Vigier Arpege parts?

[Arpege]

Hi!I was wondering, is it possible to order parts for my old Vigier Arpege guitar? (had it for 10 years now, 1986-model. Is it version 1?)My plastic backplates are cracked and one of the holders(I think it's called?) that holds the saddle has a crack in it. Is it possible  to order these parts?I'm also considering changing the Benedetti humbuckers, is this a good idea? I really like the sound of the guitar but it's a bit noisy...especially when the volume-pot and tone-pot is pulled.One more thing: When I pull the volume-pot and/or tone-pot the guitar gets louder and more noisy with a more power/gain, does this make the humbuckers going in to single coil mode like it says in the manual, my guitar is not the same as the picture in the manual, it's got no rom memory selector. Hasn't this guitar got a preamp?, it has two 9V batteries in it and i think with bass, treble, mid, balance and volume? is it a Bartolini preamp, what type is it?Can someone help me, Patrice or anyone? Sorry for all my questions and thank you Patrice Vigier for this awesome guitar.The guitar is like this model just in a different colour and it's got alock system at the top of the neck:

[thegrub68]

Hi,Sorry, I don't know where you get parts, but I do think your Arpege is likely an Arpege II if it was built in 1986.  Does it have a carbon fibre neck?  If it does I believe this makes it a II and not a I.  I believe the III had a 10/90 neck.  Some one from Vigier could probably clarify.  By the way, I've been looking for one of these for a long time.  Where did you find it?  I wish they still offered them.

[1Patrice Vigier]

The Arpege you show is the Arpege 1 (this one is the serial number 2 or 3 !)We still have some parts, but you need to be specific about what you need and your model.If the "holder" are the ball bearings, then it means that your guitar is with vibrato and this is a part we do not have, but note that you can live with this crack. This means also that it can be a an Arpege IIAgain, it is hard to help you if you do not show your guitar.If the electronic is original, it is a Vigier.Regarding the noise, NO WONDER!!!!!!!!!!!! when you pull the volume you add 20dB and when you pull the EQ you can also add an other 20dB..... this is enormous in dB (3dB mean you double the perception of the volume), it is not a matter of pickups...it is a matter of how you use the electronic.If you plan to change the guitar setting, sell it.... some musician are desperate to buy one Arpege if it was not changed.

[Arpege]

It's one of the very first made in 1986, bought it from a friend a long time ago. Weren't the first Arpeges made in 1986? Yes It has a carbon fibre neck, but I thought all carbon fibre necks were 10/90?These guitars are hard to find so I feel pretty lucky to own one. I wish they still offered them too :(  The new G.V.-models looks pretty interesting though...    

[Arpege]

Thanks for your reply Patrice! Good to know there's noting wrong with my pickups, I will NOT change the guitar settings. It's got the original setup, I even got the original whammy bar; so then I guess it's an Arpege II?Yes it's one of the ball bearings that's got a tiny crack.So this guitar doesn't split the humbuckers in to single coil mode when the volume pot is pulled as stated in the manual, instead it adds 20dB to the volume? Does this add any "flavour" to the sound from the guitar or is it just a pure volume-enhancer. I can get the same effect by turning up the volume a little-bit on my VH4? Do you have an e-mail which I could send some pictures/explanations, Patrice?It's really hard to find any info on this guitar, the only place, I guess, is this forum and you Patrice, thank you very much!(Am I the only one in this world who plays an Arpege on a Diezel-VH4? This is truly a dream team!  )

[thegrub68]

Patrice had clarified the differences in the Arpege in a question I posted some time ago.  Here are the details:"The Arpege I has a wood neck reinforced by a metal plate under the fingerboard.The Arpege II had a carbon neck.The Arpege III had a neck with the 10/90 system and a new shape."I believe the first Arpege goes back to 1980, or maybe even 1979.  Sounds like you have a collectors item on your hands.  I agree that you shouldn't change those pickups.  You can still get Benedetti pickups here:  http://n.mercadal.free.fr/.Can you post pictures of your Arpege?

[Arpege]

I don't think it is a collectors item. The guitar looks pretty much like this one, but with the same pot/switch-setup and Benedettis as the first picture I posted:I will post some pictures as soon as my camera gets back from service :)I found a guitar for you "thegrub68": http://www.toutournai.be/les-petites-annonces/annonces-en-vrac/article/a-vendre-guitare-vigier-passion-iiIt says it is a Passion II, but isn't it an Arpege? looks like the pickups been change...

[Arpege]

I'm also considering buying this bass, an Arpege from 1986, it costs about 820 Euros, is it worth it?I am not an expert in basses, does these sound any good?

[thegrub68]

Thank you for the link!  I need to brush up on my French to translate the description.The guitar in the picture you posted and in the link are both Passion IIs from what I can tell.  Both have the carbon fibre neck which is rare.  Looks like they did swap out the Benedettis.  Too bad, but still a nice guitar.  I'd put them back.  I like the Passion II, but if I couldn't find an Arpege II, I'd probably prefer a Passion III, some of which were made with the carbon fibre neck, I believe, before they switched to the 10/90 system.Thank you again for the link. 

[Arpege]

Yeah I see it now, the Arpeges and the Passions have a slightly different body-shape and different electronics/pots right?I'm pretty certain mine is an Arpege II, here is another link, an Arpege: http://www.guitariste.com/produit/annonce,vigier,vigier,vigier-arpege,12030,1676.htmlGood luck with the French!By the way, what's the colour on the guitar in the second picture posted called? is it "Ash" or "Silverburst"? This is the nicest colour ever in my opinion.

[1Patrice Vigier]

Yeah I see it now, the Arpeges and the Passions have a slightly different body-shape and different electronics/pots right?I'm pretty certain mine is an Arpege II, here is another link, an Arpege: http://www.guitariste.com/produit/annonce,vigier,vigier,vigier-arpege,12030,1676.htmlGood luck with the French!By the way, what's the colour on the guitar in the second picture posted called? is it "Ash" or "Silverburst"? This is the nicest colour ever in my opinion.

this is an Arpege 1

[1Patrice Vigier]

I don't think it is a collectors item. The guitar looks pretty much like this one, but with the same pot/switch-setup and Benedettis as the first picture I posted:I will post some pictures as soon as my camera gets back from service :)I found a guitar for you "thegrub68": http://www.toutournai.be/les-petites-annonces/annonces-en-vrac/article/a-vendre-guitare-vigier-passion-iiIt says it is a Passion II, but isn't it an Arpege? looks like the pickups been change...

This is a Passion II

[thegrub68]

You may have already noticed, but in case you have not:  In this month's edition of Permier Guitar, Opening Notes segment, they feature Stanley Jordan and his 1988 Vigier Arpege.  Only problem is they mention it has a neck with the 10/90 system.  Isn't his guitar an Arpege II with a full carbon fibre neck?

[Arpege]

In what years exactly did Vigier make the Arpege I, Arpege II and the Arpege III?And when did they stop using the full carbon fibre necks and started using the 10/90-system instead? 

[Arpege]

Stanley Jordan in Premier Guitar December 2009:

[Arpege]

Stanley Jordan in Premier Guitar December 2009:

[thegrub68]

I don't know how accurate this is, but this is from www.wikipedia.com Patrice Vigier sets up as an independent luthier.
1980: Exhibits at his first music show in Paris introducing the Arpege series and the following:
A/ Trapezoid through body neck
B/ Metallic reinforcement under the fretboard
C/ Creation of a fretless guitar with a metallic fretboard:
D/ Electronic supply by accumulator
E/ Through body Anchor Bridge
1982: Creation of a ball bearing Vibrato and the first memory guitar incorporating a processor (Nautilus System).
1983: The Passion series is revealed. An Arpege guitar with a flat fingerboard is made to fit Stanley Jordan's way of playing, the action of the string is set very low (0.5mm)
1984: Release of a carbon fibre neck guitar and a guitar including a ROM memory.
1985: The Marilyn series is presented.
1989: Creation of the carbon reinforced neck (90/10).
1991: The Excalibur series is revealed, with a bolt-on Neck, as well as the Floyd Rose Vibrato pivoting on needle bearings.
1996: The Excess Bass is released and an active noise reducer for the pickups appears.
1998: 18 years after the first fretless guitar, the Surfreter is introduced.
1999: Creation of the reinforced Zero Fret. Thanks to Bumblefoot, the
fretless guitar starts to sell worldwide; in the 18 years prior Vigier
had sold only one.
2000: The 7 string Excalibur hits the market. The Expert is also
released, featuring 3 single-coil pickups. For the 20th anniversary, a
special guitar is created, decorated with gold and jewels for a value
of 30,000 euros.
2001: A new Excalibur is released featuring the 2010 vibrato; a non-locking tremolo system pivoting on needle bearings.
2003: At the Frankfurt Musikmesse, a guitar is presented incorporating
a Midi system to control the pickup selector, volume and tone controls.
It was never to be released, since Vigier never approved the final
version.
2005: The Excalibur Shawn Lane is built with a flat radius and becomes the guitar with the lowest action offered on the market[citation needed].
2006: The Roger Glover signature bass and the Bumblefoot
signature guitar are unveiled. New features also appear: a new strap
button with secured endpin and heavier locking tuners that increases
sustain.
2007: The Excalibur Indus and Excalibur Special are made available in a left-handed version.
2008: Introduction of the first Vigier single cutaway, the G.V.. G.V.
are the initials of Georges Vigier that passed away in 2007. The name
has been chosen after a vote made on the manufacture web site by the
public.

[thegrub68]

Did you figure out if your Arpege is a I, II or III?