Rigel G5 on eBay

**mrmando** · Mar-18-2009, 4:34pm

Any chance this is legit?

Zero-feedback seller, no reserve, cut-&-paste ad copy ... hm ...

So few G5s exist that someone's got to know more about this one...

**jefflester** · Mar-18-2009, 6:19pm

Looks like a unique headstock inlay.

**mrmando** · Mar-18-2009, 6:44pm

Not really -- most other G5s have something very similar on the headstock. It's unusual for a G5 not to have a pickguard, although there are a couple of photos of one in that condition at the Rigel site.

**jefflester** · Mar-18-2009, 7:10pm

Originally Posted by mrmando

Not really -- most other G5s have something very similar on the headstock.

Looks the same as the one on the Rigel webpage.

It is certainly an interesting and non-traditional inlay, I jumped in with a response without bothering to research whether other G5s were similar.

From TAMCO:
http://www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/...el_g5_head.jpg

From Ted:
http://jazzmando.com/BlueMandoGroup.jpg
http://jazzmando.com/G5_Fingerboard.jpg

**Paddydukes** · Mar-22-2009, 12:35pm

This does look a little fishy, you would think someone wouldn't end up with one of these unless they knew what they were looking for, and since there were less than 20 made...hmmm... I couldn't find any pictures other than these with the ebay listing where the G5 did not have a pickgaurd...odd... maybe there is a chance?

**atetone** · Mar-22-2009, 12:42pm

I was watching this one but I don't feel very adventurous today so I don't think I will bid.
It looks a little fishy but you never know,,, there is a possibility that it might be legit.
Too late to ask a bunch of questions too so I am out.

**Paddydukes** · Mar-22-2009, 12:56pm

5 or so hours to figure out how full of adventure i am feeling on a sunday!

**DerTiefster** · Mar-22-2009, 10:22pm

Well, it was fun to watch. Five bidders. two stopped at under $2k, one right at it. Two crept into $2k+ territory. Well, is it now PaddyDuke's? MrMando's? atetone's? It's not mine. I might have wanted it, but domestic harmony is preferable. I did add Rigels to my ff-hole list before the oval hole acquisition last week. I -did- notice the G5 before MrMando started this thread. The first bidder last week put in his bid after the thread started. He was the winner, too. He may be a poster here.

**mrmando** · Mar-22-2009, 10:28pm

I bid, but was outgunned at the last second. I sent the seller a bunch of questions and got no replies to any of them. Seller could just be an eBay neophyte who doesn't understand the need to communicate. Or it could be a fraudulent ad -- hard to tell. I wouldn't have sent any money to this seller until after having a phone conversation or two and getting some more photos.

**Jeff Chu** · Mar-22-2009, 10:34pm

it looks like the real deal. I have seem many different G5s, and it has all the right characteristics. It also looks like the one that Eric Robertson tried to sell months back on the classifieds.... Im pretty sure the mando in the picture is legit, as for the seller, who knows.

**Jeff Chu** · Mar-22-2009, 10:36pm

we really shoudl be putting all our energy and interest in this Rigel

how cool is that, and at such a reasonable price!

**mrmando** · Mar-22-2009, 10:39pm

I have no doubt that it's a real G5, and it could well be Eric's G5. I'm just having my doubts about the validity of the transaction. If it IS legit, then someone got a screamin' deal. I had no idea how high the other bidder was willing to go ... the higher it went, the more stuff I would've had to sell to pay for it, and selling stuff takes time.

**mrmando** · Mar-22-2009, 10:42pm

Originally Posted by Jeff Chu

we really shoudl be putting all our energy and interest in this Rigel

I may take a swing at that one. I played the prototype Rigel reso and liked it bunches ... but wasn't quite as excited about the other couple that I've tried. There are very few of them, even fewer than G5s, I think. Peter Mix told me the resos were a pain in the butt to build. Or words to that effect.

**Jeff Chu** · Mar-22-2009, 10:51pm

mrmando, what is your experience with G5s? you like them? you dislike them?

**mrmando** · Mar-22-2009, 10:52pm

LOVE G5s. Any other questions?

**Jeff Chu** · Mar-22-2009, 10:56pm

thats all i needed to know. thanks!

**DerTiefster** · Mar-22-2009, 11:02pm

I think that the seller takes paypal. That leaves you with credit card protections if something doesn't get shipped or is "significantly different" from what was promised. What -I- noticed was the lack of information about what was being sold. Generic info only plus a few pics. Was the top coming unglued? are the inlays all loose and rattling about? Things like that. I also sent some questions about condition although bidding on it wasn't a realistic option for me. Like everyone else, I got no answers. From a legal standpoint, that might mean that delivery of pieces of a G5 might satisfy the seller's obligation, even if not the buyer's expectation. Lack of communication and info made me suspicious.

But it was fun to watch.

I also recently had someone wanting me to make an offer on some automotive parts without sending me photos from which to judge the condition. That made me nervous, too. It didn't happen, but could with pics.

**Paddydukes** · Mar-22-2009, 11:07pm

Well guys i am sorry to say that i didn't get it, i was one of the 2 that stopped just before 2k... I figured three rigels would be enough of a collection...oh well, I suppose its good to have a little fear of what the internet has to offer to keep the ole MAS in check every now and again, i wish the best to whoever it was that won (stole) that G5! Maybe its a cafe memeber...I hope it is...

**mrmando** · Mar-22-2009, 11:36pm

Originally Posted by DerTiefster

I think that the seller takes paypal. That leaves you with credit card protections if something doesn't get shipped or is "significantly different" from what was promised. What -I- noticed was the lack of information about what was being sold. Generic info only plus a few pics. Was the top coming unglued? are the inlays all loose and rattling about? Things like that. I also sent some questions about condition although bidding on it wasn't a realistic option for me. Like everyone else, I got no answers. From a legal standpoint, that might mean that delivery of pieces of a G5 might satisfy the seller's obligation, even if not the buyer's expectation.

IMHO PayPal's protections are overrated. I have twice opened disputes over items I paid for with PayPal but did not receive. In one case I got about half the money back; in the second I got less than 10% of it back. (Both of these were under $100, so it's not a huge loss, but still...) All in all, I've been stiffed 4x on eBay and once on Craig's List, but each time it was a minor transaction, so I guess I'm (somewhat) lucky.

Also, no, if the G5 arrives in pieces, I don't think the seller has met the legal obligation. The photos are part of how the instrument is represented to the buyer; if the instrument that arrives differs substantially from the photos, and the seller knew about it, then that's misrepresentation. Arriving in several pieces vs. one would qualify, methinks. Even so, if the G5 does need minor repairs, the buyer could have them done and still be way ahead of market price.

**atetone** · Mar-23-2009, 1:01am

I didn't bid on the G5. My spidey senses were tingling.

**Jeff Chu** · Mar-23-2009, 1:26am

i hope the economy hasnt gotten THAT bad... that is ridiculous. there must be some catch. well see i guess.

**AlanN** · Mar-23-2009, 6:18am

Did not realize there were so few G5 mandolins made. I've played 2 (one was Eric's). Well made, strong sound. I liked the fingerboard feel.

**DerTiefster** · Mar-23-2009, 8:34am

Originally Posted by mrmando

IMHO PayPal's protections are overrated. I have twice opened disputes over items I paid for with PayPal but did not receive. In one case I got about half the money back; in the second I got less than 10% of it back....

What I thought was stronger than PayPal's protections (but might be mistaken) is the credit card company's protections. I don't know how deeply into your <$100 items the freight to and from cut, but for the mandolin it should not be more than a sum of $100 (5%). If the seller delivered 1) nothing, or 2) something rather substantially different, like a scarred-up piece of driftwood, then it was my -belief- that the credit card company would follow up with a fraud action.

I was wrong once before, if I'm not mistaken.

**Mandobar** · Mar-23-2009, 8:44am

i emailed the seller twice asking if i could come and pick the instrument up...........no reply so i didn't even bother to bid.

**DerTiefster** · Mar-23-2009, 9:07am

Well, it -could- still happen, but the non-response across the board would seem to confirm that the auction was a non-auction. Vapor. Lots of scenario, precious little info. I hope the "buyer" is not as trusting in credit card protections as I would have been.