Hi folks,
I have had two Vigier basses for a long time now, one fretted and one fretless. I recently got this 5 string to add to my arsenal and for a long time the 4 string sat unplayed as I was over the moon with the 5. But - and this always happens - I went back to the 4 for a while after my ears had 'tuned out' of the sound of it and it confirmed yet again that the 4 is really 'me' and as kiwi said when we last met, I am really spoilt by it. It has seen of Alembics, Bossas, Bacchii, Pedulla, Marleaux - I always come back to it, and now it has 'seen off' its 5 stringed sister.
The bass is quite unique in how it is made. First of all the neck is 10% carbon and 90% maple. The carbon rods are 75% carbon so overall the neck is stronger than the graphite weave Vigier used to use. You also get the added benefits of the sounds from the maple. There is no truss rod so the neck is engineered with the 'textbook' amount of relief (A credit card thickness).
The pickups are two Benedetti single coils - extremely high output and very clear. The pre-amp is a rotary eq frequency selector and a cut/bypass/boost switch. There is a master volume and a tone control which affects only the bridge pickup. Those crazy French.
I have recorded some tracks with the bass already and it sounds superbly clear, fat and growly. I will add them here shortly, but you can also see/hear the bass in this youtube video which is a demo of a longer video I will be making shortly for Vigier:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WILDNiF6k38
I am looking for what I paid for her - 1500 Euros, so call it £1100. There is no original case for it but I can get a Vigier case sent over or supply details of where to get one if you wish, otherwise I have a warwick gig bag and will pack it very nicely indeed. Collection is preferred - I would love you to come and play it first, but I could also meet people halfway to do the deed. I would prefer to avoid postage if possible.
The spec is as follows:
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Serial # - 086 - 23/04/1991
5 string Custom model - Maple/alder/Maple body
NECK
Neck through body, featuring the 10/90 Neck System™ (10% carbon with 90% naturally dried and aged maple wood).
FINGERBOARD
Phenowood
SCALE LENGTH
33.8 in / 860 mm
FRETS
21 + a zero fret (or as an option 24)
ACTION AS SUPPLIED AT
12th fret treble .0078 in / 2.0 mm
12th fret bass .0098 in / 2.5 mm
WIDTH OF NECK AT
nut 1.673 in / 42.5 mm
12th fret 2.441 in / 62 mm
DEPTH OF NECK AT
first fret .76 in / 19.5 mm
12th fret .945 in / 24.0 mm
STRING SPACING AT
nut 1.378 in / 35 mm
bridge 2.835 in / 72 mm •
MACHINE HEADS
by Schaller
BRIDGE
Kahler quick-release
STRINGS
I will include a brand new set of Elixir .040- .130's
BODY
Naturally dried and aged flamed maple, alder or walnut wood (natural walnut only)(1.57 in / 40 mm thick).
FINISH
Over 10 coats of varnish, 2 months drying time.
WEIGHT
Approx. 7.27 lbs./3.3Kg
ELECTRONIC CAVITY
Sprayed with a shielder.
ACTIVE CONTROLS
Volume
Pickup pan pot
Frequency pot
Cut/off/boost switch
Tone pot
PICKUPS
Twin single-coils by Bénédetti
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I have attached the manual for the bass for details concerning bridge adjustment, electronics cutoff freq. etc. plus a four page review of the bass.
[attachment=6281:Passion_...nd_specs.doc]
[attachment=6282:Passion_s3_manual.doc]
[attachment=6286:vig_review.jpg]
[attachment=6283:vig_review_001.jpg]
[attachment=6284:vig_review_002.jpg]
[attachment=6285:vig_review_003.jpg]
Here are some piccies:
That's a real beaut, Ped! A lot bass for the money too.
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