[Sturmvogel]

Well---I just got in beautiful Candy Apple Red Victory Artist. It is my first time touching one. I bought it cheaply so I could get my money back if I didn't like it.

Put your wallets back in your pocket, guys---this thing is fantastic. The variety of sounds is great---I haven't found a bad one yet. The action is among the best I've played. I love the way it looks (maybe the headstock could be a bit smaller). That bridge is way better that the previous ones Gibson has used (bar, 2-point, 3-point). It feels really good, is balanced well, and is easy to play fast and bend strings. My only complaint is that it is a bit heavy.

This bass is every bit as good as what Fender was producing at the time. Gibson was putting out good, innovative stuff throughout the late 70's and 80's. I love the RD Artist and now this one. I just can't figure out why Gibson just couldn't sell enough to satisfy the corporate bean counters during these years.

[donnervogel]

Weight and price put a lot of people off. I can't think of one very heavy bass that has ever became popular - the Peavey T 40 maybe excepted, but that sold over its low price. It's like a collective implicit agreement of the market on what is still light enough and what isn't. Commercially, the Victory (dubbed "The Loser" even within Gibson!) quite fittingly sank like the stone it is.

That said, I was greatly impressed by its looks when it came out. I thought all those slanted design components were just too cool and loved the TBird'nesque headstock.

[Sturmvogel]

Are bass players really that wimpy---I mean the Les Paul guitar is like hoisting a battleship around your neck, but guitarists crave them.

I have some meat on my frame, so weight never really bothers me. I love the sounds I can get out of this---it is like the Fender American Deluxe Jazz I used to own, but got rid of because--------it was too light!

[jules]

Yeah I like the Victory too. The designer, Chuck Burge told me the pickguard was a subtle nod to the Yes logo.

I've got quite a lot of information about its development coming up in an interview soon. Originally it was planned to be a set neck you know...

[Sturmvogel]

I look forward to the interview---by the way, your research and writing on the vintage Gibsons is nothing short of fantastic! Thanks much for your efforts.

I am enjoying this bass more and more each day, but I'd sell it for a Rebel Victory in a heartbeat. I have never seen one---how many were made?

I wonder how a set neck would sound on these?