BL Quartz or Rigel A Natural?

[TeleMark]

Hi, me again...

I'm nearly ready to step up from my $100 beater to something of slightly better quality. I will likely be spending about $800 or so out of pocket, and will be doing it locally (trade-up policy), so the classifieds are not in my field of vision.

My local shop has 2 mandos that are of particular interest to me. Both are (I believe) used, in great shape. Both are A-style with f-holes.

One is a Breedlove Quartz, the other is a Rigel A-Natural. I've played both, and like both. The BL is around $850 (no case), and the Rigel is around $950 (gig bag). Can anyone toss out any thoughts/concerns, ideas about which they would prefer? I don't need empirical evidence (although that is also good); emotions also come into play here.

Thanks,

Mark

OK......which Quartz is it, OO,OF,KO, KF, natural finish, sunburst....The Breedlove came with a gigbag when new & the Rigel with a hardshell case when new. SOME dealers play the case game, mentioning no names (Buffalo Bros) & try to sell you the damn case separate from the mando.

[TeleMark]

OK......which Quartz is it, OO,OF,KO, KF, natural finsh, sunburst....The Breedlove came with a gigbag when new & the Rigel with a hardshell case when new. SOME dealers play the case game, mentioning no names (Buffalo Bros) & try to sell you the damn case separate from the mando.
Quartz OF, natural finish. As they are used, I'm thinking it's possible that the BL was turned in without one. The only other thing to note is that the BL had a strap button installed, which was likely aftermarket. I don't know if that has an impact on the sound quality. The Rigel comes with a button at the heel.

TeleMark

If the strap button was installed on the side of the neck heel (as per Breedlove) no problem.....

Breedlove strap button placement (http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3694.htm)

Buy whichever get's in your eye, both are good choices. Especially if the A Nat is one of the newer ones with a visable burst.

BTW, Buffalo Bros did a close out on A Nats not long back for $750 new.....& sold the case seperate ( I tried to buy 2 & when the case issue came up I told them to stuff it). If you'll look around you can buy a new one for that amount.....you PAY for that BS trade up policy. IMHO

[Jim M.]

You will get a high quality mando with either one, so go with the one that sounds and feels best to you. I have played both and prefer the Breedlove. It's partly an aesthetic preference, but also the Breedloves I've played have felt better and sounded better to me. See if the dealer will put new strings on both, otherwise your comparison may be effected by string quality.

Do yourself a favor & contact Ken & price a new Quartz OF.......

Cartwright Music. Cartwright Music Repair Shop 470 West Ida Street Stayton, Oregon 97383. email: phone: 503-769-2778.

[TeleMark]

If the strap button was installed on the side of the neck heel (as per Breedlove) no problem.....

Breedlove strap button placement (http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3694.htm)

Buy whichever get's in your eye, both are good choices. Especially if the A Nat is one of the newer ones with a visable burst.

BTW, Buffalo Bros did a close out on A Nats not long back for $750 new.....& sold the case seperate ( I tried to buy 2 & when the case issue came up I told them to stuff it). If you'll look around you can buy a new one for that amount.....you PAY for that BS trade up policy. IMHO
Interesting... The BL has the button on the back of the heel cap, on the upper side. It's not in the center of the cap, as they caution against, but it's also not in the rounded part of the heel cap side. Does this make sense?

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TeleMark

[Rob Powell]

It's in the wrong place...take Dale's advice and contact Ken.

If you really like the button, he'd put one on in the RIGHT place before he ships it to you, plus you'll get a gig bag http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

The Quartz has a bolt on neck & if you drill into the center of the heel cap you'll hit one of the bolts. They probably did just that & then moved over....the strap button is probably covering the aborted hole.

[Brad Weiss]

If you want emotions, I'd go with the Rigel. I've played both of these, and like both, but the A Nat tone is really distinctive- the Breedlove is a little twangy-er (twangier?) which isn't my preference. #I also like the neck profile of the Natural, which, combined with the radius fretboard, makes it super comfortable.

BUT those prices sound a bit too high to me- I'll bet you can do better (on this very board) and probably get a case.