Vigier Passion ii - fretless to fretted

[BassTool]

37 minutes ago, briansbrew said:

Absolutely beautiful Johna, Ive got Vigier envy. Let e know when you want to sell it 😜

I'll pass your number onto my kids Brian, as it'll not be me that'll sell it 🤣

[briansbrew]

17 minutes ago, BassTool said:

I'll pass your number onto my kids Brian, as it'll not be me that'll sell it 🤣

I dont blame you LOL

[briansbrew]

18 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

 

Brian, there's a rare Vigier Arpège Delta Metal fretless at Bassdirect at the moment. 😉

 

The Benedetti pickups and the Vigier soft case are from the 90's and the preamp is not original.

 

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/vigier-arpege-i-delta-metal-fretless-1982-pre-owned/

Just seen that one Tony, looks in great condition too

[wright/watt]

17 hours ago, BassTool said:

Well, just to say, this was all about me getting one of my bucket list basses, the other was a Wal Pro11e or a Wal Pro 1 - without a lottery win, they won't happen 😆

 

So, just want to make this clear 😉 this refurb was purely for me, I have a few basses that will stay with me till my dying day, and this was always going to join them.

 

Absolute keeper 😎

 

Huge thanks to Gary Bell at Sylva Guitars for transforming my bass, superb work 👌🏼

 

 https://www.sylvaguitars.co.uk/

 

Lovely bloke, and another first class luthier up here in the North East 👍🏼

 

We rehearsed last night for first time with it, I'll need to get used to the shorter neck compared to the Thumb which is now getting too heavy for me - the Vigier is a lightweight in comparison. Band mates loved it, I love it 👌🏼

The job on the fretboard is truly amazing..Great to see pictures of a fretless phenolic fretboard  been stripped down and then fretted to an amazing standard..My dear old passion 111 needs a refret and Newcastle not to far away..Enjoy your bass, It's an out and out beauty🙏😉

[BassTool]

2 hours ago, wright/watt said:

The job on the fretboard is truly amazing..Great to see pictures of a fretless phenolic fretboard  been stripped down and then fretted to an amazing standard..My dear old passion 111 needs a refret and Newcastle not to far away..Enjoy your bass, It's an out and out beauty🙏😉

Gary has done an amazing job w/w, he's been a great find, and we do have some other great luthiers up here in the NE.

 

He recently completed a guitar that had been refinished by David Wilson, another big name up here for guitar finishes 👍🏼

[wright/watt]

9 minutes ago, BassTool said:

Gary has done an amazing job w/w, he's been a great find, and we do have some other great luthiers up here in the NE.

 

He recently completed a guitar that had been refinished by David Wilson, another big name up here for guitar finishes 👍🏼

Thanks, will definitely be contemplating being in touch in the near future about a refret..I recently did a trade for an excellent condition series 1 Arpege from Bass Direct..traded a very rare series 1 Arpege delta metal fretless for it..Sustains for months!!! Wonderful basses like your Cliff Bordwell..enjoy😉👍

.

[BassTool]

What a collection 😮😮😮👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 AWESOME!! 👍🏼 

[Beedster]

On 22/02/2025 at 15:38, BassTool said:

I found a local guy called Gary who runs Sylva Guitars near Heaton in Newcastle:

 

https://www.sylvaguitars.co.uk/

 

 

What a great thread and what lovely work, Gary's gonna be getting a call from me re a neck I need modifying 👍

[dmccombe7]

WOW Johna that is a stunning bit of kit. Are you sure you can handle it. I'd be happy to look after it for you.

Cracking job by the luthier on what must be quite a rare bass for him.

I've always loved the look of that model with both pick ups towards the bridge. It has a unique sound.

Have fun and let us know how it performs over your upcoming gigs.

Will be good to see how it fits in the full band mix at a few different gigs.

Many thanks for the heads up on the build diary.

Dave

[BassTool]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 bit of a drive for me to pass it on Dave, so I'll attempt to do my best with it 😜 and, yes, you're right, luthier Gary hadn't actually seen one in the flesh, then again, neither had I! 😳

 

I've spent the afternoon playing with the options on it, and despite the close proximity of the pups to the bridge - and to each other - they make a very different and variable sound, it does have an amazing range of tone options.

 

It is a truly unique and an amazingly well built instrument, everything I've read about them seems to be true.

 

When I picked it up, Gary said he could get everything from a Rickenbacker through to a P bass sound out of it. 

 

Great I thought, every time I play a bass it just goes bom pa pom 😆

[Andyjr1515]

Lovely job, lovely bass!

[TheMoose]

Woah, @BassTool you've done a brilliant job.

 

I'm so pleased that it's gone to a good home. 

 

I hope that you have many years of joy from it. 

[dmccombe7]

Think that's why i like the WAL sound as both pick ups are situated nearer the bridge. It gives a nice clear tone to each note.

Are we gonna get to hear some vids of you playing at gigs with this one. No pressure but a Build Diary requires some sound clips or vids. 

Dave

[Hellzero]

22 hours ago, wright/watt said:

I recently did a trade for an excellent condition series 1 Arpege from Bass Direct..traded a very rare series 1 Arpege delta metal fretless for it..Sustains for months!!! 

What's the preamp in that 1982 Arpège Delta Metal fretless as it's obviously not original (and the pickups are from the 90's)?

 

That said the preamp on the fretted Arpège is not original either. 😉

[BassTool]

1 hour ago, dmccombe7 said:

 

Are we gonna get to hear some vids of you playing at gigs with this one. No pressure but a Build Diary requires some sound clips or vids. 

Dave

I should be able to get a live gig song sorted at some point, we can record into the desk. Live vids never ever seem to give a decent FOH sound due to less than great phone mics...😕

[BassTool]

2 hours ago, TheMoose said:

Woah, @BassTool you've done a brilliant job.

 

I'm so pleased that it's gone to a good home. 

 

I hope that you have many years of joy from it. 

Nice one matey, the look on the folks faces getting their food in Doncaster Wetherspoons - as we both played each others bass before sealing the deal - will stay with me for some time 😂😂

 

It's come out well 👍🏼

[itu]

Passion's treble can be up to very harsh, but with the semi-parametric it is very possible to push out very different sounds. Try for example bridge PU, +15 dB @ 80 Hz, and treble accordingly. 

[wright/watt]

5 hours ago, Hellzero said:

What's the preamp in that 1982 Arpège Delta Metal fretless as it's obviously not original (and the pickups are from the 90's)?

 

That said the preamp on the fretted Arpège is not original either. 😉

 

5 hours ago, Hellzero said:

What's the preamp in that 1982 Arpège Delta Metal fretless as it's obviously not original (and the pickups are from the 90's)?

 

That said the preamp on the fretted Arpège is not original either. 😉

Hi @Hellzero..Tony if I remember correctly. Electrics and pickups on the Arpège 1982 fretless already changed when I purchased.  I am not overly sure what too..I feel it was an EMG preamp..with the pickups changed to the 2nd generation benedetti from early 86 onwards I believe..well they are original on my passion 11 from March 86

 

It is an Aiguilar OP3 preamp on the fretted Arpège with passive/active switch..works fantastically with this old bass..

 

All the best..

 

Alan👍😀

[Hellzero]

Thanks Alan, and it's indeed Tony. 😉

[BassTool]

I've just had it confirmed by Patrice Vigier that it's the 16th Passion ii he produced. 👍🏼

[itu]

Who made those CF necks? I have heard stories, but it would be interesting to hear the actual place. I still doubt, that Patrice would have done them by himself. But every news is good news.