Vox Virage Series: A Modern Classic

2009-2012

I recall seeing the Virage in magazines around 2008 and being intrigued, as I was obsessed with Vox AC-30 amps. However, at the time, the combination of the price and the fact that they were made in Japan put me off, and my guitar purchases remained focused on Rickenbackers. Fast forward about a decade, and my interest was reignited after seeing Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes playing one (as well as a custom SSC-55). Having owned several reissue Gretschs (also made in Japan), my perspective had shifted on Japanese guitars too...

These are awesome guitars with very unique features: the pickups offer different sounds, the body is curved, it’s insanely light, it has curvy tuner keys, and a custom bridge. The Virage is a pro-level instrument. The Virages were semi-hollow bodies and came in single-cut and double-cut versions. The different color instruments had different woods:

The Virage body is carved from a solid block of hand-selected wood – African Mahogany or Ash – to provide excellent tonal characteristics. Mahogany body wood creates a warm sound with thick overtones; Ash has an open, balanced voice with shimmering highs. The ash top with mahogany back combines mahogany’s warmth with ash’s bright character to create a deep tone with plenty of high-end sparkle. The select finishes were chosen to highlight the beauty of the woods used. The Deep Cherry features an African Mahogany body and top, while the Ash Blonde is Ash throughout. A Mahogany back and Ash top are used for the Vintage Sunburst; the Jet Black is available in any of the three configurations.

In practice, the different sounds of the pickups are subtle, and I don’t find that the CoAxe and the Three-90 sound all that different. I’d describe the pickup sounds as “Full 1, Full 2, Crunch,” with Full 1 and Full 2 being extremely similar. The tone differences are more pronouced on the bridge pickup. I like to set the Virage pickups to: Neck at “up” (towards your low E string) and Bridge at “middle.”

The Virages (at least the Virage I) were made at the Fujigen factory. I’ve seen some reports that the II and Butterfly were made at another factory, but I’m not 100% sure about that.

Long live the Virage!

There were a couple different versions:

Virage I (The list price was around $2,799):

The Vox Virage I marked the introduction of this innovative series. Featuring a sleek, semi-hollow body design, the Virage I combines the warmth and resonance of a hollow body with the sustain and feedback control of a solid body. Its ergonomic contour and comfortable neck profile make it a joy to play, whether you’re performing complex solos or rhythmic chords. The Virage I is equipped with Vox’s proprietary Three-90 pickups, which provide a versatile range of tones, from bright and jangly to warm and mellow, making it suitable for a wide array of musical genres.  They can be identified by the inlays (block inlays w/ a curve insert) and the pickups, which have a plastic/wood-grain look and 3 metal rails.

Virage II (The list price was slightly higher, approximately $2,999):

Building on the success of the Virage I, the Virage II introduced refinements that further enhanced its playability and tonal versatility. The Virage II features an upgraded set of CoAxe pickups.  They can be identified by the pickups, which are black with two metal rails, and six slugs, and the inlays, which lose the block of the Virage I, and are just the curve inlay. 

Virage Butterfly (As a limited-edition model, the Virage Butterfly had a higher list price, typically around $3,499 or more, depending on the specific finish and configuration): 

The Virage Butterfly stands out as a limited-edition model within the Virage series. Named for its distinctive, butterfly-shaped inlays, this guitar blends artistic flair with exceptional craftsmanship. There seems to be a 2011 version, with the CoAxe pickups, and a butterfly inlay on the headstock, and a 2013 versions (maybe Japan-only?) with a large verticle Vox inlay on the headstock and the Three-90 pickups.

Virage Customs/Prototypes:

I've also seen a couple customs/prototype Virages.  Some have dot inlays, some have different tuners.  They generally are not stamped w/ a serial number, nor a 'Made in Japan' identifier.  One was Tommy Shaw's, another was for sale on the web.  I've seen some Vox literature that there was a USA-custom shop Virage planned, but I've never seen one.  It's possible that the ones not stamped were made at G-Rok in Californial (G-Rok is the R&D arm of Vox guitars - Korg backwards...)

Virage Specifications:

• Neck Material: Mahogany, set neck

• Neck Joint: Custom set-in joint with inverse heel for greater access to the upper frets

• Body Material: Solid carved mahogany, ash or ash top with mahogany back, depending on finish (Virage I, II), or "Exquisite wood bodies, topped off with special edition finishes" (Butterfly)

• Fingerboard: Bound rosewood

• Inlay: Mother of Pearl (Virage I, II), or Butterfly inlays created using distinctive Paua shell (Butterfly)

• Finish: Acrylic lacquer

• Nut: Bone

• Scale: 25.125”

• Fingerboard Radius: 11.81”

• Nut Width: 1.69”

• 1st Fret Thickness: 0.83”

• 12th Fret Thickness: 0.90”

• Number of Frets: 22

• Fret Wire: Medium Jumbo

• Pickups: 2 x American-made VOX DiMarzio Three-90™ triple coils (Virage I), or 2 x American-made VOX DiMarzio CoAxe™ triple coils (Virage II),

• Pickup Selector: 3-way toggle

• Pickup Mode Switch: 2x 3-position to select Clean, Crunch, and Lead modes for each pickup

• Controls: Master volume and master tone controls

• Bridge: MaxConnect™ aluminum bridge with easy stringing access and wide intonation range

• Tuners: VOX Super Smooth custom tuners with custom contoured metal buttons

• Hardware: Original design pickup covers and control knobs

More info from the Web:

Vox Showroom:

• Virage I page

• Virage II page

• Vox 2009 Product Catalog (Virage I)

  • Page 22

  • Page 23

  • Page 24

  • Page 25

• Vox 2011 Product Catalog (Virage II)

  • Page 31

Music Radar review of the Virage II SC

Music Rader - Butterfly Announcement

Planet-Z CoAxe Pickups Info/Interview