Gibson Victory question

[Denis]

Are the pickups on the Standard the same as those used in the Thunderbirds?

[uwe]

No, one of a kind for the Standard. Never showed up in any other Gibson bass, even the pups in the Artist and Custom Victories were slightly different.

[Denis]

Really, Uwe? That's interesting, and maybe a pain!
I may be getting a Standard if things work out but it needs the pickup. What was different about that found on the Standard? Are they made of Unobtanium?

[uwe]

Go here son and Uncle Jules will tell all:

http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/Victory.php


That is not to say you would not be able to stick either TB Plus guitar humbucker size (though probably not in slanted fashion as they aren't long enough for the Vic's wide string spacing then I fear) or TB Plus soapies on a Victory. Gibson actually did the latter and had a prototype Victory Artist with TB Plus soapies, it was on Ebay a few years ago, I should have pulled the trigger on it ...  The TB Plus pups would undoubtedly sound even more aggressive on a Victory and be quite a bit louder than the original Victory pups.

Uwe

[Denis]

Hahaha, I was going to post that flyguitars website but figured you knew all about it! Hmm, "this could be an adventure" is what you're saying?

[uwe]

Jules is the prodigal son of this site. You know how these Anglicans are ... always renegading from the true faith if need be and polygamist necessities beckon ...

Jules, where are thou?

[Barklessdog]

Is this the Michigan Denis from days of yore?

[Denis]

Nay, 'tis another...

[Denis]

No, one of a kind for the Standard. Never showed up in any other Gibson bass, even the pups in the Artist and Custom Victories were slightly different.

I see what you mean now about the Standard having a different pickup.

http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/parts/pickup/

[uwe]

"Hmm, "this could be an adventure" is what you're saying?"

TB Plus soapbars will definitely be long enough to put in a slanted position and still capture all strings in full. They are wide enough for even a 5 string. Both the original Vic Standard pup and the TB Plus soapbar are approx. 3 1/2". In contrast the TB Plus guitar size humbucker (as seen on LP Standards, the Epi Elitist TB, the EB-650, the Doublecut/Money bass and probably in the future the Grabber II) is only 2 3/4", which will make it difficult to slant and capture all strings in full. That Vic Prototype I saw with the slanted TB Plus pup didn't look bad. Did I mention that I should have bought it then and there? 

[Denis]

"Hmm, "this could be an adventure" is what you're saying?"

TB Plus soapbars will definitely be long enough to put in a slanted position and still capture all strings in full. They are wide enough for even a 5 string. Both the original Vic Standard pup and the TB Plus soapbar are approx. 3 1/2". In contrast the TB Plus guitar size humbucker (as seen on LP Standards, the Epi Elitist TB, the EB-650, the Doublecut/Money bass and probably in the future the Grabber II) is only 2 3/4", which will make it difficult to slant and capture all strings in full. That Vic Prototype I saw with the slanted TB Plus pup didn't look bad. Did I mention that I should have bought it then and there? 

Hey, you should have bought it then and there... 
So these things are pretty hard to find then, huh? If this comes through and I end up with the bass and that pickup is there, is it something a good guitar shop can rebuild?

[uwe]

It won't be a large operation. I'm not even sure whether the pickguard pup routing needs to be enlarged. TB Plus soapbars are prevalent on Ebay.

[Denis]

Well, it happened! A good friend bribed me into helping put his cafe'd out Honda CB750 back together by giving me his Victory Standard. It's a red one with an original case and in pretty decent shape. I'm going to have it checked out a shop to see what it needs; hopefully the pickup is okay. I'm looking forward to trying it out once it gets sorted. Whoo hoo!

[uwe]

It will probaly need neck shimming (at least my four Victories all did; the Q-80 with its maho body however not). The body routing for the neck is a bit generous and as the maple both in neck and body dries and shrinks over time you get get an unfavorable angle for good action at the higher frets. It's no big thing, unscrew the neck, slip a piece of cardboard, plastic or wood between neck and cavity which will raise the neck ever so slightly and you're all set again.

Other than that, Victories don't have issues.

BTW: Congrats! It's been a while since someone opted for a Victory in this geriatric forum where back problems are all too prevalent!

Uwe

[Denis]

Thanks for the great info, Uwe! The bass has been stored in an unheated garage for sometime, so odds are shimming will be a necessity. How thick a shim would need to be?
The bass, uh, sure does have some heft to it... Playing the Ripper has drilled home that I need to start lifting weights again, so that will be a help with the Victory as well!

Any idea how many Victories Gibson produced in those few years?