Gibson Victory

Anyone here have a Gibson Victory? I've never been a Gibson type guy, but have always wanted the Victory. It's a 3 PUP strat shaped mahogany guitar from the early 80's.

I got one on the way to the house for a reasonable price. It's a player grade, but It is the one or 2 Gibs I have on my "gotta get" lists.
Curious if any one here has one or has played one and has any thoughts.

They look like an Aria Pro II, the Knight Warrior! Or maybe the Knight Warrior looks like them?

A fugly Strat with a Firebird headstock. Even worse looking than the awful Trini Lopez 335's.

When Gibsons try to be Fenders and vice versa it only leads to tears. Dumb idea.

Barry wrote:A fugly Strat with a Firebird headstock. Even worse looking than the awful Trini Lopez 335's.

When Gibsons try to be Fenders and vice versa it only leads to tears. Dumb idea.

It is ugly, maybe that is why I like it. I think these started in the early 80's when everyone was throwing HB's into their strats to copy EVH, and this was Gibsons attempt to have that HB sound with a strat look. So no way it will sound like a strat, I assume it will be similar to a LP sound. All that being said, I've wanted one since I was 14 and happy to adopt an ugly one and hope it sounds good.

Something about ugly guitars that make them endearing. I think those Victory's look pretty cool.

Now talk about ugly, how about those Westone Paduaks?! Grandma's basement coffee table turned into an LSD trip designed guitar.

The Chad wrote:...Now talk about ugly, how about those Westone Paduaks?! Grandma's basement coffee table turned into an LSD trip designed guitar.

What, you have sumthin' against fat bottom girls Chad? And don't forget her sister, Miss Concord.

Nah, they make the rockin' world go round.

Preconceptions, eh? I just don't understand the hatred for this model. The quality is very very good. My buddy played one for a while, fitted it with a Bigsby. It had a beautiful set neck, with a decent radius, very easy to fret chords. No sore wrists with this baby. Excellent electronics. Single piece body. Sustain, sustain, and sustain. Tonally it was a monster.

To me it looks like an old Burns - Baldwin. Did I sink my argument just then?

Seriously - this is a great find.

I like anything oddball like this; I also like the Nighthawk, which is much maligned....

Got this one yesterday and it is better than I expected. Paint is chipping off the ehadstock, and it feels like it is 15lbs, but it sounds very good. Good neck, good switching options. Pretty happy with my first Gibson

Could we please have a pic?

anaerobe wrote:Could we please have a pic?

It's there - don't see it?

Got it!!

wow, got to say I love how that looks, its like 4 very different guitars blended beautifully. cracking!

Sgt. Vimes wrote:wow, got to say I love how that looks, its like 4 very different guitars blended beautifully. cracking!

Actually reading up on it, it was originally advertised as a guitar to replace all your guitars because of the switching. Basically it is 3 HB's (the middle is stacked) with a 5 way strat type selector. Then there is a switch to toggle between all HB or all split colis. So you get 5 HB and 5 psuedo single coil positions.

The HB's sound good with just neck or just bridge, and the split colis sound pretty good in all 5 positions suprisingly.

I love it Sarc!!! Great score, you're making me want one buddy.

Thats a cool guitar Sarc, i like the Gibsons and Fenders from the early 80's, they were trying new things. Definate influence of the metal years. I miss my Gibson The Paul i had in the mid 80's - just a stripped down Les Paul i got for $200 or so. Traded it for a Charvel (of course)

That's the ugliest thing I've seen since I last looked in the mirror. Enjoy

Gibson copy of a Aria RS.. but with an Arabian's turned up shoe as a headstock.....

I think is cool, I like unusual guitars. The headstock is fugly though in my humble opinion.