Gibson RD Artist Bass questions

[SilenceSewer]

Hello, talkbass!
This is my first post, but very important for me.
The other day I bought myself an RD Artist Bass.
He came to me far from the best, but this is a separate topic.
But what really worries me is the switches.
In all the instructions, on the model up to the 1980s, there were two three-position switches.
But I have two bass switches on my bass. I looked inside, everything is very similar to the original.
Tell me, what could be the matter?
Sincerely, Dmitri.

 

[bholder]

I don't understand what the concern is, the instructions say two switches, I see two switches. Are they not 3-ways? Why they have the mismatched switch knobs, I don't know, did they originally come like that?

Edit: I checked, one black switch knob and one white was apparently normal. My RD's just a Standard, so I wasn't really sure about the Artist version.

 

[SilenceSewer]

I don't understand what the concern is, the instructions say two switches, I see two switches. Are they not 3-ways? Why they have the mismatched switch knobs, I don't know, did they originally come like that?

Edit: I checked, one black switch knob and one white was apparently normal. My RD's just a Standard, so I wasn't really sure about the Artist version.

Yes, that's right, they are two-position ones.
But I do not really understand how it happened.
In the manual, one switch is responsible for the sensors, ie: bridge, both, neck
Another for the mode: bright, without mode, with a compressor and expander.
But I've got one person, only two positions.
Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to verify what they are responsible for.

 

[mesaplayer83]

I had an RD Artist that was my main player for a few years - if the switches on yours are only 2 positions, then the electronics have been altered from original, and it's anyone's guess as to what they actually do now... I have read that the electronics on the RD Artists could be problematic, but the only problem I ever had on mine was the need to clean the contacts on the switches every so often - it is one the instruments of my past that I really wish I had back... Sure, it was heavy, and had a bit of neck dive - but it was also one of the best sounding basses I ever owned, and was just so cool... Sadly, mine needed a fret job, and I sold it rather than to pony up for a refret...

 

[SilenceSewer]

Friends, hello again!
For the time that I have a bass, now I have restored frets and polished the overlay.
It remains to solve the problem with electronics. The situation there is as follows, the bass is all original, and it seems that the switches are simply stuck and can not adequately switch to the middle position.
Also found out that a part of the field-effect transistors on the preamp died, today I will take it for recovery.
So is this question. What strings did you put on the RD? I bought the daddrio 45-105 long scale, but if you place the strings through the body, then the fourth string does not stand up adequately.

 

[ajkula66]

So is this question. What strings did you put on the RD? I bought the daddrio 45-105 long scale, but if you place the strings through the body, then the fourth string does not stand up adequately.

I used SuperWounds 45-105 on my RD Standard, these are now known as RotoSound PSD from what I'm to understand. Pretty sure I had Dean Markley Blue Steels on it at some point as well. Just bear in mind that these recollections are from more than two decades ago and string specs might have been changed over that period.

Good luck.