vigier guitars - are they any good?

thepumpkinkid · #1 10-07-2001, 06:49 PM

they look real cool and they're all handmade.
have any of you guys played one? what are they like to play?

rosskoss · #2 10-08-2001, 10:02 AM

I haven't played one but I've heard that they're really good ,high quality guitars.

Both Ron Thal and Shawn Lane use Vigiers.

juiceofvenus · #3 10-08-2001, 09:10 PM

Hi, i've heard they're relally really good, plus i've emailed them a few times & Patrice Vigier himself (the founder), responded promptly.
There is a guy at Harmony Central forums called Ed De Genarro that owns a Surfetter.

Also i see that you're from the UK & guitars are really expensive there, but the Vigiers are nicely priced for their qualilty & they're cheaper than Ibanez, so if u want to get one, don't hesitate :)

wallopwallop · #4 10-09-2001, 09:15 AM

Pumpkinkid,

Your profile says you live near Birmingham. Get yourself to Percy Priors near New Street station. I believe these guys are the sole UK distributors for Vigier guitars. They also have loads of cool custom Jacksons and ESP's in stock.

Vigiers rule but I still prefer my Jem. Necks are carbon reinforced and the Floyd rose systems pivot on ball bearings. Smooth! They also do a crazy fretless version with a metal fingerboard as used by Ron Thal. This thing is supposed to sound mental!!

Matt

one less than none · #5 10-09-2001, 09:57 AM

Percy Priors is no longer there !

I know i am Brummie to ..... (well close)

wallopwallop · #6 10-09-2001, 01:26 PM

That's a real shame as they had some cool guitars in that shop

. It's been a few months since I was in Birmingham last and I had no idea they had moved on.
Still, there are other Percy Priors shops in the UK which may well stock Vigiers. Look out for their ads in Guitarist magazine.

Matt

boblynch · #7 10-09-2001, 05:19 PM

I haven't posted here in way too long, but I had to chime in on the Vigier topic. I own two Vigier Excalibur guitars, an Indus and a Surfreter (yes, the fretless one). I've been playing much longer than I'd like to admit, and have owned more guitars than I can admit to my wife, but the Vigiers are the finest instruments I've ever touched. At least to me. The Surfreter is a constant challenge, but a rewarding instrument when your fingers and ears get in alignment. Honestly, I don't play it enough to deserve it. It is not just an "instant slide guitar" or a stunt instrument. It's a unique instrument that guitarists can relate to, but not in a tonal way most of us are used to. I may end up trading it for one of the few guitars I have not yet owned, a PRS Custom. I think to get the most satisfaction out of the Surfreter you need to devote all of your ability to it exclusively. It's not something you can just pick up and expect to sound competent.

My Excalibur fretted guitar is in a class by itself, playing, tone, and feel wise. I don't know much about worldwide distribution, but in the US you can contact Uwe Salwender at www.salwender.com for availabilty and pricing of the various Vigier models. He does have specs and prices on the site, and I do believe Salwender is still the exclusive distributor for Vigier in the US. You can also check out the Vigier site itself at www.vigierguitars.com. And yes, I have owned many Ibanez, just to keep it all relative ;-)

thepumpkinkid · #8 10-09-2001, 05:26 PM

thanks for the info ....

i think i might have to goto salisbury and try one out ...

how do you think they compare to ibanez in terms of playability and sound?? what's the clean sound like??

thanks - ollie

boblynch · #9 10-09-2001, 06:05 PM

Honestly, I find all comparisons to be negative to some degree, so I won't touch such a subjective question(s). As I mentioned, there are very few guitars I have not owned, (including many of the ones near and dear to the heart of this site), and the Vigiers have stuck around my house longer than any others in the past few years. For comparison's sake, I have owned the following Ibanez models: AH-10, AS-50, AS-120, JS1000, (2)RG7620, RG520QS, (2)RG570CT, USAC, Jems VWH, VDY, LNG, DBK, UV7BK and UVMC. I've also had the pleasure of playing a few J-Customs. They were all very nice, and I was happy with all of them. The Vigiers just have a certain mojo that works for me. If you can get to a shop that carries them, you may have an entirely different reaction.

thepumpkinkid · #10 10-09-2001, 06:22 PM

thanks

it looks like i'm gonna have to make a trip to the shop then when i get some cash

Texter · #11 08-26-2003, 12:10 PM

I just ordered an Excalibur Original in Urban Blue with Seymour Duncans (TB-5 SSL-6 and SH-5). Looks great with the maple fretboard

Not so expensive (600 euros less than a 7VWH)... Lets see how it handles in about 4 months when it gets here...(still needs to be built)

JEAPSON · #12 08-26-2003, 12:47 PM

I had tried Excailbur when first launch in France. It's true that the feeling is really sweet and that you have an highway under your fingerS. The other advantage was the trem which was not a floyd (I think that the floyd is now available) what prevents from taking a long time for intonation adjusment. However, I finally opted for...Ibanez...This was years ago and Vigier had just launch the Excalibur guitar. From what I heard and read they have increased since then the quality, options and finish but kept the price very afordable towards competitors. Your best option is to try an Excalibur at your nearest dealer. You know it's like chocolate ice cream and strawberry ice cream : it's all one's choice and taste :wink

Texter · #13 08-26-2003, 02:28 PM

Oh well I've got a 7VWH, a 90HAM, a UV777BK, a Talman and a Maxxas MX-2 so I guess I just want a bunch of icecream in lots of flavours :P

sam669 · #14 08-26-2003, 04:59 PM

oh yeah, too bad they look like 5hit (imo), but they are killer