Bass Gear Review

Reviewer	d. rydberg, +10 years playing
Manufacturer	Vigier
Model	Passion 4 string
Price	$900 used

Neck Type	graphite
Fingerboard	ebony
Body Type	alder or maple(?)
Finish	black and white, laquer top coat
Pickup(s)	active, soapbar, of custom manufacture
Controls	my bass: vol for each PU, pan, tone

Vigier basses/guitars are made in France. You don't really see them at all here in the USA because 1, they are very expensive, and 2, import costs make them even more expensive. Their top models today will fetch about $4000 US. The Vigier Passion I'm reviewing here is apparently an earlier bass - the serial # 367 is located right above the bridge-side strap lock. Also, the neck is entirely graphite. Vigier apparently doesn't do this anymore - their basses made nowadays have a core of carbon fiber (no truss rod) surrounded by maple. Looking at the neck, the graphite 'weave' is not as super-dense compared to a Modulus - but it's intricately braided and covered with a healthy layer of clear laquer. It seems as stable and straight as any other graphite-necked bass I've come across. Neck playibility is very close to a Jazz Bass - about the same as an A-width neck - fairly quick and smooth as butter.

Pickups are definitely not run-of-the-mill, I have no idea what brand they are. My suspicion is that it's some sort of Alnico PU like they use today. The pre-amp has definitely been altered by the previous owner. Basically it's a slightly modified Jazz Bass setup: 1 vol. knob for each PU, 1 tone plus I added a pan pot to pan across both PU's - I don't know if that addition made any difference, ah, but who cares really? It's easy for me to get a beefed up P or J sound - the tone definitely 'zings' more and seems more 'alive' than a Fender. Tuners AND the bridge are Schaller-made. Craftsmanship seems very good to excellent - mine IS used and has some dings, plus it's an early model #, and not having a new model to compare it with makes it hard to gauge where my bass stands. It's a very funky shape! That top horn barely fits in my gig bag.

This bass is totally reminiscent of the Modulus 'vintage Jazz' bass they made....similar Jazz tones, fast graphite neck, but active electronics (the Modulus had passive EMG's).

If you see a used Vigier Passion or any other model (Arpege or Excess), try it out. As ludicrous as it sounds, you might dig that French bass sound and you probably won't see one again for a while. Be warned, though, it might not be the cheapest bass, but it's probably among the most exotic.

Construction	92%
Playability	98%
Appearance	92%
Sound	95%
Value	92%
Overall	95%