Shaggy Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 (edited) This is Woolleydick’s old RD Artist, which has been my main stage weapon for the last year or so. With a change in band material I’m playing my Gordon Smith and fretless rather more, plus I’ve recently acquired another RD Artist in the sunburst finish that I’m a sucker for. This is an ’81 model, in clear nitro finish natural maple which has aged to a nice pale honey tone all over. The woodwork, finish, Gibson-branded Schaller tuners, and 3-point bridge are original. As you can probably see the pick-ups are not; the original black series V humbuckers were replaced 2 owners ago with chrome EB-3 type units (Japanese made, Allparts supplied), and the original Moog preamp replaced by what I was informed is a Bartolini 2-band EQ one. The brass nut and generic Gibson truss-rod cover are also not original, and rear battery cover is missing (NOS ones available on t’bay). RD Artists have the classiest headstock on any bass ever I reckon, the Gibson logo and “flying note” inlay are real mother-of-pearl. The controls are; vol / vol / treble boost-cut / bass boost-cut, p/u select (neck/both/bridge), with micro-switches for active/passive (wish every active bass had one!), and phase invert. Quite simply there is nothing that looks like these basses, or sounds like this one. They are heavy – a big solid chunk of maple, but really ergonomic – if you play fingerstyle (as I mostly do) you can rest your palm on the upper body cut-out whilst doodling away on the strings; so comfortable. Set neck, body-through stringing, extra-long scale (34.5”), and dense maple body means it sustains for ever. Versatile: you can get the muscular EB-3 sound (think Jack Bruce, Jim Lea, Andy Fraser….) but with more punch and top end available, rather more Fender P. The preamp is very effective and hum free but I almost invariably use it passive – just such a rich, growly, ringing tone. I reckon the chrome p/ups look so much more right on an old Gibson too. However, the mods have obviously devalued it as a collector’s bass, so I’d only be after what I paid for this; a firm £550 collected, shipping on top. I’m based in South Wales, fairly near Swansea, but drive over to Cambridge now and again to see family – next time Easter, if that’s near to anyone interested. Edited March 26, 2009 by Shaggy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRISDABASS Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Im interested Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josh3184 Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 coolest bass ever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr pablo Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I nearly bought this from Dick bnefore you snapped it up I sooo wish I had the cash for it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted March 4, 2009 Author Share Posted March 4, 2009 Thanks guys! Forgot to mention- - Unlike Thunderbirds these [b]don't [/b]suffer from neck dive; nicely balanced. - construction and xtra long scale makes them ideal for drop-tuning malarky such as BEAD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey1-8 Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 That is one uber sexy bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chenzo_1 Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 pm'd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted March 6, 2009 Author Share Posted March 6, 2009 A couple of trade offers but nothing definite - so still available folks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted March 26, 2009 Author Share Posted March 26, 2009 SOLD pending the usual Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts