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I might get an RD Artist!

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by steamboat, Sep 25, 2001.

  1. Sep 25, 2001 #1
    steamboat

    steamboat

    Mar 22, 2000
    Madison, WI, USA
    Last weekend I was riding across town on a bus and I saw a music store which I had never heard of (I was convinced there weren't many more shops to be found around here).

    I looked the place up online and lo and behold, they have a pretty nice looking Gibson RD Artist for $650. (http://userpages.chorus.net/elvis/guitars.html down near the bottom). This weekend I'm going to head over there and check it out.

    I don't know about owning three basses.. but from the discussions I've seen here and the Harmony Central reviews.. the RD Artist seems like something I would really dig.

    What should I look for in the bass (this bass was made the same year I was born.. what sort of things might have gone wrong over that time?)? How do the controls work? Assuming it is in relatively good condition, is $650 a good price?

    Thanks!
     
  2. Sep 25, 2001 #2
    embellisher

    embellisher Holy Ghost filled Bass Player Supporting Member

    Apr 18, 2000
    Heber Springs, Arkansas
    Great rock bass!

    It has a volume for each pickup, an active bass and treble control(+/- 5db), a pickup selector switch, an expander on/off switch, a compressor on/off switch, and I can't remember what the 4th toggle switch is for.

    Check and make sure that the preamp is working. You should notice the boost & cut of the EQ, even though it's only +/-5db, and the compressor and expander should make a noticeable difference in the tone and output.
     
  3. Sep 26, 2001 #3
    barroso

    barroso

    Aug 16, 2000
    Italia
    do yourself a pleasure. buy that awesome bass.
     
  4. Sep 26, 2001 #4
    davelowell

    davelowell Guest

    Jan 18, 2001
    stl, mo
    mine doesn't have 4 toggles, it has two. one for pups and one three-way for the expander/compressor/off. it does have the bass and treble and the two volumes. IMO, strap it on if you can, these basses are not light, and some say uncomfortable, but i gotta say that i love mine!!!!!!!!!!


    dave
     
  5. Sep 26, 2001 #5
    Michael Jewels

    Michael Jewels

    Nov 29, 2000
    Queens, N.Y.(Near JFK Airport)
    Steamboat, BUY THAT BASS! If it's in decent condition, grab it. One of my biggest regrets (as far as instruments goes) was not buying one of these.
    It's a distant memory now, but, I just remember how good (and different) that Moog pre amp sounded. The compression made it "spit," and the expansion could produce pedal organ type sounds. Again, this was another Gibson bass that was way ahead of its time.

    Mike J.
     
  6. Sep 29, 2001 #6
    steamboat

    steamboat

    Mar 22, 2000
    Madison, WI, USA
    I went to the place today and unfortunately, the RD was sold two days ago.
     
  7. Sep 30, 2001 #7
    davelowell

    davelowell Guest

    Jan 18, 2001
    stl, mo
    see, we're not the only ones...

    dave

    also check out gbase.com, and do a google search, they do pop op from time to time.
     
  8. Oct 1, 2001 #8
    davelowell

    davelowell Guest

    Jan 18, 2001
    stl, mo
    there's one on ebay right now just like mine...


    get it!!!!!!!!!!

    dave
     
  9. Oct 1, 2001 #9
    steamboat

    steamboat

    Mar 22, 2000
    Madison, WI, USA
    Thanks for the heads up.. but I'd really like to be able to get my hands on the bass before I buy it.. you know?
     
  10. Oct 1, 2001 #10
    davelowell

    davelowell Guest

    Jan 18, 2001
    stl, mo
    hey, i'm a fender style guy, ok, but i absolutely love the sound of this bass. everything about this bass says "rock, aggressive, solid, cutting through" and i mean it!!! the neck is a little larger front to back, but i reason it to the overall sound of the bass... big!!!

    dave


    p.s. no joke!!! if i didn't already have one, i would be all over this one, which is the same color as mine... i am waiting for an all natural early version...