Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of the Laptop Sessions! Chris Moore and I got together to record our duo version of “Nights in White Satin” by The Moody Blues — watch the video here.
About “Nights in White Satin”
Written by Justin Hayward, “Nights in White Satin” first appeared on the Moody Blues’ landmark 1967 album Days of Future Passed. Reissued as a single in 1972, it climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the band’s signature song, famous for its sweeping orchestration and dreamlike mood.
Taking on a song this iconic as a duo was a real honor — there’s no orchestra here, just Chris and me, so we leaned into the melody and the mood that make the song so timeless. I hope our version does it justice.
Ted McCarty sketched the Theodore in 1957 and the drawing was lost to time until Gibson made the guitars; Gibson made 318 in total, in red, Natural and black.
Mine is Prototype #1, the first Theodore ever made in Ebony. In the video I put it side by side with the production Natural, still Custom Shop built, and ask: is there actually a difference?
Same design, same P-90 pickups: alder body with the walnut center stripe, chunky mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard, top-wrap bridge, aged knobs and amber switch tip.
The video runs through the story, the specs, how I found Prototype #1, and final thoughts on playability and fretwork.
The short answer: put side by side, they’re essentially the same guitar — they feel exactly the same, the production neck might be slightly thicker, and the only difference I could see is the prototype’s strap-button test hole. It plays great and lightweight, and the fretwork is immaculate.
Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of the Laptop Sessions! Chris Moore and I got together to record our duo version of “Don’t Do Me Like That” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers — watch the video here.
About “Don’t Do Me Like That”
From 1979’s Damn the Torpedoes, “Don’t Do Me Like That” gave Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers their first Top 10 hit, peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s one of Petty’s most enduring rockers, built on that unmistakable chugging guitar riff.
Chris and I love playing this one — it’s pure Petty, all drive and attitude. We kept our duo version lean and rocking, the way the song deserves. Hope you dig it!
This is a hands-on review and video demo of my 1981 Gibson Victory MVX — Gibson’s early-’80s answer to the superstrat, in its original Candy Apple Red finish. In this post, you’ll learn the story behind this forgotten Gibson, how its MVX switching system delivers 10 distinct pickup sounds, hear how it sounds in the full video demo, and get my honest take on it.
About the Gibson Victory MVX
Hello and welcome to another edition of the Guitar Bucket List! Today, we feature my 1981 Gibson Victory MVX. In the early ’80s, superstrats were everywhere, and the Victory MVX was Gibson’s answer — a guitar built to cover a lot more ground than a traditional Gibson. Mine is a 1981, still in its original Candy Apple Red finish, and it’s a great example of Gibson trying something genuinely different. Make sure to check out the video below to hear how this Victory MVX sounds and to hear all 10 of its pickup sounds for yourself.
Watch the video demo
Specs & details
Model: Gibson Victory MVX
Year: 1981
Finish: Candy Apple Red (original)
Switching: MVX system — 10 distinct pickup sounds
The headline feature here is the MVX switching system. This guitar was designed from the start to be versatile — one instrument that could handle the wide range of sounds players were asking for in the early ’80s, without giving up what makes a Gibson a Gibson.
How the switching works: the 10 sounds
Most guitars give you a handful of pickup combinations. The Victory MVX’s switching system goes further, giving me 10 distinct pickup sounds to work with. In the video, I go through them one at a time so you can hear how much the character of the guitar changes from one setting to the next — some are bright and clear, others are thick and full, and there’s a lot in between. It’s the kind of flexibility superstrat players expected, in a guitar with Gibson on the headstock.
Playing impressions
What I enjoy most about this guitar is that I don’t have to put it down and grab another one when the song changes. With 10 sounds on tap, I can go from clean, chiming chords to a fatter lead tone right on the guitar. It still feels like a Gibson when I play it, but it covers ground that my other Gibsons simply don’t.
The verdict
The Victory MVX never became one of Gibson’s famous models, and I think that’s a shame. It’s an honest, well-thought-out guitar from a period when Gibson was willing to experiment. If you like Gibsons but want the versatility of a superstrat, this is one worth knowing about — and my 1981 in Candy Apple Red is a keeper.
Cover Songs & Original Music Videos By Laptop Sessions Songwriters
The Laptop Sessions music video blog is a great combination of acoustic cover songs and original music. This website features cover songs from many of rock music's greatest bands, including the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and Bob Dylan. The blog archives hundreds of acoustic cover videos, how-to videos, and articles about music.We only play the best cover songs from the best rock bands of all time.
Here at the Laptop Sessions, we don't just sit down and do a bunch of cover songs- we make them our own. Yes, each cover will sound like the original, but it will also have a new, fresh sound to it. One of our specialties is taking a song from say the eighties and stripping-away the production. Then, we're left with just the song- simple (and most times, much better). We then record an acoustic version of that song and put it on this music video blog for all music fans to watch.
But, Laptop Sessions Music Blog is much more than just videos. There are informative blog posts, including the chords and lyrics to your favorite songs, recording tips, and much more. Plus, you can buy Jim Fusco's original songs right here on the music blog!
Right from the start, the Laptop Sessions Acoustic Cover Songs & Music Video Blog set out to be different. We wanted to give the best music blog for the world to enjoy. We wanted to put an end to bad YouTube cover videos forever. We wanted to bring great rock music back to the forefront with our great cover songs and original music. And, we guarantee we'll keep it this way- free videos in the archive for your musical enjoyment. If you're looking for the best cover songs, the most exciting new music, and the most informative music articles, look no further than right here: home of the world-famous Laptop Sessions.
