So, how stupid...

[Bob Savage]

... would it be to take a belt sander to my Vigier and cut in a forearm relief?

Here's my quandry: I've been getting my right hand into shape for a thrash project and because we're tuned down 1/2 step, I've been playing my Mason Bernard since it's already tuned that way. Well, the MB has a nice forearm relief and I've become very accustomed to it. My Excalibur Custom on the other hand has no relief whatsover. This has bugged me for a long time but it's something I've learned to live with, until now.

Now I'm used to the relief and my right hand picking technique has come to need it for all the fast little thrash thingies I need to pull off. The problem is when I play the Vigier now, I can't get my hand into the right position and my forearm starts to become VERY uncomfortable because the corner of the guitar is digging into it. I simply can't get comfortable enough to play it.

Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I don't just sell it and buy another, or something different so here are the complicating factors.

First, even if this guitar was in TIP TOP shape, I couldn't sell it and simply buy another one because I'd have to pull money out of my pocket, and there's no money.

Second, this guitar is not in prime condition. While it plays and sounds outstanding and is in perfect structural condition, the guitar got dropped and there are dents at the points of impact. This decreases the resale value dramatically.

Third, I really like this guitar. I like the way it sounds and the way it plays, so I want to keep it.

So, do I do like I did back in the 80's and butcher it for the sake of playability? I'm leaning towards yes. I have a friend who's a top notch finish carpenter who has a shop that the work could be done in. The plan would be to remove the neck, mask the entire body except where it will be sanded at the top, front, back corner, and we would hog out the material. After this we would sand it until the finish was ultra smooth, and then simply oil the corner.

Bring on the flames!!!!

 

[tweed]

I say do it. who give a sheet about the resale. Sand it, cut it , whatever and play the hell out of that thing.

 

[Bob Savage]

I say do it. who give a sheet about the resale. Sand it, cut it , whatever and play the hell out of that thing.

I knew there was a reason why I like you Randy.

 

[Digital Jams]

I think you answered your question Bob as you stated you will never get back what you have into it.

To some this sounds insane but why not?

 

[dstroud]

I used to have problem changing guitars - like what you've described, I would get too used to 1 guitar. I've found by spending an equal amount of time on different guitars (teles with relief, to teles with no relief to my Warlock) helps and now I feel equally comfortable playing any of my guitars - just a thought. But if that doesn't work, I'd definitely chop it up

 

[Tnjpekar]

Hey Bob, that the same viger you had at zeps last year?!
that guitar is a player, if you need to mod it, then do it. but what about this............since your taking the guitar apart anyway, check out reranch, grab yourself some nice nitro, and give it a refinish when your done anyway. maybe add two weeks to your project, but it could look killer

 

[Bob Savage]

Thanks for the input Scott!

I used to have problem changing guitars - like what you've described, I would get too used to 1 guitar. I've found by spending an equal amount of time on different guitars (teles with relief, to teles with no relief to my Warlock) helps and now I feel equally comfortable playing any of my guitars - just a thought. But if that doesn't work, I'd definitely chop it up

I do have a problem with that, however, it's become less of an issue lately for some reason, but the lack of a forearm relief is really causing me problems, while it seems the difference in scale, neck radius, etc. isn't.

Hey Bob, that the same viger you had at zeps last year?!
that guitar is a player, if you need to mod it, then do it. but what about this............since your taking the guitar apart anyway, check out reranch, grab yourself some nice nitro, and give it a refinish when your done anyway. maybe add two weeks to your project, but it could look killer

Yep, that's the one. I'll take a look at that, do they have a website? Plus, if I ever do decide I want to sell it, I could simply sell it as a Custom Vigier. Actually, it would be a Custom Vigier Excalibur Custom, so it would be double custom. Woot woot!

 

[guitarslinger]

I say mod it, and get it refinished.

 

[Bob Savage]

I say mod it, and get it refinished.

Remember point number one about the lack of money? I simply have too many other hobby based projects that are requiring every dime I have, which at this point is only about 3 or 4 dimes.

 

[Digital Jams]

Yeah just tape the body and create the relief and oil it.

It has binding doesn't it? That could be a small problem, should at least re-glue and make that look somewhat tidy.

Custom one of a kind Vigier super rare

 

[Bob Savage]

Yeah just tape the body and create the relief and oil it.

It has binding doesn't it? That could be a small problem, should at least re-glue and make that look somewhat tidy.

Custom one of a kind Vigier super rare

Nope, no binding just a maple top with a carved edge. The carved edge gives it the appearance of a binding.

Absolutely, I may actually increase the resale value with this mod.

 

[Bob Savage]

I say give the body the relief you need, BUT do it in a way that the sanded part looks good....not like it was a quick job. Make sure you take measurements from the other guitar body that you like....so that you only remove as little wood as possible. Good luck.

BTW, I had the same problem you have ....with Les Pauls. To solve my problem, I round off the body bindingas much as possible so that it doesnt cut into my arm and still looks natural

I absolutely intend on doing a good job on it, getting a nice fine sand on it, and then oiling.

I'm actually quite surprised by the opinions in this thread. Maybe I need to ask at HC.

 

[Marshall Freak]

I say go for it, but with as little wood removed as possible. Didn't EVH cut the horn off his iceman or explorer and then said it was ruined tonally? Something to think about I guess. I doubt you'd cut much off it just to round it though.

If it were a 50's Tele or Les Paul it might be a stupid move, but who am I too talk, I just put strap locks on my '56.

Go for it.

 

[Skirmish]

I say do it. who give a sheet about the resale. Sand it, cut it , whatever and play the hell out of that thing.

+1 All my guitars are just like tools: They serve the purpose of being played. So whatever needs to be done for me to play it better, I do it. Nevermind the resale value bla bla...

 

[Skirmish]

Yep, that's the one. I'll take a look at that, do they have a website? Plus, if I ever do decide I want to sell it, I could simply sell it as a Custom Vigier. Actually, it would be a Custom Vigier Excalibur Custom, so it would be double custom. Woot woot!

LMFAO!!! "It`s a one of a kind Cutom Vigier Custom with "California only" customized arm relief, only one that has ever been made available only in California, U.S.A." You should think about swapping the neck in order to make it a "triple custom" though!

 

[david simpson]

Bob.....put on the dust mask...

 

[Bob Savage]

O.K., I'm heading over to my bro MD's place at 3 PM for the official butchering of the Vigier!

 

[vultures]

Hell yeah man. Let's see some before and after pics!

 

[Bob Savage]

Hell yeah man. Let's see some before and after pics!

Good idea!

 

[Bob Savage]

On another note, I removed the Dimarzio Evolutions from my Mason Bernard and installed a Duncan Distortion and a 59 (neck) and WOW!! Those Evo's are pretty loose pickups. The response is much tighter with the Distortion.