NancyJohnson Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 Rob van den Broek (author of the Gibson Bass Book) has just posted images of Gibson's RD Artist basses on Facebook. The black one is hubba bubba for me. Lovely. Just take my fecking money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howdenspur Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 Very nice, always liked the RD's design. They look like the p/ups out of the EB series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 Wow. The natural 🤤 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerfish Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 I don't need another bass, I don't play 4 strings.... but I want it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 [quote name='gingerfish' timestamp='1510228618' post='3404748'] I don't need another bass, I don't play 4 strings.... but I want it. [/quote] Same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 (edited) I like the natural one. Er... hubba hubba. Edited November 9, 2017 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andysleigh Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 (edited) good to see them back, my gripes tho- -rosewood fretboard looks bad on both, a maple of the natural, and ebony on the black would be much better. but i guess they are money saving - stock pickups used on the EB bass and thunderbird 2015, they look crap - the preamp is probably nothing special. - the knobs looks out of place, but thats easily changed. iv never really been a fan of the small headstock they use at the moment tho, doesnt looks right. Edited November 9, 2017 by andysleigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaytonaRik Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 [quote name='howdenspur' timestamp='1510228084' post='3404743'] Very nice, always liked the RD's design. They look like the p/ups out of the EB series. [/quote] Well, if you ever feel the need to buy one and want to sell my T'bird back to me to fund it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 Funnily enough, I was playing my '79 RD Artist at band rehearsal on Tuesday night. Is it an "Artist"? Well, the way I see it, it's more "Artist" than "Standard" and that's more than I expected so happy days. Agree with the comments about fingerboard material - would have been nice to have the option of maple for the natural one and ebony for the black like in olden times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basvarken Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 I've seen these pick ups somewhere before......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 I like the black one, any mention of prices yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andysleigh Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 [quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1510245058' post='3404981'] I like the black one, any mention of prices yet? [/quote] 1500 euros, so like 1300/1400 quid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 [quote name='andysleigh' timestamp='1510246034' post='3404988'] 1500 euros, so like 1300/1400 quid [/quote] Hmmm, a bit strong at that price I fear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basvarken Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 Specs:Series Limited Run BassesBodyBody Style: RDBack: MapleTop: N/aWeight relief: NoneNeckNeck: MapleNeck profile: RoundedNut width: 1.60”Fingerboard: RosewoodScale length: 34”Number of frets: 20Nut: TektoidInlay: Acrylic DotsHardwareBridge: 3-Point Full Contact BABICZTailpiece: N/aKnobs: Knurled Black Chrome & Flat Black EQ KnobsTuners: Grover ShamrocksPlating: ChromeElectronicsNeck pickup: Rhythm EB BassBridge pickup: Lead EB BassControls: Vol / Blend & High/Low/Parametric, w/ Mini Toggle (Active/Passive)Finish/QuantityFinishes available: Antique Natural, EbonyCase: HardshellQuantity available: N/aPrice: € 1700 (probably not the streetprice) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roman_sub Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 I hear bad murmurs about current comings-and-goings at Gibson, I wouldn't buy this without properly testing it out first... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 The body shape is about the only thing that is "RD" about this guitar. I remember them having 2 little switches behind the bridge and pickups without visible pole pieces which joined onto the pick guard. I also recall them weighing an absolute ton, seeing as I was playing a Precision at the time, they must have been heavy to notice the difference! Having said that I quite like the look of this modern take on the theme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 (edited) Just a reminder of what the original looked like! Edited November 12, 2017 by Grahambythesea Update pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Pick ups look the same as on my EB4, they sound good and have coil taps built in (at least, mine does!) so they are quite versatile. Shame they've gone for the crappy 3 point bridge, though, the EB4 comes with Babicz as standard, a far better option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 [quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1510311962' post='3405476'] Pick ups look the same as on my EB4, they sound good and have coil taps built in (at least, mine does!) so they are quite versatile. Shame they've gone for the crappy 3 point bridge, though, the EB4 comes with Babicz as standard, a far better option. [/quote] They haven't - it's a Babicz 3 point replacement bridge on the new ones. The picture of the old one had a 3 point bridge on it, perhaps that's what you were thinking of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andysleigh Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 (edited) the more i look at it the more it makes me annoyed that gibson cant put a little bit of effort into making something i little special or different. Edited November 10, 2017 by andysleigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 [quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1510323557' post='3405603'] They haven't - it's a Babicz 3 point replacement bridge on the new ones. The picture of the old one had a 3 point bridge on it, perhaps that's what you were thinking of. [/quote] Probably was, just looked at a pic in this thread and assumed it was the bass under discussion. The Babicz bridge is definitely worth having! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 [quote name='andysleigh' timestamp='1510324642' post='3405622'] the more i look at it the more it makes me annoyed that gibson cant put a little bit of effort into making something i little special or different. [/quote] Thing is the major brands are stuck with making/re-issuing their legacy instruments; Fender are just as guilty as Gibson in that hardware/electronics aside their core designs are all 50/60 years old. Gibson did produce the recent EB basses through two guises - these were wholly new designs for Gibson, although the body shapes did borrow heavily from Tobias and Peavey and the first EB Series body looked an awful lot like a Fender Dimension bass. While a few here liked them - specifically from the new pickups and the price point - they've obviously bombed and haven't been put into another production run. I like the RD Artist rework. I'm still holding on to see whether they'll do a 20/20 reissue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basvarken Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 [quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1510326426' post='3405648'] I'm still holding on to see whether they'll do a 20/20 reissue. [/quote] You're probably going to have to wait a good two more years for that... ;-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clivem Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 While I really like the RD "shape", I've heard stories about the weight of the originals. And this re-issue, with the maple body.... I'm smelling a 12lb bass!!!! We'll find out as soon as sweetwater get 'em in stock and weigh one, I 'spose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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