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Vigier Porn!


retroman

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 7 months later...

As promised, here comes:

Vigier Passion III, 5string,Serial #112, clear red, 1994, original parametric electronics, found in 2014 in Germany, sounds "bombastic", superb low B, very low string action, has some marks

Vigier Passion Custom III, 5string,Serial #241, clear midnight blue, 2004, original parametric electronics, excellent sound balance, a little more tamed as the 1994 , sounds more like the actual series IV, mint condition, found in Paris 2017, 4 weeks negotiations until I finally got it

Vigier Arpege 1995 III, 6string, Serial 021, burgundy, 2004, original 12positions ROM-Sound, off-phase swithc asf., excellent sound, very well balanced, excellent tone defintion, string action below 1mm at 24th fret for all strings, found in the Netherlands in 2017, one out of 27 total built, the only one in 1995

Edited by Sipuri
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Meanwhile I had contact with then master himself, Patrice Vigier, about some technical features. He recommended to me to also try the new Series IV, So I did, but the are quite different. Perfect in build quality, the best you can buy, excellent definition incl. the low B. The neck is fatter (which is a question of taste), the electronics are concentional 3-band (much easier to handle, may less vigierish...), the output vol is lower. But: also much heavier than the III Series, from 4.4kg upwards.
I did an extensive comparison between the Dingwall Lee Sklar (owned by a friend of mine), the actual Vigier Passion IV 5 and the1994er III Series shown above (it's been posted on bassic a while ago). For my taste, the old series III did best, Dingwall LS and Vigier IV very close at overall level, whereas I without any doubt would prefer the Vigier by different reasons. The comparison ended me sending back the Vigier IV 5 to the shop and my friend going away with his Dingwall and some thoughts about trying Vigier first before buying something else - at least in the relevant price area. But - like always - it is also a question of personal taste and being used to.

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[quote name='Sipuri' timestamp='1509459029' post='3399071']
Meanwhile I had contact with then master himself, Patrice Vigier, about some technical features. He recommended to me to also try the new Series IV, So I did, but the are quite different. Perfect in build quality, the best you can buy, excellent definition incl. the low B. The neck is fatter (which is a question of taste), the electronics are concentional 3-band (much easier to handle, may less vigierish...), the output vol is lower. But: also much heavier than the III Series, from 4.4kg upwards.
I did an extensive comparison between the Dingwall Lee Sklar (owned by a friend of mine), the actual Vigier Passion IV 5 and the1994er III Series shown above (it's been posted on bassic a while ago). For my taste, the old series III did best, Dingwall LS and Vigier IV very close at overall level, whereas I without any doubt would prefer the Vigier by different reasons. The comparison ended me sending back the Vigier IV 5 to the shop and my friend going away with his Dingwall and some thoughts about trying Vigier first before buying something else - at least in the relevant price area. But - like always - it is also a question of personal taste and being used to.
[/quote]

Nice basses! Have you ever tried a series 2?

I used to have a couple of series III instruments, a 5 string like yours and a fretless 4. I also liked the series IV but don't like the shame quite as much as the older ones; they look bit too 'modern' (rather than '80's modern') to me!

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[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1509460375' post='3399081']
Quite like the look of several Vigier basses. Would love to try one out. They look and sound fantastic.
I especially like the one with the 2 bridge style pick ups in black.

Dave
[/quote]

The ones with pickups right at the bridge are the Passion models. The ones with more spaced pickups are the Arpege models. They both have their own advantages, my advice is to get one of each ;)

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[quote name='ped' timestamp='1509469972' post='3399222']
Nice basses! Have you ever tried a series 2?

I used to have a couple of series III instruments, a 5 string like yours and a fretless 4. I also liked the series IV but don't like the shame quite as much as the older ones; they look bit too 'modern' (rather than '80's modern') to me!
[/quote]

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1509470024' post='3399225']
The ones with pickups right at the bridge are the Passion models. The ones with more spaced pickups are the Arpege models. They both have their own advantages, my advice is to get one of each ;)
[/quote]

Yeah, get one of each is a very good advice. I also had an Excess (5st), very good bass indeed, but not comparable. In my eyes it's not a Jazz and it's not a typical Vigier if you go for a Vigier.

I like the specific shape and the specific tone of the model III most. The Series II with full carbon neck is a very light weighted model, missing a little the warmth of the wood/carbon model and the feel of the carbon might not fit for everyone. Still a very good bass woth it's price. But in fact, thats the reason why I hesitate to grab for a Series II Passion Fretless Model (my dealer has one for sale). It does not have the delta metal fretboard which I would prefer also for a FL also. IMHO the Series III if you consider the value and the price it's a good very good choice.

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[quote name='Sipuri' timestamp='1509473209' post='3399264']
Yeah, get one of each is a very good advice. I also had an Excess (5st), very good bass indeed, but not comparable. In my eyes it's not a Jazz and it's not a typical Vigier if you go for a Vigier.

I like the specific shape and the specific tone of the model III most. The Series II with full carbon neck is a very light weighted model, missing a little the warmth of the wood/carbon model and the feel of the carbon might not fit for everyone. Still a very good bass woth it's price. But in fact, thats the reason why I hesitate to grab for a Series II Passion Fretless Model (my dealer has one for sale). It does not have the delta metal fretboard which I would prefer also for a FL also. IMHO the Series III if you consider the value and the price it's a good very good choice.
[/quote]

Yeah I liked the series III basses, but I found the necks had a little too much relief in them for me, I like them completely flat... I did actually see a Delta Metal Series II bass once, it was a Passion for sale at the Bass Centre Australia but I missed it. You can see it here http://www.imgrum.org/user/basscentre/233948073/1400249590800043275_233948073

I find the idea that graphite sounds cold a myth personally - I just find it gives a consistency that can't be beat but the series III has the best of both worlds!

I was pleased to find a fretless without the Delta Metal, though - whilst I really loved the sound and feel of it, fingerprints and discolouration drove me mad and I was forever polishing it! Sounds stupid I know.

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[quote name='ped' timestamp='1509470024' post='3399225']
The ones with pickups right at the bridge are the Passion models. The ones with more spaced pickups are the Arpege models. They both have their own advantages, my advice is to get one of each ;)
[/quote]

Chance would be a fine thing. Don't think my wife would be too pleased. :D

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[quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1509481328' post='3399347']
Last bass on the bucket list is a Vigier. This thread is not helping GAS,it's definitely not indigestion I'm feeling just now :lol:
[/quote]

Did you ever play one?
There's nothing which can compare, completely different from all I played before.
I played (at least tried) nearly most of all common brands, bought, sold...
In normal life I play Fender Jazz Basses (apart from some other brands) but Vigier is a completely different thing.
I use it in my Progressive Rock band.

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[quote name='marcblum' timestamp='1509526355' post='3399571']
[b]Vigier Arpege 6[/b]

SeNr 005
very lightweight
best neck profile of all 6stringers I ever played
great tone that works in all kinds of music

Due to heavy lacquer damage I had to refinish it. Too I didn't like the odd 12-preset-electronics and now I use it plain passive.





[/quote]

Took me a while to realise the bottom pic is before, and top is after! Love the refinish. Nice to have a really simple setup, too - I kind of went the other way with my 'customisations' but you can't beat the core natural sound of these basses.

I spoke to a friend who confirmed that there are in fact a few series 2 six string basses out there somewhere...

Incidentally, do you know what make the standard plastic knobs are on the bass. I bought some really similar ones by Sifam but they weren't quite right... all I know is they're 6mm collet type...

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[quote name='ped' timestamp='1509557663' post='3399918']Incidentally, do you know what make the standard plastic knobs are on the bass. I bought some really similar ones by Sifam but they weren't quite right... all I know is they're 6mm collet type...
[/quote] Sorry, I have no clue.

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  • 1 month later...
  • 5 weeks later...

I'll be getting my 5 string Excess hopefully early next month, when the the Vigier crew are all back from NAMM. I'll take a few snaps and post them up when I can.

Also, I'll be taking it along to the Guitar Show in Birmingham in Feb, it'll be on the Vigier stand along with their usual collection of awesomeness. We're also playing on the Saturday, I'm going to use the 5 string, and a 4 string Excess like Sifi2112's (but not modified - great looking bass by the way dude! :D what made you decide to make the mod? I'm guessing that's just volume left in there).
Also they've started to distribute Fuzzrocious in the UK and Ben's got a collection of them on his pedalboard that he'll be using for the gig, and he should have it kicking about at the stand as well. Sexy pedals!

Anyway, if anyone wants a tinker on my shiny spanky new bass, you're more than welcome!

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