Vigier Excalibur Fretless Guitar Review With Guthrie Govan - Guitar Interactive Magazine

Guthrie Govan reviews the Vigier Excalibur Guitar. Exclusively featured & reviewed in iGuitar Issue 9. bit.ly/GuthrieGovan_VigierSurf...
This Vigier Excahilbur comes with Chrome hardware & an iMetal fretboard! To order your own Vigier - head to www.vigierguitars.com
Watch tips on playing a Vigier fretless guitar with Guthrie Govan here on our Guitar Interactive KZbin Channel; bit.ly/playing_a_vigier_fretless
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[@lassehagelund3903]

Imagine reading tabs and then realize you have a fretless guitar..

[@syllantshun9807]

lmao hahahaahahahaha

[@thotballune]

Lasse Hagelund thats why you learn standard notation lmao

[@lassehagelund3903]

tim it was just a joke :)

[@justintyler3620]

if your a good guitar player you know where they are

[@karebu3924]

DigitalOctaveLoL Well, he's right. The joke wasn't necessarily funny, but it was quite clever, it made me smile.

[@lordsong7]

First demo I've seen that really takes advantage of the fretless aspect. VERY nice!

[@Andresmoomoo]

right? first video I've seen that makes a fretless not sound like a regular slightly flat or sharp tuned guitar

[@SenatorBanana]

his intonation is so good and hes probably barely played fretless. mr govan is from another galaxy i swear..

[@andrewlarson603]

It's not that difficult to play in tune on fretless guitar, especially if you have attained a decent level of proficiency on the fretted. I picked up one and was able to get in tune with relative ease. It's not at all the same as going from guitar to violin which feels like starting all over again......

[@Andresmoomoo]

dude dont bulshit everyone going to fretless guitar with no experience is a trip out i don't care how long u been playing, this man is impressive

[@andrewlarson603]

It isn't bullshit......I bet that if you're a good player who knows his way around the fretboard than you would be pleasantly surprised. I didn't say I played like an expert on the fretless it's just that the intonation is surprisingly easy to get together......your fingers will adjust rather quickly......

[@stormyandcold]

Amazing playing. Not many guitarists could demo this guitar.

[@EothaG]

Amen to that. I could maybe play a few chords and that's it. This guy is really, really good!

[@markopolo2224]

yes

[@reiniervanzwieten7092]

Chords are some of the hardest things to do on a fretless though

[@martingoldfire]

Every guitarist can do this, badly.

[@terrynitup83]

@@0megalul309 Vai, govan, satriani, gilbert, malmsteen etc etc are all on a pantheon of guitar gods but shawn lane and alan holdsworth were some kind of freakish anomalie, it is difficult for me to listen to as my brain is too small to even compute their music.

[@KurtTijamoMusic]

Yeah! Take that violinists! We can do it too! Well I mean, he can do it. I can't. 😓

[@toddmcmahon2648]

Guthrie does EVERYthing better than the human guitar player can.

[@zklakay8509]

"WE" communist 100

[@Varra1]

6:07 _the licc_

[@intenttothrill]

To all the people who have all the notes and microtones down to muscle memory on fretless instruments, you guys are fuckin' heros, man. I still gotta have drawn on/pre marked fret spots to do anything past the 4th or 5th fret.

[@julioteodoro7018]

Exactly!

[@TheFlipsta97]

intenttothrill Don't feel too bad, I played cello for nigh on a decade. I used pencil markings for the majority of that time.

[@Onoma314]

Guthrie could make a damn broom stick sound good, it's just not fair

[@MediHusky]

I think it's fair, I very much doubt he was born that good at guitar. Never seen anyone born good at anything, except mooching chumps.

[@toddmcmahon2648]

maybe not fair. But, thank god for people like him to push the rest of us forward. Without people like him we'd still be stuck listening to B.B King

[@BlueGrenadeTom]

Todd Mcmahon - We could be stuck with worse...

[@gonzalooliveraalves]

6:08 Thank you, Adam Neely! Now I hear "the lick" everywhere

[@SLVMBER80s]

Got the tabs for you guys: 0-0-0-0-0-h0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 AMARIGHT!!!????

[@m74d3]

+SLVMBER No, it would actually be 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-h-1-1-1--1

[@ennegativetat]

+SLVMBER but it's six

[@rodrigobeltrame3212]

Underrated comment.

[@markhawksford785]

these comments are so stupid. tab is written exactly the same as a fretted instrument.

[@markhawksford785]

regardless whether it is fretless or not.

[@Reymono563]

I just want to play the SpongeBob theme on that guitar and I'll die happily

[@gunmath6115]

Reymono563 fuck i almost liked this twice

[@markfarrell9344]

Reymono563 yes!

[@snoek1971]

😂👊🏻

[@shahtihan]

the whole soundtrack of that show , some surf music and play them on this guitar. Ahh

[@billsteinly8105]

If nautical nonsense be something you wish Flop your hands on the guitar and play like a fish

[@twitch.101]

Heard his voice an immediately liked

[@77Fortran]

Ryan Lawrence Here in the UK they made a sitcom about older Guthrie Govan called 'Saxondale', I recommend it.

[@enigmatickendo]

There's even a book about him called "The Bible."

[@horizonontheroof]

Its like bob ross giving guitar lessons

[@krookiemonster2673]

tryptaminesandotherdeathexperiments happy little C# loud

[@Iokosuna]

hahaha

[@GuitarInteractive]

Subscribe to our Channel for more Gear Reviews! >> bit.ly/iguitarmagazine_KZbin

[@ZumunYT]

Guthrie makes it look so easy

[@RigGamer]

Always wondered how made that annoying Grand turismo music,

[@Delayeed9]

ahahahah

[@oldkingcole4750]

you win

[@davidalejandrocc]

D

[@PapaJohn1612]

lol 'annoying' I listen to its soundtrack daily

[@juvedoo99]

Eviscirator One of the best video game sountracks.

[@hmol1955]

Man, what a ear you have! This is the way we aught to play our axes - practising as violinists.

[@cheezmunky1]

Its not as tricky as one might think. Usually there's marks on the top of the neck where a fret would be and you just put your finger there. If you've ever played a stand-up bass, you find that the fretlessness isn't too hard to overcome.

[@hmol1955]

Yeah, but never the less. The tolerance on the bass is easier to handler. The guitar is closer to the violin - my oh my!

[@alexism.1701]

WASSUP FELLOW VIOLINIST!!!

[@hmol1955]

Love ya!

[@yaboi-km2qn]

It’s all about getting your hand in the right spot. No one would be able to adjust the intonation that quickly by ear.

[@mariusmeyer3243]

Seriously, this guy could make a barbed-wire-strung casti-iron pipe sound like heaven!

[@gunmath6115]

quite the reference there

[@sunstryder]

Hahaha that's hilarious to imagine

[@TheArtofGuitar]

The intro to The Finer Things by Steve Winwood sounds like this.

[@ogloc9016]

Hi

[@leftymadrid]

Wow, I am blown away at his playing PERIOD!!!!! I mean that fretless guitar is crazy cool of course but this guy can play the guitar. Most of us would/can only dream of playing like this chap. Fantastic video, and very thankful for you sharing.

[@patrickcarroll1754]

-A virtuoso in versatility and complexity. I tip my hat to one of the worlds most intelligent minstrels.

[@saltspringdesign]

perfect intonation, our man Guthrie is a genius. Great teacher also, cool character.

[@Flewteh]

But will it overused joke?

[@treyshawnbeats]

FLewth I appreciate this

[@gunmath6115]

hahaha😅 only if you tune it down to drop D(jent)

[@Ardeact]

Blend? Djent?

[@ChimpFromSpace]

3 years ago it was "But will it" jokes. Which modern joke could possibly be more played out?? Hold my beer...

[@cjaquilino]

@@ChimpFromSpace Am I a joke to you?

[@danmccarthy4700]

Clicked on this video because I was genuinely curious to hear what a fretless guitar sounds like and holy sh*t, this guy is AMAZING.

[@SamChaneyProductions]

Holy crap this guy is incredible!

[@milotimberlake2047]

Sam Chaney Yeah...

[@fazexx_sanic420_xx5]

He sounds like a fucking wizard

[@mkfanforever58]

He looks homeless but he is no mere mortal.

[@mazklassa9338]

he's not your average wizard he's a guitar wizard

[@plutokomit3877]

I don't get the negativity. Can people not understand that everyone is going to have a different opinion on what sounds good looks cool and makes sense? I don't get all the "well you can't play this style with this guitar" You can! That's the beauty of music. Just do what you want. I just don't understand. I love diversity and love when someone whips out a fret less of any kind at a show or whatnot. It's neat.

[@passion_flora]

This guy gets it

[@kubel83]

Jorden Garberson cause people are idiots and cry babies. If they get it their way we will only have Justine Beliver clone bands left. Music is great cause there are no rule books. So yeah im 100% with you. People should shut up and enjoy the music and all the endless possibilities it offers.

[@mantraspsyche6077]

this kind of instruments opens new doors to whomever gets ideas out of it. Haters are nothing to be worried about: they will be quickly forgotten ^^

[@montlejohnbojangles8937]

Absolutely. It makes a sound and that sound is wild.

[@DarrenNoFun]

even if you are limited by the instrument for what genre you can play, picking up this guitar and saying "well you can't play Thrash!" is like picking up a hammer and saying "well how the hell am I supposed to screw in a screw with this". a guitar is a tool, and it's up to the artist to pick the right tool for the job.

[@MrLILTWIX5211]

If Jaco played guitar 😂😂

[@thotballune]

Marc Forte Can you imagine him playing one though? id love to hear it lol

[@spencrmusic]

Marc Forte i was thinkin the same damn thing!

[@ANTONSANMARTIN]

Hey man!!! Long time no see!!! You've been to Brazil a few years ago. I was among other musicians learning tips on your techniques once in Juiz de Fora, next to Rio de janeiro. Great to hear from you and notice that your quite well. Cool guitar!!!

[@TheWitchOvAgnesi]

Probably the best demo of a fretless guitar on KZbin in terms of what is capable on it and what the sound is like.

[@necihenz7784]

Guthrie Govan is nothing less than a master class guitarist....nothing but talent, class and natural ability. One of the best

[@snuppssynthchannel]

The Pastorius is powerful in this one! :P

[@AraoftheFunk]

No way i can afford the guitar and I don't really want one, but I come back to this video every now and then just because even guthrie's causal playing here is just incredible.

[@wacvader]

Wow! I could listen to him play that all day. He makes that guitar sound so good.

[@JakeyBaby6]

You can really hear that Guthrie has got better at fretless since the first review he did. He is an incredible player and one of the most versatile players ever :)

[@adammercysystem6450]

I like this chap. He seems like someone you could get along nicely with.

[@aurarapmx]

His playing is so effortless, is such a pleasure to watch.

[@jordinstallman]

Guthrie your such a good speaker. So smooth and relate-able. It matches your playing so well. In Sync. Awesome.

[@MrJeppe313]

tabs?

[@Blackand]

0 00 000000 00 0

[@bullbuchanan3074]

Epic

[@andreabibiano2019]

maybe 1111 11 1111 11 1 1

[@gusagus550]

no tabs, maybe full feeling

[@theinnocentdevil4637]

origin of symmetry is a p good album tbh

[@muhrvis]

Great demo. Only someone very versed in their fretboard knowledge is going to be able to play like this on a fretless guitar! Fun.

[@ynxeita4131]

Wow! That guitar is beautiful, and has an amazing sound. You're such a good guitarist!

[@BladeDoomer86]

Amazing playing mate, thx for the review

[@Nino.ElectricSoul]

sounds like a synth

[@david-ky7rt]

Guthrie Govan is just amazing, he has taken Guitar playing to another level. And fretless Guitar, wonder if you can get one with 9 strings as well??, i think i will stay with the 6 string guitar with frets, that's bad enough.

[@claudevieaul1465]

I'm watching this regularly, just because it's absolutely awe-inspiring what Guthrie does here... (and elsewhere too, btw) I'm seriously considering de-fretting one of my old guitars, just for giggles... (done that already to a bass, and that worked out beautifully, so some experience in da pocket)

[@reimass9244]

A beautiful player, indeed. Such ease and culture. So natural with no frets needed. Thanks Guthrie!!! We love ya! :)

[@misterguts]

Jesus reviews, and shreds, a fretless guitar.

[@jammer4578]

Jesus reviews?

[@martingoldfire]

@@jammer4578 He looks like what white christians think Jesus looked like.

[@jammer4578]

@@martingoldfire ohh..thanks.

[@dudupimentelguitar]

ahahahahahahaaha good!!

[@tulsatombob2769]

Being a professional touring bass player and guitar player. I started playing upright bass 20 yrs. ago and the transition of going from playing a Fender Jazz for 35 years and playing a fretless upright was a bit challenging at first. Within a month, my intonation on the upright was spot on. On the other hand, I can see how difficult it would be to play a fretless guitar. It takes great skill to play as well as Guthrie in the video...congrats on a job well done. BTW, I'd live to see what Jeff Beck could do with this guitar. Have you presented the Idea to Jeff Beck?......It might be a great endorsement if you could get Beck to play your guitar. Cheers!

[@CarlyWaarly]

Wow that sounds terrific, similar to a fretless bass. Will have to get one, love it!!

[@AleksandrsKarimovs]

The way he intonates so precisely is incredible!

This guitar is great for wallmart music

[@fassbenderc.c.6590]

funny, but its called jazz

[@Zettel9016]

Easy listening jazz.

[@eyedewdudeeyedewdude745]

Craig Chaquico, George Benson, Boney James, Kim Waters, Kenny G, Najee, etc... If you go on iheart.com and put in smooth jazz the top station is my go to. Happy Hunting

[@joep3259]

Sebastián Mayorca Nah it's great thrift store music.

[@nelson8555]

Knobhead

[@mojomojomomomo2056]

This guy is great at making elevator music

[@metaldreams3595]

lol

[@portuguezpac]

Joedin Morelock I would never leave that elevator!

[@pabloguazzotti2260]

Joedin Morelock I hear Elevated music, but i know it hurts seeing so much skill, technique and musicality

[@andrewlarson603]

Lol! John Lennon he is not!! That's the problem with many shredders in my opinion.......they can't seem to write great songs.......

[@josephranaghan8986]

That's, like, your opinion, man.

[@drvijil]

i was looking into fretless guitar for kicks and curiosity, but this guitar is cool. All videos show players playing lead but I haven't seen much in the way of playing basic chords on a fretless guitar. Nice playing by Guthrie.

[@fool5799]

Awesome smooth jazz playing at the beginning

[@RattlerX5150]

very smooth sound

[@POOpYTomaco]

I love that tone.

[@jernie9384]

Not just a master of Guitar playing but also someone with a lovely Voice

[@GJones462-2W1]

This dude is fuckin' KILLER! First time that I've ever seen him, and I'm damn impressed. (yes, been living in a cave) Gotta search for more of this guy. Wow.

[@RPSchonherr]

No need for a vibrato (whammy) bar on this. you can do nice dives without it. The issue I guess others have is doing a bend is not workable without frets but they forget you can just slide up as much as you would bend. Anybody who plays a violin/viola knows how to do slurs without frets.

[@LandingNow]

This guy knows his fretboard lol

[@NoxUmbrae]

no frets, it's just board now

[@ronsansone6032]

When I was a kid I bought a beat up Strat for 50 bucks. The frets were really shot so I decided to remove them an play slide with it. I still remember how it felt to play. Absolutely Awesome! Anyone that gets one will definitely enjoy it. Try it with a slide too, you can't fret out. It's cool.

[@Jez2008UK]

Man I don't even play guitar but I just cannot stop listening and learning from this amazing guy !!!!

[@Mushiyora]

All I can see is fingerprints. So many fingerprints on that fretboard.

[@MeganSmite]

Same was hard to listen to him when all I saw was fingerprints xD

[@michaeldeclet1667]

OCD triggered when i saw the fingerprints 😂😂

[@logyscott]

Have to break out the windex on every string change

[@WebsterNobert]

PROPHECY is Self-Fulfilling I bet you'd be fun at parties, if you had any friends who invited you to parties.

[@dentistguba]

That iMetal wouldn't happen to be standard stainless steel would it? haha

[@brandoninu7140]

ITS LIKE TOUCH TYPING FOR GUITARRRRRRRRR

[@lawsonhamilton9097]

Brandon Inu i was literally about to link this video to you then i read the comments

[@brandoninu7140]

lmao i found your comment by tryna remember which video i commented that on lol lol

[@lawsonhamilton9097]

hahaha

[@lawsonhamilton9097]

Brandon Inu never forget 😤

[@guitarboogieboogie]

very inspiring. ive often thought of removing frets. now i will

[@jeanrepetto]

excellent !!! i'm very impressed with the guitar and the guitarist !!! the world is such an amazing place.. so many brilliant people !!! so many incredible things !!! i wish i could live forever :(

[@mynickisrick1478]

How is he able to...? How much practise does one need to...?

[@salottin]

1 - Pratice. 2 - Much.

[@GearZenChannel]

Riccardo Sabatini Once you havd played for years you rarely look at the frets anyway.

[@jhapalitthule1306]

12 hours +overtime

[@gunmath6115]

there are still markers telling you roughly were the 3,5,7,9, and 12 would be located, after that it's just using your ears and listening cause im sure being a little off is like having your guitar slightly out of tune 😅 I'm sure it's difficult but I'm sure its not as difficult if you dont completely try to wrap your head around the idea, to me microtonal guitar necks fuck me up (also plastic wrap fucks with me)😅so dont feel to bad we all have our mis-understandings ;) haha

[@metafull]

Muscular memory, at least 4 yrs to do something decent on that guitar, 1-2 hrs daily.

[@sawdust6968]

how in the hell is it posible to be that good?

[@DrBliss23]

I a different model for every day. What a cool, smooth, guitar!

[@katrinaschofieldmusic8955]

I love the sound. It's so hypnotic!

[@yamilcamacho5698]

"Let's show you the new features" What features? It's missing 22 of them

[@roblamb4848]

iMetal fretboard, chrome hardware, maple top.

[@fabriziobulgos5564]

24 but it's ok.

[@JoelTrujillo]

This is what the Elves of Middle Earth played when no one was watching

[@davegoldsmith173]

Joel Trujillo just got a visual that.

[@kevintraynor4508]

This guitar blows my mind . Absolutely wicked sound

[@chabar3419]

finally a review without drop a tuning and endless metal riffs! do you know if there is a lefthand version on the market? I`m interested

[@oakiron9075]

5:53 - 5:55

[@bro_street]

i use the fretless, then i mark the fret with da paint #ThugLife

[@zokalyx]

that looks useful. you still get the fretless vibe but you still know how to play it lol

[@moo.7643]

im pretty sure they have fret markers

[@glenkersul9983]

Great sound, nice guitar. Mister Govan is a true virtuoso and guitar master. Awesome!

[@binarydust]

That turn around (00:07-00:09) gets me every time.

[@tobitoes1052]

I imagine the IMetal fret?board is really comfortable to play but oh my god the fingerprints on that 😂

[@sqbear1062]

reminds me of the weather channel.

[@montlejohnbojangles8937]

The only guitarist out there who still floors me with his skill and musicality every damn time I hear him.

[@codefresh9411]

I'm excited to see a fretless guitar. Thought only basses could be that cool

[@ElectricosCosmos]

I bet this sounds amazing with an envelope filter.

[@mateolopez4611]

eric clapton must be cryng when govan plays blues lines

[@insidetheartistshead]

This is fucking awesome! The guy reviewing is also great!

[@eir3apps]

Like your playing!

[@speedingjet]

Sounds like it is the perfect instrument for elevator jazz!

[@mattmoves5920]

He looks like a nice guy, but why does everything he play sounds like the soundtrack of a porn of the '80?

[@RorysIrishTour]

he even acted in some porn of the 80s

[@adrians.basave1282]

because his music is porn itself

[@MediHusky]

He has a song about a chick sucking his dick.

[@enec5025]

Protoka which song?

[@TheFlipsta97]

RorysIrishTour Bullshit. Evidence or it didn't happen.

[@6stringstorulethemall967]

Smoothly moving into those changes at 5:30

[@albertf.9198]

Nice video, thank you. Great job on the playing, too! Was thinking of learning music, from scratch, on a fretless guitar. Sound like a possibility to you?

[@YevZakharov]

I wonder if the metal fretlboard would get sticky when your fingers get moist during playing.

[@MrHaydenFX]

well idk bout other people but my fingers never toush the fretboard at any time

[@macios124]

MrHaydenFX XD especially while you're playing fretless

[@tyler_bt3326]

CzeCze if there's no frets, isn't it just a board? xD

[@BlackNo2]

KiLl3R Mem3StAR the general name for this part of any necked instrument is called a fingerboard. Fretboard is actually a term created to distinguish a fretted fingerboard from the fretless fingerboard

[@cheezmunky1]

I wonder why more country, chicken-pickin' guitarists don't play these. Its like all you gotta do is slide your fingers and you get that pedal steel sound.

[@dennissvensson6051]

cheez_munky it's easier with a fretted bord, if you don't press down the string at the right place you don't get the right note.

[@EireAnPoblacht]

Too complicated for people predominantly preoccupied with Beer, pickup trucks, and reminding people that theyre wholesome and from the south. (Not an absolute comdemnation, but it applies so often i dont feel bad using it). Oh, and theres less slide guitar in that bullshit pseudo-pop music they make in Nashville these days....

[@Wysewolf]

@@EireAnPoblacht I agree with your general assesment here. Even the pickers who have some skill like Paisley or Urban, they are writing fruity pop songs and not showcasing the genre. I miss country. It use to be amazing story telling with some hot licks every now and then. If you haven't heard Bo Burnham's "Country Song," then maybe check it out. It is very funny and very catchy, but also he pretty much nails what you and I are talking about.

[@YourLoyalDeserter]

I'd love to be on hold to this.

[@iosephantonivs4262]

Great video!

[@Jake_Prism]

But does it djent?

[@psytox6555]

Jared Dines!!

[@lmbtcs1879]

Jacob Smith all its has is 1 and 0 anyways

[@partykrew666]

Jacob Smith basically only came here to comment that exact same thinft

[@wyvernofhefei8712]

it does djyeeent

[@haf816r]

SNUFF I'm so glad I no longer have to see the djent question on every guitar video anymore, that was pretty lame after a while

[@floydmacintire]

dose any one want my guitars?after this i quit...

[@suckmylol]

Yea, if it's free! xD

[@floydmacintire]

you pay for shipping and their yours

[@ArcaneDeveloper]

ecnaurps ... What guitar

[@suckmylol]

ecnaurps Probably hella in shipping, but yea, what guitar?

[@eddiem4868]

hell yeah bro

[@whydoesstevietonlylikefema2973]

I have a fretless tuned to a big ol open C5 tuning, (CGCGCC) it has a open octave in the tuning which sounds cool.

[@iantaylor1524]

Guthrie is my guitar teacher! He used to work with guitar world etc to give lessons on cd

[@bwicaksonoprivate]

Your voice somehow reminds me of Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear :|

[@themotofixery]

I see someone has been paying the mortgage playing the guitar for some time! good show!

[@aeternalis]

sick playing dude

[@BrettFairchild]

OK cool than you! I just love how since its hard to play it perfect, it sounds slightly detuned. I just fell in love with this because thats how my echorec unit is