Pete Morgan on Parky 1980

[iBudd]

I was watching an old 1980 Parkinson the other day and spotted Pete Morgan (with the Harry Stoneham group) playing a really unusual looking bass. A bit Thunderbirdish but not quite? This is the best view we got of it. Nice jazzy tone. Anyone have any idea what it could be? And if youv'e never admired Pete's work with Harry Stoneham or Dudley Moore - or Blossom Dearie! - now might be the moment...

 

[Beedster]

RD Artist?

[iBudd]

11 minutes ago, Beedster said:

RD Artist?

Great eye - that's exactly it, thank you! I've never had my hands on one but they look fascinating. PM started on a Burns Black Bison so I can see why all the tone options would have appealed to him.

[BigRedX]

Looks like the version with the full Moog circuitry.

[iBudd]

2 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

Looks like the version with the full Moog circuitry.

I've got to admit I kind of want one now.

[Misdee]

Those RD Artists sound amazing but weigh a ton and are a bit ungainly to play.

 

I remember when they were new in the shops around the time I started playing and they were ridiculously expensive, much more than a Fender or Rickenbacker, none of which I could afford.

[iBudd]

15 hours ago, Misdee said:

I remember when they were new in the shops around the time I started playing and they were ridiculously expensive, much more than a Fender or Rickenbacker, none of which I could afford.

They've certainly held their value though it seems! I'd be intrigued to try one but I bet there's a lot that can go wrong with the enormous Bob Moog circuit board in 45 years, and I doubt it's easy to fix.

[Beedster]

[Nigel Sleaford]

Yes, Pete Morgan playing with Blossom Dearie, using his Burns bass. Excellent playing and great tone. 

[iBudd]

8 hours ago, Nigel Sleaford said:

Yes, Pete Morgan playing with Blossom Dearie, using his Burns bass. Excellent playing and great tone. 

 

Some beautiful stuff here.

 

[Misdee]

On 18/11/2025 at 17:46, iBudd said:

They've certainly held their value though it seems! I'd be intrigued to try one but I bet there's a lot that can go wrong with the enormous Bob Moog circuit board in 45 years, and I doubt it's easy to fix.

That bass was Gibson's attempt to take on the increasingly sophisticated bass designs that were emerging by the mid-to-late '70's. They did a good job in so many ways, as the sublime tone of those basses proves. It's one of the best sounds for  heavy rock/ alternative music ever in my opinion.

 

However, as was not at all uncommon at that time, comfort  and playability for the poor sod who had shelled out all that money were not really considered at any stage of the design process. So you ended up with a bass where the reach to the first fret was so far away it was in another post code and you needed  the services of an orthopedic surgeon after playing a 45 minute set standing up with it.