Rigel Mandolins

**epicentre** · Jan-30-2006, 11:23am

Soon now:
Very soon.
It's going to be a Rigel. Just looked at the demos with Peter Mix.
Lovely instruments. Fantastic sound, good for Celtic, folk, blues.....and etc.
Question is;
How does one decide. They are so darn nice.........?

Anybody own one, or two, and have some comments or advice??
Anybody hate them??
Gotta be someone with something to say about Rigels.

Epi............soon to be Rigely...

**John Flynn** · Jan-30-2006, 11:58am

I have had a Rigel A+ Deluxe for 3 1/2 years and played the heck out of it. My luthier has it set up perfectly. It's definitely a keeper. Pros: The playability is the best I have played. It stays in tune better than any mando I have encountered. The internal pizeo is best of breed. It is reasonably loud and very well balanced across the fretboard. Cons: The tone could definitely be richer and more complex. I have played a G-110 and it was a whole different story tone-wise. I wish my A+ had more of that, but I guess you get what you pay for. I think you can depend on the pros being true for all of their models, so you need to try out the one you buy to make sure it has the tone you want.

**Pedal Steel Mike** · Jan-30-2006, 11:59am

I have 2 A+ Deluxes. (Deluxi?) One with F holes and one with an oval hole. All I can say is that I love them both.

**J. Mark Lane** · Jan-30-2006, 12:09pm

G5!

**Nathan Sanders** · Jan-30-2006, 12:39pm

I've played a Rigel A+ Deluxe recently and the thing is just really really nice. It has a nice warm tone but with some clear highs. It has the mandolin sound but it also has something extra or different in its tone. Hard to explain. I'll probably get a Rigel someday, maybe a Q95. By the way, the A+ Deluxe I played is for sale at a local guitar store. If you are interested I can give a phone number for the store.

**jmkatcher** · Jan-30-2006, 12:45pm

I've had a G-110 for about two years and love the rich and complex tone. I haven't played an instrument since that I like more.

**manjitsu** · Jan-30-2006, 12:57pm

This truly seems like a situation where you can't go wrong. Play as many of 'em as you can, and buy the one that makes you smile the most! I've never gotten to play a Q-95, but I LOVE the looks of it.

-Chris Rorrer

**Ted Eschliman** · Jan-30-2006, 12:58pm

I've heard good things about these instruments, too, but they are kind of funny looking...

**Eric F.** · Jan-30-2006, 1:33pm

I had an A Natural, which was a very nice mandolin. But I spent a couple of hours with a G-110 at First Quality and oh, man. If I had that kind of cash or wasn't allergic to major credit card debt, I'd have taken that thing home. I felt like I bonded with that instrument in about five minutes and after that it was an extension of me. The tone was resonant and complex. It was the aural equivalent of drinking a great Burgundy.

**JGWoods** · Jan-30-2006, 1:33pm

2 here- First I owned a G110- it was wonderful in every way but I sold it in a temporary financial crunch- and got a good return- then I missed having a Rigel, the easy playability, the sweet tone, plus the punch when you drive it.
I got a Breedlove- it was a lot less expensive than a Rigel, but after a while the tone just didn't do it for me, so I bought another Rigel- this time a Jethro.

The Jethro has been here for less than a week, but it seems to be all things- sweet, powerful, balanced, great complex tone, barks when I want it to, and great craftsmanship and looks. It's my last one- my keeper forever- I bought it used as a demo with the lifetime warranty and a great price also- and then there's the story of the neck.

I got the Jethro through Mandohack, Ted, as he advertised it here in the classifieds. He sent it to me and I played it for a few days. I loved everything but the neck. It was not what my G110 had, it was skinnier and I love the 1 3/16" at the nut Rigel necks. For the money I was going to pay I couldn't settle for the neck it had, so I told Ted that, and he negotiated a miracle with Rigel- for a very small fee they made me a brand new neck to my specs and replaced the demo neck. I wound up with exactly what I wanted and still at a demo- reduced- price.

I like the fact that Rigel uses local wood. I live in New England and they are my neighbors. It's great to get such a nice product so close to home, and its great to deal with a number of fine people- in order of appearance they were Ted Eschlimann(sp?) Peter Mix of Rigel, and Peter Langdell the Rigel founder and designer of these instruments. I had excellent contact with them all- pleasant, and to the point.

How to choose? First there's the matter of budget. If you can afford any of them I would suggest picking from the top of the line for some sonic superiority and choice woods. If you have any thoughts about the "far out" designs - if you are really a traditionalist who is stepping into modern territory to get a great instrument from a modern maker- then buy a Jethro. You get modern and traditional in one package- the best of all worlds to me.

best,
jgwoods

**fiddler** · Jan-30-2006, 1:54pm

I have had a Q-95 for about 6 months now. It's opened up beautifully. Clear, round trebles, rich and complex on the deeper strings. It can be driven to substantial volume without any hardening of the tone. And it keeps getting better.

Cons: haven't found any except that it isn't for Bluegrass - but who would expect it to be?

**epicentre** · Jan-30-2006, 2:04pm

Thanks all;

Lots of pros. Not too many cons.

I'm already sold.

Regards:

**trevor** · Jan-30-2006, 3:41pm

I've had quite a few Rigels through my shop over the past few years and loved them all. I agree that the higher end models give the best tone. My general preference is for A style oval hole but my all-time fave mandolin ever for tone to date is the G5, f style, f hole!
I got to play one of the early Jethros a couple of years ago (unfortunately never had one in the shop) it was truly awesome.

**WireBoy** · Jan-30-2006, 4:09pm

hey epicentre,
#be the first on your block to try the new 'swoosh' lappoint A ( Hey Peter! Give this thing a name already!!)

I tried it a NAMM and was really impressed with the beefy tones.

**Zoe** · Jan-30-2006, 8:16pm

My dream is to one day own a Rigel Jethro. . .
bright and rich sounding . . .

mmmmm

but it will be a while before I can afford it.

take care
zoe

**Fuzzyway** · Jan-30-2006, 8:38pm

I've owned a G-110 which liked alot, but it was stolen.

Replaced with C-110 which I liked better...until, MandoMedic left me alone too long with a G-5.

Gonna have to pry it out my dead hands.

Best, fuzzy

**Kayakboy** · Jan-31-2006, 6:01pm

You went to the shop, or saw him at a 'meet'. If you are in Vermont you could swing by Woodstock and play my A+ Deluxe. Take it away if you like it....for a small fee of course.

As far as which one to get, I think you get what you pay for. This was my first nice mandolin, so I get extatic when I play it. To someone who has grown up with Rigels, maby only a G5 would do. Ty

**RobP** · Feb-01-2006, 12:42am

I have had and A+ deluxe for about 3 years and it is my main mandolin. I love it! It plays well, it sounds good (to me) and I use the pickup regularly for band performances.

I test drove a Q95 for a little bit, but it did not hold up to the A+ deluxe in my opinion sound-wise.

I also got a chance to play a G5 when Ken Cartwright still had his shop open. I thought it was nice, but it didn't knock my socks of the way I thought a $7K mando would.

I am very happy with the A+ deluxe -- I don't have MAS; I try to spend my energy learning how to play

Good Luck

Rob

**MOP** · Feb-01-2006, 2:08am

I have 3 Rigel,all with virzi.I love them both.The mandolin with virzi give a tone less loud than without but more rich and complex (for me)

**J. Mark Lane** · Feb-01-2006, 6:00am

Originally Posted by (MOP @ Feb. 01 2006, 03:08)

I have 3 Rigel,all with virzi.I love them both.

Must be a government employee....

**JGWoods** · Feb-01-2006, 10:23am

Nope- French- cut him some slack

**twaaang** · Feb-01-2006, 11:20am

How do you decide? I live near the Rigel shop, and was in a hover pattern for months about upgrading from my A-Natural. At last I was ready to make my move on a particular A-Plus, and drove over to Cambridge to clinch the deal. Peter Mix happened to be tied up with a customer, but for my waiting time he asked my impression of a particular CT-110.

I had played several of this model before, all super, but this one just totally sang to me. For the first time in my life I was willing to incur The Spousal Wrath over a musical instrument.

I didn't decide: the instrument did! -- Paul

**J. Mark Lane** · Feb-01-2006, 12:21pm

Originally Posted by (JGWoods @ Feb. 01 2006, 11:23)

Nope- French- cut him some slack

Oh, my God! That's even worse!

Just kidding. I know he's French. I was just teasing him. No offense meant.

**Lee** · Feb-01-2006, 5:08pm

Epicentre asked, "How does one decide?" amd JGWoods related having negative opinions about the neck width.
The only time I've been able to play a Rigel, I too noticed the wide neck and was concerned how/if it would grow on me. (And the super-gloss was a turn-off.)
So, I'd strongly suggest to Epicentre that he first consider if the slightly wider neck on most Rigels is a feature he prefers.