1979 Gibson RD Artist w/Case

Well worn but in full working order with good overall playability.  Guitar appears all original and includes original hardshell case.  This was a player guitar so has lots of small dings/nicks/scratches - have tried to accurately represent condition in photos but reach out if you need to see more of anything.  Guitar weighs 9 lbs 9 oz.

The 1979 Gibson RD Artist is an electronic-forward solidbody electric guitar from Gibson’s late‑’70s RD series, pairing a mahogany body with a bolt‑on neck and active electronics designed for compatibility with synths and high‑gain rigs. This Artist model typically has a 3‑piece maple neck (bolted to the body with a multi‑position neck‑tilt system introduced in this era), a rosewood fingerboard, and a thin, contoured double‑cutaway body offering comfortable upper‑fret access. Hardware includes a Gibson/Nashville style bridge and a headstock with a reinforced volute area—a change from earlier Gibsons intended to strengthen the neck‑headstock junction—and the truss‑rod adjustment moved to the nut region on many late‑’70s Fender and contemporary designs, reflecting the period’s setup trends (workers also used simplified production techniques at this time).

Electronics are the defining feature: the RD Artist was built with active circuitry and low‑impedance pickups geared toward clarity and extended high‑frequency response, useful for driving effects and early synth interfaces. Controls commonly include multiple active tone shaping options and switches for pickup configurations and coil taps on some later RD variants; outputs were intended to feed both instrument and rack electronics. Weight varies by specimen (boards and multi‑piece necks made some RD guitars heavier than earlier single‑piece designs), and many surviving examples show era‑typical appointments such as a three‑bolt neck joint, maple neck laminations, and the RD series’ distinctive body contours.

Features:

• Active electronics with low‑impedance pickup design
• Bolt‑on 3‑piece maple neck with adjustable neck‑tilt system
• Mahogany body with double‑cutaway contouring
• Rosewood fingerboard (typically), 22 frets
• Gibson/Nashville style bridge and solid hardware
• Volute reinforcement at headstock heel (late‑’70s detail)
• Multiple tone-shaping controls and switching options (varies by instrument)