Known problems with Victory Basses?

[Allegrus]

This might be a long shot but does anyone know if Gibson Victory Artist basses have any known problems or things to watch for when buying one used? Known design issues for instance?

For instance, Thunderbirds have some neck diving ... that kind of thing?

 

[lowendblues]

Never owned one, but people say that they're pretty heavy.

If I had the chance to pick one up reasonable, I would do so.

 

[Allegrus]

Confirmed ... it's a heavy beast. I don't know how much, but it's way more than my EBMM or my Thunderbird.

I got three days to play with it to decide if I want to keep it.

 

[lowendblues]

Check this link out:

Gibson Victory Bass Appreciation Thread

 

[Axstar]

Make sure you don't get a Pyrrhic Victory bass by accident. That would be disastrous.

 

[arbiterusa]

They're Gibson basses.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I remember them from back in the Day, decent looking bass, but heavy overall and neck heavy in particular, with that giant headstock. They didn't make them that long, so finding replacement parts might be difficult or impossible if anything's missing. Like all Gibsons, big headstock, no scarf joint, no volute = "Quick Release" Headstock if you drop it. So don't drop it!

 

[Pet Sounds]

They're Gibson basses.

You took the words right out of my mouth!

 

[Gilmourisgod]

This guy get s a decent range of tones, I wouldn't kick one out of bed, so to speak.

 

[godofthunder59]

Yep heavy. More Fender than Gibson. They are however very good basses and often overlooked. I wouldn't hesitate to pick one up for a good price. I like the single pickup model a awful lot.

 

[ajkula66]

Great bass if one can withstand the weight.

Standard is a good, fairly conventional rock bass. Artist is a beast that might not be to everyone's liking with its Moog circuitry. Custom - the rarest one - is probably the most interesting version IMO.

At today's subdued market prices, they can be hard to resist.

My $0.02 only...

 

[Rib 13]

as Im a two pickup kinda guy, the twin pickup Victory is an awesome swiss army palette bass....fantastic modern tone and articulation....but, as stated above, it weighs a lot (gives a T-40 a run for its money in weight)

 

[Blaze Barlow]

I have owned one since new in 1981...11.5 pounds all maple construction with two rectangular metal bars alongside the truss rod..no neck dive..not Moog electronics..but electronics by Tim Shaw..full two octave neck..brass nut..best bass bridge on the planet..I have the artist model which can do both active and passive..it is my #1 and favorite of all time......[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[mongo2]

I tried one and found it too heavy to buy.

 

[Blaze Barlow]

also...lots of people say things about these basses and have never owned one..so dont be fooled..they are high quality instruments..the best basses gibson ever made..prices have certainly gone up on these over the last few years..most used I see for sale are lower condition..bodies beat up..paint job deteriorating..yet still expensive for lower condition...a high condition one is extremely hard to find and will cost between 2K and 3K..and even a little more..mine is one of the nicest condition existing I have ever seen..wouldnt sell mine for big money..

 

[BobKos]

I owned one back in the day. Sold it like a dumba$$. Just bought another one in the last year or so that needs TLC. I was going to do a total resto on it but have decided to spruce it up and work it as-is. The heavy comes from the all maple body i think. The weight doesn't bother me but I'm a hobby player. I don't think I would gig with it. Both of mine have been standard models and I haven't really had any problems I can blame on the instrument. I recall reading in a thread here that an artist user was having a problem with notes on the neck actually being out of pitch. Parts are made of unobtanium. The tuners and bridge were OEM Schaller and they are unavailable through them too. Somebody put a badass on mine and I tried to buy a Gibson type bridge. No dice and used parts are ridiculously priced. Badass it is...

 

[Jeff Scott]

For instance, Thunderbirds have some neck diving ... that kind of thing?

Well, TBH, neck-dive on Thunderbirds help facilitate HeadBang®.

 

[ajkula66]

.not Moog electronics..but electronics by Tim Shaw..

I stand corrected, then.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

This might be a long shot but does anyone know if Gibson Victory Artist basses have any known problems or things to watch for when buying one used? Known design issues for instance?

For instance, Thunderbirds have some neck diving ... that kind of thing?

I've always heard that if you play a Gibson Victory bass, you have to be careful of lead poisoning....

 

[40Hz]

I recall reading in a thread here that an artist user was having a problem with notes on the neck actually being out of pitch

Wasn’t that about a Ripper that was imported from Japan that likely had a new fretboard made for it? My suspicion was that whoever did the new fretboard hadn’t realized the Ripper scale length is 34.5” rather than the standard 34”.