Vigier Guitars
Vigier Guitars is a French manufacturer of high-specification electric guitars and basses, known for experimental construction, carbon-reinforced necks, fretless instruments, and domestic production.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Vigier Guitars was a French musical-instrument company established in 1980 by Patrice Vigier, a self-taught luthier who began modifying guitars and making replacement necks in the late 1970s. Based in Grigny, Essonne, the company developed a reputation for technically ambitious electric guitars and basses made in France, combining conventional woodworking with metal alloys, carbon reinforcement, composite fingerboard materials, specialized bridges, and active electronics. The company’s first major instrument was the Arpege, introduced at a music fair in 1980. Its design incorporated neck-through construction, active electronics, a fixed bridge, custom Benedetti humbuckers, and distinctive reinforcement beneath the fingerboard. Vigier pursued unusual solutions from the beginning: in 1981 it used a rechargeable power supply for electronics rather than ordinary disposable batteries, and a subsequent model incorporated the Nautilus equalizer and sound-memory system. The Passion and Marilyn expanded the range during the 1980s, while the Excalibur, introduced in 1991, became one of the company’s best-known guitar families. Vigier’s product portfolio included solid-body electric guitars, basses, fretless instruments, and strings. Important lines included the Excalibur, Expert, G.V., Marilyn, Arpege, Passion, Excess, and Surfreter. The Surfreter was a fretless derivative of the Excalibur, while the Expert drew on the general format of classic Stratocaster-style guitars. The company also developed artist-associated instruments such as the Excalibur Shawn Lane, Excalibur Bumblefoot Ron Thal, and Excess Roger Glover. In 2009 it introduced the single-cut G.V., named in reference to Georges Vigier, Patrice Vigier’s late father. Manufacturing was carried out in France and combined CNC machining with extensive hand-finishing. Vigier described a production process in which selected woods were naturally dried for several years before being shaped, stored in controlled conditions, and assembled. Bodies were generally made from two pieces, while necks used the company’s 90/10 construction: predominantly wood with a carbon reinforcement bar replacing a conventional adjustable truss rod. Instruments incorporated stainless-steel frets, a zero fret, a Teflon nut, locking tuners, shielded cavities, locking Neutrik jacks, and, on relevant models, bridges supported by needle bearings. The company reported an average output of approximately 500 instruments per year. Alongside manufacturing, Vigier operated an import and wholesale-distribution business. Created in 1986 and renamed High Tech Distribution two years later, the division handled musical instruments, amplifiers, and accessories from brands including Ampeg, DiMarzio, Ernie Ball, Music Man, Orange, Premier, and Trace Elliot. This gave the business a broader role in the French musical-equipment trade than its own guitar brand alone would suggest. Vigier received recognition for technical innovation and lutherie. Patrice Vigier was named Luthier of the Year in the electric-guitar category in 1992, and the Excalibur was recognized by The Music And Sound Retailer in 1993. Later instruments received Premier Guitar nominations, including the G.V. Wood in 2011 and Excalibur Special 7 in 2013. In 2000, the company marked its twentieth anniversary with an ornate Excalibur Surfreter valued at EUR 30,000, decorated with precious metals and gemstones. In 2025, Patrice Vigier stated on forums that he had retired and was no longer making instruments, leaving the company’s continuing operating status unclear.
History
Patrice Vigier began working on guitars in the late 1970s, modifying existing instruments and producing finished necks before establishing his own company in 1980. His early work reflected an interest in solving structural and electronic problems rather than simply reproducing established guitar formats. The first Vigier model, the Arpege, appeared at a music fair in 1980 and combined neck-through construction, active electronics, custom Benedetti humbuckers, a fixed bridge, and reinforcement beneath the fingerboard. A fretless version used a metal fingerboard. Vigier continued this experimental approach during the early 1980s. In 1981 the company used a rechargeable power system for its electronics, and in 1983 it introduced a model equipped with the Nautilus equalizer and sound-memory system. The Passion appeared in 1983, followed by the Marilyn in 1985. These models established a range that covered both guitars and basses while maintaining the company’s emphasis on unusual engineering and controlled manufacturing. In 1986, Vigier diversified into import and wholesale distribution of musical instruments, amplifiers, and accessories. The distribution operation was separated from the manufacturing identity and renamed High Tech Distribution in 1988. Its portfolio included Ampeg, DiMarzio, Ernie Ball, Music Man, Orange, Premier, and Trace Elliot. The distribution activity broadened Vigier’s role within the French music-equipment sector, while the company’s own instruments remained focused on specialist electric guitars and basses. The 1990s brought several important additions. Vigier introduced the Excalibur in 1991, a guitar family that became central to the brand’s identity. Patrice Vigier received a Luthier of the Year award in the electric-guitar category in 1992, and the Excalibur was recognized as the Most Innovative Guitar of the Year by The Music And Sound Retailer in 1993. The Excess bass arrived in 1996, followed by the Surfreter, a fretless Excalibur variant, in 1998. For its twentieth anniversary in 2000, Vigier produced an exceptional Excalibur Surfreter decorated with gold, diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds. The instrument was valued at EUR 30,000. The same year saw the launch of the Expert, a model influenced by the general design language of the Fender Stratocaster. Vigier also worked on a guitar featuring MIDI control for its selector, volume, and tone functions. A prototype was shown at the 2003 Frankfurt music fair, but the project was not completed because Patrice Vigier did not approve the final version. During the second half of the 2000s, the company expanded into signature instruments. The Excalibur Shawn Lane appeared in 2005, followed in 2006 by the Excalibur Bumblefoot Ron Thal and Excess Roger Glover models. In 2009 Vigier added the G.V. single-cut guitar, named in tribute to Georges Vigier. Later recognition included Premier Guitar nominations for the G.V. Wood in 2011 and Excalibur Special 7 in 2013. Vigier’s manufacturing system combined French woodworking and hand-finishing with precision machining. Woods including alder, maple, and ash were sourced from France, while rosewood and mahogany were imported. Raw timber was sorted and naturally dried for several years before being processed. Bodies and necks were shaped using templates and CNC equipment, but final construction, finishing, and setup involved extensive manual work. The company used materials such as steel and copper alloys, Delta metal, iMetal, and Phenowood, a resin-based composite. Its 90/10 neck design used a carbon reinforcement bar in place of an adjustable truss rod. Production was reported at roughly 500 instruments annually, with each instrument taking several months to complete. In 2025, Patrice Vigier reported that he had retired and no longer made instruments. Since the available reference does not establish whether the company formally dissolved, transferred production, or continues in another form, Vigier Guitars’ present status remains uncertain.
- 2025
Patrice Vigier announces retirement
[1]Patrice Vigier states that he has retired and is no longer making instruments.
- 2009
G.V. single-cut introduced
[1]Vigier launches the G.V. single-cut guitar, named with reference to Georges Vigier.
- 2006
Bumblefoot Ron Thal and Roger Glover models introduced
[1]The Excalibur Bumblefoot Ron Thal and Excess Roger Glover models expand Vigier’s signature range.
- 2005
Excalibur Shawn Lane introduced
[1]Vigier begins a later series of artist-associated models with the Excalibur Shawn Lane.
- 2003
MIDI-controlled guitar prototype presented
[1]A prototype with MIDI-controlled selector, volume, and tone functions is shown at the Frankfurt music fair but is not finalized.
- 2000
Twentieth-anniversary Excalibur Surfreter created
[1]Vigier marks its twentieth anniversary with a gemstone-decorated Excalibur Surfreter valued at EUR 30,000.
- 2000
Expert model launched
[1]Vigier introduces the Expert, a guitar influenced by classic Stratocaster-style designs.
- 1998
Surfreter introduced
[1]The company launches the fretless Surfreter, derived from the Excalibur platform.
- 1996
Excess bass introduced
[1]Vigier adds the Excess bass to its product range.
- 1993
Excalibur receives innovation award
[1]The Excalibur is named Most Innovative Guitar of the Year by The Music And Sound Retailer.
Products and positioning
French-made, technically innovative professional instruments emphasizing precision construction, unusual materials, fretless designs, long-term neck stability, specialized hardware, and limited-scale production.
Electric guitar and bass · 1980
Arpege
The Arpege was Vigier’s first major model, introduced in 1980. It used neck-through construction with a trapezoidal extension, reinforcement under the fingerboard, active electronics, a fixed bridge, and custom Benedetti humbuckers. A fretless version used a metal fingerboard, making the model an early expression of Vigier’s interest in alternative construction and fretless performance.
Electric guitar and bass · 1983
Passion
Introduced in 1983, the Passion expanded Vigier’s range beyond the original Arpege concept. It was offered as both a guitar and a bass line and formed part of the company’s early effort to apply its precision-oriented construction methods across multiple instrument formats.
Electric guitar · 1985
Marilyn
The Marilyn, launched in 1985, was one of Vigier’s early electric-guitar models. It belonged to the company’s French-made range and reflected its broader strategy of offering distinctive solid-body instruments alongside the Arpege and Passion families.
Electric guitar · 1991
Excalibur
Introduced in 1991, the Excalibur became one of Vigier’s signature guitar families. It supported several variants, including the fretless Surfreter and later artist-associated models. The line represented the brand’s combination of ergonomic solid-body design, precision machining, specialized hardware, and structurally stable neck construction.
Electric bass · 1996
Excess
The Excess bass was introduced in 1996. It extended Vigier’s bass offering and later served as the platform for the Excess Roger Glover signature model. As with other Vigier instruments, the range was associated with French production and the company’s focus on stable, precision-built necks and specialized components.
Fretless electric guitar · 1998
Surfreter
The Surfreter was introduced in 1998 as a fretless derivative of the Excalibur. It addressed players seeking fretless electric-guitar performance while retaining Vigier’s broader construction philosophy. The model also became the basis for an elaborate twentieth-anniversary instrument decorated with precious materials.
Electric guitar · 2000
Expert
Launched in 2000, the Expert was inspired by the general format of the classic Fender Stratocaster. It gave Vigier a more familiar double-cut electric-guitar silhouette while retaining the company’s own manufacturing methods, hardware choices, and emphasis on technical precision.
Single-cut electric guitar · 2009
G.V.
The G.V. was Vigier’s single-cut model, introduced in 2009. Its name referred to Georges Vigier, Patrice Vigier’s late father. The line broadened the company’s design vocabulary beyond its more familiar double-cut and extended-neck forms while remaining part of the French-made Vigier range.
Brand decisions
2025
Founder retires from instrument makingStrategyBackground
Patrice Vigier reported that he had retired after decades of designing and producing Vigier instruments.
Action taken
He stated that he was no longer making instruments.
Aftermath
The available reference does not establish whether production was transferred, discontinued, or reorganized, so the company’s current status is unresolved.
2003
MIDI-controlled guitar project discontinuedProduct launchBackground
Vigier developed a guitar with MIDI control for the selector, volume, and tone controls and presented a prototype at the Frankfurt music fair.
Action taken
The company did not finalize the product because Patrice Vigier did not approve the final version.
Aftermath
The instrument remained a prototype rather than becoming a production model.
1986
Vigier enters wholesale distributionStrategyBackground
The company sought to participate more broadly in the musical-equipment market beyond manufacturing its own guitars and basses.
Action taken
Vigier created an import and wholesale division for instruments, amplifiers, and accessories, later separating it under the High Tech Distribution name.
Aftermath
The distribution operation carried brands such as Ampeg, DiMarzio, Ernie Ball, Music Man, Orange, Premier, and Trace Elliot.
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