Gibson RD

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The Gibson RD series solid body electric guitars were launched in 1977. Distinguished by its active electronics (RD is the abbreviation for "research and development"[1]), they were designed to appeal to those interested in synthesizers as well as guitars. An "unhappy marriage of traditional and modern design", the series was unsuccessful,[2] though the concept of the RD was continued for a while in the Les Paul Artist series.

History

The RD series (guitar and bass) was the result of Gibson's desire to tap into the developing synthesizer market, which was thought to take customers away from guitars.[3] The series had a longer scale (25½" as opposed to the more usual 24¾"; the bass guitar in the series had a 34½" scale), a maple body shaped somewhat like Gibson's Firebird and Explorer,[1] and state-of-the-art pre-amplified (active) electronics. At the time Gibson was owned by Norlin, which also owned Moog Music. The active electronics were designed by Bob Moog, shortly before he left his own company, and included a compression and expansion circuit.[1] Five models were made: the Standard and Standard Bass lacked the active electronics available on the Artist, Custom Artist, and Artist Bass.[1]

The active circuitry was not appreciated greatly; guitar players deemed the sound too harsh. Gibson, however, thought that the RD's styling was too blame for its lack of success, and applied the concept (active electronics) to the more conventional Les Paul and ES models.[3]

The transplant of the circuitry to the regular models was started in 1979; serious redesigning to the circuitry had to be done, and more wood had to be routed from the Les Paul body, since the active electronics took up so much space. The Les Paul Artist, as it came to be known, was not a success either, and was "quietly dropped" in 1981.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Achard, Ken (1996). The History and Development of the American Guitar. Bold Strummer. p. 130. ISBN 9780933224186. 
  2. ↑ Bacon, Tony (2012). The Ultimate Guitar Sourcebook. Race Point. p. 127. ISBN 9781937994044. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Bacon, Tony (2002). 50 Years of the Gibson Les Paul: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars. Hal Leonard. p. 77. ISBN 9780879307110. 

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