White Cloud Posted November 21, 2019 Posted November 21, 2019 Saw it on Gumtree going for a song, made a tentative enquiry ... bang, before you know it, its bought! You know how it is. I'm now the proud owner of a stunning 5 string thru-neck (graphite/flamed maple laminate) Vigier Passion 3. It arrived today after two days in transit (still in tune) and it's a beauty. According to the previous owner there is a connection to Alphonso Johnson (he has provenance via Patrice Vigier). I owned a Vigier Arpege (ex Hue & Cry) back in the 80's but had to sell it to pay bills ... suffice to say, I'm a happy camper. 9 Quote
White Cloud Posted November 22, 2019 Author Posted November 22, 2019 20 minutes ago, itu said: Wow, a 5! Which year? 1990 or so? To be honest I have no idea. The seller revealed that he bought it used 16 years ago but wasn't sure of it's exact age. It has been unplayed for a few years, has a little bit of wear, but is in very good condition. Minimal fret-wear etc. Absolutely beautiful bass and the tone is to die for. Quote
itu Posted November 22, 2019 Posted November 22, 2019 Well, if you check the serial at the bottom end of the neck, close to the strap pin, you can use the list. The list can be found from Vigier's web pages. My Passions were born 1988 and 1989, so young girls. 1 Quote
White Cloud Posted November 22, 2019 Author Posted November 22, 2019 3 minutes ago, itu said: Well, if you check the serial at the bottom end of the neck, close to the strap pin, you can use the list. The list can be found from Vigier's web pages. My Passions were born 1988 and 1989, so young girls. Thank you😃 Quote
thodrik Posted November 22, 2019 Posted November 22, 2019 Nice, does that have Benedetti pickups? I think that the earlier neck through Passion and Arpege models are really state of the art instruments, even more so than the newer bolt on models with Delano pick ups. Not that there is anything wrong with the newer models, they are still great too (I own a bolt on Arpege five string). I already have an Excess and Arpege, so the Passion is the only one left for me to get to obtain the full Vigier set...once I have the funds... 3 Quote
Chopthebass Posted November 22, 2019 Posted November 22, 2019 Awesome! I just bought a Passion iv 5-string. It really is a beautifully built bass. I can't comment on the earlier series, but these pickups and preamp sound fantastic. This is the first bass I have owned where the blend actually works and doesn't function like a three way switch! 5 Quote
White Cloud Posted November 22, 2019 Author Posted November 22, 2019 44 minutes ago, thodrik said: Nice, does that have Benedetti pickups? I think that the earlier neck through Passion and Arpege models are really state of the art instruments, even more so than the newer bolt on models with Delano pick ups. Not that there is anything wrong with the newer models, they are still great too (I own a bolt on Arpege five string). I already have an Excess and Arpege, so the Passion is the only one left for me to get to obtain the full Vigier set...once I have the funds... Thanks! Yes, Benedetti pickups... incredible sound. I would liken this bass to a Ferrari: an elite, top, top quality bass. I haven't tried a newer version but know just how good Delano pickups are. Nice family, really sweet! I also owned an Arpege back in the day. It was the best bass I've ever owned (better than my Wal). Acquiring this bass has really fulfilled a long-standing wish to have another Vigier. They are like rocking horse poo... 1 Quote
White Cloud Posted November 22, 2019 Author Posted November 22, 2019 10 minutes ago, Chopthebass said: Awesome! I just bought a Passion iv 5-string. It really is a beautifully built bass. I can't comment on the earlier series, but these pickups and preamp sound fantastic. This is the first bass I have owned where the blend actually works and doesn't function like a three way switch! Beautiful bass, congrats!! Quote
ped Posted November 22, 2019 Posted November 22, 2019 Awesome!! I know you’ve been a big fan of Vigier for a while so I’m really pleased you’re now in possession of this one. Nice to have the proper case too - those are even harder to find than the basses!! I’d love to see some more pictures of it 🥰 Guessing this has the Preamp with sweepable parametric EQ, I have the original manual for it somewhere so will attach here when I find time. Cheers ped 2 Quote
kodiakblair Posted November 22, 2019 Posted November 22, 2019 Congratulations @White Cloud First time I saw Vigier adverts in Guitarist magazine I was smitten. Took me 30 odd years before I got one, didn't take long for the 2nd to arrive 🙂 2 Quote
thodrik Posted November 22, 2019 Posted November 22, 2019 31 minutes ago, Chopthebass said: Awesome! I just bought a Passion iv 5-string. It really is a beautifully built bass. I can't comment on the earlier series, but these pickups and preamp sound fantastic. This is the first bass I have owned where the blend actually works and doesn't function like a three way switch! That is gorgeous! Looks like an almost satin finish rather than a gloss finish? I love it. Also, I see that it has got the big high mass bridge like on the Excess models. When the new line of Passions and Arpeges were first launched back in 2009 or so, they all had monorail bridges, i.e. a tiny individual bridge for each string. My Arpege has monorail bridges. I much prefer the big single bridge though (trying to clean and getting rid of dust in between the monorail bridges is a pain!). Wonder if that is now the standard Vigier bridge replacing the monorails? 1 Quote
Chopthebass Posted November 22, 2019 Posted November 22, 2019 4 minutes ago, thodrik said: That is gorgeous! Looks like an almost satin finish rather than a gloss finish? I love it. Also, I see that it has got the big high mass bridge like on the Excess models. When the new line of Passions and Arpeges were first launched back in 2009 or so, they all had monorail bridges, i.e. a tiny individual bridge for each string. My Arpege has monorail bridges. I much prefer the big single bridge though (trying to clean and getting rid of dust in between the monorail bridges is a pain!). Wonder if that is now the standard Vigier bridge replacing the monorails? Hey, Its a super high gloss finish. Didn't photograph very well. I spoke to Vigier before buying because I was confused. Does the current Passion have mono bridges or the one piece. Turns out the one piece bridge is the current one. I would have preferred a parametric mid control, but saying that the tone is bloody marvelous. I even turn the treble almost all the way off to make it less hi-fi. 2 Quote
White Cloud Posted November 22, 2019 Author Posted November 22, 2019 49 minutes ago, ped said: Awesome!! I know you’ve been a big fan of Vigier for a while so I’m really pleased you’re now in possession of this one. Nice to have the proper case too - those are even harder to find than the basses!! I’d love to see some more pictures of it 🥰 Guessing this has the Preamp with sweepable parametric EQ, I have the original manual for it somewhere so will attach here when I find time. Cheers ped Thanks Ped. I'd really appreciate a gander at that manual 👍... that's very kind of you. I've firmed up on the history a little: Mr Vigier himself confirmed that the case belonged to Alphonso Johnson and has "Been around the world a couple of times". As a long time Weather Report fan I'm super happy. 4 Quote
Lfalex v1.1 Posted November 23, 2019 Posted November 23, 2019 That's real nice. I played #196 a long time ago. It's just like yours, except for not having the pickup surrounds, plus it has chrome hardware. Cracking basses. 1 Quote
Lfalex v1.1 Posted November 23, 2019 Posted November 23, 2019 Of course, I might be a little biased.. 1 Quote
ped Posted November 23, 2019 Posted November 23, 2019 My bass wanted to say hello and offer support if your bass ever feels like it’s being slapped around 1 Quote
Misdee Posted November 23, 2019 Posted November 23, 2019 Absolutely stunning Vigier you On 21/11/2019 at 23:34, White Cloud said: Saw it on Gumtree going for a song, made a tentative enquiry ... bang, before you know it, its bought! You know how it is. I'm now the proud owner of a stunning 5 string thru-neck (graphite/flamed maple laminate) Vigier Passion 3. It arrived today after two days in transit (still in tune) and it's a beauty. According to the previous owner there is a connection to Alphonso Johnson (he has provenance via Patrice Vigier). I owned a Vigier Arpege (ex Hue & Cry) back in the 80's but had to sell it to pay bills ... suffice to say, I'm a happy camper. Absolutely stunning. Crikey what a corker! That is an amazing find, may you get many years of pleasure playing this bass. I remember going to the Bass Centre at Wapping in the very early Nineties and playing a few Vigiers. They were just about the best basses in the shop, to my taste anyway. I would have bought one there and then but I found the pickups to be a bit microphonic under my plucking fingers, according to my recollection. May I ask what the string spacing is on these? 1 Quote
White Cloud Posted November 23, 2019 Author Posted November 23, 2019 8 hours ago, Kev said: Amazing value at £800, congrats!! In the spirit of fairness I informed the seller that he had underpriced it: he replied that he was comfortable with it and wanted to proceed. I paid a little extra regardless... I believe in karma. 3 Quote
Chopthebass Posted November 25, 2019 Posted November 25, 2019 Misdee, my string spacing is 18mm. I'm guessing thee older models are the same. That was a real bargain! Quote
Lfalex v1.1 Posted November 25, 2019 Posted November 25, 2019 3 hours ago, Chopthebass said: Misdee, my string spacing is 18mm. I'm guessing thee older models are the same. That was a real bargain! If it's got the Kahler bridge with the bolt-on saddle rails, the spacing is adjustable IIRC.. Certainly was a bargain, though! Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.