Gibson Victory Bass Standard

This bass was made in 82'. It is unusual in that it's neck is painted rather than clear coated. Mine is antique gold, it is the only one I've seen. Most are candy apple red and silver.

I have owned 30 + basses and ever since I tried a friend's wierdo modified Victory with a tele-style custom neck I was looking for the right one...because the sound. I poured through everything I could find out on the internet and read a cool interview with the designer. This was Gibson's most deliberate effort to make a Fender Precision. Everything was ergonomically placed so that if you were blindfolded you wouldn't know the difference. I don't know about that but it is damn close in certain respects. If you think Leo Fender created the perfect bass with the Precision and therefore gets a 10 for features then this would get 10.5 for it's imporovements.

I bought this one on a whim off the internet after resigning that I really just needed a good precision bass. When it came I didn't know what to think of it. It was way lighter than I was expecting at around 10lbs...still not light but perfectly balanced. It needed alot of cleaning, new strings, a setup which included some filing on the brass nut which needed re-gluing, truss adjustment, bridge height and intonation. The frets are in decent shape and vintage size (short and skinny). The tuners are Gibson labeled and not Schallers as well. The finish is a beautiful deep golden bronze and some cracking and plenty of scratches. It is an authentic relic. It looks ******* like something the greek god of rock would slay a titan with.

With its volume and tone knob in it's max position the bass has a very full but bright sound. Not much brighter than your average P-bass but with alot more focus in the lows. Roll the tone back 2/3 and it sounds like motown. Flip the series/ parallel switch and it sounds like John Paul Jones. Move your right hand up the neck and lighten your touch and it gets deep and hallow. Move back behind the pickup and you get lots of mid range bump that cuts through but is still round and warm. Basically it sounds like a very good p-bass, lots of midrange detail, super solid and deep low end, growly, warm, bouncy...it's all there and easy to get. One thing that does set this apart from the good P-basses I've played is that there is amazing consistency between notes...travelling up the neck notes stay full yet don't get woofy. Dead spots are minimized. This is due to the dual steel reinforcing rods in the neck in combination with the awesome pickup, brass nut, and all maple contruction.

On arrival this bass was pretty sore. It had been beaten, the strings looked 20 years old. The chrome hardware is pitting up. There are lots of nicks and cracks in the finish. There was a film of sweat and smoke crusted over it etc... However, the electronics worked perfect (silent) the truss rod adjusts the perfectly straight neck. The tuners are tight. Everything functioned as good as new but looked like crap. After alot of elbow grease it is much improved and I'm sure this bass is playing better than it ever has (I know how to set up a bass).

It plays like sweet melted butter. String tension is perfect, there is only a little buzz above the 21st fret. It Growls and feels tight. It is perfectly balanced and though it weighs just over 10lbs it feels lighter than my 9lb jazz strapped on. The neck is awesome. Fits like a glove if your used to precisions. It is like a c-shape p-neck, somewhat shallow and wide with a wide radius crown on the fingerboard (probably 10-12")

This is a bass by which all other basses will be measured. It is entirely made of hard rock maple. No broken headstocks ala thunderbird. The electonics are simple and elegant. The hardware is top notch and doesn't get any better. The only thing which seems to be wearing out at a reasonable rate is the finish. Still looks awesome but cracked here and there. Probably from great lakes winters going from sub freezing cars into smoky clubs night after night. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if that is why so many Victories have bad finishes. Kalamazoo, Michigan! This one stayed in MI until now probably. I'm confident that barring a house falling on it this bass will last a very long time.

Why would I need support.

Like I said, this bass is special. ALL GOLD! And it is a relatively light 10lbs. These basses regularly tip the scales over 12lbs. For that reason I could probably never find another to match it. Other than that it is a great sounding and playing bass that drips with golden rock and roll goodness.

It's like someone took the Gibson Thunderbird and the Fender Precision put them in the ALL MAPLE Gene Splicer and the Victory was born. Hybrid vigor. Awesome bass and totally underrated. Been playing 15+ years. I've owned everything from 60's precision and 70's jazz, rickenbacker, gibson, guild, musicman, g&l, customs, kubicki, modulus, dingwall etc...This is a fashion victim in the strictest sense. Oh and I would definitely buy another just like this one if I could find it.

1982
Red
Heavy
Had a heck of a time finding a new hard case

I love this Bass! Great look, Great Sound and is just a good bass for Rock, Jazz or Blues. I even played country a few times on it. shhh don't tell my band that.
Coupled with a 400 watt Berringer Amp head with a 15" Aluminum Cone Speaker. This Bass Has great Tone and Sustain!
It will be missed if it sells. It is just too heavy for me to gig with

I'm older and so is my back so I play a lighter Bass now.

This Bass looks great on stage! And as many others have stated it could be used for a weapon and almost never goes out of tune.

A good fat round wound string seems to work best on this rig.

The Red or almost burgundy color has a few chips in it and also some wear through where I rest my arm. the pick gaurd screws have some surface rust {I was told not to change them} everything is original.
If it Doesn't sell I will pass it on to my daughter as a family Jewel.
I would like te see someone playing it rather than just sitting in the case or on display on the wall.

This Base is a Tank and will Take anything and is very dependable.
worn finnish afrter many years of continous playing.
Never needed to adjust the truss Rod.
Would use it at any gig without a back up if I thought my back could handle it.

Never had reason to call customer service

I have been playing bass for 35 years and have owned this bass for over 30 years. I stopped playing this bass on a regular basis about 10 years ago. I currently own a Westone Headless Bass and a Schecter 4 string Stiletto Elite. would like to get a 5 string soon.
I was given the opprtunity to recieve a AMC Javlin Car {orange with a fat stripe} or this Victory Bass as a Graduation gift. I still think I chose correctly!
Awsome Bass! Everyone should have one at some time in thier lifetime!

Mine was made in 1981 and bought new by me in that year, it???s a red model with the back of the neck painted as well. Great tuners, really solid and never go out. Great bridge, I liked it so much I went out and bought a similar one for my Precision. Like the angled neck also. Only slight hassle is the weight of the thing, feels heavy after long gigs, but I suppose that???s part of the reason it sounds great.

Great sound with the switch up, thinner when down. I play Punk / Rock with a pick and always prefered the sound over my Precision, plenty of growly fat bass. I used it with a HH 115 bass combo. Never had any problems whatsoever, it never let me down and is still really solid now. I???ve had an active set up put on the Precision, but I wouldn???t mess with the Victory, it still keeps up.

The factory set up was pretty good as I remember, action was good and pickups set just right. My only gripe was the paint, It bubbled and chipped like mad, especially on the back of the neck, the only bit that???s still like new is the headstock.

A rock steady bass that is fully dependable. The only thing I???ve had to do in 25 years is change the toggle switch which was starting to crackle. All hardwear is still in great shape. never had to adjust truss rod, like I said before, my only gripe???s the paint job but that doesn???t affect playability, I wouldn???t hesitate in gigging it without a backup.

Never had to deal with Gibson on warranty or get the bass repaired

Been playing since about 1977, I own a 1976 Fender Precision, a 1980 Frettless Fender Jazz, a 1980???s Tokai Strat, a new Gibson Gold Top Deluxe, and also my Victory Standard. I remember seeing the Victory in a music shop window in London and fell in love with it then. I???m still pleased with my decision to buy and really chuffed it???s been as good as it has. If it were stolen I probably wouldn???t buy the same model as it wouldn???t be the same. I would, however, hunt down the thief mercilessly. Favourite feature has to be the neck and headstock. I wouldn???t change anything about it.

I won't repeat all the feature listing; just say that my Victory was the 38th instrument stamped out at the Nashville factory on the 124th day of 1982. I bought it not too much later than that, sometime late summer, 1982. Bought it new. I will mention that the one toggle switch seriously alters the sound. I don't think I've switched it to the down position in over 15 years!

I played this bass for over 10 years and it got stolen. Seriously depressed, I replaced it with a Jazz bass that cost 5 times more than the Victory. I never liked the Jazz. It just wasn't my bass. One day I'm sitting at my desk at work and a friend working the repair window at the store where I bought the bass called me and said, "Dude, somebody just walked in with your bass!" It had been missing for three years (!!!!) and my pal, with whom I'd played in several bands, recognized it due to a tiny bit of faded paint where I'd had a decal stuck for years. I called the police and they said if I had my sales receipt (I did!) that I could just go down and pick it up. I never knew if the dude who brought it in was the one who stole it, I was just happy to get it back. Actually, ECSTATIC would be the word! I immediately sold the Jazz and have been playing my Gibson ever since. OK, where do I start. It sustains forever. I play everything from Metal to Hard Rock to Jazz to Psychedelic to Progressive and it handles everything. Did I mention that it sustains FOREVER? Bang your E, go get a beer (or four) and it'll still be ringing when you get back.

Finish, fit and action. Precisely the reasons I bought the Victory in the first place. I have the strings set so low to the frets that when another bassist first tries it they cannot believe it's not buzzing all over the place. I let a friend who plays a Yamaha and whose strings are MILES from his fretboard to keep the buzzing down and he freaked! Suddenly he became 10 times as good as he thought he was. This bass is effortless to play (if you're big enough to hold it up through an entire gig - it's HEAVY!) I got the red one, which seems to be quite a bit more rare than the gray ones. It came with perfect intonation and perfect action. But I bought it from a fantastic "mom and pop" shop, where they actually knew what the hell they were doing. Now, after almost a quarter of a century, the tone knob is giving me a tiny bit of static. The volume knob is fine. I have NEVER cleaned the pots, or done anything really to it, except play the fire out of it.

I never use a back-up bass and this bass has never failed me. There is a small portion of the body's top, where my arm rests, that is worn down to the wood. But that's more a testament to the sheer number of hours I've spent playing this bass than an indictment of Gibson's finish. The rest of it is fine. The person who stole the bass apparently busted one of the sharp ends of the bottom strap button (they weird, triangle shaped) and it STILL WORKS! I've never adjusted the neck at all. I ought to replace the pick guard screws because my acidic sweat has caused them to rust pretty badly. Bottom line: I walk on stage, plug it in, play it violently for hours, put it back in the case. Repeat. Never a problem.

Can't remember anything about a warranty (that was a LONG time ago!), but I wouldn't have needed it anyway. Never attempted to contact Gibson either, so no comment.

I've been playing bass for over 30 years. I've played everything from Alembics to Teisco Del Reys. Although I used to push a Carvin stack with a '72 SVT, I'm getting too old to carry a 93 lb. head around so I now play a Behringer 300-watt combo, which sounds awesome with the Victory. As I mentioned, it WAS stolen, and was missing for almost three years. The cops said that this type of recovery NEVER happens! I was so lucky to get my baby back! There is nothing about this bass I don't like. My favorite thing about it is the sound. It simply ROCKS! If I can find another red one, I'm going to buy it just to have two!

I found the Gibson I have in a used guitar store in Bangkok, Thailand. It is a 1983 Victory Artist model, U.S. made. Maple body and neck, reverse-Thunderbird style headstock, rosewood fretboard, 34" scale. Two humbucker pickups, active electronics, volume and tone pots, two mini-toggle switches for active/passive modes and pickup selection. Really beefy chrome-plated Schaller brass bridge. When I bought the bass it was in pretty poor condition cosmetically. The sunburst finish was worn to the bare wood on the top edge, top of the body (pick) and back of body (beltbuckle). Also worn to bare wood on the back of the neck with numerous nicks all over the (large) headstock. The fingerboard was alomost gray in color from lack of cleaning. The bass reeked of cigarette smoke and stale beer, and was covered with a layer of sweat, grime and who knows what. I actually had to use steel wool to get that funk off, and reploished it. The bass was so heavy (solid maple) that the shop couldn't sell it to a Thai (a Westerner had traded it in for a Fender).

The sound is great!! Good presence (better than my Fenders). Good selection of sounds with the pickup selection and bass treble boost features. I usually play finger style and after a few gigs with this I noticed that it is better played with a pick. I dig in alot and son=metimes pull the strings off the fingerboard.

Since I bought it used I have no comment about the factory setup. With that great Schaller bridge, there is a multituse of options in adjustment.

This bass is built like a rock!! Heavy as one too. From the abuse it had taken in the past, and the sound an playability when I bought it, I would say that it can take some pretty hard gigging. Eveything is well built.

I've had questions e-mailed to the factory and they provide good info fairly quickly.

I've been playing bass on and off for about thirty years. I've been playing bass pretty regular (gigging) the past ten. I play alot of upright with Jazz groups in the area. I own a German-built upright purchased in Belgium. I also own a Conklin Groove Tools 7-string, Fender Jazz fretless (my favorite electric), Washburn Bantam Bass (Steinberger copy), Fender Precision, and a Blaze Jazz Bass copy. I'm really happy with the Gibson, great powerful tone. It is heavy!!

Bought "brand spanking new" in 1984, Went into a small town music shop in New Zealand and asked to see their basses. They said only what you see, wasn't interested in anything they had to replace my Ibanez silver series, went to walk out in disgust and he said I do have this other bass upstairs but maybe out of your range "WHAT" I said, took one look at it and said its mine, what a beauty, took out a loan and took it home just to ogle at for hours
Memphis USA 1984 or earlier, solid Maple heavy as hell
The music guy said we went over and got it himself only one on New Zealand he said
Silver at the time but now fading, Passive bass single coil pickup with a toggle for full or piano bass tone, I play in on max everything.

Lots of bottom end and sustain, best action in any bass I have seen, good for hard rock and blues
With modern playing nowdays needed extra sounds and tone so bought an effects pedal, who needs active pickups

Lovly clour a real stand out

Never, I say never goes out of tune, had it for twenty years of playing hard and still love it
Colour faded and back scratched up as was stupidly wearing a studded belt when playing. Due for a paint job or taken right back to wood maybe when more financial
Had first 9 frets recently replaced (worn to bits) and neck aligned for the first time

Never needed
Logged on to their website just to date it

Playing bass for 23 years, would roll up in a ball and die if got pinched
I recently bought a pasive Ibanez Soundgear with thin neck and very light to use as my back is playing up a bit with my age creaping on, this only for practice and I save the Gibson for gigs
Would love an Artist model, maybe someone got one for sale ?

This was my first bass. I received it as a gift from my parents in 1982. Standard configuration, red. I believe it is passive, but has a switch on it that does give a boost. Red, with a black pick guard. It came with a mammoth hardshell case. A heavy guitar, but extremely cool looking.

I generally agree with the comment that this guitar wants to play ROCK, but I have also had success playing jazz on it. It has a very round tone and can get very dirty on the low end.

This is going to sound awfully random, but in the late 80s Linda Rondstat released an album of old standards with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. They also released a live concert of her with the orchestra, and the bass player played one of these (the Artist version)! My point is that it is more versatile than many think.

I originally played in through a Road head and a Road 4X12 cabinet (anyone remember those?), then through a Hartke. My current system is a Stewart 1.6 power amp and an Alembic F1X pre-amp through an Eden 4X12. It sounds excellent. Not a lot of high end, which can be compensated somewhat with your amp.

It plays beautifully live, and has more sustain (insert Tap joke here) than any bass I have ever played.

The bass was set up poorly when I received it, but has a very nice bridge, so adjusting it was not an issue.

It is VERY solidly made.

Because the pickup is slanted I used to get uneven coverage on all four strings. I had it straightened and the sound improved dramatically.

Perfect. I HAVE used it live without a backup, and have never been disappointed.

N/A

I would not give up this bass for anything. Considering they were only manufactured for a short period of time, I wonder what happened? I also agree with the person who suggested they re-release it.

Artist Series, made in 1981. Four string with twenty four frets(on the D and G strings... 22 on the E and A.) The pickguard is cut to fit the angled end of the bolt-on neck and the angled neck-position pickup, giving it a "V" shape. Cool, though I typically don't like pickguards. I believe the pickups are passive, but the thing has an active pre-amp of some kind. Excellent bridge, with adjustments for string spacing as well as intonation and height. Love the wide neck! The headstock is a slightly slimmed down version of the one found on the Thunderbird. The strap-pins have football-shaped heads that work as well as any strap-locks (unless, perhaps, you plan to sling the thing around yourbody like Yngwie Malmsteen...)

I would rather have a neck-through or set neck, but the bolt on is solid and stable.

Love the sound. Very versatile. Growly in the low range, clear and singing highs. Not a loud bass, but you can crank up the amp a bit to make up for that.

Bought used, so factory set up is a mystery. Fit and finish are excellent, though. This is a solid, reliable bass.

I've had this bass since 1985 and I've had only minor problems that were the result of being handled roughly (broke the pre-amp switch). Has never failed me during use. I have re-finished the bass, so any finish problems are my fault. The original sunburst was nice, but just had to have a dark walnut stained oil finish...

Have no idea...

I have gone through many basses in my 20+ years of playing. Two have proven to be keepers. My 1988 Spector NS-2 and this one. The Victory Artist bass is one of those instruments that fell through the cracks in the late 70's-early 80's. Gibson should consider re-issuing these.

It seems everyone has a Gibson Victory Bass story. I actually have owned 2 Victory basses at different times, and 1 Victory guitar. The 1st Victory bass I bought was in 1990, it wasa 1982 model. I sold it in 1997 for $200, then I bought it back from the same guy in 1999 for $150 dollars. Thn I sold it again te next year for $165. In 1994 I got into a fight and a guitarist through it at me (in its gig bag)it hit the ground and had 2 huge dinks in the body. It did not affect play. In 1996 I threw it during the final number of one of my gigs. It bend the G string tuning peg, and chipped the 3rd fret on the edge. I had it repaired. I used to hit the thing so hard the pick up was dented, and fell through the pickgaurd. Somehow I figured out a way to damage this bass. When I bought it back from a friend, the pickup was severly damaged, so I sold it. I also had stripped the paint off it.

Fast forward to 12/03. I learned from the same guy who sold my first Victory bass, that he saw one at Chelsea guitars in NYC. I went the next day and bought it. Itwas not the same bass... This one is from 1980, and was the same sea foam green paint job with the exception of a strange 2 tone silver/sea foam green. I am so happy to have this bass again. This one kicks butt, and I've vowed to take great care of this one, because I don't plan on buying another bass again, unless of course it's one of these...

The best way to describe the sound of one of these is BEEFY and/or MEATY. Lots of punch. Its an instrument thats made to be played aggressivly. You can slap on the fretbord better than any bass out there. This also is the coolest bass ever if you like it slung low, and if you play lots of bars, be prepared to take a lot of compliments from patrons. Everyone will be watching you.

This one was set up for me at the point of purchase. I like the 2 inside strings to be a tad higher than the outside strings. There is a lot of space in between the strings as well. Incredible bridge, brass nut can get buzzy, but thats part of the mystique. All maple, the head stck is a boat oar. The neck on my first one was natural color on the back side, my new one has the sea foam green finish on the flipside. Paint chips a plenty on both I've had. Has thedubious distinction of being a bass that is SO heavy that it should be sold with a back brace and/or a weight lifting belt.

This is my baby, Never needed a backup, sounds great, its a tank, a real player that gets better with age. Its got P bass punch with Rick twang. I use it with a GK 200 head and a sonic 1x15 bottom. I will eventually find a Gibson Sidewinder pickup and have it installed at the neck position, so it will crush everything in its path.

Don't bother. Bring it to a Mom & Pop store to get set up and you'll be fine.

I've had around 150 guitars pass through my hands in the 20 or so years I've been playing. I've had a Gretsch 6120, a 1970 SG special,4 or 5 Hohner pros, Yamahas, Peaveys, Steinbergers, A Fender Deluxe Telecaster (one of the best guitars I ever had), Gibson Flying V, Explorer Bass, an EBO, a Mex P Bass. The best guitars I've ever owned were the Gibson Victory guitar (3 pickup model) and my 2 Victory basses.

Built in December, 1981, back in the Norlin days. Maple neck with reverse-Thunderbird style headstock and rosewood fretboard, 34" scale. The feel of the neck is thick and wide. Mine has a plastic nut. The treble end of the neck is cut at an angle, so there are 22 frets at the fourth string and 24 at the first. The chrome tuners are probably Schaller, though they have the Gibson logo. There is a single humbucker mounted at an angle, volume and tone pots, and a mini-toggle switch for in-phase/out-of-phase. The chrome bridge is also Schaller and is a wonderful example of German over-engineering. There are differing views in the other reviews about the body material, but my bass was stripped to the natural wood, and the color, grain, and certainly the weight, make me think that it is maple. I have an Ibanez bass with a similarly sized alder body and it doesn't weigh near as much as this behemoth.

I play a mix of hard rock, punk, and metal, and once I find a sound I like I set it and forget it. I bought this bass as a backup to my old Ibanez Roadstar, and was hoping that it would have a similar sound since it has a passive humbucker. I'm amazed that some of the other people that reviewed this bass didn't notice much difference in tone when using the toggle switch. I think it makes a huge difference. The in-phase (bass) position has a lot of bass and a distinct "woody" sound. Out-of-phase (treble) yields a thin, trebly sound. Neither position is as strong or pleasing as my Ibanez, which has a very distinct mid-range drive, but I can get a sound I like in either position with a little EQ tweaking on the amp (a Carvin R600). I'd still pick this thing any day over the typical P- and J- style equipped basses that are out there.

This bass was very used when I bought it. It had been stripped to the natural wood and was set up horribly. Everything cleaned up nicely, though, and I was able to get everything set as it should be without too much fuss. This bass was originally red with a black headstock, and I remember that they made these in silver, too. It's a shame that someone took the paint off, because it really is a distinct looking bass.

I concur with the general consensus in the other reviews: If you got into a bar fight, you could probably use this thing as a war club and it would be none the worse for wear. Even though the previous owners clearly did not take care of this bass, the hardware held up well and everything functions as it should. The screws that hold the pickguard in place were corroded and had to be replaced, as did the volume and tone knobs, but those are minor issues for an instrument that has been neglected for so many years.

I've never had to deal with Gibson. Gibson makes no mention of these instruments on their website, possibly because they fell in the period when Norlin was the parent company.

I've been playing bass for twenty years and have had quite a few instruments. The only one I kept was the Ibanez Roadstar. The Gibson Victory does not sound quite as good for my tastes, but it does have its own distinct sound which is miles ahead of most of the garbage that is manufactured today. It is a distinctive looking bass, and the quality of the wood and hardware, as well as the sheer size and heft of the thing, certainly inspire the comment, "They don't make them like this anymore."

I think if you've gotten as far as this review, you probably know the features, but I'll do a quick outline...Maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, single passive humbucker w/volume & tone, toggle switch for bass/treble, not sure what the body is made of, but whatever it is, it's probably impregnated with lead..these are not light basses. Long scale neck w/22 frets on the bass side & 24 on the treble side. Mine was made in the Nashville palnt in late Dec. of '81. Not a lot of features, but it's great for me..simple layout..plug it in and play.

This is where it's at, don't you think. The sound is why I put up with this thing that feels like I'm strapping on a baby elephant. It's deep, dark, and sustains forever. I play through an Ampeg 4x8 combo now, which brightens it up quite a bit. When i was playing through a 1x15 combo, this thing was super dark. I have used this bass in three different bands, hard rock/punk, metal, and funk, and have been able to dial in a good sound for all. it is especially suited to metal, since it is so dark and sustains for so long. Put an octave drop pedal in front of it and it sounds like the pipe organ of doom. With the bright switch toggled, i can get a great percussive slap funk groove out of it as well, especially through the 4x8 cab.

I bought this used and the store I got it from (The Music Shoppe in Terre Haute, IN) goes through and tunes and intonates all used guitars/basses they buy...so it was set up great. Mine was once silver, but has faded to what I call grey-burst..I love the way this bass looks. The slanted pickup and distinctive pickguard definitely sets you apart from the million p-bass/jazz bass clones. oh, and speaking of the tuners...this thing NEVER goes out of tune..Other than a brand new set of strings, I can almost guarantee that this bass will be in tune when I pull it out of the case. And this mofo is built to last...i think in the case of nuclear attack..my bass would still be just fine.

this has been my only bass for about 6 years of constant gigging..I play it without a backup all the time, and it has actually been used by other bands we've played with when their basses crapped out on more than one occasion. The hardware is all military grade, and this bass is damn near indestructible. i've never had to really do much adjusting to it, it just never seems to gou out of tune. It's been dropped off of a stage (7 feet) or so and only sustained a ding. The starp buttons are solid, but the odd diamond T shape has eaten thru a few cheap straps in it's day.

Never had to deal with Gibson, since this thing is 22 years old, and purchased used, and it's laid out so simply I can do any repairs myself.

I've been playing since I was 16..14 years now. I've blown through lot's of cheap gear, but now I have the stuff I want....Besides this bass..I have an Ibanez AG75 semi-hollow gutiar, An Ovation acoustic, an Ampeg B2 4x8, and a Peavy TKO 120. if this bass were lost..well, I don't know how I could lose it, it's just too monstrous...but If it were stolen, first I'd use it like the blunt weapon it is to beat the perpetrator senseless, and then i would definitely try to replace it with another one.

1982 model...US made. It used to be silver, now kinda greenish silver, I plan to refinish it back to bright silver. One single coil passive pick up. body, neck, everything is maple, from the weight of it, and solidity of feel i would assume it's carved from a single whole tree. Volume, tone and a toggle switch, I guess for bass and treble. Way heavy duty bridge. Tremendous, humongous headstock...contributes to tremendous, humongous sustain. this bass has few features, but it needs few features.

I generally plug this into a marshall silver jubilee amp w/ a peavey 4x10 cab under it...this thing KILLS on metal, fatback blues, and most any heavier type music...VERY deep lows and sustains forever. A brighter sound can be had by slapping a set of DR highbeams on it...you sacrifice few if any lows, but the highs come to life, surprisingly easy to slap on and sound pretty damn good when you do. No, I don't prefer it to my 4001...but it's a great alternative.

this thing was many years from the factory by the time I got it...had just wanted one only forever and finally got around to it. Very good action, if a bit on the wide side

this bass would withstand a nuclear holocaust. I plan to use it w/ the 4001 and a tobias 5-string, more for variety than any reason to mistrust it.

I know they don't answer emails, and the victory standard is not on the website

if it were stolen I'd first kill the sucker that stole it and then get another. This thing has terrific stage presence, and a cool sound that like my ric you just can't get anywhere else. My best friend thinks it's double butt ugly, I think it's the ultimate rock-n-roll stage bass. And the first time I saw one it was being played in a spandex band...I agree that it would make a killer(pardon) murder weapon if you're strong enough to swing it. My take on it is simple..buy one...NOW...WHILE THEY'RE STILL RELATIVELY CHEAP

I purchased my Victory bass new w/case back in '87. I beleieve it was made in Nashville. 22-24 rosewood fret board. Original silver color w/black pick guard. All original hardware.

Deep, dark and sustained. This thing weights a TON!!! If you pluck the E string, place it on your guitar stand and come back in 20 min. and the note will still ring out. I recently made the neck fretless and it is AWESOME. Add a little distortion and you will rock the foundation in any building. Has vol. tone and a bass/treble switch (which has little to no effect).

Action has not been changed since I bought the thing. The finish is a little yellowed, but aside from that all is well.

This bass will out live me. The finish is a little tarnished, but the overall bass is still in fantastic condition (great to mint).

I'm going to give this a slighly low rating. When I called Gibson about purchasing some machine heads, it was quite difficult to get them to admit that they made the instrument. Not to mention, they did not have the parts and could not help me find a manufacture. This has left me with a bad taste in my mouth about Gibson.

I've been playing for over 10 yrs. This was my first bass and I still have it. I'd say that out of the 5 basses, this is my 3rd favorite (aside from my Carvin and G&L Lynx). It is a fantasic bass and a truly fantasic FRETLESS.

My Gibson Victory Stadard bass was made in '82 in the good ole' USA. All the hardware is rock solid and still fresh after all these years. The bridge was made in Germany after closer inspection, but bears the Gibson name. This fine red four string has a bolt on black Thunderbird neck and headstock. I think the headstock gives the Victory it's great sustain with consistant low end, something that is found on high end basses made today. The pickup is a single angled humbucking passive with a volume knob, tone knob and toggle switch. This bass is heavy.

I bought the bass when I was in a grunge band. Although it was a great bass, my Lakland just wasn't rock and roll enough. The Gibson Victory is ALL ROCK! It has a great even semi-growly low end that I haven't heard duplicated yet. It's a long scale rosewood neck that plays great for a twenty years old bass that has seen better days. In a word, this bass sounds dark. If you like metal, rock, blues or drum and bass, find one and keep it. I now play ina drum and bass group and the Victory nails the low end normally produced by DJ samples. It has a clean sound in the studio and a "live" presence on stage. Match it with some 15" or 18" speakers and you have a slice of bass heaven.

I bought the bass used in it's seventeeth year. I had the action taken down and performed a major cleaning on the whole thing. Once it was cleaned, wow! All the hardware has remained tight and precise with virtually no oxidation. The paint has held up despite a few cigarette burns and scrapes. Electronics are clean, but not tremendously flexible. This is not a smooth jazz bass.

This bass is a rock...period.

Never had to deal with Gibson.

I thought about selling this bass, but I can't bring myself to do it. It was a cheap bass that ended up being used more than my other expensive four strings. This is a cool looking, great sounding bass that is a unique slice of Gibson's bass history.

Victory Artist, which I bought new in 1982, and still play as my primary bass. The whole bass is gloss black with a rosewood fingerboard, and is the most beautiful bass I have seen to date. The active tone controls feature a two position active switch, for a little or a lot of active. The reason for the weight is that the entire bass is made from eastern hard rock maple. Interesingly this was one of the first basses to feature not only the active system, but there are also twin reinforcement bars in the neck alongside the truss rod. In 21 years and counting I have adjusted the neck Twice! The 9 volt battery is in the back and unfortunately has a cover plate with 4 screws, so changing batterys at a show is a little tough.

A very big boomin' bass tone, that you can alter for any styles. Very clean sounds, even levels and tones from all strings. Inperceptable noise but someone who uses a lot of effects will probably amplify the noise a little. This bass just gets plugged into the amp and its dead on right! Even after 21 years it has more sustain than my new Carvin. A better sounding or more versatile bass you will not find.

This bass is actually stamped as a 'second', and the only flaw I have found is a hole under the bridge that was drilled out of position. really doesn't have any adverse effects. I have also heard that gibson would paint guitars that had substandard or unattractive woods black or dark finishes. Could be but the gloss black is fantastic and has held up incredibly over the decades. The action is near perfect for the 34 in. scale, with the best bridge I have seen. My frets are showing wear but man after 20 years...

Simple. This is the toughest and most durable bass ever made. Period. Everyone who has one will agree.

Never had to deal with them, but others are right that Gibson will disavow any knowledge of this bass.

Overall a great bass. It really was ahead of it's time, and would still compete today if it were made again. Nothing can top the combination of great tone, reliability, style, and the look on the rest of your band's faces when you pull one of these out of the case! Just get a really wide strap!

I picked this beauty up at a pawn shop in Georgia. My friend let me borrow one to do the recording for my bands cd (we play screamy hardcore stuff). This bass was perfect for the recording. If you want to feel like you are playing with a dead body over your shoulder, this is your best friend. I am used to throwing dead bodies over my shoulders, I love this bass. It may be heavy, but jesus.

It's a great murder weapon when playing live too.

Oh, it's beautiful.

I think mine was originally red? Maybe, and then it was stripped and painted black. The action is easy to adjust, and this is a good thing, I like to play low, and this goes low. The intination on mine is a little off, but I do believe because its been sitting in a pawn shop for god knows how long.

The switch on my bass doesn't function right, but I mean its 22 years old and it looks pretty beat up. The tone knob has some noise too it also. But besides that it's great. I think you could set this thing on fire, piss on the ashes, pick it up and it'd still sound like Sabbath.

I play this beast with a Peavy Mark IV head and a pro co vintage rat pedal through an 8x10" cabinet. This is why there are earthquakes in the world.

1981 gibson victory bass with original case everything stock except straplocks and a new output jack. I think the pickguard might be custom. Sparkle blue finish but the original was red.

my style ranges from R&B to grunge and never once has it failed to meet my standards. it is an extremely quiet bass. high output does every thing from rattle to growl.

every thing was exceptional for 20-something yearold bass

it s bullet proof

the gibson web site doesnt even agknowledge it exists

heavy

My bass was made in June of 1981. I have had it for about 3 years. I believe it was made at the Gibson Nashville plant. It has 24 frets and a single passive humbucker pickup. It has one volume control and one tone control with Gibson speed knobs. It also has a selector which changes tone from treble to bass. The selector does very little changing of the tone. As someone pointed out above the body is made of alder. Whatever it is, it weighs a ton. It was originally a silver color, but that is now fading into a yellowish gray. The case that originally came with it is now gone. It was a regular hardshell case with vinyl covering. The case also weighed a lot.

It has a great sound for most of the music I use it for. I play mainly in my church band. I also use it for some rock and metal. Right now I am using a Digitech BP-200 bass pedal with it. This works quite well and allows me to modify the sound somewhat. The bass is not noisy at all. There is almost no hum. It has a very full sound and somewhat dark. It can be used for heavy metal, but it is not quite bright enough for it for my liking. One thing I have noticed is that it has the longest sustain of any bass I have played.

Because of its age the finish is not in very good condition. It has many scratches and dents and the finish is peeling. I am considering whether I want to refinish it or not. The action is pretty good although the frets are worn down somewhat. Otherwise all the hardware is in very good condition.

This is probably the most reliable bass I have ever seen. It could probably stand up to anything you could throw at it. It has been to Mexico and back. In Mexico it endured a power surge wich pretty much destroyed its electronics. That was fixed and it still plays fine. I would definetly use it without backup and I have many times. Nothing could destroy this bass. These basses will be around for a long time.

I have never dealt with Gibson about this bass yet. But, I don't think that they admit that they ever made this bass.

I have been playing bass for about 3 years. I don't really have an extensive knowledge of basses to compare it to, but I do like it better than any other bass I have played. If it were stolen I would try to find another like it. I actually love the weight of the thing. Other basses are too light in my opinion.

the features are really usefull and reall easy to run, the active eletronics really make the bass sound "alive"

OMG!!! this thing has the best freakin sound i have ever heard. it never ceases to amaze me!

besides the point that it weighs a ton and a half. its fairly comfortable to play. and the action is really easy to change. the finish has takin a beating and still looks great.

this bass would withstand live playing a thousand times over. very very dependable guitar.

i really dont need support. everything on it is very self explanitory. i could work on it blindfolded and my hands tied behind my back

I LOVE THIS BASS!!!AND THIS BASS LOVES ME!

Schaler/Gibson tuners and bridge; 1 thunderbird type humbucker with phase switch; alder body-NOT mahogany as another mentioned-these were never to my knowledge made of mahogany as other gibsons had been; 24 fret fingerboard. HEAVY BASS, BUT WELL-BALANCED.

These have a very growly, twangy sound-i have absolutely no idea where the other people here think they are "dull" or muffled. These have bodies and necks made out of the same thing as a P-bass, and a very bright sounding pickup-I've played a lot of these and they are all bright, deep and twangy like a thunderbird or Rickenbacker sound.

Nice tight neck pocket; well-done fretwork; easy to play; paint isn't the best quality compared to the best from Fender's painted bodies

Very heavy duty, good to hit people over the head with if being attacked.

good luck!

i have been playing for 25 years; also own G&L fretless LB100, harmony H-22, Ampeg Dan Armstrong see-through, Hagstrom I; I would buy one again, especially at the ridiculous price i paid;
THIS IS A VERY HEAVY BASS!!

1982 Gibson Victory bass Standard. Presumably made in USA. Silver finish with black T-bird style headstock. Single passive pickup placed weirdly diagonally. Brass nut, wide fretboard, weighs a ton. Replaced the T-strap bolts with Straplocks and a leather strap; everything else is stock. I read the other guys' reviews and they sound similar to mine, save for the silver finish. Giving it a 6 for features since it's not very versatile with only one stock pickup. I have no idea what the switch does, except boost tone (the switch was replaced with a heavy-duty toggle when it was bought, to replace the cheesy one that it came with).

I'll give it a 7 since it's got plenty of boom, but nowadays I like more treble so I have to change the strings more. No fret buzz, easily tweakable. If you need massive bottom end, this one does it. A bit frustrating when it's too muddy for the venue.

The fretboard's like a 4-lane highway, but tweaking the truss rod and adjusting the height just a wee bit keep the action astonishingly sweet. Finish has 20 years of nicotine on it, but has stayed smooth and without pockmarks. Always liked the pickguard. It weighs a ton, but at least half of it is neck, so it stays perfectly balanced while I play.

You could back your pickup over it and it would play and look just the same. Flawless hardware, still not a speck of rust after 20 years. Think I may have had to tweak the input jack once, that's about it. I'd use it to hit baseballs and still play it without a backup, as I almost always do. Sure keeps it's tune well, too - I attribute it to the nicely thought-out tuning posts.

Never dealt with 'em.

If it was stolen, I'd buy a 5-string - but I'm a big fan of Gibson so I'd try there first. It's reliable as clockwork, but keeping the sound bright costs a fortune in strings. I'm convinced it will play just the same after I drop dead, though. Would make a lousy bass for a spandex band, but everyone thinks the design is very attractive. Don't know if I'd buy one again, though.

This is a 1982 Gibson Victory Bass. I think that this is one of the better basses that Gibson has put out. I love the shape. It has one passive humbucker pickup and an odd pickguard. It has a red finish. I love the little tap switch control, in which you can control the bass. I think that it is a great bass. Not to mention that I love the Thunderbird style headstock.

I love the sound. It is abit quiet. I think that it sounds great for rock. I play through a '68 Ampeg Fliptop. I think that you can get many different styles of music on this bass. However, I love rock and I think that it is perfect for it.

I love the red finish on this bass. Once, I did alittle tweaking on the action, it turned out perfect.

I think that this bass is very reliable. I think that it is built like a tank. I would definetly use this on stage. It would probably be all I need, but I always recommend a backup. I love the "T" strap buttons.

I have called them once and they were very helpful.

I think that this is a great bass overall. I would like to purchase the Gibson Victory Bass Artist with the active pickups. That bass will probably be next in the collection.

It's a 1981, U.S. made Victory Standard. It has one volume and one tone nob. I don't know what type of passive pickups it has but it only has one. It also has one of the largest fret bords(Rosewood) I have ever played on. It has a natural finish with a black pickguard. It came with an old looking hardshell case, but who knows if its the orginal. I feel the simple set up works best or me.

I like a really thick sounding bass. I'm playing it with a Ampeg combo. I like to play lots of blues and old school rock and roll. And if you don't, this is not the bass for you. You can get some nice bright tones with new strings and messing with the tone nob, but over all its a thick muddy sound.

I think that its a great bass. There are no flaws with mine. The only thing that I don't like is it weights a so much. I think they could have made it a little lighter. The pickups don't make much noise for a 21 year old bass.

I could use this bass as a baseball bat and at the end of the day it still would be sounding great. It has "T" strap buttons that are doing a great job of keeping it close to me when I'm playing. I would say that you could use it at a gig and not have to bring another.

never had a reason to talk to Gibson

I have been playing with this bass for over a year now and its treating me great. I would tell my friends to go get one if they could find one. I love that thick sound but I know that its not for everyone.

early 80's, rosewood f/board, mahogany body. one pickup, 1-v, 1-t, red finish. brass nut, neck is a little chunky for my taste. balance seems fine. heavy.

MUDDY! i have to use more treble with this bass than my fenders. quiet sounding, not much versitality but its good.

the maple neck was good and straight, not a very fast player though, seems i have to fight it, tight neck joint, well made instrument. im sure its the mahogany body that dulls the tone, great wood for guitar but not bass. needs a maple cap to liven it up.

seems to be made well. strong and durable.

never had contact with gibson.

not bad, well made, very atractive bass but the body wood should be maple or alder or the pickups much brighter. way too muddy.

My Gibson Victory Bass was made in 1981, American made. Four strings, the neck is a long scale with an angle head with the machine tuners in the in-line configuration and a brass nut. The fretboard is a wide rosewood with thin nickel plated frets, they are installed better than any I have ever seen. The body is solid maple I think, it is not a standard style. It ways more than any other bass I have picked up. It has a glossy black finish which covers both the body and the neck. The hardware, bridge and tuners is the best I have seen, all Gibson I believe. The electronics are a single diagonal passive humbucker with tone and volume pots, both have Gibson speed knobs. It also has a switch which changes the sound, I am unsure of the workings of the switch. Very well made.

Sustains better than any I have played. The pick-ups are among the most dead things around. They can produce both rich and wide tone variations but the volume has to be cranked. One plus is that it doesn't have a hum or other distracting noises. I use it with a GK head and Acoustic 4x12 cab and also with an Peavey TKO 65. Lots of briteness if strung with round wound steel strings.

I bought the bass used but the condition is still great, no flaws in manufacturing. Just use and abuse. Good action for a abnormally wide neck. The fretboard plays great. And it still looks good in it's original configuration after 20 years. Solid.

Very reliable, I could drive nails with it and play it afterwards. I would play it without a back-up. It has these "T" headed straplocks, "Factory?", they work great, I have never dropped it. The neck stays straight, and it keeps tune very well. It will easily last anothe 20 years.

I don't think they even like to act like they made this bass ever. I looked up the bass on their web site and the only mention I could find was after entering the serial number. It is missing a small piece of the bridge that I have been unable to locate. I am glad it works well, if it did break I am not sure Gibson would even have the parts to fix it.

I love this Bass. I know if it was stolen I probably would not by another though. Not because I don't like it, but because I probably couldn't find another. It is not for a small guy, this thing weighs a ton. It is made really well. I could live without it, but probably would not choose to.