New Re-Issue Gibson Victory

[Thatbastarddon]

I just came across this. It looks like a bit of fun, with its unique switching array. I even like the satin gold mist finish…a little. They mention that there is a gloss version with a maple cap…more $$.

 

[gball]

I think the headstock is a miss - they should have gone with the original quasi-firebird style. That said, I might have been interested in the Iguana Burst full-gloss version if they had one with a wang bar...

https://www.gibson.com/en-US/p/Electric-Guitar/Victory-Figured-Top/Iguana-Burst

...or maybe if the stoptail ones had rear-mounted controls. But as it is, I won't be opening my wallet.

 

[BFT Gibson]

I would we down with it.

 

[Thatbastarddon]

I think the headstock is a miss - they should have gone with the original quasi-firebird style. That said, I might have been interested in the Iguana Burst full-gloss version if they had one with a wang bar...

https://www.gibson.com/en-US/p/Electric-Guitar/Victory-Figured-Top/Iguana-Burst

...or maybe if the stoptail ones had rear-mounted controls. But as it is, I won't be opening my wallet.

Agreed re: the Firebird-esque headstock preference. The Explorer headstock would likely be less trem friendly.

The full gloss color for me would be the smokehouse burst…but I do actually like the non gloss gold mist too.

This guitar looks, to me, like the inspiration behind the PRS S2 Vela…Every time I see one of those, I think of the Gibson Victory of old.

 

[GrumpySquatch]

Looks OK to me.

I'd not have a 24 fret neck though. The neck pickup should be at that location for the magical harmonics.

 

[Amp Mad Scientist]

I just came across this. It looks like a bit of fun, with its unique switching array. I even like the satin gold mist finish…a little. They mention that there is a gloss version with a maple cap…more $$.

They stopped using maple and went with "mahogany."
That was a good decision. Maple is a very dead sounding wood. No sustain.

As far as "mahogany," we don't know what kind of wood it actually is.
But we do know true mahogany is illegal / endangered species.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

They stopped using maple and went with "mahogany."
That was a good decision. Maple is a very dead sounding wood. No sustain.

As far as "mahogany," we don't know what kind of wood it actually is.
But we do know true mahogany is illegal / endangered species.

Not true. Maple capped LPs have been around for decades, with no loss of sustain. I have 2 entirely maple guitars that do not lack any sort of acoustic sustain.

 

[DirtySteve]

They stopped using maple and went with "mahogany."
That was a good decision. Maple is a very dead sounding wood. No sustain.

As far as "mahogany," we don't know what kind of wood it actually is.
But we do know true mahogany is illegal / endangered species.

There was a time when I agreed with you about that and even said so a couple of times before.

BUT, last year I bought a 2021 LP Tribute with a maple neck. I have a Standard and a Traditional to compare it to and it's gotten to where I grab my Tribute most of the time because it sounds better and because of that it's a lot more fun to play. It sustains just as well or maybe even a little better than my other LPs and it's a lot livelier and louder unplugged. The only reason I don't officially call it my #1 is because the frets are a little small for me. I think I'm about to get it refretted with some taller frets and when I do I have no doubt it will be my favorite.

 

[gball]

Agreed re: the Firebird-esque headstock preference. The Explorer headstock would likely be less trem friendly.

The full gloss color for me would be the smokehouse burst…but I do actually like the non gloss gold mist too.

This guitar looks, to me, like the inspiration behind the PRS S2 Vela…Every time I see one of those, I think of the Gibson Victory of old.

What I thought when the Velas first came out.

There was a time when I agreed with you about that and even said so a couple of times before.

BUT, last year I bought a 2021 LP Tribute with a maple neck. I have a Standard and a Traditional to compare it to and it's gotten to where I grab my Tribute most of the time because it sounds better and because of that it's a lot more fun to play. It sustains just as well or maybe even a little better than my other LPs and it's a lot livelier and louder unplugged. The only reason I don't officially call it my #1 is because the frets are a little small for me. I think I'm about to get it refretted with some taller frets and when I do I have no doubt it will be my favorite.

The best sounding, best sustaining guitars I have ever owned are maple-necked Norlin era Les Pauls.

 

[DirtySteve]

The best sounding, best sustaining guitars I have ever owned are maple-necked Norlin era Les Pauls.

I'd love to find a 70s Deluxe for a good price, but I think Mike Ness bought them all. I wish the new 70s Deluxe came with a maple neck, but they don't and I think that's a shame.

 

[gball]

I'd love to find a 70s Deluxe for a good price, but I think Mike Ness bought them all. I wish the new 70s Deluxe came with a maple neck, but they don't and I think that's a shame.

I was so psyched when I learned they were reissuing the Deluxe, and disappointed in equal measure when I found out they didn't have maple necks. What a lost opportunity.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

I was so psyched when I learned they were reissuing the Deluxe, and disappointed in equal measure when I found out they didn't have maple necks. What a lost opportunity.

So would my 73 Deluxe have a maple neck? Just curious.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

I like that headstodk. Same as my explorer!

 

[DirtySteve]

So would my 73 Deluxe have a maple neck? Just curious.

I know they didn't all come with maple necks in the '70s, I don't know what years they did that, but I think it was later in the 70s. I do know that the '76 came with a maple neck, that's the one I want and goldtop to boot, it's my holy grail..

For '73 looks like they came with a 3 piece mahogany neck. Gibson Les Paul Deluxe, Cherry Sunburst (1973)

 

[fitz]

The best sounding, best sustaining guitars I have ever owned are maple-necked Norlin era Les Pauls.

I was so psyched when I learned they were reissuing the Deluxe, and disappointed in equal measure when I found out they didn't have maple necks. What a lost opportunity.

I have an '22 Deluxe RI with a mahogany neck.
Is there any science to a maple sustaining better?
Sounding better is subjective and could be attributed to many factors.
Just curious.

 

[RobinS]

The headstock is the best thing the Victory has.
Back in the days nobody wanted them, well a few as always.
I am not crazy about it and it is to pricey as almost all Gibsons these days.
I am a V guy so maybe it is just me.

Life is good,
Robin

 

[gball]

So would my 73 Deluxe have a maple neck? Just curious.

Hog. They went to the 3-piece maple around '74/'75. It's one of the reason why, when I am looking for Norlins, I always look for the late '70s ones. 1977-1979 Les Pauls are my favorite guitars ever made.

I have an '22 Deluxe RI with a mahogany neck.
Is there any science to a maple sustaining better?
Sounding better is subjective and could be attributed to many factors.
Just curious.

I'm sure there is no science to it. Or I guess I should say I would be shocked if there is. All I can say is that, anectodally, the maple-necked Les Pauls I have owned have been the best sounding, best sustaining and most stable of all. They have a note definition and separation that I have never heard from a hog neck and that makes them work so much better with high gain, IMO. They seem to resonate differently from the mahogany necks, in a snappy alive way like a Fender, and it seems like the hardness of the wood (again my perception) keeps the strings vibrating longer. And they almost never need the truss rod adjusted (I do my hog necks once or twice a year, maple once a decade), come out of the case in tune every time, hold tune every time, just utterly stable.

 

[BFT Gibson]

My 14 SGJ is the best guitar ever owned. Snappy - crisp - clear & raunchy when needed all on the knobs. Does just as well into M or F circuits, sometimes dont know why i play anything else. 50's rounded maple neck on that thing. It;s very easy to play & the 61 zebras have that lil top end zing but clean up clear with vol back

 

[67plexi]

I only have one Gibson guitar with a maple neck and body RD Standard ebony fret board does it sustain more than my other guitars
no both my Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Standards sustain well but so does my Flying Vee and Explorer Gibson's
and to top it off my 2010 PRS Custom 24 Artist rosewood neck is the sustain master out of all my guitars
next have a 2000 Gibson Les Paul Junior and a 2015 Gibson SG Derick Trucks both guitars suck sustain like wet cardboard
lesson never mail order guitars and expect a happy outcome

 

[Jethro Rocker]

Hog. They went to the 3-piece maple around '74/'75. It's one of the reason why, when I am looking for Norlins, I always look for the late '70s ones. 1977-1979 Les Pauls are my favorite guitars ever made.



I'm sure there is no science to it. Or I guess I should say I would be shocked if there is. All I can say is that, anectodally, the maple-necked Les Pauls I have owned have been the best sounding, best sustaining and most stable of all. They have a note definition and separation that I have never heard from a hog neck and that makes them work so much better with high gain, IMO. They seem to resonate differently from the mahogany necks, in a snappy alive way like a Fender, and it seems like the hardness of the wood (again my perception) keeps the strings vibrating longer. And they almost never need the truss rod adjusted (I do my hog necks once or twice a year, maple once a decade), come out of the case in tune every time, hold tune every time, just utterly stable.

Perhaps my 76 Custom has one. It doesn't really matter that much to me, I guess I am not too discerning. Set it n play it! I also have a 79 LP Artist.