both owned by Norlin) which allowed a wide range of sounds, and effects. It had no passive mode.
Notable RD bass players
Krist Novoselic - Nirvana
- Adam Clayton - U2