I read that Vigier began using stainless steel frets in 2011 but what would the serial number range be on the GV Wood?
From what serial number (approx.) did Vigier use stainless steel frets on GV Wood?
As far as I know, they've always used stainless steel frets on the GV Wood. Owned something like the 22nd one built, according to Patrice (it had no serial #), and it had stainless steel frets. Wish I could have kept it. Nicest guitar I've ever owned. However, my dream guitar is a late 80s Arpege guitar. Have the original brochure, and US dealer price list, from 1988 when I thought I might be able to buy one. Never happened, but thought it might be fun to scan them and post them here some time.
Axe * wrote:As far as I know, they've always used stainless steel frets on the GV Wood. Owned something like the 22nd one built, according to Patrice (it had no serial #), and it had stainless steel frets. Wish I could have kept it. Nicest guitar I've ever owned. However, my dream guitar is a late 80s Arpege guitar. Have the original brochure, and US dealer price list, from 1988 when I thought I might be able to buy one. Never happened, but thought it might be fun to scan them and post them here some time.
G.V.'s are all SS frets as stated above. If you find a Mahogany one it is very rare, the first runs did not have serial numbers on them...
We have just 4 80's Passion historic builds in the pipeline (bodies are from 1983, new electrics/hardware), all snapped up by UK dealers, if you want a piece of very rare Vigier history-meets present, be very, VERY quick to contact the dealers; http://vigier.co.uk/index.php/dealers/
Thanks for the reply Ben! Can you clarify more on these Passion instruments? Are they guitars or basses? Do they have the 100% carbon fiber neck like they did back in that timeframe, or are they 10/90? When I go to each of these UK dealer sites I don't see them? Maybe they're not posted yet?
Yes, they are Passion guitars, actually they feature neck-thru construction (as bodies are from 1983), with a match of new features, hardware and electrics. The only 2 dealers that will receive them are World Guitars and Wildwire (2 a piece each) - they are not online as they have no images (guitars still in-build), also could be pre-sold - to avoid disappointment contact them asap.
I see that World Guitars is teasing the Passion models that you mentioned. Nice. However, I also see something very interesting in the picture on the headstock. A truss rod cover? Will these guitars have a truss rod? I suspect not, but can't explain any other reason for a truss rod cover. The originals wouldn't have had a truss rod that I recall. It would have been 100% carbon neck through, or later 10/90 neck through. Not sure if there was a 1st gen Passion like the Arpege that had the metal reinforcement board. Hmmm...interesting. Now that I look at the Vigier Wiki the Arpege from 1980 has a truss rod cover. Would this be the construction mentioned in the first bullet in the Wiki:
"Neck-through construction with a trapezoidal extension"
Glad to see it has the period correct head stock (that PRS sort of copied later). That said, the GV headstock might have been better functionally as it lines the strings up at less of an angle to the nut, especially at strings 3 and 4, and is still a nod to the original headstock design. So...are all these guitars Passions, or might there be some 83 vintage Arpege guitar bodies too?
Hello!
Yes, the only 4 in the world are coming to both Wildwire and World Guitars.
The guitars are most defiantly neck-thru construction w/truss rod - these are not new builds, the body/neck-thru etc was completed in 1983 - and since then just 5 of them (4 available to sell in the world) have been naturally dried in the Vigier factory.
It was during my visit last year that the conversation with Patrice to 'complete the build' came about. The difference is they are new spec too - pick/ups electrics, so a real hybrid of an extremely rare first run Passion I guitar built in 1983, completed in 2018 with new electrics - something very, very rare and oh so unique. As these were the last ever bodies from the era, there will be no others like this to follow. A true collectors piece indeed. There will be 4 extremely luck players in the world very soon!
As for the headstock, it is period correct as this was crafted in 1983!
Thanks Ben for clarifying things. Sounds like these will be unique, very cool, and very collectable, which also means they will likely command a premium price :(. We'll see. I've been looking for a used Arpege II guitar for more than 10 years on the used market and had only found one in that time, on which I bid on too late. Still looking...someday, maybe I'll find one. I suspect these will be priced out of range for me, but cool that you convinced Patrice to build them. Maybe the Arpege guitar will be re-issued someday?