Used rigels

[Sonomabob]

I am pretty much decided to get a rigel 110 or an "A" version as an upgrade from the MK I have now.

Any comments from Rigel players??

Sonoma Bob

[cbarry]

You'll never look back!

San Jose Chuck

[jmkatcher]

Either of those is certainly a step up. I love my G-110.

[Dave Greenspoon]

Search the boards and you'll see how much I love my Rigel A Natural. It's a fabulous professional level isntrument in every way, even before the upgrades on it.

[Sonomabob]

Thanks for the tips guys.

Are most of them about the same? Or do they vary one to another?

[RichM]

Add me to the list of satisfied Rigel players (my A+ Deluxe is the mando that has stayed in my arsenal the longest). While there will be some variability between any two wooden instruments, I have found Rigels to be quite consistent.

[bradeinhorn]

agree they are consistent.

[John Flynn]

I have an A+ Deluxe that is a keeper. The pros for me are: Great playability, stays in tune really well, very even and consistent across the fretboard, nice volume, fit and finish are flawless and the internal pizeo is one of the best pizeos I have ever used on any instrument, and I have used a few. I have only one con and I know it is is very vauge and subjective. I find the tone kind of "generic." It is a very good, warm, clean tone, it just lacks character, IMHO. I use my A+ primarily for church music, because it projects cleanly in the echo-y acoustic environment typical in many traditional church interiors and sometimes I have play plugged in and the pizeo comes in handy.

[Pete Braccio]

I really like the Rigels. I have a CT-110 and had an S-100 (basically a no frills G-110). I found the CT shape a bit easier to play because the horn of the G shape gets in the way a bit. I've played some As and R models as well.

All were great to play and had a real sweet voice over the entire dynamic range. That's actually a bit of an issue for me since I can't make up my mind to string the CT with monels (for bluegrass) or Mandohack's LaBellas (for jazz). I wish all my problems were like this.

I've been trying to trade my Eastman (plus some cash) toward a Rigel oval hole. No takers so far though. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

Pete

[Dave Greenspoon]

I find that the Rigel "sound" is immediately identifiable, even if the tone can be understated sometimes. I know that last summer I heard and recognized a A+ being played from 30 yards before I saw it.

I also find that the different finishes has a major impact one instrumet to another as well.

That said,most of all I've loved playing on my Rigel.

[JGWoods]

I have a Jethro- #1 I think. I like the somewhat more traditional look and don't much mind the corners, though I found my G110 to be even more comfortable to play. I use the Jethro a lot in Old Time jams and it can punch through anything- last week there were 7 fiddles, 2 banjos, 1 guitar and 5 mandolins. I could easily hear mine and that ain't so with any of my other mandolins ( all oval hole instruments).
I am curious to see how the Rigels fare in the used market after a few years go by. Mine seems bulletprooof and if I need repairs I hear that Peter Langdell is available.

[steve V. johnson]

I have an A+ Deluxe here that I'm to sell for a friend. Fortunately, I haven't the money to buy it from him. It's beginning to
seduce me. I put a notice in the classifieds here and then he told me that since I was adressing mandolin folks that he'd accept a trade for a Collings MT, but I think he'd really rather have the money. I'll have to put it on auction soon.

Others have mentioned the comfort of playing them, and I have to go along with that, especially the left hand.

My friend buys more instruments than he plays (much, anyway), so this one had very little playing time and sounded very new
and stiff when I got it. I've put a bunch of time in on it and the sound is growing, getting deeper on the bottom and clearer on top. Pretty amazing. It doesn't seem loud, but in a room with other mandolins, it's much louder than all but the really nice, custom-luthier ones.

I have put JM-11 flatwound strings on it, and that's really interesting. They feel great, and have a tremendously full sound, but I sort of miss the more percussive (abrasive? <GG>) attack of roundwound strings.

it's clear when I hold it that it's a very modern instrument in design and construction. Very focused, purposeful. Great fun, overall.

stv

[Sonomabob]

Thanks everyone. Mandolin Cafe is the best.

[Newtdude]

I had a G110 for about three years. I thought it had a great, sweet tone, and I loved it while I had it. Eventually, however, I began to crave a more traditional shape and a more "Bluegrassy" tone, and I recently replaced it with a Collings MT. But you can't go wrong with a Rigel - they really are great instuments. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[PCypert]

I had an A+ non deluxe that I really liked. The playability was great. It had a lot of what I needed at the time. The A+ deluxes I played seemed to actually have just a bit more...and the wood was generally better on the back. Mine was quite plain looking, but very full sounding. I liked the A Naturals best of all though for sound off the shelf...love that matte finish.

Paul