Developed with input by jazz/fusion ace Bruce Bolen, The Gibson RD series were launched in 1977. Distinguished by its active electronics (RD is the abbreviation for "research and development”), they were designed to appeal to those interested in synthesizers as well as guitars. It was the result of Gibson's desire to tap into the developing synthesizer market, which was thought to have taken customers away from guitars.

At the time Gibson was owned by Norlin, which also owned Moog Music. The active electronics has been designed by Bob Moog, and includes a compression and expansion circuit. The best known and top-of-the-line RD, the Artist features active circuitry with switchable bright mode, treble and bass boost, compression and expansion. The electronics consists of a 9v battery powering a circuit board the length of the body, accessible from the back cover.

It has longer scale lengths, more commonly found on most Fender guitars. Its maple body is shaped somewhat like Gibson's Firebird and Explorer, but specifically designed to help balance the long scale, and RDs are indeed very comfortable to play.

Some notable RD artists include Jimmy Page (Misty Mountain Hop at Knebworth 1979), U2’s Adam Clayton (Achtung Baby sessions), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Alan Kendall (Bee Gees), Rob Dean (Japan), Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth).

The RD Artist experiment died in 1982 with a total of just 2,600 units manufactured, but the most valuable models are the ones built up to 1979.