Tested: Vigier Guitars (100+ Hours Review)
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- Опубліковано 28 чер 2024
- I explain what makes the Vigier Excalibur Indus a unique guitar and I compare it to the Vigier GV Wood.
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0:00 Intro
0:49 What's your dream guitar?
1:01 Price and Purpose of Video
1:40 My thoughts on the price of guitars
2:02 Headstock, Tuners, Special String Trees
3:02 String Dampener
3:16 Nut & Zero Frets
5:38 Nut Issues
6:50 Neck
10:40 Important Rant about Frets
12:20 Fret Test
14:29 Fret Measurements (Help us in the comments!)
14:44 Bolt-on Neck Design
17:17 Body & Haters
18:15 Replacement Pickguards
18:40 Electronics
19:36 Pickup demo
23:04 Whoops
23:13 Whammy Bar Info
24:28 Whammy Bar Normal Usage
25:27 Whammy Bar Torture Test
28:26 Special Output Jack
28:51 Even the Strap Pins are Special
29:12 Nice Gig Bag
29:19 Why I'm selling & Way too much personal info
31:28 The GV Wood Model Comparison
32:30 GV Wood Price & What Happened to it
32:59 Excalibur Special Model
33:25 For the SUPER guitar Nerds (Building a Dream Vigier)
35:33 Who Should & Shouldn't Buy This Guitar
38:09 Vigier Vs Parker
So I assemble and set up guitars for Xotic (custom high end strats and teles). All of our guitars are plek'd but because it's basically a manufacturing situation, we set our relief to .1 and the low E will be around 1.7mm off the 12th fret and 1.4 for the high E. It can be set lower but for temperature and humidity variability this is how we set them up. I've gotten to set them about where the Vigier is at, but because most people order them with vintage radius specs, it doesn't really work. I would assume vigier is using a plek to achieve this, but if they aren't, damn do they have good fret work people
Also, you should give an Aristides a try. Very similar situation to the parker fly but not as odd looking! Their fretwork is wild. Their frets and fretboards are such that when the frets are installed they are already almost level and barely need any leveling and therefor no crowning. They feel crazy to play, super thin body, neck is about a modern fender c shape, but man are they cool
I had one! But the neck was too thin for me. But amazing guitar. Wish I had the channel back then to give it a review.
This wins the pinned comment award…for now ;). Very insightful in terms of the specs you mention. Thank you, sir!
@Jordan Oates I was just at that GC over the weekend and didn't see a Caprison. I'll have to swing by because Caprison is on the list.
@Jordan Oates I too really enjoyed how un-thin the Caparisons are, really a great guitar all around.
"I won't be able to afford it...but please make it." That statement resonates with my soul.
Great video man. I really appreciate these extremely detailed reviews.
First thing first, I want to compliment you for making a very thorough, entertaining, educational video about Vigier guitars. This review has got to be one of the best guitar detailing I ever watched on UA-cam, let alone a Vigier. Free of bias including qualitative specification of Vigier's differences. Kudos!
I must tell you that I grew up with Vigier and now defunct Lâg French guitar manufacturers.
As you pointed out, purchasing a Vigier guitar in the USA is challenging since they are not guitars that you can get "off the wall". I live in Texas, and there is a store in McKInney "The Guitar Sanctuary" which carry them.
There are several reasons why Vigier guitars are expensive. One of them is because Vigier has a reputation for quality that you actually properly described. With Vigier, you play for an exceptional built instrument, not for the brand name. Besides that, Vigier guitars are made in France and until the world got sick, the EURO value always was twenty percent above that of the US dollar. Add the import duty and shipping cost, and there you have it.
I ikely own one of a kind in the USA and rarest Vigier ever commercially built. The Vigier Excalibur Christophe Godin 10 years anniversary. Only 20 were made, which have possibly only sold in France, minus the one I imported in the USA, from 2010. You can look it up to get the specifics. You can see Christophe Godin at the 2010 Musik Messe demoing it.
Something you may have wanted to mention about the zero fret. It facilitates swapping string gauges without having to do a nut job each time. Of course, you need to readjust the string's height, but that is about it.
As for the 10/90 carbon neck reinforcement, it is absolutely true. My guitar was playable right from outside of the box, air freight included. Christophe Godin actually put his to the extreme test, having flown to a subzero degree(Celcius) gig location in Canada where he could play his guitar straight away after it came from the freezing cold.
My Vigier is slightly different from the Indus you showcased. The beveling of the body is less pronounced, the zero fret is in one piece, the jack input is inside a small well, and is not lockable.
Thank you for this comment and your kind words! And you really explained it very well why the price is higher factoring in duties, the conversion rate, etc. I wish I had taken the time to mention that as well. It's just funny how Americans treat the price of a guitar. If a big company releases a custom shop American-made guitar, people will pay $5,000+ no questions. If it's a vintage instrument made by random people in a factory, people will pay 10,000+ no questions asked. But if it's a European luthier making amazing instruments, Americans will cry about it being $3,000 USD.
@@andrefludd There always be a certain mistrust, distrust for guitars not US branded; even if such guitars are not manufactured in the USA. People in the US will probably feel better about purchasing a Mexican made Strat, than a French made Vigier. Unless it is a Shaun Lane model, and even these. It is human to feel like that. I am an older guy, and I have purchased a lot of guitars, the place of manufacturing does warrant anything. You can have the same quality anywhere in the world. What changes is the cost of labor. Let's be honest, modern guitars are chain manufactured by unskilled workers. I visited Gibson Memphis factory in 2018 before it shut down; Vigier is industrialized too. They tried to minimize manufacturing costs by limiting exceptions. No custom shop there. They stock the same wood for the bodies. No aging. Seamless procedures throughout. I think their cheapest humbucker guitar is the Vigier Thirteen. A very difficult to find model in the USA.
I’ve been covertly watching the channel for a little while now and I really enjoyed the progression and all of the different guitars you have reviewed. Thank you.
Another meticulous review, Dr. Fludd - I thank you, and I treasure your honesty! I have suffered through (literally) thousands of guitar reviews over the past (almost) 50 years (I began reading Guitar Player in 1973, but I can't recall much gear reviews in the first few years) in huge frustration because they would never describe the neck feel in detail. The vast majority of YT guitar reviews have people playing (as if you could truly understand the sound of the guitar through the digital encoding/decoding of your wireless earbus!) and describe general features of the guitars but rarley go into great depth explaining the ergonomics and playability. You are the first I have found to truly dissect the playing features of the guitar. When Vigier first cam on the market, prior to Lane's use of his custom model, I really wanted to purchse one. I loved the thought and detail the owner of the company put into the design of his guitars and I REALLY loved the idea of the "90/10" neck. I've always wanted an almost perfectly straight neck with a profile similar to early PRS gutars. Reviewers explained in detail the features but I couldn't find anyone to accurately describe the profile/feel of the neck. I knew I didn't care for the Ibanez Lane model's neck and I eventually never purchased a Vigier as I had fun putting together lots of "partscaster" eventually settling on one that I have had for 23 years now. Thank you for letting me know I made the correct choice. I really like everything about that guitar except the neck profile. It would have set with my other guitars that I pick up every few months to admire, but don't play regularly because the neck doesn't work for me. Again, thank you for the in depth reviews and please continue your honest, ethical content.
Please excuse the grammar/spelling errors. I lost most of my vision two years ago and have difficulty reading the thoughts I attempt to post.
im really enjoyin these guitars review so far dude. the fact you cover some more obscure guitars that people are curious about but never have really looked too much into before is great
Thank you for the support. These are the only ones in my collection so not sure what I’m going to do after the Vigier vs Parker comparison haha.
I played a Vigier years ago. It was probably the first high end guitar I ever played and OMG it was something else. A really lovely guitar. I actually tried to make the thing buzz and fret out and just couldn't and oh yea .... first :-)
I’ve never played anything like it! Thanks for starting us off with the comments :)!
Great video thanks. When I saw the locking lead input I laughed because my Steinberger headless guitar from the 1990’s had one of those. Like I said on your other video, those guitars were so ahead of their time. 😊
Just found your channel and I greatly appreciate your thoroughness and honesty with your reviews! It's a rare thing in the UA-cam guitar world. You clearly know what you're talking about. Vigier are the real deal and then some. Fingers crossed you can somehow manifest your dream spec Vigier hybrid signature... 🤞🤞
Thanks for the support!
Fantastic documentary levels of information! Thank You Doc and Best Regards/Wishes!
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I've been wanting the Gibson scale length Shawn Lane Vigier for decades but it costs more than my car.
Yea, I'd love to just see how it feels! A very rare group of specs on that thing!
I have a purple 1998 Excalibur Custom with a Floyd Rose style bridge and locking nut that I bought on eBay. When I got the guitar 5 years ago the electronics were in shambles because someone did a botch job when they replaced the original pickups with Lace Convertibles. They also put a piezo pickup on it that cracked the pickguard. On top of that the string saddles were rusted and froze up. I replaced the string saddles, made a new pickguard from 3/32 carbon fiber plate, and converted it from an HSH to a humbucker at the bridge and a single at the neck. The pickups I used are Seymour Duncan Dimebucker at the bridge and a Seymour Duncan Hot Rails at the neck. The Vigier put my PRS Custom 24 to shame in almost every aspect, so I wound up selling it. The only thing better about the PRS was it was easer to restring. I have sold all my electric guitars except the Vigier and my first guitar which is a 1967 Fender Mustang that I keep for sentimental reasons. No other guitar I've played even comes close to the Vigier. It is the only guitar I play now, as it does everything I need.
A similar experience here. I have a Vigier Shawn Lane guitar and it's now my only guitar. It is so enjoyable to play. I think it's a great shame if it's the case that Vigier is stopping making guitars as their guitars are great and have a bunch of nice innovations.
@@77Fortran AFAIK, Vigier is not stopping: Patrice Vigier's daughter is simply taking over the company... The rumour of the company stopping has been officially debunked by them...
Great review. Thanks.
My pleasure :)
I have a heavily modified Vigier GV Wood and it is incredible!
Yet another perfect review so glad I found this channel you said it perfectly about the UA-camr obsession with rounded off frets I agree it’s not what’s important playability and how the are set is what matters most
Thanks, Chris! Glad to have you :).
Is it just me or does the Vigier guitars fit well in to the 80s style glam or "arena" rock like Poison, Michael Schenker Group, Whitesnake, Def Leppard, Scropions or Jazz Fusion ? Always when i see a Vigier guitar somehow the 80s shredding solos come to mind...
I totally get that.
Yet another great video! Vigier guitars have only been on my radar because of their fretless instruments, but it's great to see that their standard fare is top notch! I've been eyeing that Godin 5th Ave behind you, I'd love a video on that and to hear your thoughts, I think Godin makes some of the best guitars at their price point.
Thanks Chris! Yea I have a godin archtop I like a lot.
I didn't went for the fretless since I had de-fretted my beginner's guitar 'coz Belew used a fretless guitar on 3 of a Perfect Pair and I found that if... I'm addicted to fretless bass, it wasn't my thing on guitars. I still own 7 Vigiers w.o. even having the opportunity to have tried the fretless one... I'm more likely to get the 7th stringed Excalibur
Love your content. I have learned a lot and look forward to watching for a long time into the future. I had a question though. You have mentioned in a couple of videos that the string action on this or a Parker guitar can go lower "than we would want it," with notes still ringing out. What do you mean by that? :) For me action can be impossibly low, it is only string buzz that prevents how low it can be set.
Hey! So action is really personal preference, but from my experience most guitar players start to feel weird if the action is SUPER low. Luckily, most guitars don't have that ability for various reasons. But a lot of the modern stuff does.
Great video!!
Thank you!
that little bit of “dirt” in the clean tones sound amazing! i lub it!
Thanks man! There’s usually a bit less dirt but the pickups are pretty hot.
What a great video! I like your relaxed style- very different in UA-cam
Thank you! I appreciate it.
Great and very useful review .
I’m looking at a used one in very good condition for what I think is a 2004 model .It has a matted textured body finish which is unusual .Do you know what year your guitar is (it looks very similar to the one I’m looking at) ?
Excellent and thorough review my friend. Very nicely done. Ive been curious about Vigier guitars for a very long time. I first saw them on Austin City Limits "Stanley Jordan" way back in the day. Stanley was one of the first touch technique players i ever saw. He blew me away! If you haven't seen it, man, you have to. Im giving you homework! Lol. Thanks for the AWSOME review man.
Thank you for your kind words! I’m a big Stanley Jordan fan so I’m always excited to get more homework when it involves his music haha.
Nice video! I really hope i can afford a Shawn lane vigier excalibur sometime! Im a big fan of him. Have that guitar is one of my Dreams!
Nice review. I am 6'4" and I play tradational style, guitar in my lap. Length of palm also places my pick in weird places that I dont like - basically on the neck pickup. Doubt ill ever get a chance to buy one of those, but I would proably do it if I had the chance.
Amazing taste in choosing of guitars: Godin 5 Avenue , Parker and Vigier.
Thank you sir!
Thank you so much for educating me on a guitar I haven't heard before. Definitely a brand I will look out for in the future. Also, whoever is calling Parker guitars ugly, please acquire some taste before commenting.
Glad it was helpful!
Bro your channel is so underrated. I appreciate your effort for us who can’t afford these expensive guitars 😅. Quality content 👍
Thank you :)
Thanks for the awesome review! There's so little info about them in USA
Thank you for your support!
Hi I asked your advice a few times and you have answered my comment each time. I'm very grateful for that. Thank you so much. I'm looking for a neck like a Parker. Parker fly necks immediately stood out to me compared to other guitar necks. Parkers made playing the guitar feel alot easier and effortless. No other necks seem to come close to that feel. The problem I have is I don't like gloss finished necks. I love the back of quartersawn style sanded down wood EVH style necks. That smooth feel on the back of a sanded down neck is my favorite characteristic on a guitar. The older and more played in neck the better for me. But I also want to get as close to a parker "speed neck" feel as I can with a wood neck. What is it that make Parker necks feel so good ? Neck radius ? Thickness ? Shape ? I've seen these George Vigier guitars in a les paul type shape after watching your content. They have what looks like a composite style fingerboard (similar to a parker fly) and the back of the neck is made out of wood. So in theory sanding it down EVH style could be accomplished if I wished. What neck would you recommend yourself with these characteristics ? The Vigier I mentioned ? A Vigier excalibur or a different Vigier model ? Or perhaps a Parker Maxxfly with a wood neck ? I always hear parker necks completely lose there unique comfortable feel with wood necks. I ask you specifically because we seem to have alot of the same likes and dislikes on guitars from the videos I've seen. I also like light strings, low action setups etc I appreciate all your responses. You've been a huge help. Really enjoy your content. All the best
Hey, honestly any neck from a shreddy guitar is going to be pretty similar to a Parker nowadays in terms of the size and most of them come with a satin feel which is what I think you are going for. I would honestly say just go to a guitar center, pick up a few different models and feel the necks yourself. You might be surprised, a lot of Ibanez guitars and Charvels are amazing without going to boutique route. If you want something custom, I always recommend Kiesel and you would probably like their thin neck feature. You won't beat it for the price, customization, and overall quality.
i wanted a blue sparkle 60's mij telecaster but with a 1 inch baseball bat 50s neck profile (i have large hands and mostly play chords). I knew i will never find it unless i went custom shop, so instead i took my time saving and buying the right high quality vintage and new parts over time since 2019.
Saved hundreds if not thousands doing all the neck work, decals, set up and soldering myself, Finally finished buying all the parts and assembled it last month. Still needs some minor tweaks to get it perfect but its so satisfying to finally have it in my hands.
Congrats!
Great review!! I got my vigier indus from a good ebay deal as showcase model in uk back in 2009. It was a very convenient guitar on stage for me because i sing and when i sing i sometimes throw the guitar sideway on my right shoulder. It is small lightweight and i can play better on this one, it is not even fair on upper frets to play this :D Still keep it because i like the sound as well. Served me well on my guitar recordings during an album
Awesome! Thanks for the support
Love your vids, can you make a review on Tom Anderson ?
Thank you sir! Well, I can certainly try. I pay for each guitar I review and I’m def not rich so it may take some time, but stay tuned and I’ll see what I can do :).
Great video, I think you should try a Novo guitar, and also check Vola guitars
I’d love to check out both. Hopefully I can work something out with a dealer because I can’t afford to regularly buy guitars 😅.
Caparison Horus, that's my dream. Working on saving up the money for it. Maybe 2024 is my Caparison year.
I've heard good things about them.
@@andrefludd I played a Courtney Cox Horus and a Joel Stroetzel Dellinger, both amazing instruments. Only one I didn't like was the eight-string, neck shape was detrimental to full access for me
Its that time of year here in the mountain west. Every guitar I play which has sat for more than a week or so needs to have the truss rod adjusted.
It would be nice to have a stable neck like that. I play 11s with fairly high action. And even at that i have to start adjusting relief.
Good stuff.
Thank you! Yep I love these guitars!
The locking jack was also present on the Gibson LP 2008, 2010; negative: if your guitar is sitting on a stand, and someone trips the cable, it does not disconnect and it could fall.
Yea I don't find the locking jack useful. I think it makes more sense to just loop your cable through the strap. Time test technique. Thanks for the comment.
got a shawn lane signature vigier and it makes all my other guitars feel like chinese squires. japanese esp, prestige ibanez, etc., they don't even come close in terms on playability and easeness. the moment i played it i got sad because i realised i should have bought two. the flat radius on a shorter scale is such a simple yet effective idea that allows a ridiculously comfortable action. i just wish it had a heavier output bridge pickup, or the hotter vigier amber pickups but it's not meant for that style anyways. I don't understand why more manufacturers offer flat or at least 20plus neck radiuses.
I've heard mr. Vigier is retiring but I hope the daughter keeps the company alive.
PU are easy to replace, thus, the best is to mount new PUs on a new pickguard and keep the original intact...
Rad Parker fly in the back. I Love the fly's headstock.
I'm not sure how you see my Red P-38 haha I thought it was hidden pretty well. The one that's very visible is a black nitefly.
Yeah i would love to give one of the Shawn lane models a go to see if I would like it. I would love to own one of those Gibson SG Dark 7s and probably like a birth year guitar like a 1989 750xl or something when the listings for either of those aren't crazy.
Thanks for sharing!
I have the same issue with sleeves. I learned to only buy sleeved jackets/shirts that have “long” sizing. Great vid! Double homicide got me 😂
Glad I’m not alone haha
right b4 you put the text on there i was like “Damn, hes making a great bend face!” lol You’re indepth review is excellent! i havent ever heard of this guitar but im sold my man! does it come with the slim taper 7” radius neck as well, like the SG or the Jaguar?…
Actually I don’t believe they have many radius option. Just the one I mention and the flat. You can double check their site, they do do custom work too but I believe it’s insanely expensive haha. Thank you for your support!
24:50
That dive on the tremolo was siiiick
Thank you! It's one of my fav tricks.
The Gibson explorer is my dream guitar. I got one through my first nation govt artist program. Its still my absolute favourite.
Dethklok made me play guitar, i hope to be the 7th biggest economy in the world one day with it, too
Great review of a great guitar. The sound is very good. You get what you pay for in an instrument like that one.
Thank you! Couldn’t agree more. Quality guitar!
Thanks for all the detail in this evaluation, Andre
@14:34
12 fret action → 0.110 in = 2.8 mm so pretty low for 300mm radius guitar but nowhere near, say, a well constructed 14/16 inch neck, which could half that value. I guarantee the pure-flat Shawn Lane Vigier would do much better
But what is impressive is that the neck relief is 0 and no buzzing with large bends. That's amazing.
I have the shawnlane now :)
I've tried Vigiers at a guitar shop without plugging in though. The playability and finish is amazing. If I bought one, I'd probably going for one with Amber pickups rather than DiMarzios.
Is the nut strictly necessary? Surely if the tuners are placed correctly the strings will be in the right place by default. One of the main benefits imo of a zero fret is making bends on the first few frets easier because the pivot point is further back, but the nut and segmented fret seem to undermine that. I would be interested to know if that guitar is playable with the nut removed. Cheers.
Interesting question. I’ll give it a try and report back.
I get what you’re saying about having a long wingspan and finding a guitar suitable for comfort! I’m 6’3” and finding long sleeve shirts and comfortable guitars is a pain!
It really is a pain! I know the reverend Greg Koch signature model is a little bigger. I tried it once, felt nice! Also love 17 inch archtops. Not the most versatile guitars, but super comfy for long-armed people.
Since your new videos still have this guitar in them, did you decide to keep it? Or has it not sold yet?
I sold it a month ago.
I have a Kaos baseline model 🎸. It plays better than all my expensive brand name guitars! Cheers 🍻
Lately I've been dreaming of 1930s masterbuilt epiphone archtops. Something with 17"+ lower bout and 3.5" thickness.
I love a nice archtop. I have some acoustic reviews coming in maybe September or October!
very nice, my kind of guitar, but for something that designed to be effortless to play that neck heel is a damn eye sore, reaching the 24th fret wouldnt be a problem, but there is a solo i do live where there is a double stop bend at the 22nd and that heel is going to get in the way, it would be so easy to remedy it i dont know why they dont
I might be able to offer some insight about the neck joint construction. I have a friend of mine who is a massive old-school ibanez enthusiast. He has no exaggeration probably 40k worth of late 90s early 2000s ibanez guitars. When it comes to these guitars he prefers the sound of the ones that have the square plate bolt on over the more sculpted neck heel. He says the extra mass there makes them feel snappier and sound better than the sculpted ones. It is more apparent with the 7 string guitars but the difference is still there with the 6s. I have also experienced a similar phenomenon with 8 string guitars. I have owned way too many 8 strings over the years and out of the two I have kept, one is a custom built singlecut 8 string that the upper horn goes all the way out to the 12th fret like some singlecut basses, and the other is a tele shape that the neck heel on is absolutely massive an I imagine a lot of people would complain about it. These are the two best sounding 8s I've ever had my hands on and I really think it has a lot to do with the neck joint construction.
I personally don’t notice anything like that but I’m not knocking anyone for preferring certain things!
@@andrefludd could be a low tuning thing. When it comes to 6 strings I could care less about neck construction but when it comes to extended range, tonally its gotta be a bolt on for me
I've never commented before, but I get why people don't like that Parker guitar you have... it's definitely "unique" lol. Not for me personally, but I'm sure it plays great, and sometimes that's worth it in and of itself. Also, the only thing that should matter is that you like what you play. Ya know what I mean? Love these detailed videos man. Thanks
Yep I get why people don’t like it too haha. Thanks for supporting :)
@Andre Fludd great videos man.!
I own Gibsons, Fenders, Ibanez and a Vigier, the Vigier beats them all.
My BC Rich JR V is my go to, FOR EVERYTHING. I swapped the pickups out and OMFG.......I need nothing else
That’s awesome. I never tried a BC rich guitar. I know the company has had ups and downs, so it’s always been hard for me to keep track of what’s going on.
My dream guitar: I want a Halo custom build. Their "SG" shape specifically. They offset it a bit, kind of like ESP did with their Viper model, so it looks badass.
How will I get it: the good ol' fashion way, save, save, and save some more lol
On paper vigier are my perfect guitars, especially the Shawn Lane model, I just wish I could find one to play. They're so hard to find here in the UK. I wish more guitar companies would start using the totally flat fretboard + zero fret combination. Hell, even if just vigier would offer a flat fretboard on more than just the Shawn Lane model that would be great. You would have thought more guitar brands would have realised flat fretboard + zero fret + shorter scale is the formula for the perfect shred machine. Someone like Ibanez could do it incredibly
Cool video
Thank you!
That guitar looks& sounds great imo👍
I think so too!
You have made me a believer lol. I don't why but I always thought this guitar where just ''ok'' looking. Too bad I don't see myself selling my organs to own one of them lol
Haha, well if you come across any extra organs, maybe then you can get one!
about 1.2mm at the 12th fret, Ive got about 0.9 on my parstcaster which I fret levelled myself :p
My Vigier Shawn Lane Master was certainly on my Mount Rushmore of best guitars I've ever owned, right up there with my Steinberger GS (headstock). I only had two frustrations with the guitar. The anemic output of its humbucker (though I certainly understand why Shawn preferred it) and number two, It's ridiculously low action. Now that might seem ironic since that is what the guitar is known for but if you want to do something other than effortless legato playing, the strings being so close to the frets made digging in a chore. It's not a guitar that you would immediately think of grabbing enroute to a blues gig and as such it's versatility for any other player other than Shawn could arguably be limited. However, If you're looking to shred and play Holdsworth or Brett Garsed stylings, man oh man is that the weapon of choice.
reading this made me giggle. I am a legato guy, but I also like to play bluesy, jazzy, etc. so I totally understand your frustration. That being said...hearing you describe the guitar also makes me want one even if just to have fun a couple times a month.
How the fuck do you not get any fret buzz on the lowest action? The low E you showed, is literally resting on the first two frets (or first three, if you count the zero fret) and only starts lifting off slightly on the third fret (or fourth...you get it). God, this is insane. Love it! Wish I had the money.
It’s insane. The action is actually too low at that point, but it does still function somehow.
3:20 One of the reasons given for zero frets is that they mean that every note played is on a string pressed against a fret and bridge saddle, e.g., with an open E major chord you don't have half the notes played on strings pressed against metal frets and the other half pressed against a plastic/graphite/corian/bone nut. I'm not sure how much of a difference that makes, but it seems that the traditionalist viewpoint that objects to stainless steel frets because they supposedly sound drastically different than nickel silver frets is also behind the dislike for zero frets. So, taken together, the unified position would seem to be that the difference between stainless steel and nickel silver is noticeable when moving between guitars, but neither can be differentiated from plastic when played back to back in an arpeggio on a single guitar.
In reality I think the real reason for the objection to zero frets and stainless steel frets is the same reason many guitar players object to anything... if it wasn't in a pre-CBS Fender or late 50s Les Paul it's not acceptable.
Ive been asking hoping praying kiesel and ibanez for my specs/build my entire life. Theyll never do it. To me seems like common sense specs that anyone who plays with any amount of shred or metal or rock would automatically want. But they just dont give us the specs we want in 1 guitar. Marketing strategy perhaps? Great content. Very interesting many good details and beyond surface level information.
The specs for me: swamp ash body all the wood plus neck everything roasted. Roasted is optional but it stops from warping plus it removes moisture and removes a considerable amount of weight from the guitar. Edge lo pro or original floyd, or gohtoh 1997 bridge. Basically any of the top S tier floating two way bridges. Ebony or roasted maple fretboard. Bareknuckle blackhawk bridge pickup and sustainiac neck. 24.75 or 25" short scale neck with a flat radius. And thats about it. These specs seem really common sense to me. But id take even just the 25" scale with any floyd rose any bareknuckle with any sustainiac, but even that they do not make. Kiesel doesnt do sustainiacs at all and the only body theyll give us with floyd rose and shortscale is their most expensive model and its a shitty explorer style way too sharp and aggressive and uncomfortable for me. I dont want to be doubled over in back pain just to play guitar on a weird awkward shaped body. And ibanez, well you can get a LO PRO for 2000$ but they dont do any short scale whatsoever on their MIJ no bareknuckle pups no sustainiac. Ect. Its really frustrating.
I had injury to my pointer finger tendon, I NEED lowest action possible!!
Please lmk where I can buy one!!
Check out reverb. There are some for sale there. Also look up Ish guitars. They have some as well.
@@andrefludd thanks!! I’m actually on Reverb now!!
I think I’m gonna go for a matte white Indus!
The only other people I know that used Vigier are Mary Spender and Laura Cox. Best Regards!
Thanks for the support!
i want an abasi larada legion 8, but im never going to be able to afford one so im building one from scratch for a fraction of the 4000$ price
Always wondered why Shawn Lane played one that looked no less similar than any other old style guitar. Apparently the differences are good enough for the best to ever do it.
I just got a Shawn Lane model a couple weeks ago. It’s my new number 1 guitar. Video coming soon.
@@andrefludd cant wait!!!
i know it’s not your jam, but the best neck joint ever is the BC Rich Japan monster series beast. JM-185 to be exact. check that out
That's a damn good neck joint! But I think there are many companies today that are just as good
@@andrefludd probably! this is out my personal experience
Why do you use 8 to 48 strings, what is the advantage?
I change here and there but my logic is the lighter the strings the more I can practice without fatigue. But light strings on e and a are harder to downpick so I go heavy there
2:47 just from knowledge of 7th grade physics, those string trees are not good. They don't TURN with the pulling of the string and have a lot of surface area as opposed to an actual rounded groove that is round in the direction of the string so that the string only touches basically ONE tiny point AND if that thing is a roller that rolls, then you basically have 0 friction for all intents and purposes. The one on that guitar is silly. why? It also looks homemade. too bad. imo, that action wasn't insanely low. and it was quite low at the nut but not so low at 12th. I use .008 standard gauges detuned THREE half steps with action about that low. I don't get much buzz because I play so lightly and I have the frets leveled, crowned and set up nicely. But a 5 fret bend at the 12th fret without it starting to buzz out is pretty good. Wonder if that's a compound radius. Didn't say up to that point in the vid. Anyway, it's a good review if you show the real facts as you did. That bridge looks nice, though. Very clean and low. Great for palm mutes.
They actually do move with the pulling of the string and work perfectly. Sounds like you don’t like Vigier which is fine! But the guitars are objectively super high quality with parts that hold up long term and zero issues what so ever in terms of tuning or reliability.
@Andre Fludd I don't appear to roll Like attire on a car rolls. Those string ends appear to be Touching the string at more than one point which is just adding more friction. But what do I know?
Awesome, thorough review. Funny and entertaining all the way through. Good $hit. They look like quality instruments but I will admit I find their design quite bland. Im not into pointy, over the top guitars, but yeah.
Thank you! Yea the design def is a bit more traditional. I like it though!
For thr flex system you can just use your strings ball ends if anything happens to them:) they made it that way so no one would ever have ti worry about them. Just a small thing that makes a huge difference if anything ever happens to it
Thanks for that!
that's actually brilliant
before watching your videos i thought that the best guitars are sold only by the most famous brands like fender or Ibanez as I see players praising their high end guitars so much. But after watching some of your reviews on guitar brands that i have never even heard of before, my mind was blown because I thought no name brands usually can't be compared in terms of quality with famous guitar brands.
Thanks for your comment! You know, Ibanez, fender, prs, they make really really amazing guitars, but there are so many smaller brands out there that have great and UNIQUE guitars. I guess my personality type, I’ve always been drawn to things slightly askew of typical. The hard part is getting a chance to try those brands!
Smaller brand have to try harder but also are more free to change and improve things, that traditional big company’s won’t risk because people are used to their old features.
@@Pyriander agree with you there!
Thank you Dr. Fludd:
Your video helped to make a decision much wiser!
I just found a Vigier Excalibur Special in Japan where I live and am thinking of grabbing it but I like many string gauges: if you didn’t get rid of your 10-56……
I have long fingers but not very wide palms. I had a great USA Charvel Guthrie Govan, but it was a little thin, and the only reason I let it go was because it was a bit TOO MUCH guitar for me as far as features; seeing as Guth also played Vigier and Suhr, I wonder if this will make it a dealbreaker….can’t try the axe I’m looking at, but it’s way cheaper than the used Suhr I’m eyeing 1 K plus less…nah, no loss there, but as I like Nocaster and Custom Shop 58 neck sizes…..maybe no?
Good like with what you choose! Vigier, suhr, both great brands. I don’t think you’ll be upset either way. Both also have good resale value if you change your mind
@@andrefludd played Vigier Excalibur Special today that had the same pickups (PAF Pro neck/FS1 Mid/Tone Zone bridge); it was fantastic, and I decided to snap up the used one I saw! Thank you!
@@smithjeff3002 Beautiful. I still want to try an excalibur special. Glad you were able to get one!
No truss rod? Very interesting. Looks kinda cool overall tho
I do like the no trus rod thing a lot. One less thing to worry about/fiddle with. Great instrument.
Tom monda of Thank you sceintist is an avid user of vigier guitars
We were in the same University guitar program. He was a senior when I was a sophomore. Amazing guy and player. I had him on the podcast
When i clicked on this I literally never heard of this brand. After watching I can say, it appears to be a stand out instrument.
For sure a great instrument :). Give one a try if you ever get a chance .
I'd give my eye teeth for an old carbon Vigier
I played a Shaun Lane sig back in like 2011, and it changed my fucking life lmao
I still want to try one!
Andre : I don't agree with what you say after 35 min:
I'm a former Strat user and even abuser.
Chloë, which was a 1993 Standard Excalibur that was upgraded as Supra as the Std. ones hadn't the needle-bearings trems, came with the Supra SSS kit : two FS-1 and the DP185 Half Track which is mid way between the Fast Track and the Chopper...
I had no plan to change buy anything at the time: was freaking low on money and I was having a coffee on my favourite bar's terrasse when a buddy of mine came : "Hey man, ya know what? I'm gonna sell you a guitar!" - "You're nuts, I'm on social help" - "Don't worry, I'll lease it to you for a week, if you want it, I know you're honnest, we'll find an arrangement" - "You're fucking kidding" - "Just come and I'll show you, she's in my car's mall"... Then I saw him taking the Vigier gigbag out and, since I had already tried both the Excalibur and the Passion III, I though "Holy crap, I'm in deep shit!" as I now knew what he had in stores! It was worse when I heard the empty strings ringing!
The translucid-honey Chloë (because of p0rn actress Chloë des Lysses was interviewed on TV the same day I got this guitar) was never surrendered back:
www.zupimages.net/up/23/04/mzx3.jpg
The Strat was put on sales a few weeks later.
Thus, I must admit that I missed the Strat's posn 2 and 4 for some clean sounds and since using the central PU alone has never been my thing...
I had custom pickguard made, not willing to modify the original ones, and got handwound PUs made, although not totally handwound: one HB is a DP185+Abigail Ybarra'69 replica, another is FS-1+AY69 and there's an AY69 in the middle... Bingo, Chloë keeps her neck and bridge PUs and has a Hendrix kit (and a 10 ways blade selector+MEC duplo+push-pull pots!), Same principle with the other which got a Gilmour Wall/Animals kit => Strat'71 replicas in neck/mid, a FS-1 in bridge and, let's play it more metalhead, the "hotrail" in bridge sounds like EVH's Frankenstrat and the neck PU is stuck with a SD JeffBeck-Jr : I freaking prefer its SH4-sound over the SH5... I must say that I never liked the Seymour Duncan TB5/SSL-1/SH5 kit which is the standard on the "Excalibur Original" the one with the Floyd Rose trem... The real PG might be back soon as I was proposed with a 7 strings Supra as a barter or a purchase and since I'm putting a recording studio up (not a home studio, a real one).
In fact Chloë's kit is rather recent. Gwen's was installed mid-00's when I was into putting up a Pink Floyd cover band which would fall appart soon before the 1st gig was planned for non-musical reasons (it was all about sex in the band: the soprano was too hot and had an affair with 4 band members, including another of the girls. well, it also triggered two divorces), now comes the funny thing: it came to the ears of one of the biggest Fender dealers in our country, which I know since I was a kid, that was putting this up... And he perfectly knew that I was no more into Strats for a decade... He tried to endorse me, well, a low level endorsement : I could have had free series from Fender and the CSMH ones (you know, the now $10k+ ones) at the price of an Excalibur which, at the time, was similar to a Strat Deluxe or Signature... BTW, in France, you get a new Indus like yours for the same price as the now Strat Ultra (€2600), in 2007-2008, it was 1500€, the Supra around 1k8-1k9 and the Original at 2k2-2k3.
So, the diamond-dealer took me into his "reserve" over his shop : if there were CS Fenders into the shop, the CSMH ones weren't shown to the public...
Had Gwen in my gigbag on this day and now I ended trying about 20 CSMH in his shop. You surely know that a Floyd Rose alters the sound, not a lot, but Gwen is a little inferior to Chloë due to this... But was still better than ALL the CSMH Strats he made me try!!!
So, sorry, the Excaliburs will FREAKING make it for Strat users : you get something better than $10k Strats for much cheaper... And, on Excas, there's even a 'Molex' connector to replace the pickguards with no need for a soldering iron!
BTW :
- any luthier can cut an Excalibur pickguard out of plastic or even wood.
- Only the GV Wood has a composite fretboard made of phenowood. It was also used on the Arpège I (1983-1986). Phenowood is a mixture of sawdust and phenolic resin. Frankly, it looks and feels like highly polished ebony. Just a few GV Wood were made of Honduras mahogany. I must say that Vigier causes me a problem : too much alder and I self limit to 2 solid bodies per main wood (and a single of other types, note that I consider the carbon-necks as another type) to reduce my G.A.S tendencies...
Actually, would Vigier do like e.g. Warmoth, proposing other woods, I'd probably have more stuff from 'em.
I'm lucky that the Arpège-I has a walnut body and the Passion III-90/10 is about 75% mapple. I'd love to get a Passion III/carbon again. My Arpège-II is of alder.
In fact, even the GV/mahogany, if I hadn't issues with the short scale, wouldn't get in: the two slots are occupied and the Honduras mahogany trees used by late Xavier Petit were cut in 1905...
I think that Vigier should consider Korina for the GV: white Korina for the painted ones and black korina for the translucid varnished ones. Korina (aka Limba or Fraké) is neither expensive nor rare nor protected, it sounds like Honduras mahogany, just a little brighter, always sounds great while mahogany is irregularly sounding and... It's very light! So, I ain't have a GV but a korina PRS-SE which is surprisingly damn great (got it for €250!), especially since alnico2 PAFs were put onboard...
My ash guitars are from Lâg and Fujigen Custom Shop/Roland, Masonite ones are from Danelectro, the J3 one is of some African wood I don't recall the name, smth similar to bubinga, Leduc ones are of alder but one is thinline, the other uses a floating table which is really interesting as you can fill in the job of a solid body, an electroacousting and an archtop a bit like a 335, although she has her own sound. you may absolutely do Larry Carlton stuff with her.
I love Leduc guitars as much as the Vigiers, and I love his basses over anything else. The U-bass fretless is the best fretless ever built, she'll get all your body hairs straightened even while unplugged! His Brazilian rosewood is from 1895 and is truly magic, the end 50's Honduras mahogany too. His Pad bass is the most big sounding bass I ever heard, he can't make'em any more, he ran out of his now 70+y old padauk wood... any way, Leduc refuses orders for several years now: he has too much orders and can't build more than 25-30 instruments a year. Gosh, he made a Strat for Blackmore with 250 years old woods, my 2cts it's the one he uses on records since.
Another thing I regret with Vigier : they stopped making neckthru guitars.
These were way higher end than the Excaliburs.
So now, are you going to sell that one?
Yes, I have a few guitars to put for sale but I been so busy I haven't gotten a chance to.
if you make enough dough on your vid to buy another one ill buy this used one for around 2g’s hoss. keep me in mind, yeah?
Thanks for the support! I’ll probably sell it well before this UA-cam makes any money haha.
Let bild youre own gitar! That make you think what you whant and need.
you forget the neck lock innovation
Warmoth custom made my near perfect guitar.
Did you already make it? Man, Making a warmoth tele with a big fat neck sounds pretty good right about now.
D shape necks, trying out 4 different ESP's taught me I don't like that shape 😂 Fretboard feels too narrow for me. C shape is what I'm at home at, much better than an ibanez wizard.
I think you might feel differently if you try a fatter D. Most companies that make d shape necks also make really thin necks but the two don’t have to be the same.
@@andrefludd interesting. 👀 Open to try, esp is basically the worst neck I've felt but if I say that openly in the metal community I'm a heathen 😂😂
So this guitar is perfect if youre short with tiny hands? I figure just skip the tall person jabs and cut right to the chase:)
haha, this guitar is almost perfect even if you are tall. It just isn't perfect for me personally.
A shame that Patrice is retiring and there may never be any more new Vigier guitars made. Plus super rare and hard to find to buy anyplace.
It is truly a shame.
Her daughter it taking the lead and is working since years with her father ... she knows all ... new Vigier will be produced that's for sure 😉
My dream guitar is unknown at this point for a while I wanted a specific run of Parker Fly (4 seasons), but that's never going to happen.
I recently obtained a Sire S7 which has been the most comfortable guitar I've ever played so far. As a result of thst satin necks are now going to be a permanent requirement on future guitars unless they're vintage.
I remember those Parkers! Very rare. I’ve heard a lot of good things about sire. I’d love to try one. Thanks for the comment!
@@andrefludd Very rare indeed.
I'm sure you won't regret trying a Sire. The price for quality on them is hard beat it's just they're eternally out of stock. My only gripe, aside from finding one to start with, was the treble bleed circuit. I will say in its defense the tone was almost unaffected from volume 2-10 however anything below 2 was effectively 0 so no volume swells with it, and that was enough to open it up, and remove the treble bleed. One last thing I found was the Humbucker splits in position two.
Anytime, if you ever try a Sire I'd love to see a video on it!
My interest in this instrument is solely because it has a truly flat fretboard. I love Shawn Lane, but not enough to go chasing his gear. I don't see why other manufacturers can't do this. The idea of radiusing guitar fretboards is not "because your fingers are curved so it makes chords easier." That is a post hoc rationalisation. The real reason is because contemporary manufacturers noticed that classical string instruments have a radius (which they actually need) and decided to add it to guitars as a marketing gimmick. But here we are, 24% through an entirely different century, and we still have next to no electric guitars with a flat fretboard.
You want your neck perfectly straight. If you can do it without a truss rod go for it. Still a little scary what if it bends a little after 10 years you can't adjust it
I’ve played one that was from 2003. It was flawless.
@@andrefludd nice that makes me feel better
Vigier is at the same time very innovative and also quite conservative . They are not cool nor fun. Viger didn't build guitars for tinkerer or hobbyist. They build tools for professional or at least serious musicians. The cost of production are high in France so they decide to stay in a quite elitist niche. An Excalibur is not a strat: you can't find a pickguard in every color or material ready made everywhere on the net (Like with every other guitar it is relatively easy to make one from scratch using the old one as a template..) . Same for the bridge, you will not find spare parts easily. But if you don't mess with it you won't need any.
The -lack- absence of trussrod illustrate their reliance in own craft and design: the neck won't bow. No need to give the users a chance to mess with a thing they most often didn't undestand.
Vigier also make a very unusual model: The Surfretter. It's a fretless Excalibur, with a fingerboard made in metal.
Very good points, and yes I know of the surfretter!
Essentially a Vigier is my dream guitar but I'll never own one unless I commit some major crime. They are however, stunning.......
Well as long as you don’t get caught. I’m certainly not rat haha
@@andrefludd :) Much appreciated. It's a shame it didn't quite suit you but man, what an instrument!
@@MercutioUK2006 yea, still one of the best guitars I’ve ever played. That’s just a fact.
Ex5ra shipping extra nuts high maintenance to me. Just give me a lp and it rip.
It is very high maintenance.
One day, I will be the proud owner of a Vigier Excalibur Shawn Lane Master Signature and a Gjika 10^n amp. My earthly desires will then be quenched and I will want for nothing more in the material realm. Unfortunately, by the time I make that kind of dough both Bob Gjika and Patrice Vigier will be pushing daisies and I still might not be able to play guitar well enough to justify it.
Ive had the Shawn Lane for over a year now. I just haven’t gotten around to doing a video on it. Its a wild guitar
@@andrefludd Cool! I'll be eagerly waiting for the review. Did you get the Master signature or the regular signature?