Gibson RD

The " Gibson RD" series solid body electric guitars were launched in 1977 as a complementary range to Gibson's existing guitars. They were designed to be brighter sounding than the existing models (such as the Gibson Les Paul or Gibson SG) and as such were longer scale (25 1/2" as opposed to the more usual 24 3/4"), maple-bodied, and with state-of-the-art pre-amplified (active) electronics. At the time Gibson was owned by Norlin who also owned Moog Music. The active electronics were designed by Bob Moog, shortly before he left his own company.

RD Models

RD Artist 1977-82The best known RD, the Artist featured active circuitry with switchable bright mode, compression and expansion. No passive mode. The electronics consisted of a 9v battery powering a circuit board the length of the body, accessible from the back cover. Also available as a bass. The neck scale was shortened in 1979 to 24 3/4", 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 Artist, which has become something of a modern classic.

RD Custom 1977-79The Custom 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.

RD Standard 1977-79/2007The Standard was passive only, with none of the circuitry of the other two models. Also available as a bass. The standard was reissued in Silverburst only, in a limited edition of just 400 guitars, as Gibson's 48th Guitar of the Week series of 2007.

Notable RD players

External links

* [http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/RD.php Gibson RD series] – Information, statistics and schematics for the three Gibson RD models.
* [http://www.zuitar.com/guitars/Gibson/Solid_Body/RD/ RD Guitars] – Images and information about the RD guitars from Gibson.