Vigier Excess 9v Preamp - Original?

[fergs40]

This is the preamp from my new-to-me Excess. Being a curious sort I had a look inside, and am a bit puzzled by what I found. Couple of things:

 

1. I had expected the preamp to be on a custom circuit board shaped like the cavity rather than a discrete unit like this. Certainly the one in my Passion III is like that, and the wiring diagram on the Vigier website suggests that’s what it should be.
2. Although there is a trim pot (presumably for the hum-cancelling circuit, though I haven’t fiddled with it - yet) it doesn’t line up with the little hole in the cavity cover, and it’s not obvious to me how it could do with the components arranged as they are at the moment.

 

So, does anyone have any thoughts? Or pictures of their Excess preamp (the 9v one) they could share?

 

BTW, regardless of whether it’s the original or not it does everything I would want and expect it to do, so no complaints. But enquiring minds…

 

Thanks as ever, collective.

 

[Mediocre Polymath]

I know nothing of Vigiers, but that module looks a lot like the Bartolini NTBT I have installed in one of my basses. Does it have any writing on the sides? The trim pot on my preamp is the overall output trimmer.

[Doctor J]

I'm not sure Vigier ever used CTS pots, I'd also have expected something circuit board based, as you say. Still, that's a clean installation if it is a replacement.

[Doctor J]

https://img.digimart.net/prdimg/m/ef/801246111405b8f6d0c81a7dc5f7ea348b43ba.jpg

[Mediocre Polymath]

Here's a pic of my bass's Bartolini gubbins from when I was transferring it all to a new body. The layout of the module is slightly different but the general look is the same, as is the colour coding on the wires. This particular module is more than 20 years old now (yikes) and I don't think they make it anymore, so visual differences wouldn't but surprising.

Edited November 20, 2024 by Mediocre Polymath

[fergs40]

And the prize goes to... @Mediocre Polymath It is indeed a Bartolini, and the same model you had I think.

 

Thanks also to @Doctor J for the link to the pictures of the Excess electronics - those show what I was expecting to find but didn't.

 

But, as I say, happy with what I've got!

 

Thanks all.

 

[Mediocre Polymath]

20 minutes ago, fergs40 said:

And the prize goes to... @Mediocre Polymath It is indeed a Bartolini, and the same model you had I think.

 

Thanks also to @Doctor J for the link to the pictures of the Excess electronics - those show what I was expecting to find but didn't.

 

But, as I say, happy with what I've got!

 

Thanks all.

 

It's a lovely preamp. It's not totally uncoloured, but I'm not sure if that's even a thing really. With everything left flat it subtly changes the sound compared to passive in a way I can only describe as "better". I'm currently playing my NTBT-equipped bass while half paying attention to a work teams meeting.

[fergs40]

Six weeks later...

 

...so despite saying I was happy with the preamp in my Excess (and I was, there was nothing wrong with it!), that 'but it's not original' devil kept whispering in my ear. So I wrote to Vigier to ask if they might have a spare preamp lying around. They didn't, but they did say they were thinking of making some more in the next couple of months. And a week or so ago I got a message to say they were back in stock.

 

I'm almost positive this isn't the unit that would have been in the bass when it was created in 2002 (the hole for the hum cancelling trim pot doesn't line up), but it is the modern equivalent and dropped straight in. Is it better than what was in there before? Of course - it's a Vigier!

 

As an added bonus, having unpacked the thing and looked at the instructions I saw they were expecting it to be powered by two batteries - and I only have one battery box. So I wrote them a quick email and within the hour had a reply from M. Vigier himself confirming that it would also work on 9v. So he might not be making instruments any more, but he's still out there supporting them - merci!