Rigel F?

[Boombloom]

On the Rigel website, under "this week at Rigel", there is a photo of an "F" style mandolin on the bench. I'm wondering if the folks in Vermont are brewing up a trad. model, or instead just repairing one. And while we're on the topic, what would people think about Rigel producing a traditional F?

[John Flynn]

Hard to tell. I have found answers come pretty quick if you send them an email. I have no doubt they could make a good traditional F and I'll bet they would make one special order for you right now. But to have a hypothetical Rigel F succeed in the market, it would need something really unique to differentiate it in terms of its combination of tone, playability, appearance, price, promotion (especially celebrity endorsements) and retail distribution. The F market seems pretty crowded and competitive right now. In any market, it is usually not a good move for "cutting edge" and "niche" providers to try to move into traditional market spaces like that, but it could be done. What would be next? A Breedlove F-5? A Mid-mo?

[Jeffrey Lewis]

Rigel is currently producing an F style, called the G5. It is still a round sound chamber, and round sides, but it has a scroll and two points. I have have played about 5 different ones, and they are pretty nice. Not completely trad, but nice. That's all for now.

Jeff

[Erk]

Rigel does alot of finishing work for other builders (including me from time to time). What you are seeing in the picture is probably an F they are finishing for someone else, there is a G5 right next to it for comparision.

[Boombloom]

Hmmm... Interesting. So people see no point in Rigel doing a traditional F5?

[glauber]

Rigel does not do traditional mandolins. They have a completely different carving process. So it might look like a traditional mandolin, but the guts would be different anyway.

[John Flynn]

Rigel does not do traditional mandolins.

I agree that they don't normally do them, but I think that statement is too absolute. They do both Lyon & Healy and Vega Cylinderback reproductions on special order and those are as traditional as anything else out there. Also, they now list the Jethro as a production mando. I consider that a "traditional-type" design in contrast with thier other models, in that the construction of the top and sides is more conventional. So Rigel making a traditional F is not out of the question. I'm sure they have the means to do it.

[Boombloom]

I ran into the Wizard of Rigel at a jam today. He was playing a Jethro. Anyway, he's seen this thread and he's getting a kick out of it. Anyone else want to weigh in?

[Ted Eschliman]

I've heard the Rigel staff are the victim of occasional "pranks" by certain local young "Loar Nazis." (It's especially bad at Halloween and High School Prom Night...)
In the middle of the night, the hooligans break in and will put a row of F-5s on the assembly line just to confuse the employees. Management just has to take these out to the trash the next morning.
Some like to "T.P." houses... Some like to litter work benches with F-5s.
I guess some kids never grow up.