So, is the EB (2013-14) officially discontinued?

[dadagoboi]

I never said a bad thing about Victories! I was attracted by their look right from the start and own a Standard, Custom and Artist as well as another fretless Standard. I think they sound fine, the necks are indestructible and I find their heaviness reassuring.

There is no such thing as a heavy TBird as long as it features the glued in wings. All through the ages the wings have been around 3" thick, a little less at the thin parts, a little more at the thick ones. Anybody who hasn't played a TBird is surprised about how light it is considering its size.

3 inches is approx. 77mm...you sure about that?

[leftybass]

I love my EB13, and mine is extremely light. I still wanna replace the 'guard tho', the glued-on knobs are a drag.

[gearHed289]

Too bad about the EB. I haven't played one, but it seems like a fine bass on paper. If I were looking for a 5 string, I would consider one.

[dadagoboi]

...I still wanna replace the 'guard tho', the glued-on knobs are a drag.

Would you rather they came off every time you pulled on them?

Seems little enough a sacrifice to carefully cut them off and replace with set screw equipped knobs when you get a new 'guard.

[uwe]

3 inches is approx. 77mm...you sure about that?

All through the ages the wings have been around 3" 

1 1/4" thick,
a little less at the thin parts, a little more at the thick ones. Anybody who hasn't played a TBird is surprised about how light it is considering its size.

[veebass]

I never said a bad thing about Victories! I was attracted by their look right from the start and own a Standard, Custom and Artist as well as another fretless Standard. I think they sound fine, the necks are indestructible and I find their heaviness reassuring.

I know you didn't. 

[uwe]

I saw this pic on the back of a music magazine around 1981 and was immediately hooked:



Years later, I played one in a shop in 48th Street in NYC and immediately liked its feel and sound. Torn between it, a checkerboard binding black Ric and a Kubicki Factor, I went for the Factor (it was 1988, so I'm excused!).

I finally made amends on my Victory-less fate in 2003!

[veebass]

All through the ages the wings have been around 3" 

1 1/4" thick,
a little less at the thin parts, a little more at the thick ones. Anybody who hasn't played a TBird is surprised about how light it is considering its size.

Thanks. I agree TBirds are surprisingly light.
I wasn't sure about the 70s TBirds, as I haven't beheld one in person. .
Where I was going with this was to try and make sense of the very thick bodies on the RD and Victory Basses. With a thinner, lighter body the RD bass would expected to be pretty poorly balanced, particularly with a heavier neck than the TBird and that the neck in the RD seems to be shifted about one and a half frets further out of the body at the heal away from the bridge end compared to my TBird.
With an upper bout to attach a strap pin to, The Victory shouldn't have an inherent balance issue. I suspect they just went with the same body thickness as the P Bass for that one.

[Highlander]

Once I put my RD Artist back together, with all the electronics, slung out and only one working pup, and the section of fin slimmed down, I'll advise re balance and neck-dive... being honest, I don't recall much dive...?

[veebass]

Once I put my RD Artist back together, with all the electronics, slung out and only one working pup, and the section of fin slimmed down, I'll advise re balance and neck-dive... being honest, I don't recall much dive...?

That's my point. They don't dive much, but if they had made them with a lighter body (to cut weight) they probably would have.
Love to see your RD back together.

[uwe]

The Victory would have had balancing issues with a lighter body:

- it had a double octave neck,

- not set that deep into the body for better access,

- but even more importantly: it had extra steel rods in its neck (in addition to the truss rod) to stabilize the neck. That is why those Victory necks are so incredibly sturdy and stiff (without being overtly fat). You also notice it in sound. A P-Bass is livelier, its neck resonates more, Victories sound kind of deadish (or "focused" if that is your preference), because the neck doesn't really move at all.

[Grog]

I played an EB five string again last Tuesday, for about an hour. I'm still not ready to give up the Hobbit for a five string, but I like the bass. It does seem to have a bit of neck dive though. He picked it up used for a great price. The case was nice too..............

[Dave W]

Don't kid yourself, you're not going to give up the Hobbit.

[Grog]

With about 15 other Gibson basses to choose from, the Hobbit still seems to be my main squeeze................. (sorry 20/20)