1978 Gibson Quality / Prestige / Innovation catalog, page 13. The Gibson RD Artist guitar was the top of the then-new RD range, and in 1978 had a recommended retail price of $859. The instrument shown is in the Antique Sunburst finish, but it was also available in Fireburst, Natural (with maple fingerboard) and Ebony (with ebony fingerboard).
The RD Artist was, of course, Gibson's new active guitar, with specially designed electronics (featuring expansion, compression and bright mode) by Bob Moog. These electronic features would go on to be applied to the Les Paul (Les Paul Artist) and an Electric Spanish guitar, the ES Artist before the end of 1979.
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