• Model: Excalibur Ultra Blues
• Edition / Series: Walnut Top limited edition, 1 of 10
• Finish: Natural Walnut
• Body: Two piece alder
• Top: Figured walnut
• Headstock: Matching figured walnut
• Neck: Maple bolt on with Vigier 10/90 carbon reinforcement
• Neck Profile: D shape
• Neck Finish: Matte
• Scale Length: 25.6"
• Fingerboard: Maple
• Fingerboard Radius: 11.81"
• Frets: 24 medium plus hardened zero fret
• Inlays: Dots
• Nut: Teflon nut with hardened zero fret
• Nut Width: 1.65"
• Pickup Configuration: HSS
• Neck Pickup: DiMarzio Virtual Vintage
• Middle Pickup: DiMarzio Virtual Vintage
• Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio Virtual PAF
• Controls: Master volume, master tone
• Switching: 5 way blade
• Bridge: Vigier tremolo, non locking, ball bearing pivots, with arm
• Tuners: Schaller locking
• Hardware: Chrome
• Weight: 7 lb 9.8 oz
• Serial: 080018
• Case: Gator LiteFlite Standard hardcase with blue plush lining
• Certificate / Documentation: Vigier Excalibur manual, tremolo arm and Vigier sticker
• Country: France
• Year: 2008

Natural figured walnut is a rare sight on an Excalibur. The usual Ultra Blues wears a flamed maple top; this one is from the short Walnut Top run of just 10 guitars, introduced in late 2007, and the serial 080018 dates it to 2008. The walnut has a warm, tight figure under a natural finish, with a matching walnut headstock, and there is no pickguard, so the top does all the talking.

The Ultra Blues is the HSS voice of the Ultra line: body mounted DiMarzio Virtual Vintage singles in the neck and middle, and a DiMarzio Virtual PAF in the bridge. That combination is more graduated than a lot of HSS guitars, with plucky, clear single coil sounds at one end and a smoother, richer humbucker at the other, rather than a hard jump between the two. Master volume, master tone and a 5 way blade keep it simple, and the shielded cavity is part of why these stay so quiet.

The other half of the appeal is the 10/90 neck. Maple with a 10 percent carbon core instead of a traditional metal truss rod, it stays remarkably stable through seasonal changes and string swaps, and it feels stiff, even and precise from the zero fret to the 24th. Add the Teflon nut, 25.6" scale, D shape and a matte neck finish, and you get the fast, accurate feel these French builds are known for. The Vigier tremolo, pivoting on ball bearings, with Schaller locking tuners, holds tuning when you use the arm.

Built in Grigny, France, in very small numbers at the best of times, a 1 of 10 Walnut Top Ultra Blues does not come up often in the UK. This one weighs 7 lb 9.8 oz, is in mint condition, and comes in a Gator LiteFlite Standard hardcase with the Vigier Excalibur manual, tremolo arm and sticker. A genuine rarity for anyone who has been waiting for the right Vigier.

Mint condition. Presents as new, and is supplied with its hardcase, manual, tremolo arm and case candy as photographed. No significant wear, damage or issues to mention.

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