Gibson RD bass
The Gibson RD guitars were launched in 1977, There were two bass models, the RD Artist and RD Standard, plus 3 guitar models.
The basses were both similar in looks and construction; maple body and neck, with maple fingerboards on natural instruments, and ebony fingerboards on black/sunburst.
The difference between the two basses was in the electronics.
The RD standard was a typical passive bass, with two pickups, two volume controls, and one tone control.
The Artist was very different. Gibsons first attempt at active electronics, it featured complex expansion/compression circuits designed by Bob Moog (Moog and Gibson were both owned by Norlin) which allowed a wide range of sounds, and effects. It had no passive mode.
There are suggestions that John Entwistle of the Who was originally consulted with the manufacture of this bass, however he was not happy with the results.
Both models were very big and very heavy - not for the smaller bass player!
Famous users include Krist Novoselic of Nirvanaand Kelly Mickelson of [The Fucking Eagles