Let's talk about the Gibson RD

[Blitzie]

I was in NYC yesterday and found a music store that had a shitload of amazing vintage gear.

They had a 1978 Gibson RD Standard and I HAD to play it. It was absolutely unbelievable! It was easily the best Gibson I've ever picked up. It was super heavy because of the all maple body and it just oozed inspiration.

They were asking $2000 for it and I couldn't talk myself into dropping that much cash for it.

What are these going for? How rare are they?

 

[snowdog]

Reverb has quite a few...

https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=gibson%20rd

 

[braintheory]

Which store was this?

 

[ChadVanHalen]

They're sorta rare, made for 3 years or so like 77-80, and I believe they were the first guitars with active electronics?... But they've been making a big comeback on the used market recently because a certain group of anonymous Ghouls...

Gibson has a white one for the 2015 lineup but it's got a lot of bells and whistles to it with a fancy head design on the headstock and 120th anniversary faff on the 12th fret, etc... I'm waiting for them to just release a run of the mill RD standard for us Ghost fans, because they are rad as hell

 

[Chris O]

Miss these Ghouls...

 

[Rayneman]

Miss these Ghouls...

Not to derail this thread, but its not often one finds fellow Ghost fans on RT. I am a fairly recent convert to Ghost, started for me last year, but have seen them twice, once with the more original lineup and most recently with the "new Ghouls." So then having 50/50 experience with both lineups, I have to say that the most recent show I attended was more fun, more like a "rock" concert than when I saw them last year. By that I mean that the Ghouls were more animated and the band seemed to be having a good time, and as such that energy was pretty contagious for the whole theater. Of course, I may have had VIP tickets and even maybe met Papa before the show with my son and maybe had front row seats as well.

The new Ghouls play Hagstrom "fantomen" guitars. They don't seem as substantial as the RDs but then again they are pretty inexpensive...

http://www.zzounds.com/item--HAGFANT

 

[Chris O]

The old Ghouls had a different vibe - a "darkness" that fit the band. The new guys are very good, but the over-the-top showmanship is not the Ghost I know. The original Ghouls - the ONLY Alpha and Omega - were much more "elegant". These guys are like the kids that forgot to take their Ritalin. They are trying to create "characters" and be as big as the show, again, not what Ghost was about.

Still love the band though.

The Fantomen guitars look pretty cool, but a little too "metal" for me. The RD has a flow to it. The Hagstrom, not so much. Just bought my 7th RD!

 

[stdio]

I knew Ghost would get a mention when I saw the RD in the title. Used prices do seem kinda crazy, looked around a few times for one myself. I have seen Ghost 7 times now and have met all the guys new and old. New Ghouls are super nice and have tons of tour experience. I won't drop any names but the info is out there if anyone is curious. Talked gear with the 'new' Omega guy, they use Fractal and in-ears exclusively live and he said he loved the Friedman models. Sorry to hijack thread

 

[Chris O]

I've got a '77 RD Custom coming tomorrow! Pretty stoked. It'll be the first non-Reissue I've owned. Price was decent -- at least a lot lower than the ones out there for sale now that have been sitting at the same price for a long time. Sorry, but these are NOT $2000+ guitars.

 

[Viper]

Big Ghost fan here. Can't wait for the new album.

 

[Chris O]

Big Ghost fan here. Can't wait for the new album.

Keep hearing rumors going both ways as to whether it will happen or not. i REALLY hope it does! Should sound like Ghost since Papa uses all session guys and himself to record all the parts. Fingers crossed!

 

[Blitzie]

I've got a '77 RD Custom coming tomorrow! Pretty stoked. It'll be the first non-Reissue I've owned. Price was decent -- at least a lot lower than the ones out there for sale now that have been sitting at the same price for a long time. Sorry, but these are NOT $2000+ guitars.

Be sure to post a NGD!

Still loving my RD two years later!

https://ibb.co/jAXpjF

 

[Chris O]

I've got a '77 RD Custom coming tomorrow! Pretty stoked. It'll be the first non-Reissue I've owned. Price was decent -- at least a lot lower than the ones out there for sale now that have been sitting at the same price for a long time. Sorry, but these are NOT $2000+ guitars.

Be sure to post a NGD!

Still loving my RD two years later!

https://ibb.co/jAXpjF

Absolutely!

 

[dooredge]

Love the Gibson RD's. I have a 1978, 2007, 2010. Just bought another 2007 Silverburst today, thanks to the link above.

I also have a Dunable R2 I bought in 2015. Being that sick bastard I am, I'm waiting on my Balaguer Hyperion to ship as well.

 

[Chris O]

Love the Gibson RD's. I have a 1978, 2007, 2010. Just bought another 2007 Silverburst today, thanks to the link above.

I also have a Dunable R2 I bought in 2015. Being that sick bastard I am, I'm waiting on my Balaguer Hyperion to ship as well.

Awesome! What it the one on Reverb in St Louis?

I have 2 White Artist reissues, black Standard reissue, mahogany Standard reissue, and 2 Silverburst Standard reissues. The 77 Custom is waiting to be picked up today! It's the maple/maple model, and looked really clean in the pics.

The Hyperion is a cool axe. If I saw one around, I might be tempted to snag it.

 

[sleewell2]

i love my hyperion. the one i have is the very first original prototype which is kinda cool.

 

[Chris O]

i love my hyperion. the one i have is the very first original prototype which is kinda cool.

Cool! Pre-"Fluff" model!

 

[dooredge]

Awesome! What it the one on Reverb in St Louis?

I have 2 White Artist reissues, black Standard reissue, mahogany Standard reissue, and 2 Silverburst Standard reissues. The 77 Custom is waiting to be picked up today! It's the maple/maple model, and looked really clean in the pics.

The Hyperion is a cool axe. If I saw one around, I might be tempted to snag it.

Yes sir, Fenton, MO via Dunn Effects.

I know you're as ill (more so actually) as I when it comes to RD acquisitions!

 

[Chris O]

Awesome! What it the one on Reverb in St Louis?

I have 2 White Artist reissues, black Standard reissue, mahogany Standard reissue, and 2 Silverburst Standard reissues. The 77 Custom is waiting to be picked up today! It's the maple/maple model, and looked really clean in the pics.

The Hyperion is a cool axe. If I saw one around, I might be tempted to snag it.

Yes sir, Fenton, MO via Dunn Effects.

I know you're as ill (more so actually) as I when it comes to RD acquisitions!

Yes...I'm as sick as your avatar pic! (Damn thing creeps me out...)

I was going to contact that guy about that guitar, but then again, I don't really need 3 Silverbursts....or do I?

You'll have to let me know how it looks! Seemed pretty clean, and the price was pretty good too.