Vigier Porn!

[walshy]

Im new to this type of pornography but I’ve just taken this one in a trade for my Alpher, only 2 months old and man it’s a corker. Just gotta learn to play a 5 properly. The build quality is mega and it sounds lovely too. 

[E sharp]

I much prefer the looks of the Passions like that , to the Arpeges overall.

I'm spent out for a while , but whenever one came up for sale , always every time coincided with me just buying something else .

[CookPassBabtridge]

@thodrik @MNY and @walshy I think I have your baby brother!

For me this bass really comes into its own in a mix - punchy, growly and articulate. Ridiculously comfortable to play and pretty much flawless finish.

I was thinking about replacing the chrome hardware with black, but then discovered that the ABM bridge is a proprietary Vigier design so decided against messing around drilling new holes etc.

I did originally want a matte sapphire finish but couldn't wait the 12 months for Mr. Vigier to build it! Am very happy with this one though, the deep deep blue looks great. 

Edited March 7, 2021 by CookPassBabtridge

[thodrik]

1 hour ago, CookPassBabtridge said:

@thodrik and @walshy I think I have your baby brother!

For me this bass really comes into its own in a mix - punchy, growly and articulate. Ridiculously comfortable to play and pretty much flawless finish.

I was thinking about replacing the chrome hardware with black, but then discovered that the ABM bridge is a proprietary Vigier design so decided against messing around drilling new holes etc.

I did originally want a matte sapphire finish but couldn't wait the 12 months for Mr. Vigier to build it! Am very happy with this one though, the deep deep blue looks great. 

Amazing looking bass! I really like that finish a lot. I really want a Passion as it is the only Vigier bass model I am missing.

In terms of the bridge, I was initially wary of the monorail bridge design on the Arpege compared to the solid hulk of metal on the Excess. However, in terms of functionality and sustain, the monorail bridge on the Arpege has been brilliant and I definitely wouldn’t change it.

[CookPassBabtridge]

1 hour ago, thodrik said:

Amazing looking bass! I really like that finish a lot. I really want a Passion as it is the only Vigier bass model I am missing.

In terms of the bridge, I was initially wary of the monorail bridge design on the Arpege compared to the solid hulk of metal on the Excess. However, in terms of functionality and sustain, the monorail bridge on the Arpege has been brilliant and I definitely wouldn’t change it.

Cheers! I agree, the monorail bridge is great.

I very nearly went for an Arpege but got the Passion in the end - Arpeges seem to be really rare and I liked liked the pickup position of the Passion. I’d love to know how an Arpege sounds though, the individual preamp for each pickup is a great idea. 

[thodrik]

9 hours ago, CookPassBabtridge said:

Cheers! I agree, the monorail bridge is great.

I very nearly went for an Arpege but got the Passion in the end - Arpeges seem to be really rare and I liked liked the pickup position of the Passion. I’d love to know how an Arpege sounds though, the individual preamp for each pickup is a great idea. 

I think that there is good degree of overlap between the Arpege and the Passion. 

The three band EQ per pickup on the Arpege does give a bit of option paralysis at times. It has taken my ten years to figure out my preferred settings!

I don't tend to use the Arpege as a traditional 'jazz bass' by running the pickup blend dead centre. It sounds great doing this, but in practice I prefer a more traditional 'Fendery' type bass for traditional J bass sounds (I have a Sadowsky for that). 

I use the pickup blend to slightly favour the rear pickup. I generally use the EQ system to add a bit of additional bass to the back pickup (but not the front pick to avoid too avoid a potential lack of definition), so that it sounds less like a single coil jazz pickup, but more like a big humbacker or dual JJ pickup you would find on a Warwick Thumb five string or a Stingray. In practice, I think I am actually trying to make the Arpege sound more like a Passion!

A black, satin finished 5 string Passion is on my 'wishlist' for sure. 

[CookPassBabtridge]

1 hour ago, thodrik said:

I think that there is good degree of overlap between the Arpege and the Passion. 

The three band EQ per pickup on the Arpege does give a bit of option paralysis at times. It has taken my ten years to figure out my preferred settings!

I don't tend to use the Arpege as a traditional 'jazz bass' by running the pickup blend dead centre. It sounds great doing this, but in practice I prefer a more traditional 'Fendery' type bass for traditional J bass sounds (I have a Sadowsky for that). 

I use the pickup blend to slightly favour the rear pickup. I generally use the EQ system to add a bit of additional bass to the back pickup (but not the front pick to avoid too avoid a potential lack of definition), so that it sounds less like a single coil jazz pickup, but more like a big humbacker or dual JJ pickup you would find on a Warwick Thumb five string or a Stingray. In practice, I think I am actually trying to make the Arpege sound more like a Passion!

A black, satin finished 5 string Passion is on my 'wishlist' for sure. 

Haha yeah, I’m sure I’d be the same if I had the Arpege, I find it hard enough with just a  normal 3-band EQ! At the moment I’m also favouring the rear pickup on my Passion slightly, with mids cranked up, bit of bass boost and bit of treble cut. 

That black finish does look tasty. There’s a grey finish too I think? That would also be very nice in satin.

[thodrik]

4 hours ago, CookPassBabtridge said:

Haha yeah, I’m sure I’d be the same if I had the Arpege, I find it hard enough with just a  normal 3-band EQ! At the moment I’m also favouring the rear pickup on my Passion slightly, with mids cranked up, bit of bass boost and bit of treble cut. 

That black finish does look tasty. There’s a grey finish too I think? That would also be very nice in satin.

I really like that finish. I really wanted that for the Arpege but when one in burgundy came up for sale I wasn't going to be choosy!

Honestly, if the pickup system in the Arpege was converted to a comparatively 'simple' three band EQ shared for both pick ups I don't think I would particularly mind. It is the neck shape and general fit and finish that impresses me more than the electronics, even though the electronics are great.

Edited March 8, 2021 by thodrik

[MNY]

On 02/03/2021 at 16:02, walshy said:

Im new to this type of pornography but I’ve just taken this one in a trade for my Alpher, only 2 months old and man it’s a corker. Just gotta learn to play a 5 properly. The build quality is mega and it sounds lovely too. 

Glad you like the new bass Paul. Unfortunately for me the experiment with 5 strings didn’t work but I now have a stunning Alpher Bass which I am enjoying.Assuming I can afford a 4 string Vigier at some point I won’t hesitate as they are very special basses for sure.

Edited March 9, 2021 by MNY

[wright/watt]

Is this worth a mention in the Vigier porn thread? My 89 Passion series 111, and my recently acquired 83 Arpege series1 Both are incredible instruments..Took abit of time to find an Arpege series1/11 funnily enough! Delighted to have this and quite possibly the best neck I have played on any bass, just amazing..Coming to terms now with how the electronics work.. Sounds great..In excellent condition,  Replacing the cracked back control plate, known Vigier problem..cutting out a bit of plastic to size no big deal..So this is the second Arpege  that I have owned..I had a series 1V..Wonderful bass all singing and dancing, the Glokenklang preamp..but I just feel the older through neck models have abit more in my humble opinion..This maybe nearly forty years old but still pretty groundbreaking in my eyes..Now what about a fretless.lol👍🤟😃

[ped]

Love it. Some indicator lines might help with the pre. The caps can be changed and must have been replaced with blank ones previously. I think the knobs are Sifam type, I'll see if I can dig out the details. Stunning bass!

[Hellzero]

2 hours ago, wright/watt said:

Now what about a fretless.lol👍🤟😃

Like this one :

[wright/watt]

1 hour ago, ped said:

Love it. Some indicator lines might help with the pre. The caps can be changed and must have been replaced with blank ones previously. I think the knobs are Sifam type, I'll see if I can dig out the details. Stunning bass!

Hi Ped,

Yes it is an out an out beauty and a joy to play..Yes the knobs are not the original but do work, any information on originals always good..thanks. Alan😃👍

[wright/watt]

9 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

Like this one :

Yes something like that would be the business!! Beautiful flame maple in the neck😃

[CookPassBabtridge]

4 hours ago, wright/watt said:

Is this worth a mention in the Vigier porn thread?

Yes, yes it is. Lovely basses!

[wright/watt]

4 hours ago, ped said:

Love it. Some indicator lines might help with the pre. The caps can be changed and must have been replaced with blank ones previously. I think the knobs are Sifam type, I'll see if I can dig out the details. Stunning bass!

Hi Ped..Thanks for the heads up Sifam control knobs..Have managed to order some..Good news👍😃

[Hellzero]

Or the carbon neck one :

[Hellzero]

Or the extraordinary Delta Metal one (I love metal fingerboard on fretless basses, check the Fretless Porn thread and my Le Fay Remington Steele 6 RHT CC CAP Big Block) :

[itu]

49 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

Or the extraordinary Delta Metal one...

Lovely! 1980 something? How are there fretlines?

[Hellzero]

Yep, exactly 1980 for the first Delta Metal fretless instrument...

The very early Delta Metal fretless models were "lined".

[Abjatar]

DAAAMN... absolutely worth mentioning...
you managed to snatch it up before me... Been looking for one as well... guess i have to keep looking.

Enjoy it!!!

 

On 14/03/2021 at 11:14, wright/watt said:

Is this worth a mention in the Vigier porn thread? My 89 Passion series 111, and my recently acquired 83 Arpege series1 Both are incredible instruments..Took abit of time to find an Arpege series1/11 funnily enough! Delighted to have this and quite possibly the best neck I have played on any bass, just amazing..Coming to terms now with how the electronics work.. Sounds great..In excellent condition,  Replacing the cracked back control plate, known Vigier problem..cutting out a bit of plastic to size no big deal..So this is the second Arpege  that I have owned..I had a series 1V..Wonderful bass all singing and dancing, the Glokenklang preamp..but I just feel the older through neck models have abit more in my humble opinion..This maybe nearly forty years old but still pretty groundbreaking in my eyes..Now what about a fretless.lol👍🤟😃

Edited March 15, 2021 by Abjatar

[Hellzero]

@Abjatar The wooden Arpège mentioned earlier is for sale in France right now (not sure it's an original fretless though, so could be refretted) :

https://www.leboncoin.fr/instruments_de_musique/1763994189.htm?ac=1839552155

[thodrik]

I really really wish that they would do a wooden walnut style finish of the modern Vigier basses. I would love a walnut finished Excess.

[wright/watt]

Hi Folks..

Recently picked this beauty up!!

A Vigier Passion 11  from early 1987..The Walnut body is truly stunning, In incredible condition for age. No major marks or dings. The neck is immaculate, preamp works just great..Very lucky to see the advert in gumtree! It had been used as Wall art for the last  four years!!

I have invested quite a lot of money and time in tracking down Vigier basses in the 12 years since owning my first one. An antique violin finish Passion custom 111, and it is  over thirty years since first playing one in the Basscentre, Really!!🙈 Tempus Fugit

Not every Vigier has worked out for me. I personally prefer the Passion Basses over the Arpege ones I have owned. Only played an Excess once, amazing necks on these. I can now say, having fortunately owned from a series 1 to a series lV Vigier bass. I am incredibly content..  All stunning basses! Though could not get my head around using a truss rod on a Vigier Arpege series 1 which I had recently, but quite possibly one of the best necks in bassdom!!  A series IV Arpege four string, also stunning with an amazing Glokenklang preamp, but in my humble opinion didn't have the class of the neck through basses. So I am stopping buying or selling Vigiers from now on..Having GAS can be bad, but having Vigier GAS can be expensive!!! 🙈

The series 11 has a slightly bigger body size than the series 111 Weight much the same.The neck profile on my series 111 very very slightly thinner than the 11, but playability wise I can not choose one over the other..If you are quick on the button when one comes up, take the chance..I think you will incredibly happy..👍😃

Should we ever be able to travel again there are four passion 11 basses listed for sale in France on www.leboncoin.fr 

[ped]

That’s a real beauty. Quite an early one with the wider horns and like you say bigger body with bridge mounted further up. I really like the angle around the body edges too. Such a striking grain pattern on that one that really suits the shape. Fantastique! I’ve been buying and advising people on all things Vigier for years and this has to be one of the nicest examples I’ve seen.