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.
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.
This post is the partner to my video about a nerve-wracking little mod on my Epiphone B.B. King Lucille: I drilled out the stock fretboard inlays and replaced them with real mother-of-pearl. In the 13-minute video below, you can watch the full mod, step by step, and see the finished fretboard.
Why do this?
The short answer is that I wanted real pearl in my Lucille. The stock inlays were perfectly fine — straight, functional, nothing wrong with them. But a Lucille with real mother-of-pearl inlays is a beautiful thing, and I kept picturing how much nicer the fretboard would look with genuine pearl catching the light. There was no tonal reason and no playability reason. This was purely cosmetic, purely because I wanted it. That is the whole truth of it.
Watch the video demo
The process
First I drilled out one of the stock inlays. That is the point of no return — once the first inlay is out, you are committed, and there is no putting things back the way they were. After that, the rest of the inlays had to come out too. The new mother-of-pearl inlays then had to be radiused to match the curve of the fretboard so they would sit flush. I glued them in with fish glue, cleaned everything up, and that was it — a whole new look for the fretboard.
The result
The finished fretboard looks great. Real pearl has a depth and shimmer the stock inlays did not have, and it suits the Lucille. It was scary drilling into a perfectly good neck, and if you do not like that kind of risk, that is a fair reason to leave yours alone. But I am happy I did it — and with steady hands and some patience, it is a mod I would do again.
The Epiphone Wildkat Royale in Black Pearl is a truly impressive guitar, offering a lot of vintage vibe and fantastic tone for the money. Its semi-hollow resonance and snarling P-90 pickups make it a standout for players who want something a little different with a whole lot of character.
Wildkat design and feel
This guitar just oozes cool, from the unique body shape to the classy binding and that gorgeous, shimmering black paint job. The semi-hollow construction gives it a lovely resonance and sustain that you don’t always find in solid-body guitars. The neck profile is comfortable, and the action was nice and low right out of the box, making it a joy to play.
P-90 pickup sounds
The real magic of the Wildkat lies in its P-90 pickups. These things are just fantastic, delivering a thick, punchy tone with plenty of growl when you dig in, but also cleaning up beautifully for more articulate and chimey sounds.
Clean and driven demo
In the video, I ran through a range of tones, from bluesy riffs to rockabilly twang and even some more overdriven rock sounds, just to showcase the versatility of these pickups. I really wanted to demonstrate how well the Wildkat can handle different musical styles, proving it’s not just a pretty face.
Who this guitar suits
If you’re looking for something a little different with a whole lot of character — and a guitar that moves from bluesy riffs to rockabilly twang to overdriven rock — the Wildkat deserves a spot on your list. I always try to give an honest and practical assessment, so I’ve pointed out both the strengths and any minor quirks of the instrument in the video.
Final take
Overall, the Epiphone Wildkat Royale Black Pearl is a truly impressive guitar, offering a lot of vintage vibe and fantastic tone for the money. Watch the Epiphone Wildkat demo to hear it in action, and Explore Jim Fusco’s albums.
This is one of the many archive pages of rock music bands and posts that the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover songs blog covers on a daily basis. Make sure to go through our many categories of cover songs arranged by artist on the left-hand side of the page. Also, read or many music reviews and informative music articles. There's always something new here at the Laptop Sessions including new music, indie music, and songwriters playing original songs, so take a look around and become an instant fan!
