[fidopunk]

Well... after many trials and tribulations, I thought I'd share my two-month long ordeal in the hopes it may help someone down the road.
So, after many, many, many years of wanting an RD, I finally picked one up at a ridiculously low price...in the end, I kinda made up the difference, but I'd like to feel that I still came out ahead. Here's why:
The first thing I noticed when I took delivery of the old girl is that it was missing the battery cover. This is because the brass saddles that the machine screws were supposed to go into were missing. No big deal, I machined two new ones out of brass all-thread and they turned out great. I picked up a supposedly NOS battery cover on eBay.
The thing was absolutely filthy, but responded well to a polishing.
The strings were looooong dead, but that was easily solved.
So all in all, there's no cosmetic damage, no cracks, no warps, everything's there and straight.
However, the big problem was in the electronics. I was getting hellacious noise at all EQ settings through just about everything. Turning down the treble didn't seem to help (and I wouldn't accept it anyway, I like more treble than bass).
So it turns out I had a few things against me...
1. The wiring in my awful grad-school apartment isn't grounded well, so I was picking up every radio station in this hemisphere. That was (relatively) easily solved.
2. The MOOG board was shorting out against the pots, so the two had to be isolated.
3. Here's the biggy... even after all of that, I was still getting some pretty terrible 60-cycle hum and some radio in my apartment (but silent elsewhere).
So, against most people's suggestions, I had the entire bass (both cavities) shielded with the conductive backed copper foil.
This has made a HUUUUUUUGE difference. The bass is now all but silent, even with the treble on +5 (which I don't do, but still, it proves my point). It's even quiet in both in expansion/compression and boost mode.

My problem now is the bridge. My saddles act like they're too tall for the bridge and they kinda waller back and forth on the intonation screw without their ears sitting flush against the bridge. What the heck is going on here?
I can supply pictures if necessary. However, I'm thinking about that Hipshot bridge, finish wear be damned.
The end result is a unique bass that I absolutely love and think sounds great... but, after the honeymoon, I think I prefer the sound of that Fender in the background...
I apologize for the awful picture with terrible lighting... but that's the best you'll get out of me this late at night.

Oh well,

[eb2]

Nice work, and a good sign of the obsessive nature demanded of all who own Gibson basses.

As to your ultimate question:
What the heck is going on here?

I don't know, and that is the thing that really needs a picture. Something is not right there. I hate 3 point bridges, and even I know something is off. For what it is worth, if I had a bass with a 3 point I would be getting a hipshot first thing anyway. But you should be able to tweak it without the saddles being completely out to lunch.

[fidopunk]

Yeah, it's so weird, they're just dancing around in there.
I've played Thunderbirds and EB's that didn't have this problem.
I'll take a picture later today when I have time and show you what I mean.

[Redbird]

Good job. RD's are inherently noisy to begin with.

I would take it to a luthier to have it set up first, before replacing the bridge, although a lot of people say the hipshot is really nice.

Comparing the RD to Jazz bass is like Apple & Oranges-One being warm passive and the other Bright/Dark Active.

I would think there is a place for both sounds depending on the music you play.

The Rd really responds great when combined with effects, as you can balance out any deficiencies with the Bass & Treble boost. The Moog circuit is cool as well, but to me. Not as helpful as the treble/bass boost & cut controls.

If you play nothing but straight bass classic rock or jazz/blues, the RD may not be needed. It's a lot of weight on your back for a night.

Where I find RD's shine is with Piano high playing, harmonic & chordal work & even funk. A great & versatile bass that offers a lot of possibilities except a warm vintage tone.

[jules]

Ok, so shielding helped. I have to say my RDs are only really noisy when I have the treble on full - which is too bright a sound for me anyway. Never had any radio interference yet.

Worth knowing for future reference though. So how did you actually shield it? Just glue the copper foil in? Over the cover aswell? or just inside.

What I like about the RD is its wide tonal range. Far wider than most basses I own. I do like to widely change settings on a song by song basis. One song will be mega mellow dub bass, the next will be ultra bright (particularly useful with fx as John said).

[donnervogel]

"My saddles act like they're too tall for the bridge and they kinda waller back and forth on the intonation screw without their ears sitting flush against the bridge. What the heck is going on here?"

Yes, we need pics. Possibly the saddles aren't original or not threaded properly or the intonation screws are bent. But under string pressure their base should still be flush against the bridge saddle compartments.

The Hipshot Supertone is a nice bridge and actually fits well with a hi tec bass as which the RD was originally envisaged. It will also give you a bit more sustain.

That said, I haven't yet had a case where a three point could not be adjusted to a bass' needs. eb2 is just a little awkward with it! He never got over the fact how they heartlessly deleted the single bar bridge. :lol:

[Redbird]

As Uwe once pointed out, the Bass boost and Compression mode, (which takes away all the attack of a note), is the one feature that will get you as close to a true mudbucker sound as you can, if your looking for it.

[eb2]

eb2 is just a little awkward with it! He never got over the fact how they heartlessly deleted the single bar bridge.

Worse than you can imagine! I won't even buy a Gibson with the three point bridge on it.

[rockinrayduke]

My hatred of the 3 point is by now well known. :D

The Supertone bridge is a huge improvement, highly recommended. I would love to pick up a RD though it seems like a hefty chunk of wood. it is heavy, right?

[fidopunk]

It's like a dinner table with a guitar strap.