What's new at work? Vintage Gibson!

[Tuxedo Kaz]

So I showed up to work a couple of days ago only to be alerted that when I step into the office, my jaw would be dropped. Well, it was as we now have this...



A vintage Gibson RD Artist...! It has all of its original electronics and Bill Lawrence-designed pickups too...which is just out of this world cool. Along with the Gibson E/2 Explorer we have from '81, this is one of my favorite guitars at work right now.

[Boleskinehouse]

Those are cool looking guitars.

[Tuxedo Kaz]

Originally Posted by Boleskinehouse

Those are cool looking guitars.

You'd like this:

[J-Man123]

Can you please re-size the pics? I can't really take in the whole beauty of it if I have to scroll to see it all.



J-Man123

[Boleskinehouse]

Originally Posted by Tuxedo Kaz

You'd like this:

I do! Explorers always look better to me with binding and maple tops. That's why I like Hamer Standard Customs so much.

[Tuxedo Kaz]

Originally Posted by J-Man123

Can you please re-size the pics? I can't really take in the whole beauty of it if I have to scroll to see it all.



J-Man123

Even if I resize them, it'll take a few hours for photobucket to update. Right click "view image" and it should resize it for your browser window.

[J-Man123]

Cool! I never knew that before!



J-Man123

[Tuxedo Kaz]

Originally Posted by Boleskinehouse

I do! Explorers always look better to me with binding and maple tops. That's why I like Hamer Standard Customs so much.

I want that E2 so badly. It's funny cause everyone else at work hates on that guitar aside from our Ops manager (he and I are pretty like-minded). The RD Artist is crazy though. And not too bad a price either. It probably won't stick around too long so I better give it a whirl while I have the chance.

[Boleskinehouse]

If that Artist was Vintage burst, it would be slicker than shit.

[Tuxedo Kaz]

I just can't believe it still has Bob Moog's electronics and the Bill Lawrence pickups in it! That is sweeeet. The Artist was one of the first active guitars in the world.

[circusboy28]

I'm sure not in the market after spending nearly five grand on guitars in the last fortnight - but I'm very curious about how much your shop wants for it. Over here, I'd expect to pay AUS$5K at least (about US$4250).

[Tuxedo Kaz]

Originally Posted by circusboy28

I'm sure not in the market after spending nearly five grand on guitars in the last fortnight - but I'm very curious about how much your shop wants for it. Over here, I'd expect to pay AUS$5K at least (about US$4250).

Shoot me a PM.

[Brian Tee]

Originally Posted by Tuxedo Kaz

I just can't believe it still has Bob Moog's electronics and the Bill Lawrence pickups in it! That is sweeeet. The Artist was one of the first active guitars in the world.

Uncertain about the Bill Lawrence reference here. The pickups (on the Artist 77) were defined by Gibson as:

Series IV, V and VI Humbucking Pick-Ups.
Specially designed for the active RD 77 models (guitar & bass). Perfectly matched to the active electronic circuit to provide maximum efficiency in level and frequency response.

The Series VI is the neck pick-up, and the series IV is at the bridge. No mention of Bill Lawrence (to my knowledge - but I am always delighted to discover new stuff!) anywhere.

By exploring the range of combinations that can be achieved in 'passive' mode, but using the active tone controls, the range and dynamics of bass - treble tonality of this instrument are quite astonishing. A personal favourite is with both pickups selected, volume slightly favouring the neck pick-up (8 neck, 5-6, bridge), and tone dialed in with bass on 0 and treble on 2-3. It provides the richest almost split-coil sound (very 'Fender Strat') but with a real kick. Absolutely perfect for Nile Rogers -style funk/jazz funk rhythm.

But back to the question. Where does the 'Bill Lawrence' reference originate? Really interested to discover the provenance behind the statement.

[Tuxedo Kaz]

Originally Posted by Brian Tee

Uncertain about the Bill Lawrence reference here. The pickups (on the Artist 77) were defined by Gibson as:

Series IV, V and VI Humbucking Pick-Ups.
Specially designed for the active RD 77 models (guitar & bass). Perfectly matched to the active electronic circuit to provide maximum efficiency in level and frequency response.

The Series VI is the neck pick-up, and the series IV is at the bridge. No mention of Bill Lawrence (to my knowledge - but I am always delighted to discover new stuff!) anywhere.

By exploring the range of combinations that can be achieved in 'passive' mode, but using the active tone controls, the range and dynamics of bass - treble tonality of this instrument are quite astonishing. A personal favourite is with both pickups selected, volume slightly favouring the neck pick-up (8 neck, 5-6, bridge), and tone dialed in with bass on 0 and treble on 2-3. It provides the richest almost split-coil sound (very 'Fender Strat') but with a real kick. Absolutely perfect for Nile Rogers -style funk/jazz funk rhythm.

But back to the question. Where does the 'Bill Lawrence' reference originate? Really interested to discover the provenance behind the statement.

I was told that Bill Lawrence had a hand in designing the pickups that went into the RD Artist. That's all. Which wouldn't surprise me, as he afterwards opened his own pickup winding business.