SOLD! - 1978 Gibson RD Artist Natural w/ Moog Electronics

As the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder, we feel that it is time to cheer you up with our BIAJ Autumn Sale 2023 !! 🐝 🐝  🐝
 
The Gibson RD (Research and Development) series guitars were launched in 1977. Distinguished by it's active MOOG electronics, they were designed to appeal to those interested in synthesizers as well as guitars (can you imagine...)

The best known and top-of-the-line model was the RD Artist (1977-82). It featured active circuitry with switchable bright mode, treble and bass boost, compression and expansion. It did not have a passive mode. The MOOG electronics consisted of a 9v battery powering a circuit board the length of the body, accessible from the back cover. The neck scale was shortened in 1979 to 24¾", a return to the standard Gibson scale used on other solid bodied guitars.
 
The post '79 instruments are less desirable today than the original '77 and '78 Artist, which has become something of a modern classic. In recent years, RD Artists have become quite collectible among collectors and players alike.

The RD Custom (1977-79) featured active circuitry with a switchable bright mode. The electronics consisted of a 9v battery powering a circuit board smaller than the Artists, but still of significant size, accessible from the back cover. No passive mode.

The RD Standard (1977-79) was passive only, with none of the circuitry of the other two models.

This particular RD Artist was originally purchased in 1978 at Feedback Music in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and is all original without any cracks, breaks or repairs except for 2 small plugged pinholes next to the bridge pickup as a reminder of an old Roland synth pickup that was once added for even more synth like options. That's right. It was the 80's after all.... But the pickups, pots, hardware, electronics etc are all original and untouched and it all works great. The guitar weighs about 4.4Kg and comes in an original 1960's Gibson rectangular case that is a little bigger then it should be for an RD (probably a bass or 12-string case) and has the hinges on the back repaired.