Vigier Guitars

Hi everyone,
I've just bought my first Vigier - a secondhand 2004 Ultra Blues.  Can anyone help me with a few questions please?
1) Have the current Ultra Blues guitars been upgraded much since 2004?  I suppose what I'm asking is does mine differ much from a brand new one?  The only difference to my eye is that mine has the old black string tree rather than the Flexretainer style.
2) Are frets on a 2004 model stainless steel like the new ones?
3) I notice the bridge on the new ones is called the 2011 bridge.  Is this just a model name or was it actually introduced in 2011?  If so, what would be on mine?
Thanks very much in advance for any help you guys can offer.
Lavox.
 

Think I've just found the answer to question 2 in another thread.  Stainless steel was introduced in 2010, right?

I will try to help answer...
From your 2004 here are the difference; 1meg pots / same tremolo system, pivoting on needles bearings, but with thicker (2011) style arm / position of vol-tone pots changed / stainless steel frets / removable Teflon nut / Flexretainer / Hiscox specially designed, * hard-case.
Your 2004 Excalibur should still be a very, very nice instrument indeed...I have some earlier Excalibur's in my personal collection and they are fantastic! 

Hi Ben,
Many thanks for taking the time to reply with all that info.  Is there any old manuals or spec sheets online that are available for a 2004 Excalibur UB?  Now that you've told me all about what's on the new ones i'd love to find out what I have on mine as an equivalent now.
Was there/is there much difference in the necks between 2004 and present day?  In terms of profile or 'feel'?  I suppose thats quite a subjective question, but do you feel much difference between your old ones and a new one?
Thanks again for your help 

Hmmm, yes, I do belive there is a difference in the necks, but strictly there 'shouldn't' be any difference (spec-wise). You can feel a very, very slight difference between guitar to guitar, across any of the years - but it is a VERY small difference, if any, and this is very subjective indeed.
We have kept the old website running as an archive of information, you will find more info on your guitar here; http://www.vigierguitars.net/indexhtm.htm 

Thanks again, Ben!
That's a fantastic resource.  I know what I'll be reading all about tonight then
Much appreciated!

Another question, Ben, if you don't mind... 
If I have to replace my zero fret ever, do Vigier still produce the hardened ones as well as the SS ones as a part I can buy?  Where can I order from in the UK, specifically Edinburgh?
And - last one - what's my nut made of?  Is it teflon too?
Thanks dude!

The zero fret is the same, stainless steel (this was the 'hardened' material used) For the nut, yours will be a graphite nut. 

So, here it is...
I must have found this guitar on about 10 different sites.  Always for sale!  Bizzare!  After a wee bit of tweaking its an absolute cracker!  
Can anyone (Ben, haha - sorry for pestering you man) tell me what finish this is?  I thought it was Fire Burst but maybe after seeing the Antique Violin finish, it looks as dark as that.  What do you think?

And here's one of the neck pocket.  8th October 2004.
I read somewhere that there was a luthier identification on every guitar.  This may or may not be BS, but could this be it on the wee yellow sticker?  Any ideas who if it is?

What a stunner you hav ethere, well done!!!!! For finish, it is is Amber.
That is the inspection sticker, though the guitars are worked on / finished / set-up by more than one luthier...in fcat every guitar is checked by Patrice Vigier himself before it leaves the factory. 

Aaaaah, amber! Nice one, thanks.
That's an amazing thought that every guitar leaving for sales is checked personally by Patrice!  Amazing but not surprising really considering the attention to detail given throughout the whole process!  You don't get that kind of assurance anywhere else as far as I'm aware!
Ben, you might get an email from Jeff at World Guitars ordering a new zero fret and nut for someone in Edinburgh.  That's me!  I realise there's a stockists really close to me, but World Guitars and Tone World were the only dudes of all the UK stockists to get back to me, thus confirming my choice to avoid my local one as a first port of call.
Anyway, thanks for the reply and the info once again!  Really useful 
 

Lavox wrote: I realise there's a stockists really close to me
 

 
Don't be too hard on your 'local dealer', they are new, you might have to 'shout a bit louder' at them! 

Ha ha. Fair doos. You know how it is, dude. We have our favourite shops and our, er... not so favourite shops