I have a 1978 Gibson RD bass. It does not make a sound and I took it to a local shop. They said it needs a preamp but can't fix it. I'm not confident in fixing it myself. I'm looking for someone in the Phoenix, AZ area who can fix it. Anyone know someone reputable who I can take it to?
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Preamp
- Thread starter EvanTanner
- Start date
I haven't had any dealings with them in a few years. They may be out of business. Sorry.
- Apr 18, 2008
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- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
RD Artist or RD Standard?
The Artist is the one that came with a preamp from the factory. But it’s not just any preamp. It’s a huge circuit board designed by Bob Moog for Gibson. It has unique “Expander/Compressor” features that are not typical of other preamps. These circuit boards are theoretically repairable, but it’s a pretty specialized job.
The Standard is a passive model.
Fly Guitars has great info: 1978 Fireburst Gibson RD Artist bass guitar >> FlyGuitars
The Artist is the one that came with a preamp from the factory. But it’s not just any preamp. It’s a huge circuit board designed by Bob Moog for Gibson. It has unique “Expander/Compressor” features that are not typical of other preamps. These circuit boards are theoretically repairable, but it’s a pretty specialized job.
The Standard is a passive model.
Fly Guitars has great info: 1978 Fireburst Gibson RD Artist bass guitar >> FlyGuitars
I had one of the Rd with the moog board. I never found anyone that could fix it. I even tried contacting Moog.
The schematic and other technical information is still around. A "good" repair tech could troubleshoot this, although it's a pretty complex circuit.
The Gibson RD Artist Technical Information >> FlyGuitars
RD Artist bass body and neck specifications, electrical circuitry, switches and hardware
www.flyguitars.com
Expensive and specialized job, BUT definitely worth it. These basses are getting rarer and rarer. IIRC the only RD model bass that's been made since 1978 was the limited run of 400 Krist Novoselic signatures.
Seeing as its a circuit board, maybe some computer person could help? Idk, just spitballing. Best of luck
Seeing as its a circuit board, maybe some computer person could help? Idk, just spitballing. Best of luck
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