Excalibur Indus - Stainless Frets?

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drimacdaddy
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27 Jun 2019 00:41

I purchased an Excalibur Indus about a year ago, Serial#  100206  .  According to what I've read on the forums, the guitar was produced in 2010, however, it appears to have stainless frets.  I was under the impression that stainless frets were not standard until 2011.


Am I interpreting the serial number incorrectly, or did the Indus come with stainless frets prior to 2011?


 


Thanks

mparada
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05 Jul 2019 06:21

I'd like to piggyback on this question! I have a 2009 Indus and was also wondering if the frets are SS. Another question is what kind of tremolo it has? I'm assuming it is something before the 2011 tremolo (if the 2011 was indeed launched in 2011...) I also have no pickup covers but I bought the guitar used, so I'm not sure if it ever had one. Can anyone clarify?

drimacdaddy
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05 Jul 2019 13:22

Hi, mparada.  Just searching around, I came across a photo of a 2009 Indus.  Compared to my 2010 Indus, the tremolos look identical (see attachment...2009 on the left, 2010 on the right).  In regards to the pickup covers, it is likely that the pickups on your guitar were replaced.  From what i've seen, the Indus has only ever come with the Dimarzio PAF Classic, which is covered with one set of pole pieces exposed.  I replaced my PAF Classics with Lace Sensors.  It is quite easily done.

Ben
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31 Jul 2019 09:53

For the SS frets, yes, this was 2011, it is possible some guitars in 2010 were * with SS frets. The only way to truly tell is by looking at them - Vigier does not have a record exactly which are/are not. FYI Nickel tends to tarnish more and can get that 'greenish' tint. Stainless Steel will have far less wear / scratching and polish up to a higher shine than Nickel (the metals look different).

 

For the Tremolo's it is not based on the years…basically, if the tremolo has the thinner arm it is the 2010 tremolo. The 2011 tremolo came into being on Vigier around 2008 and features the thicker (Floyd Rose) sized arm.

 

For your p/up's, The Indus was (mostly) shipped with a Pair of (covered) DiMarzio PAFF Classics - they are absolutely sweet for this model IMO (the Indus was also my first Vigier) - but it is possible some may have been special builds with customers own pickups.

drimacdaddy
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31 Jul 2019 10:46

Hi, Ben.  Thanks for getting back.  Apparently, Vigier started with SS frets a bit earlier than 2011 on the Indus.  Notice in the photo, bright and shiny, no oxidation to be found anywhere on the fretboard...not even the places I don't frequent.

Ben
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01 Aug 2019 09:32

Nice…yes, they look like SS frets.

Indeed, as stated, we did start using SS frets sometime in 2010, certainly everything in 2011 has SS frets.

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