Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Gibson Q 90 - Any familiarity ?
- Thread starter Joe Milstein
- Start date
Well, they made the Victory Artist then, the only bass that should've had a weightlifting test for the customer before they could buy it.
So there aren't any fans of this bass, huh. It really is a cool looking and sounding bass. Not a typical Gibson or p/j but made in USA and solid/Gibson. I just have never seen one before.
Thanks for the link. I dig it too. I played it and it sounds amazing. Feels nice and comfortable too. And for about $600 or so, could be a good deal for a 1989 Made in USA Gibson Bass. Very unique.
I used to have a Q80 and if I recall correctly, the Q80/Q90's were set neck while the Victory's were bolt on. When I had mine I spoke to someone at Gibson about it because it had "Custom Shop" on the back of the neck, and was told that the "Q" series were Custom Shop instruments made out of leftover Victory bodies and parts that were never assembled into instruments. (Whether or not there is truth to this, I don't know.)
Mine played and sounded really good, just couldn't get past the 80's hockey stick headstock.
I remember I got mine dirt cheap in a small town pawn shop in the mid 90's because the neck was bowed. Took it home and adjusted the truss rod, but it was as about as tight as it would go (or so it seemed). I got it to play pretty good, but not great.
A few years later, after a big move, I took it out and took the truss rod nut off and inserted a couple of washers and it was a totally different story. All of a sudden it had plenty of life left on the truss rod. Turns out the problem was in the adjustment tool...wasn't long enough to catch the nut with the amount of rod that was left. After that the bass played like GREAT.
The Q's turn up every now and then on ebay and elsewhere, but they don't bring in the money that a T-Bird or Ripper does. IMO, may be one of the more underrated and underappreciated of the pointy 80's styles. (Sort of like the Gibson Explorer basses...I have no idea what they go for now, but for a while you couldn't give them away. I remember selling one on ebay and only getting $225 for it.)
I remember I got mine dirt cheap in a small town pawn shop in the mid 90's because the neck was bowed. Took it home and adjusted the truss rod, but it was as about as tight as it would go (or so it seemed). I got it to play pretty good, but not great.
A few years later, after a big move, I took it out and took the truss rod nut off and inserted a couple of washers and it was a totally different story. All of a sudden it had plenty of life left on the truss rod. Turns out the problem was in the adjustment tool...wasn't long enough to catch the nut with the amount of rod that was left. After that the bass played like GREAT.
The Q's turn up every now and then on ebay and elsewhere, but they don't bring in the money that a T-Bird or Ripper does. IMO, may be one of the more underrated and underappreciated of the pointy 80's styles. (Sort of like the Gibson Explorer basses...I have no idea what they go for now, but for a while you couldn't give them away. I remember selling one on ebay and only getting $225 for it.)
I shouldn't rip on the Victory Artist as much as I do. Back when I had a Jazz I liked the sound of the VA quite a bit, it was the idea of it strapped to me even just for an hour that I couldn't handle. Heaviest 4-string I ever handled.
Thanks. This Gibson Q is pretty light.. so that's not a pblm. I think this one is a real bargain...it is a USA Made Gibson made in '89 and quite rare... So could be very valuable, on top of sounding and feeling and looking great. And unique. Not sure....
I recently had the opportunity to spend time with one locally; I may eventually buy it, but for now just trying to finish a review on it for Harmony Central which I will post soon.
Yeah, also heard the leftover Victory body story, but I thought those were maple and not mahogany? Maybe they had leftover body blanks or some of the Victory's were mahogany? I dunno.
I did try out a Victory Artist one time and was impressed by the beefy sound it had; the preamp seemed advanced for the time. As for value, it's worth what you will pay for it. A pristine example with OHSC is worth between $500-$600 IMO; anything other than that me thinks $300-$400 is a good range. Sort of like a HD Sportster 1200, you get the classic vibe, it's "Made in USA", and you can say you ride a Harley - but bigger/better/faster/etc. are out there.
Or, like my h.s. buddy who was restoring a Porsche 914. He got it running and it was lots of fun to drive/ride around in. When asked what kind of car he drove he would say, "A Porsche." Get the picture?
Having said that, I'd own it just to say I had a USA Gibson...
Yeah, also heard the leftover Victory body story, but I thought those were maple and not mahogany? Maybe they had leftover body blanks or some of the Victory's were mahogany? I dunno.
I did try out a Victory Artist one time and was impressed by the beefy sound it had; the preamp seemed advanced for the time. As for value, it's worth what you will pay for it. A pristine example with OHSC is worth between $500-$600 IMO; anything other than that me thinks $300-$400 is a good range. Sort of like a HD Sportster 1200, you get the classic vibe, it's "Made in USA", and you can say you ride a Harley - but bigger/better/faster/etc. are out there.
Or, like my h.s. buddy who was restoring a Porsche 914. He got it running and it was lots of fun to drive/ride around in. When asked what kind of car he drove he would say, "A Porsche." Get the picture?
Having said that, I'd own it just to say I had a USA Gibson...
The Q80 basses have bolt-on necks, just like the Victory. While the Q90's were P/J or just piezo pickup only, the Q80's had the same pickups as the Explorer and SB basses. Sure, they were made from leftover parts, but it seems the leftover parts were the electronics and hardware, as the bodies and necks weren't used for other models that time.
This is the one I have:
Link Removed
This is the one I have:
Link Removed
Your white one looks great. Mine is a 1989 in mint condition. It only weighs 8.7 lbs on a professional scale which is the main reason I bought it because of my lower back problem from a car accident. I also prefer the sound of mahogany over any other wood for a bass. The bass is an anomaly to me because it's very inexpensive and sounds better than my Ibanez Prestige SR bass that retailed for 3 times as much. It also feels similar to the Prestige with a thin, fast neck and weighs roughly the same. The main difference obviously is the squared off body edges and glossy paint job versus the Prestige's rounded body and natural wood finish. I think this bass can compete with an American Fender P sound wise and looks better in my opinion.
These are not bad basses at all - true not particularly typical Gibson styling - but well worth trying. These can often be picked up for pretty good prices too (under $500) which is an absolute bargain...
