Rigel CT110

[Lane Pryce]

Last night I heard a a Gibson MM and a CT110 played side by side. The Rigel was eating him up! It was the first time I have seen the 110 in a bluegrass jam down here! Made me wish I still had my Breedlove. Anybody played a Rigel G5? I wonder if they sound as good as they look. Lp

[mandofiddle]

Was it the player or the mando? Did they switch off? I have yet to hear a Rigel CT or G series in person. Someday...

[Lane Pryce]

They traded off for one tune. The 110 was kicking butt. Both players were older and new their way around the fretboard pretty well. The funny thing about it was the sight of the older player sitting there with this funky looking axe! It was #7. Lp

[Eric F.]

I fell in love with a G-110 at First Quality a couple of years ago. Man, that thing could sing. And after a few minutes it just felt like it was part of me. Very, very nice instrument. Those high end Rigels are sweet.

[mandoJeremy]

I would love to hear that! #A G-110 busting a Master Model....okay, what dream was that? #

[John S]

Last night I heard a a Gibson MM and a CT110 played side by side. The Rigel was eating him up! It was the first time I have seen the 110 in a bluegrass jam down here!

I own both a CT110 and Gibson MM. My perception is that the CT110 has a warm, complex sound that is ideal for many genres of music, like jazz or blues or swing, etc. And it certainly can be used for bluegrass (see Jimmy Gaudreau).

However, the MM outshines the CT110 in bluegass in terms of woody tone and volume. The CT110 has a brighter sound, the MM darker. The MM certainly has much more of the "Loar" type sound, while the folks at Rigel didn't make that particular tone their priority when designing their CT110. And I can achieve a more satisfying "whoof" in the chop on the MM than I can on the CT110.

But tone is always in the ear of the beholder. I'm sure both mandos sounded great in that jam, though to my ear the MM is the better blugrass instrument.

[AlanN]

Sorry, but when I see the word 'complex' assigned to how a mandolin sounds, I just want to run and hide. Chemical structures are complex, higher math formulas are complex, people live in an apartment complex, but mandolin tone? Complex?

To my ears, the more fundamental the sound description- strong, weak, full, tinny - the better.

[Mandobar]

the term "complex" is used frequently by guitar-lovers and builders to describe instruments which emit overtones, extremely "fat" trebles, etc. #

i've heard several mandolin builders describe the sound of a red spruce topped mandolin as "fundamental" and an italian or german topped mando as "complex".

[John S]

the term "complex" is used frequently by guitar-lovers and builders to describe instruments which emit overtones, extremely "fat" trebles, etc. #

Perhaps I could have used "fat" (I often have when describing tone), but I'm not sure that would have conveyed the idea any better than "complex". #But Mandobar is right, that's the idea I was getting at.

In the past I've used chili recipes as a metaphor for mandolin tone, maybe I should go back to that

[wallflower]

I recently got to play Ted's (aka Mandohack) CT110. #It is a great instrument. #I wouldn't consider it a bluegrass mandolin, but for everything else it would be wonderful. #I would agree with John in his comparison of the CT to the Master Model. #I own two Master Models. #I consider them both more up to the task of playing bluegrass than the CT, especially in regards to chop. #For that matter, I haven't heard another mandolin that chops like a Master Model (that is except for the Loars). #But in general, the CT would be a great all around mandolin. #

P.S. That Mandohack blue is just beautiful. #Pictures just don't do it justice.

I agree . I used to sell these CT-110s. I consider them the best versatile all around mandolin. You can play just about any type of music on them and they do just fine.

However hey are not my first choice for Bluegrass.

[Ted Eschliman]

Don't know about bluegrass, but "experts" claim the CT-110 REALLY rocks in Blue...

[Zed]

Anybody played a Rigel G5? I wonder if they sound as good as they look.

I can tell you, yes, the G5 sounds as good as it looks and is a bluegrass monster. I recently got to play one alongside the blue CT110 (i own an A Natural). They both rock, the G5 for BG, the CT for everything else.

I've always loved Rigels & even though I just sold my personal CT110 I continue to be a fan. But....that scroll raises the ante $2850 retail above a CT110. I've never owned a G5 & probably never will.......

[Ted Eschliman]

Dale, of course this is coming from a CT-110 fanatic (I even bought mine from Dale); even though I'd choose the CT over the G5, it's not fair to limit the difference to just the scroll...
The G5 has a whole lot of other external "adornments," the neck binding, the fret inlays, the lap tail, and a ton of attention to the inside of the instrument you can't see, but most certainly hear.
It's no exaggeration to say it barks like the rest of the dogs in its flagship price point. I've had both to show people, and the consensus reflects this thread to the tee.
If you like to play bluegrass mostly, it's the G5 you want.
If you just want a quality ax for a whole lot of other types of music, that CT is a monster, and an incredibly powerful tool.
The G5 price is fair. I'd go so far to say as the CT is just more of a ridiculously good bargain.

Uh.....Ted, what's a lap tail?

I just consulted a knowledgeable friend & he doesn't know either......must be some Nebraska slang we've never heard of. #

Ahhh......mystery solved! It's that point on the bottom of the treble side to keep the mando from sliding around when your sitting........ "lap tail"......a term from the "Loar" era, not to be confused with terms used in the "Dirty Dancing" era. #

[mandoryan]

Hilarious Dale! Dirty Dancing era....

I just wanted to say that I heard my first CT this past weekend and I thought it was great sounding and playing instrument. They also are very cool looking mandos too. It didn't quite have the chop that my Flatiron has, but then it did have excellent playability and a pretty darn good chop nonetheless. Great mandos they're making there in Vermont.