Please help me ID this bass-Gibson Content

Mind Eroded · #1 02-28-2013, 11:01 AM

can anyone tell me what bass Brad Smith is playing in this video. Its some kind of vintage small scale les paul style bass. The reason I ask is because I came across one of these at Sam Ash in NYC and really dug the feel, however I am an idiot and did not note the actual model name, was also a bit turned off by their price for it($1800). I'd like to do some research on it and am too lazy to go back to Sam Ash and ID it myself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPe-ycM5T_0

SoLongJake · #2 02-28-2013, 11:07 AM

Looks like it might be a les paul triumph from the 70s with all the switches?

Mind Eroded · #3 02-28-2013, 11:11 AM

yep, there it is!

thanks Jake. that was quick.

Does anyone have any experience with these? really liked the way the neck felt and unique tone of the pickups. I think this is the "it" bass for me as far as Les Paul basses go...

Mind Eroded · #4 02-28-2013, 11:14 AM

I may have jumped the gun criticizing Sam Ash's price on these. I see Chicago Music Exchange has one for sale for almost a grand more than what Sam Ash has it for...

mournblade · #5 02-28-2013, 11:18 AM

I count 6 currently on ebay.

dmac1961 · #6 02-28-2013, 11:21 AM

I had one for a while in the 80's. Heaviest bass ever! It did have a nice neck, although it was shortscale. Mine looked identical to that, seems like a was called a Les Paul Recording bass. I found the pickups pretty bland sounding, but the amp I had at the time could have had something to do with that. Wish I could remember what happened to it.

aquateen · #7 02-28-2013, 05:57 PM

they are heavy but they sound great and they have a wide range of tone from thick & meaty to thin & nasally and everything in between. the one thing they don't really do is the modern snappy thing. well worth picking one up. love mine

Mind Eroded · #8 02-28-2013, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquateen

they are heavy but they sound great and they have a wide range of tone from thick & meaty to thin & nasally and everything in between. the one thing they don't really do is the modern snappy thing. well worth picking one up. love mine

that looks sweet!

aquateen · #9 03-01-2013, 04:45 AM

thanks, it is sweet!

Musiclogic · #10 03-01-2013, 07:46 AM

Yes, it's definitely a Les Paul Triumph bass.

The pickups pop up on Ebay frequently, and are the same pickup as the 1st edition Victory bass which had these pickups for 1 year bfore switching to the angled block

aquateen · #11 03-01-2013, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musiclogic

the 1st edition Victory bass which had these pickups for 1 year bfore switching to the angled block

you sure about that? I've never seen a Victory with those low impedance pickups. on flyguitars.com, there's no mention of it.

Musiclogic · #12 03-01-2013, 09:11 AM

Yep, I built them, I will try to get you a pic of 1 I know of here in town. The original Victorys were 1 pickup basses, and there was a 2 pickup active model. Gibson used the same pickup design from the Rd Artist and LP Triumph in the initial Victory actives until the Victory shells were received for the Victory production. For the 83 model, the Victory pickups were completely changed. The Victory's that were first introduced at Trade shows before the 81 model year had a mish- mash of scavenged parts for presentation at Trade shows.

aquateen · #13 03-01-2013, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musiclogic

The Victory's that were first introduced at Trade shows before the 81 model year had a mish- mash of scavenged parts for presentation at Trade shows.

that's definitely Gibson's way of doing it! I'd love to see those pics if you can find them