Last Updated on December 28, 2023 by Chris
Table of Contents
Does Vigier make left handed guitars?
Yes they do! At the time of writing, there are two left handed Vigier guitars available.
Go straight to the guitars, or read on for more info.
Who Are Vigier Guitars?
French guitarist and luthier Patrice Vigier founded Vigier Guitars in 1980, after learning some skills from his father, and then honing his craft by modifying his own guitars and then later repairing other people’s in 1978. This helped him find recurring problems with guitars and address them with his own models.
Vigier began with its Arpege model, which featured neck-thru construction, 18-volt active electronics, and a metal plate under the fingerboard.
Vigier guitars became known for their various innovations, including modular PCB-based electronics, Phenowood fingerboards, and they also produced the first guitar with onboard memory and microprocessor.
Later in 1989, Vigier introduced the 10/90 neck system, which features 10% carbon and 90% wood. This gives the neck amazing strength and stability, making it impervious to any movement due to changes in climate or string gauge.
By the early ’90s, Vigier introduced their Excalibur guitar shape, which is probably their most well-known design.
In 1995, Shawn Lane and Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal became Vigier artists, both later having signature models available in 2005 and 2006 respectively.
The first left handed Vigier guitars also appeared in 2006.
In memory of his father, Georges Vigier, who passed away in 2007, Vigier released the award-winning G.V. series in 2010.
The same year also saw the release of the Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal signature guitar, the eye-catching DoubleBfoot twin necked guitar, which features one fretted neck and one fretless. It later went into production in 2013.
Here’s Bumblefoot himself demonstrating one of his signature guitars:
Vigier guitars and basses are handmade in their workshop in France using carefully selected, locally sourced woods that are subject to strictly controlled storage conditions. The wood is air-dried for a minimum of three years before being considered for an instrument and once selected, takes another year before it’s made into a guitar or bass.
All instruments use Vigier’s 90/10 necks for improved stability and sustain, and are fitted with their own custom-made electronics and pickups.
Unfortunately, after more than 40 years of making guitars and basses, it came out in May, 2022 that Patrice Vigier has decided to stop production by the end of 2023, with no new orders beyond March 11th, 2022 being accepted.
With this in mind, new Vigier instruments will only be available from retailers until stock runs out. After that, you’ll have to find them pre-owned.
Although some Vigier models are on sale with various retailers, there aren’t a lot, so in many cases a new Vigier will have to be specially ordered.
Famous musicians who’ve played Vigier instruments include Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath), Buckethead, Guthrie Govan (The Aristocrats), Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Glenn Hughes, John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin, Them Crooked Vultures), Gary Moore, and Ricky Warwick (Black Star Riders, Thin Lizzy).
Related reading:
- Left Handed Music Man Guitars & Basses
- Left Handed Fender Guitars & Basses
- Left Handed ESP Guitars & Basses
What Do I Think of Vigier Guitars?
It’s only been relatively recently that I first heard of Vigier Guitars; it was when I saw the Tina S cover of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata on YouTube back in 2016. I was certainly impressed with her fast, intricate playing, but I didn’t recognize the guitar she was playing.
After discovering this new brand, naturally, I took to the internet to find out more!
I found out about the 10/90 neck system which removes the need for a truss rod, and also the fact that they make fretless guitars! I thought that was so cool, the metal fingerboards make them look so different from anything else out there.
Even though it’s a pretty niche thing, any company willing to make fretless guitars and basses is good in my book. It’s not something you see very often and they have a really unique sound.
Here’s Guthrie Govan demonstrating one:
Different Types of Vigier Guitars
Electric Guitars
- Excalibur Series
- Expert Series
- G.V. Series
- Marilyn Series
- Artist Signature
Bass Guitars
- Arpege Series
- Excess Series
- Passion Series
Left Handed Vigier Electric Guitars
At the time of writing, there are two left handed Vigier electric guitar models.
Although production continues until the end of 2023, and right handed models are still available, left handed models are nowhere to be seen at the time of writing. You will have to look out for them in the second-hand market.
Please note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, I may get a small commission if you buy anything when you click through. If you do make a purchase, then thank you so much! It really helps me keep this website going.
Excalibur Special HSH Left Handed
Made in France
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.6″ (650 mm)
- BODY TYPE: Solid
- BODY: Two center-joined pieces of solid, naturally aged alder
- TOP: Flamed Maple
- BODY FINISH: Varnish dried for 5 weeks minimum
- COLOR: Amber, Amethyst Purple, Black Diamond, Deep Blue, Deep Burgundy, Deep Deep Blue, Fire Burst, Gold, Light Sapphire, Mysterious Blue, Mysterious Black, Mysterious Green, Mysterious Purple, Mysterious Red, Natural Maple, Ruby, Transparent White, Velours Noir
- NECK TYPE: Bolt-On featuring the 10/90 System (10% carbon, 90% wood)
- NECK MATERIAL: Maple – Naturally dried for 3 years
- PROFILE: D
- NECK FINISH: Matte varnish
- FINGERBOARD: Maple or Rosewood with Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 11.81″ (300 mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 1.65″ (42 mm)
- NUT TYPE: Teflon with hardened zero fret technology
- FRETS: 24 Medium + Zero fret
- HARDWARE COLOR: Chrome
- TUNERS: Vigier oversized locking machine heads
- BRIDGE: Vigier 2011 non-locking tremolo, pivoting on needles bearings
- NECK PICKUP: DiMarzio PAF Pro Humbucker
- MIDDLE PICKUP: DiMarzio FS-1 Single Coil
- BRIDGE PICKUP: DiMarzio Tone Zone Humbucker
- CONTROLS: Volume, Tone, 5-position switch (1 Humbucker in neck position, 2 Single coil in neck & middle position, 3 Single coil in neck & bridge position, 4 Single coil in bridge & middle position, 5 Humbucker in bridge position)
- WEIGHT: 7.7lbs (3.5 KG)
Check price/availability at:
Excalibur Indus Left Handed
Made in France
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.6″ (650 mm)
- BODY TYPE: Solid
- BODY: Two center-joined pieces of solid, naturally aged alder
- BODY FINISH: Black Matte, White Matte
- NECK TYPE: Bolt-On featuring the 10/90 System (10% carbon, 90% wood)
- NECK MATERIAL: Maple – Naturally dried for 3 years
- PROFILE: D
- NECK FINISH: Matte varnish
- FINGERBOARD: Maple or Rosewood with Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 11.81″ (300 mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 1.65″ (42 mm)
- NUT TYPE: Teflon with hardened zero fret technology
- FRETS: 24 Medium + Zero fret
- HARDWARE COLOR: Chrome
- TUNERS: Vigier machine heads
- BRIDGE: Vigier 2011 non-locking tremolo, pivoting on needles bearings
- NECK PICKUP: DiMarzio PAF Classic Humbucker
- BRIDGE PICKUP: DiMarzio PAF Classic Humbucker
- CONTROLS: Volume, Tone, 5-position switch (1 Humbucker in neck position, 2 Single coil in neck position, 3 Single coil in neck & bridge position, 4 Single coil in bridge, 5 Humbucker in bridge position)
- WEIGHT: 7.7lbs (3.5 KG)
Check price/availability at:
Left Handed Vigier Acoustic Guitars
At the time of writing, Vigier does not make acoustic guitars.
Left Handed Vigier Bass Guitars
Although Vigier makes bass guitars, unfortunately, there are no left handed models at the time of writing.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it, at the time of writing, there are two left handed electric guitar models available from Vigier. It is, however, unfortunate that they don’t make any of their basses in lefty configuration.
It’s not always easy to find these guitars either, so they would normally have to be bought on special order.
Unfortunately, this will no longer be possible as sadly, Vigier Guitars will stop production by the end of 2023. Hopefully, there’ll be some way of continuing the brand.
What are your thoughts on Vigier guitars and basses? Let us know in the comments!
Photo/image credits: vigierguitars.com, Vigier France Facebook page