Blue Rigel A Natural

**johnmp** · Jan-23-2004, 4:47pm

I just played a blue Rigel A Natural at Broughton Music In Northville, Michigan. What a sweet color and finish. I had my A+ deluxe with me for a lesson and played a few duets with the owner of the store. Can't say there was much difference between the two in the sound/tone; the A Nat sounded great. Does anyone know how many of the blue ones are out there?

Jan-23-2004, 4:49pm

I only know of 2 A+ Deluxes......so that oughta give you some idea.....very few!

**mad dawg** · Jan-25-2004, 9:44pm

Just out of curiosity, how much was Broughton asking for the Blue A-Natural?

**Ted Eschliman** · Jan-26-2004, 8:04am

No one was more excited at NAMM than me when Rigel displayed a whole slew of "blues." I'll take a little credit for helping them break the "color barrier" when I sent my CT-110 last August for its new blue skin. (Peter can correct me, but I think it was the first.)
I don't think this will necessarily be a permanent color for them, but they are capable of just about an color you'd want as an option.
Rigel is about innovation, taking Mandolin design into the 21st century. In my own (never to be humble) opinion, for the rest of the mandolin industry to obsess on a century-old model never made sense. I applaud Rigel's "dare to be different" charter, and after seeing thousands of tobaccoburst F5 wannabes (yeah, still the best selling finish), I think this color reflects their appropriate place in history.
Tastefully different.

**Tom C** · Jan-26-2004, 8:06am

...mmmmmmm mandohack blue ....ahhhhhhhhhh

**johnmp** · Jan-26-2004, 1:22pm

Mad Dawg.......Laurie (the owner of the shop) told me but I've forgotten what she said (you see, I'm over 50). But here's the phone number: 248-374-1920.

**mad dawg** · Jan-27-2004, 12:43pm

I spoke to Laurie -- she said she picked this up at NAMM, and it was on display among the blues that Ted noted above. I wish I had the spare bucks to buy it, because she is selling it for the same price she sells her regular gloss A-Naturals. If anyone is interested they should give her a call and discuss a price with her. (I forgot to ask if it came with a case or gig bag.)

Jan-27-2004, 1:57pm

It comes with a case......go to Buffalo Bros if you prefer to pay extra for the factory supplied case.... #

**JGWoods** · Jan-27-2004, 2:05pm

Originally Posted by (Dale @ Jan. 27 2004,14:57)

It comes with a case......go to Buffalo Bros if you prefer to pay extra for the factory supplied case.... #

My Rigel came with case, strap, and extra strings- skip Buffalo Brothers and go to the Longhorn Brother...

gw

**mandoJeremy** · Jan-27-2004, 3:46pm

Hey MandoHack, I must say that Cremona is the most popular and not Tobaccoburst. There is a difference. I don't think Gibson started the Tobacco sunburst until the 50's or 60's but I could be wrong. Actually, I want a mandolin with a forest green sunburst and I have seen an Apitius with it but it was an A and I wanted an F. Got the idea from a Fender Telecaster that Sammy Shelor played years ago before the LRB's instruments were stolen.

**mad dawg** · Jan-28-2004, 10:37am

Originally Posted by

Does anyone know how many of the blue ones are out there?

To answer the original question, this Blue A-Natural must be a one-of-a-kind, since it appears that Rigel still does not intend to do custom colors for A-Naturals (this particular model was made #especially for NAMM for Rigel's wall of Mandohack Blue

).

**mad dawg** · Jan-29-2004, 5:56pm

Here is a pic of Rigel's booth at NAMM; I think the Blue A Natural in this topic is the A-style with the pick-guard, third from the left (note the absence of a fretboard extension):

**Mandobar** · Jan-29-2004, 8:30pm

mad dawg

if you look closely you can see the fretboard extension. i called today and they also told me that they had an r100 in blue.

does anyone know what happened to the other blue mandos from the show?

**mad dawg** · Jan-30-2004, 2:07pm

You are right -- hmmmm.

**mrmando** · Jan-30-2004, 5:35pm

All the blue Rigels save one A+ Deluxe were sold at NAMM.

I may have that blue A+ or some other new blues at Wintergrass. We shall see.

**ronmaness** · Feb-03-2004, 11:16am

When I ordered a Weber Custom Aspen 2 thru Elderly, I wanted to go with something different in the way of color. My first big decision was to go with something untraditional in the first place; that decision having been made, I then had an easier decision between teal and faded denim. I more or less left myself in Paula's hands between the two. We eventually went with the faded denim, and I am really glad I made the "bold" move. When it arrived I knew I had done the right thing. Here is a picture taken by Weber of my Aspen just before it was shipped. http://www.soundtoearth.com/inst_cust_ma_denimaspen.htm
So as regards getting the blue Rigel, I would say go for it. I think it is striking in appearance.

**JMUSIC** · Feb-04-2004, 9:18am

Originally Posted by (Dale @ Jan. 23 2004, 17:49)

I only know of 2 A+ Deluxes......so that oughta give you some idea.....very few!

And I have one of the A+...thank you Dale!

**Mandobar** · Feb-04-2004, 6:14pm

i couldn't stand it. i called the store and gave them a deposit. should be here sometime next week.

MAS in remission right now........phew!

**mad dawg** · Feb-04-2004, 11:18pm

Mandobar -- Dagnabit, I was thinking of doing the same thing! (But I guess you saved me from getting in trouble with my wife.)

Congrats!

**Mandobar** · Feb-10-2004, 1:10pm

the blue a natural arrived this morning. it's taken some time for it to warm up, but it was really worth the wait.

it has the fretboard extension (scooped) and gold tailpiece and tuners. the finish is flawless. sounds great. i could not be happier.

i will post some pics later on.

**Zed** · Feb-10-2004, 11:11pm

Mandobar... did you have an option for an ebony bridge on your A Nat? Or was it just rosewood, period?
I'm trying to decide if i actually like the 'florida' or not...

**Mandobar** · Feb-11-2004, 5:25am

this is one of the mandos from namm 2004. i believe that is why it has the fretboard extension and the upgraded hardware. generally namm show instruments are spiffed up a bit. it also has a gloss finish.

this was a real find.

although i think the bridge is rosewood. i'm probably going to change it and just keep the original in the case.

**mad dawg** · Feb-11-2004, 11:20am

Congrats Mandobar!

**Joe Mangio** · Feb-16-2004, 4:21pm

This past weekend at the Joe Val BG Festival in Framingham MA,I asked the sales rep from Rigel if the blue finished mandos will be a continious line. I was told that 7 were made and the two on the table were the last of the lot but I could special order. I beleive they were A+ models. I was also told the A Natural now comes in tobacco sunburst as a standard color, and if I bought at the show he would give me 20% off retail; big deal! I can also say that they sure did sound sweet.