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The Victory Standard was in the Gibson line for six years, with production starting in the spring of 1981 and the first basses ready early that summer. This was the first bass model produced exclusively at Gibson's second plant, Nashville. Two finish options were available in '81, Candy Apple Red as shown here, and Silver. Candy Apple Red is a metallic finish, produced by applying a translucent Red finish over a gold undercoat.
The majority of Victory production was in the second half of 1981, and Candy Apple Red was the most produced colour; this really is a typical example of the Victory Standard.
Dating is easy; as well as the serial number stamped on the back of the headstock, this example has four date stamps internally: on the neck heel, neck pocket, and reverse side of the pickups - see pics below - representing different stages of the instruments construction. All are September to October 1981. The serial number 82991604 can be decoded in the following way: this bass was stamped on the 26th October 1981 (day 299). 604 tells us it was the 104th instrument stamped at the Gibson Nashville plant that day - read more about Gibson bass serial numbers here.
This is a large bass, with an overall length of 47", and being maple throughout makes it very heavy - obviously there is variation from bass to bass, but this one weighs in at 5.16kg!
Gibson Victory Standard scratchplate differed from the Artist and Custom quite significantly (see an Artist scratchplate here): not only were they different in shape, but the Standard featured a single centred pickup, rather than one at the neck and one at the bridge. The guard itself is five-ply black and white (b-w-b-w-b); see the template here.
The Standard pickup was a series VIIIB humbucker; a range of pickups created by Tim Shaw especially for the Victory bass series, and used in no other Gibson guitars. The pickup is scratchplate-mounted via three spring-loaded height adjustment bolts.
The TRI-4 wedge bridge was produced for Gibson by Schaller in Germany, and was another great functional improvement over bass bridge designs used previously by Gibson. It offered greater levels of adjustability, that were vastly simpler to achieve. Similar designs are still widely used today.
The butt of the neck is angled around 50° (parallel to the pickup) from the main axis of the guitar, allowing it to extend slightly further into the body on two-pickup models (Victory Artist and Custom) without pushing the pickup back towards the bridge. This allows a full two-octave neck, though the final two partial frets are only accessible on the top three and two strings respectively.
Pearl position markers on the rosewood fretboard are offset towards the low-E string, with a double dot at the twelfth fret as shown here.
The controls of the Victory Standard are simple: a volume and tone potentiometer and a two-way series/parallel switch; this allows the pickup to operate in standard humbucking mode, or as a single-coil unit. Speed knobs numbered 0-10 (unlike the Victory Artist).
The 24 fret neck joins the body at the 16th fret. As highlighted in Gibson literature pertaining to this bass here, the extra long neck joint means more sustain. The neck contour is "neither flat nor curved but carved on a 55 degree ellipse".
The Victory headstock took it's styling from a Gibson classic, the Thunderbird, although it was also designed with tuning keys positioned for an absolutely straight pull on the strings. This example has the words 'Gibson Victory' silk-screened onto the headstock, rather than the full 'Gibson Victory Bass' applied to the majority of basses (compare with this Victory Standard).
The truss rod cover, like that of the Thunderbird is oversized, but is otherwise quite unique with it's rounded-triangle shape. It is two-ply black/white with scripted model designation.
The truss rod is typical of the majority of Gibson bass guitars, adjusting at the headstock end of the neck with a 5/16" hex nut. Note the plastic nut - the stock part for early examples of the Standard. Later Standards typically had a brass nut, in line with the Artist and Custom. Neck width at the nut is 1.6875".
The headstock is angled 14° backward for 'maximum desired string down pressure across the string nut'. Chrome-plated Gotah open gear tuning keys are engraved Gibson. The three pieces of maple that constitute this neck are clearly visible.
The Victory bass reverse view. Backs of necks are typically clear coated on Silver and Candy Apple Red finished instruments (but not on Ebony or Antique Gold). The buckle-wear on the back of the bass reveals the maple body wood.
The strap button detail. Diamond-shaped 'Posi-Lok' strap buttons were fitted as standard to all models in the Gibson Victory series, both basses and guitars.
The neck is attached to the body via four 1 3/4" neck bolts - not screws as previously employed on the Grabber and G-3 (the only other bolt-on neck models). The neck plate has a Gibson logo and is marked 'MADE IN USA'.
The neck-pocket has several markings, including (although difficult to see in this image) the date Sept 25th 1981 under the finish. In fact it can only clearly be seen in areas where the finish has been damaged. The white paper circles started out covering the bolt-holes on the neck; compare with the next image - the clearcoat was applied with these in place, leaving the corresponding unfinished circle around each hole.
The base of the bolt-on neck, like the neck-pocket has several markings, stamps and initials, including the date Oct 23rd 1981 - three days before the serial number stamp date at the other end of the neck, and almost a month later than the equivalent stamp in the neck pocket of the body. Note the four neck attachment holes have metal inserts to allow attachment via bolts rather than woodscrews.
The wiring loom is, with the exception of the two-way switch the same as the Gibson Grabber. Both used the same CTS-made short shaft potentiometers, i.e. 300KΩ volume, part 70031 and 100KΩ tone, part 70033. This loom (or it's constituent parts) might well have been used on a Grabber; these older pots are dated 1977 and 1979.
This short clip shows this 1981 Victory Standard bass played through a reissue Marshall 20w JMP Lead and Bass, model Marshall 2061X - a great combination! Recorded with an Electrovoice RE-20 (left channel) and Shure SM57 (right), through a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface - all highly recommended gear!
Subscribe to our youtube channel for more vintage guitar and bass demos. Also, check out the longer, high definition demo of this guitar/amp here
Gibson Victory bass for sale
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This a killer bass and a total P bass killer. Gibson released these to compete with the p bass and they are far, far, better quality. Mahogany body, Mable neck, brass nut, active and passive humbuckers with MOOG electronics! All original with the original case. The original case is pretty beat up with a buckle replaced but still road Worthy. Original paperwork still with it. The guitar is set up to play easy with a low action and great sound. One bridge saddle is missing the riser but works ... more
This bass has been heavily played but it's almost all original. The only non-original items I can find are the pickguard screws and strap buttons. There are lots of nicks, dings, and paint chips on the body. There is a lot of belt buckle wear. There's pitting on the bridge. The frets and fingerboard are in surprisingly nice shape. The action is good for a vintage bass. Pots date 1378046 and 1377??? (can't read last 3 digits) There is heavy checking, some loss of the finish, and some delamination... more
Saint Petersburg, Florida, 337**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1750
GIBSON VICTORY STANDARD BASS GUITAR - Serial # 81831614 - 1981 - Monday July 2nd - Nashville TN - Production # 614, beautiful original guitar, professional players guitar, the case was made by Quest https: / / authorityguitar com / gibson-serial-number-lookup-decoder /
Early eighties Gotoh tuners part number 14102. Gibson used these on the Victory Standard and Victory Artist basses from 1981, and occasionally the Victory Custom later in 1982 Hard to find, very rare and no longer produced Very good condition, see pictures Price for one tuner, available 4 tuners Private auction, non guarantee European bidders please email me for postage costs ... more
1981 Gibson Victory Bass with Thunderbird headstock and a USA Kahler bass tremolo system in a stunning natural finish. This is simply the coolest bass guitar we have ever had at the studio. This is a rare model that looks epic, sounds epic and plays amazingly well! Very rare to get an 80's bass with a Kahler tremolo. The few we've ever had have sold instantly, as these systems are valuable and highly sought after. The Thunderbird headstock looks so cool, and you can't go wrong with a name like ... more
