joegarcia Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 Hi all, I'm absolutely in love with my RD I got from Shockwave. I feel totally at home with regards to the feel, looks and ergonomics, It plays amazingly. It seems to be 'the one' for me. However, I'm just not getting on with the sound. I've always preferred passive growly basses and the RD is just too bright and modern sounding for me once I have all my drive pedals going. Even with the treble down and the Moog comp/expander off. I've looked into just getting a bypass switch added to the preamp but this would require modifying the circuitry and I don't really want to make any irreversible modifications due to its value. So, what I'm considering doing is completely removing the Moog circuit (the pots and everything are all board mounted too I believe), storing it away safely and starting from scratch with just a standard two volume/two tone set up. What I'm wondering though is if anyone knows if the RD humbuckers will work without a preamp? Or, if not what I could put in their place without any extra routing. Think there have been a few RD owners on here, including someone who had passive mudbuckers installed if I remember rightly. Any feedback or suggestions would be gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joegarcia Posted November 18, 2012 Author Share Posted November 18, 2012 Reckon taking the electronics out might help the only other thing I'd change about it too - the weight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooks79 Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 I'd just flog it to me Really though, wouldn't any messing with it devalue it, so I'd only do that if you were 100% that its a keeper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joegarcia Posted November 18, 2012 Author Share Posted November 18, 2012 Haha. Nah, any mods I make will have to be completely reversible. I'd keep the electronics somewhere safe so I could put them back if I ever decided to sell it on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 Sell it. Buy this: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321022479124"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321022479124[/url] Or buy a Krist Novoselic signature model and put this in it: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261126338330"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261126338330[/url] Don't muck about with the Artist. That's just my opinion, but you did ask for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 I'm coming over all [b][color=#ff0000]Mystic Meg[/color][/b] ... It's 2015, and I can see an advert appearing in [b]Wanted [/b]on Basschat ... [i]Anyone got a complete set of electronics for an RD Artist? I could have sworn I put them somewhere safe[/i] ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 +1 on just getting the passive one. Should end up enough aside for a good fret job to bring it up to level too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwave Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 Your bloody crazy Joe. But yes the pickups are passive so it will work. Just get a Novaselic sig and mod it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joegarcia Posted November 19, 2012 Author Share Posted November 19, 2012 (edited) That's cool the pickups are passive, cheers Rob. Was watching the RD Standard, don't fancy the Jazz pickups though, pretty keen on humbuckers. I'm gonna get Waghorn Guitars to carefully take the electronics out I reckon, he's already given it a look over with that in mind and reckons it can be done neatly and in a way that is completely reversible. Have faith people, I'm not gonna ruin my baby! The Novoselic sig is a completely different beast really, has bugger all of the vintage feel of my RD which is what I love about it. Love the maple board on the original too. Edited November 19, 2012 by joegarcia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 [quote name='joegarcia' timestamp='1353283558' post='1873323'] Was watching the RD Standard, don't fancy the Jazz pickups though, pretty keen on humbuckers. [/quote] They aren't Jazz pickups, they are humbuckers. [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/parts/pickup/"]http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/parts/pickup/[/url] - [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/RDstandard.php"]http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/RDstandard.php[/url] It seems like you've already made your mind up, so I shall say nothing more about this - but I can't leave a misconception uncorrected Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joegarcia Posted November 19, 2012 Author Share Posted November 19, 2012 Hmm, that's interesting. Thanks for the info. Pretty tempted by the Standard now. I don't even remotely have the cash for it though and don't think I could sell the Artist in the next couple if days. Don't think I could bare to sell it anyway, even if I had a Standard coming in.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooks79 Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 Stop hogging the Gibson RD's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwave Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 [quote name='joegarcia' timestamp='1353317070' post='1873445'] Hmm, that's interesting. Thanks for the info. Pretty tempted by the Standard now. I don't even remotely have the cash for it though and don't think I could sell the Artist in the next couple if days. Don't think I could bare to sell it anyway, even if I had a Standard coming in.. [/quote] Get Waghorn to build you one. Could be a sister to mine thats getting built! £400 will be enough for a deposit and for work to start. He will also do a very reasonable installment plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 (edited) I think you would be crazy to start butchering your Gibson RD . If it's currently all original then it's an example of a rare and valuable vintage bass that should be preserved . If I remember correctly , the RD was by far Gibsons most ambitious ( and expensive) bass ever . When they came out ( around 1977 , I think ) they were intended to be a flagship product for Gibson , who had put a lot into the research and development of this bass , which was itself intended to get the company competing in the high-tech boutique bass market . The Bob Moog -designed electronics were ( and still are ) unique , as is the final sound of the bass , and it's best just to let it be what it is rather than start messing about with it . I am sure you can tame the percieved brightness in some less radical way - my first call would be to look at what kind of strings your using and how you're E.Q ing the bass- or else learn to love it the way it is . Part of the reason why these basses have got such an amazing tone for rock music is the edge that they have got in the sound that gives them great cut and prescence in the mix . Lose that and you are ruining the bass , in my opinion. Obviously , it's your property so ultimately you can do as you please , but to me it seems a bit like an act of vandalism to start chopping and changing bits of a good example of one of these hard to come by and much sought after basses .Act in haste repent at leisure , as the saying goes . EDIT: I've just been listening to some Gibson RD Artist basses on Youtube . They sound amazing ! Just as I remembered , they are perhaps the ultimate rock tone for bass ever. Could I moderate my previous opinion to say that If you've got a good one of these you would be bloody crazy to start trying to change it . Edited November 19, 2012 by Dingus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joegarcia Posted November 19, 2012 Author Share Posted November 19, 2012 Totally understand where everyone is coming from saying I should keep it original but it seems everyone is ignoring the word 'reversible' I keep using. I really mean totally, completely reversible. I'm not throwing anything away or making any new routs or holes.. At all. Don't want a new one (or new anything) either I'm afraid Rob. A custom build just ain't for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 Have you thought of trying some flats , or half-rounds on it ? I bet they would sound massive and might ( probably would) calm the treble down a bit ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilLordJuju Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Buy this... all done [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Gibson-Parts-NOS-RD-Standard-BASS-Pickguard-with-Pickups-/261126338330?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3ccc57b71a"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Gibson-Parts-NOS-RD-Standard-BASS-Pickguard-with-Pickups-/261126338330?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3ccc57b71a[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joegarcia Posted November 20, 2012 Author Share Posted November 20, 2012 That wouldn't cover the routs for the pickups on my Artist would it? Plus the pickups on the Artist are passive anyway so not really the issue I don't think. Half rounds are an interesting idea, I have some on my Rickenblacker and love them, will have to source some extra long scale ones and try them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andysleigh Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 (edited) If you ever fancied selling the leccys. you know where to come could do with some for my build but youd be crazy to do so. how about some SDG guitar sized humbuckers. buy a NOS rd pickguard off flebay when the guys got them up again, and a little bit of modding to make them fit properly. (pups are smaller by about 2mm) Edited November 21, 2012 by andysleigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mckendrick Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 [quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1353279211' post='1873272'] Sell it. Buy this: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321022479124"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321022479124[/url] Don't muck about with the Artist. [/quote] This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joegarcia Posted November 21, 2012 Author Share Posted November 21, 2012 Well, after some fiddling about with my FX in rehearsal today I've totally nailed it and am happier than ever. I use two amps for different pedals (SVT for low end with an Xotic BB clone/SFT and a B25B for all my more extreme FX) and just needed to tweak the chain a bit. Weirdly, I found the RD sounded too fizzy with my Rat (even with the filter most of the way up) so went back to using my Drivemaster which has a 3 band EQ and it sounds IMMENSE. Might still try some half rounds if I can find some long and heavy enough. Cheers for everyones input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooks79 Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Balls, I just missed that RD standard, something went wrong and my bid didn't go in I bid more than it went for as well! Booo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joegarcia Posted November 22, 2012 Author Share Posted November 22, 2012 Aww that's gutting, sorry mate I was watching it closely too. Am totally, totally broke at the moment but still struggled not to bid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooks79 Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 I was about to bid, then someone else bid, so I changed my max, then it did some red thing and then it ended! Nightmare! It's probably a sign, as I don't actually have the money to spare really.... still, I have a sad on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsmokebass Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 Knowing my Gibsons, the best way to mod it is to send it to me and forget about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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