Vigier Guitars

I've been looking at pictures of the GV Wood online.  I noticed that some have GV carved into the headstock and some do not.  Why is that?

I believe that the reason for this is that the original first run of GV's that went to the NAMM show were kind of prototypes. Up until recently I believe, the photographs on the Vigier site were of those original run of GV guitars. I think in builds since then they've affixed the GV signature emblem (which if I remember is made of metal itself), which you can now see on the newer photos (which I'm assuming they're going to eventually replace all the photos with).Doesn't affect the sound, but sure looks cool -Jeremy

Thanks for the quick response.  Most of the pictures I've seen are GVs that are for sale at different guitar shops via eBay etc...Is it safe to assume these are early units (possibly protos)?

It's not likely they're prototypes per se, but definitely earlier ones. The first ones I've seen with the signature were at NAMM this year, but I don't know if they were around before that. I'm sure Patrice or Ben will respond soon and confirm either way.-Jeremy

Jeremy you are indeed correct, the first GV's previewed at NAMM 2009 did not have the 'GV logo' and were prototypes. We made a few tweaks after this NAMM show and the very first run followed middle to late 2009, the logo was still not present and introduced to the GV range late in 2009. Special note - if you have a GV without this you can identify that it was of the very first to be crafted, from around the end of 2009 the GVs started to feature the metal 'GV logo' fixed to the headstock (see pictures from NAMM 2010).

Thanks Ben & Jeremy for the responses!Ben:  Can you share any specifics regarding the tweaks?  I'm seriously considering picking up a GV Wood, but would like to know what I might be missing if I were to get one of the earlier builds.

The 'tweaks' I talk about were with the prototypes shown at the NAMM 2009 show - these prototypes were not sold to the public. Some of the tweaks were as follows; the slope and size of the bridge - to be more specific... the slope was reversed from those shown at the NAMM show and those that went to dealers. Also the bridge is now a few mm wider than on those first shown at NAMM 2009. We had some GV's with dots on the fretboard and some without - once in production we went with the overwhelming opinion that without dots was preferred. Also one of the G.V.Wood's had a Rosewood fingerboard not the Phenowood as on production. Also on these prototypes we used standard machineheads not the locking machineheads found on those sold sent to dealers.As a customer the only difference between the early models and those that are in production now is the addition of the GV logo - the prototypes shown at NAMM 2009 were not available for the public..