Post your guitars and tell me why you play them! I fell in love with the look of these basses the first time i saw them, but ive never been fortunate enough to play one.
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Calling all RD owners!
- Thread starter CygnusSong1215
- Start date
When I saw an RD Artist guitar in a book I immediately liked it (because of the looks), that was in 1983. Moving forward many years: when I found out that all-maple guitars do it for me my interest got a focus on the RD again, and I got an RD Artist guitar from ebay in 2004. Well, the electronics were... different (I was used EMG's only, and the electronics of Fenders Deluxe series), but I tried it out and found a way to use it well. By that time, I'd loved an RD bass as well, but I wanted one with an ebony board. I found one on ebay in 2007, and even from then on the prices have seemed to go up for these. It is unlikely that they would reissue the Artist with the original electronics. So, do I like it? Yes, I really like this thing, despite being a heavy bass. I had to get used to the 34.5" scale somehow. It doesn't sound like a Fender or any of the Gibson EB types. It has a very clean piano-like tone with a good attack. It is hard for me to get a muddy sound out of it (not that I really want that though). With treble on full there is an audible hiss, but I wouldn't dial in sounds with bass or/and treble on full. Mine is a sunburst one. I'd prefer an Artist over the Standard (passive) model as I actually use the electronics. I think the CMT version (with bound curly maple top) looks best. I am happy with it (I saw no need to replace the tri-point bridge so far, it works well).
Here is a pic of my RD Bass:
Link Removed
Here is a pic of my RD Bass:
Link Removed
My beloved '76.
Paid $325 for it in 1999.
Someone had painted it green, and someone else had stripped the green and much of the original finish off. I had to have clear finish shot on the neck since it was raw wood when I got it.
All of the shielding was never replaced when the bass had been painted and stripped, so the bass was basically unuseable with the stock MOOG electronics. It picked up three different radio stations, clear as a bell. In my opinion, the MOOG electronics sounded terrible, but YMMV.
I had some Dimarzio Model Ones in it for a while (the Billy Sheehan versions), which sounded great, but I've recently rewired it with the original pickups, wired like a Jazz bass. I had to move some of the pots around due to the hole in the front.
Hands down, this is the bass I love to play the most. I have a 1970 P-Bass, and a 72 Jazz Bass, both of which sound 100 times better than this bass, but something about the feel of the neck, the balance, whatever... this is the only bass I play anymore.
Paid $325 for it in 1999.
Someone had painted it green, and someone else had stripped the green and much of the original finish off. I had to have clear finish shot on the neck since it was raw wood when I got it.
All of the shielding was never replaced when the bass had been painted and stripped, so the bass was basically unuseable with the stock MOOG electronics. It picked up three different radio stations, clear as a bell. In my opinion, the MOOG electronics sounded terrible, but YMMV.
I had some Dimarzio Model Ones in it for a while (the Billy Sheehan versions), which sounded great, but I've recently rewired it with the original pickups, wired like a Jazz bass. I had to move some of the pots around due to the hole in the front.
Hands down, this is the bass I love to play the most. I have a 1970 P-Bass, and a 72 Jazz Bass, both of which sound 100 times better than this bass, but something about the feel of the neck, the balance, whatever... this is the only bass I play anymore.
I've got two at the moment.
an ebony one that I still haven't photographed, and this cmt RD Artist. I actually like the black better than the CMT, for looks, but the CMT is the better of the two to play (because of the mark 2 circuitry)
more pics here [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I swapped this one for a Vox teardrop guitar last year
more pics here [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
This is a nice player, and was my first RD Artist bass, but I just found the 'ketchup and mustard' finish a bit garish
an ebony one that I still haven't photographed, and this cmt RD Artist. I actually like the black better than the CMT, for looks, but the CMT is the better of the two to play (because of the mark 2 circuitry)
more pics here [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I swapped this one for a Vox teardrop guitar last year
more pics here [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
This is a nice player, and was my first RD Artist bass, but I just found the 'ketchup and mustard' finish a bit garish
Nice to see a fellow RD-player out there!
I just got my 1981 RD home from a nice workshop that got it all up and running - new frets and such.
All the electronics are fine and yet... there's some hum to both the comp and the treble enhancer. Do you have that on your RD?
Thank's for your time and please let me know if you have any RD recordings available
Deep Vibes from Clawsome
I just got my 1981 RD home from a nice workshop that got it all up and running - new frets and such.
All the electronics are fine and yet... there's some hum to both the comp and the treble enhancer. Do you have that on your RD?
Thank's for your time and please let me know if you have any RD recordings available
Deep Vibes from Clawsome
I ordered my RD Artist new when they came out in late 78'. I traded my Gibson grabber in for it, plus some cash. I have had the bass ever since & has been my favorite number one bass since then.
Yes, the electronics do get a bit noisy when boosted, but not a constant hum. My RD has been bullet proof after all these years & that's say a lot for a bass with this much electronics in it.
The things I like best about it is you can get any sound out of it, no other bass I played can do what this bass can. The next thing I like are its crazy harmonics & infinite sustain, that few other basses have. A great bass when combined with effects, unlike most active basses. A perfect bass for experimental music.A kahler on this bass makes it even more amazing.
The bad is the bass weighs a ton, about 11 pounds on my bathroom scale. I use an extra wide strap & does not neck dive or get too uncomfortable. I have played three hour gigs with it many times (long ago with a young back) without any problems. Also there is no passive mode, the battery dies & the bass dies. Leaving the bass plugged in will drain the battery. However the battery last a really long time, but always carry an extra.
You can hear what this bass can do here-Dib's Big Day Part Two
SoundClick artist: Barkless Dog - Experimental bass music
Yes, the electronics do get a bit noisy when boosted, but not a constant hum. My RD has been bullet proof after all these years & that's say a lot for a bass with this much electronics in it.
The things I like best about it is you can get any sound out of it, no other bass I played can do what this bass can. The next thing I like are its crazy harmonics & infinite sustain, that few other basses have. A great bass when combined with effects, unlike most active basses. A perfect bass for experimental music.A kahler on this bass makes it even more amazing.
The bad is the bass weighs a ton, about 11 pounds on my bathroom scale. I use an extra wide strap & does not neck dive or get too uncomfortable. I have played three hour gigs with it many times (long ago with a young back) without any problems. Also there is no passive mode, the battery dies & the bass dies. Leaving the bass plugged in will drain the battery. However the battery last a really long time, but always carry an extra.
You can hear what this bass can do here-Dib's Big Day Part Two
SoundClick artist: Barkless Dog - Experimental bass music
@ barkless dog: thx for the reply. I'm so amazed by the tone this bass delivers. kahler huh? I don't think I could ever really play with those things.
I like Dibs Big Day. Cool effects.
I like Dibs Big Day. Cool effects.
There was a maple RD at my local GC a few years ago that I had a chance to play(unplugged). I really,really wanted to buy it but some one had used the tip of a pen to carve " Janet sucks d!(k" on the back side of the bass. I just couldn`t spend a grand on a bass with that kind of damage.
I didn`t know much about the RD back then so I couldn`t tell you if it was an Artist or a Standard. But if I had the money I`d love to buy one right now!
I didn`t know much about the RD back then so I couldn`t tell you if it was an Artist or a Standard. But if I had the money I`d love to buy one right now!
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