Rigel Question

[PCypert]

Hey guys,
Having owned a Rigel I can say I loved the playability, sound, etc out of my Rigel. Have they ever produced mandolins that aren't so glitzy? Not in a bling, bling way, but in a glossy sort of way. I'm a huge fan of the matte mandolin. I think the sound could even be more full if that were possible. I know they had the A Natural or whatever. I was thinking more along an exotic R100 with a matte finish. Maybe cedar top with rosewood back just to get a really different sound. Anyone ever ordered anything like that?
Paul

[Ted Eschliman]

The standard line at Rigel is "we can do just about anything you want," and sans bling is definitely on the menu. I had someone order a "Darth Varder" look, all black top with no fret dots, black tuners, & it was a pretty neat effect.
Also, the thickness of the gloss finish is a bit of a misnomer, it's actually quite thin. I dont' think the matte would inhibit sound any less.
Keep in mind, nestled amongst some of the best Vermont maple in the world, it might seem sacrilege to use other woods, with them virtually tripping over available quality home wood supply. (Like going to a Mexican restaurant and ordering Thai food...)
I like your idea of an exotic R-100, though, and they've done the matte finish many times in the past.

[PCypert]

Talk to em at the Rigelfest for me. Something about their stain just looks to glossy for me. Don't know what it is. The sounds there, but the looks...maybe it's that standard burst. I don't know. And see if you can get them to do the repro L&H cheaper. Maybe leave off the extension and all that and get in under 3K cause otherwise I'll just get a L&H not too hard to find.
Paul

[Wando]

If you come, they will build it.

I have a custom Rigel. #Originally built for someone else (I kinda feel like I'm borrowing it), it is gorgeous and one of a kind.

[mrmando]

One of my favorite Rigels ever is a matte-finish R200 that's out there somewhere...

[PCypert]

I'd love to find that mando.

Paul

[Peter Mix]

We will happily utilize a matte finish if the customer chooses. Our gloss finish is about .008", same as the matte finish, so there is no acoustic downside to either choice, just different strokes.
The appearance is such that the finish looks much thicker than it actually is, but that's simply due to the quality of Lawrence-McFadden Fine Instrument Lacquer.
Unfortunately, there is no way to build a "budget" Lyon&Healy repro. They are extremely time-consuming to build, much like the cylinderback reproductions. The originals are a good bit less expensive these days, just not quite as super-duper (a technical term if ever there were one)as ours ;-)
cheers, Peter Mix

[Tom C]

You guys can produce some nice mandos (I've played a bunch owned by otheres) but you can also come up with the ugliest colors IMHO. -Especially when shown together -Oh the clashing http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif .

http://www.mandolincafe.com/classifieds/upload/15816.jpg

Don't get me wrong. I like ugly things. -Always wanted one of the amana white A-3s.
Keep up the good work!

[PCypert]

Dang....one could hope on the budget Lyon & H. Was hoping there was something we could trip back on like leaving off the leg stand and some other stuff. Oh well. One day I'll find a good one of those. What about a style B Lyon & H knock off for 2K or under http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif . You already have a jazz specialist mandolin. How about a classical, budget mandolin? I see loads of people already playing Rigels in mandolin orchestras. Maybe a L&H style B with a shorter scale for the MO crowd? Priced around the Gypsy (why should the jazz folks get all the fun?).

For now looks like the real thing.