Captain Bassman Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) I just got this! Arrived this morning to replace my trusty old Warwick Streamer Stage I. Sorry about the pics quality - camera seems to be going to the dogs...Better pics available here; [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Vigier_Stock_Arpege_V_files/Arpege5top.jpg"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp.../Arpege5top.jpg[/url] [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Vigier_Stock_Arpege_V_files/Arpege5neckjoint.jpg"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...e5neckjoint.jpg[/url] [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Vigier_Stock_Arpege_V_files/VigierArpege5headstock.jpg"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...e5headstock.jpg[/url] A massive thanks to Mark at Bass Direct, a great guy providing an invaluable service to our community. Go have a rummage through the stock on his website! Edited January 23, 2009 by Captain Bassman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 I'm driving past Epsom later on, can I pop in and nick this? Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 What a beauty. The Series 4 basses are a step in a new direction for Vigier, and were being designed/prototyped for a really long time until the final design was chosen, it is a really well thought out bass which I am sure will feel like 'home' for many years... enjoy it and post some clips if you can. I had a quick bash on this at Bass day and everything about it felt right - couldn't hear it enough to have a meaningful comparison with my own bass but the feel was there in abundance! I MUST go and visit Mark ASAP in his new shop and have a proper play... Cheers and enjoy ped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd_david Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Stunning Mate, would love to hear it! Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 That is quite simply gorgeous, David! Is it one of the new wooden necked ones with a phelonic board? Also, is this instead of the S2-Classic you were talking about? Rich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 [quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='389988' date='Jan 23 2009, 09:10 PM']That is quite simply gorgeous, David! Is it one of the new wooden necked ones with a phelonic board? Also, is this instead of the S2-Classic you were talking about? Rich.[/quote] [Anorak] The series 4 basses feature the 10/90 system used on the series 3 basses - two usually dense carbon segments go through the neck (unusually dense as there is not much resin) giving them the same rigidity of the full carbon series 2 basses, apparently. The series 4 basses differ from the series 3 in that they are no longer neck through but a really neat bolt on design instead[/Anorak] Cheers ped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor_of_the_bass Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 [quote name='ped' post='390098' date='Jan 23 2009, 11:41 PM'][Anorak] The series 4 basses feature the 10/90 system used on the series 3 basses - two usually dense carbon segments go through the neck (unusually dense as there is not much resin) giving them the same rigidity of the full carbon series 2 basses, apparently. The series 4 basses differ from the series 3 in that they are no longer neck through but a really neat bolt on design instead[/Anorak] Cheers ped[/quote] Correct! Lovely bass there Dave! Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor_of_the_bass Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 ...plus, meant to ask, I know its still very early days but would like to know how you favour the separate EQ sections per pickup - seems like a clever idea! Nick * *Arpege buff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Hehe yeah its a good idea that, interested to hear about it when you have had a good old play! ped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bassman Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 (edited) [quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='389988' date='Jan 23 2009, 09:10 PM']That is quite simply gorgeous, David! Is it one of the new wooden necked ones with a phelonic board? Also, is this instead of the S2-Classic you were talking about? Rich.[/quote] Thanks Rich! Yes, I'm afraid I talked myself out of S2 in the end, sorry Statii peeps! The stock S2 5s I was interested in had a couple of things about them that I wouldn't necessarily have specified if I'd been custom-ordering - such as one-piece bridge instead of the nicer monorail units, silly stuff really - and I couldn't afford to wait 6 months for a new build. The Arpege 5 looks so perfectly in proportion and just as sexy as a Status IMO. Still fancy that metallic black finish that Rob's got though... [quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='390114' date='Jan 23 2009, 11:56 PM']...plus, meant to ask, I know its still very early days but would like to know how you favour the separate EQ sections per pickup - seems like a clever idea! Nick * *Arpege buff![/quote] Hey hey Nick! I thought this thread would make you pop your head over the ramparts! I haven't had much of a noodle with it yet but it's getting its first public outing tonite so I'll let you (and Ped) know! I must say the overall weight, balance and playing position is just perfect for me - being on the average height side of things - and the neck is soooo much slimmer than my old Streamer. Only took me 10 years of playing the 'wick to realise it had the 20mm spacing broad neck... Edited January 24, 2009 by Captain Bassman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Oh yes, David. It is just as sexy as a Status! I've had a Vigier in the back of my mind for a long time now, but haven't got round to looking at them yet. When I get a chance to get to Nick's I'll do the full try out! Congrats again on another stunner, mate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbloke Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 It's very attractive, but I can't help but feel it's lost some of the quirkiness that made Vigiers so appealing. Glad to see the top strap button has been moved to a more logical place. Saves you drilling another hole in a perfectly nice instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 [quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='390234' date='Jan 24 2009, 10:22 AM']Oh yes, David. It is just as sexy as a Status! I've had a Vigier in the back of my mind for a long time now, but haven't got round to looking at them yet...[/quote] They are indeed, and you owe it to yourself, Rich! I've had mine for a while now, and nothing's come close. Nice bass! I tried an S4 Passion 4 and S4 Arpege 4 just before I placed the order for my [cough] Streamline [/cough] I preferred the Passion, but that was probably due to familiarity as much as anything else! Otherwise, it was business as usual for the Vigiers. Super tone & feel, plust ypically consistent and superbly playable, as ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor_of_the_bass Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 I've tried the new Passion model - superb - can't wait to get my blistered mitts on the new Arpege! I do like the Passion bass but having played the Arpege for many years now, I prefer the pickup spacing on that model! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William James Easton Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Vigiers logo looks like the hands of famous circus freak lobster boy and his family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 LOL!! A little bit... Can't say I had heard of this bloke. Good stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bassman Posted January 26, 2009 Author Share Posted January 26, 2009 [quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='390114' date='Jan 23 2009, 11:56 PM']...plus, meant to ask, I know its still very early days but would like to know how you favour the separate EQ sections per pickup - seems like a clever idea! Nick * *Arpege buff![/quote] OK, used it for the first time on Saturday night. UTTERLY LUVVERLY!!!! Used it for the whole of set 1 and half of set 2, so approx. 2hrs in total - perfect weight and balance, really comfy neck and great overall playing position when standing. Took a few tweaks mid-set to get the EQ settings sounding right (didn't have the luxury of a proper soundcheck...again...!). All the sounds are there - warm 'n woody off the neck pup, nice'n honky tonky off the bridge pup and just right in between. The slap sound with the pan knob centred is wonderful. Woody like a Jazz bass, but lots tighter, and with that modern twang from the pulled notes that you get with a Status. I guess the phenolic board has a lot to do with that. The separate EQ per pup is great. Still loads of permutatons to work through but it isn't as confusing (or useless) as it might sound. Actually very logical, IMO! Oh, and thanks to the 90/10 neck construction (basically there's two carbon fibre rods running the length of the neck, visible from the back) there's no truss rod to worry about! Hurrah! [quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='391257' date='Jan 25 2009, 09:28 PM']I've tried the new Passion model - superb - can't wait to get my blistered mitts on the new Arpege! I do like the Passion bass but having played the Arpege for many years now, I prefer the pickup spacing on that model![/quote] If you and your blistered mitts are ever down my way Nick feel free to drop by, I might let you have a tinkle! Erm, hang on a mo. Before we get all pally here, just how did you get those blisters...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor_of_the_bass Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Nice one mate! Funny you mention the slap tone - I can get a very close approximation of the famous `Milleresque' Jazz bass using both p/ups on my old Vigier - run passively with the treble up! I've got the old parametric style eq which is, in many ways quite scary - it will out bass any other instrument and can destroy most name brand amps! Blisters?! Ah yes, who said that? Where are you? (eyes not good!!!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bassman Posted January 27, 2009 Author Share Posted January 27, 2009 [quote name='ped' post='391451' date='Jan 26 2009, 09:33 AM'] LOL!! A little bit... Can't say I had heard of this bloke. Good stuff.[/quote] Hey, isn't that a very early publicity shot of Leonardo DiCaprio? [quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='392279' date='Jan 26 2009, 11:24 PM']Nice one mate! Funny you mention the slap tone - I can get a very close approximation of the famous `Milleresque' Jazz bass using both p/ups on my old Vigier - run passively with the treble up! I've got the old parametric style eq which is, in many ways quite scary - it will out bass any other instrument and can destroy most name brand amps! Blisters?! Ah yes, who said that? Where are you? (eyes not good!!!).[/quote] I think the 'tronics on these latest Vig's are a tad tamer but that makes the whole sound easier to control. Especially for someone like me who prefers to 'set and forget'... I remember trying an earlier model Vig many years ago in the old Bass Centre and it was fierce, much like early Statii. Actually the only thing I've tried/owned that comes as close to being that fierce is my trusty GBIV. The power that Bernie puts into his basses is nothing short of biblical! BTW Nick, d'you own that lovely blue Arpege? Any chance of some more pics???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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