My Rigel Lyon & Healy Style A Reproduction

[Bill Clements]

I received my new Lyon & Healy Style A reproduction yesterday from Pete Langdell of Rigel fame. This was my first experience with a custom build, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. The instrument is simply stunning, and plays like a dream.

About a year ago, I started looking for a vintage instrument. One came up for sale here on the Café, and I missed it. I struggled with the choice between trying to find something online or looking for a builder who could suit my needs. I looked at three builders, and Pete was the only one who seemed intent of reproducing this classic instrument with an eye on the original.

Instead of vulcanized rubber used on the vintage L&H’s neck strip, Pete used vulcanized wood. The former material caused a structural weakness in the neck at the peghead juncture sometimes resulting in a crack.
He also substituted PVC for celluloid binding, as the black celluloid Pete told me breaks down over time, and PVC affords greater protection to the edge of the instrument. The interior bracing is just as L&H used. The neck is mahogany, the top is spruce, the sides and one-piece back is maple. The 13" scale fingerboard is radiused, a departure from the original instrument, but visually unremarkable. Nut width is 1-3/16". Everything except the tuners Pete fabricated, including the tailpiece. The scroll by itself is a testament to Pete’s talent.

My thanks to those of you who offered support during this process, including Jamie Stanek, Carl aka fatt-dad, and Jim Garber. Jeff Hoffee made a great case for me. Pete, you did a marvelous job! Enjoy the photos!

[Mike Black]

That's pretty awesome! All the way down to the tailpiece.

[mrmando]

Spectacular.

It isn't vulcanized rubber on an original L&H, and never was. It's vulcanized fibre, a hard plastic composed of cellulose, made by chemical treatment of cotton rag paper. They used to make bowling balls out of the stuff.

[Jim Garber]

Bill: congratulations. That is an amazing instrument. I just wish i could play it. I amy have to visit or convince you to come out east.

Martin: I was going to post the very same thing about the VF. Not rubber... but it was still sometimes a problem with structural integrity.

[Bill Clements]

Jim, that would be a pleasure for both of us!
Sorry I confused my Vulcans, being a Trekkie I should know better!
Mike, I've visited your website and you make beautiful instruments as well!

[Glassweb]

Now THAT'S pretty damn impressive... a really amazing homage to the original. If it sounds as good as it looks you'll be in business... congrats to both the builder and recipient.

[Don Grieser]

What a beauty! Congratulations!!

I imagine there's a market for those tailpiece covers.

[Bill Clements]

I imagine there's a market for those tailpiece covers.

Yes Don, one of those vintage L&H tailpieces sold on ebay recently for $565.00!

[JEStanek]

Wow. That is stunning. I hope it's everything and more than you were hoping for!

Yes I posted in green with envy...

Jamie

[Marty Jacobson]

It doesn't get much better than that. Congratulations.
I played an original once, and everything about it just seemed right. When you see something like this, it makes you realize many of the little things we quibble about (must have 14 frets to the body, etc.) are just details.

[fatt-dad]

I love it! Just wonderful!

f-d

[dcoventry]

You know, Pete Langdell is just a great luthier. Not to wax poetic, but I think he tries to serve the muse of building a great instrument first and foremost.

Certainly, my G5 is a JOY to play on all levels and it's good to see more instruments coming into fruition.

dave

[JeffD]

It would be awesome to do an A - B with an original to hear the differences and similarities. Fantastic job.

[delsbrother]

Very nice! What scale did you end up using?

[Wayne Stuvick]

Wow, that is, as has already been said, visually "stunning". I've had to come back and look at it again several times today. I would love to hear how it sounds.

[Bill Clements]

Very nice! What scale did you end up using?

I chose a 13" scale, closer to that of a violin. It took me about a day to become accustomed to it, but I really like it! Great for melodic playing.

[trevor]

Wow! That's fantastic. I played a Vega Cylinderback reproduction Pete made in 2002. The back was carved.. If I'd had the money at the time I would have bought it, it sounded incredible.

You can see it beside Pete here.

[Tavy]

Fantastic work, and great that yourself and Pete have taken this old design and run with it!

[eadg145]

Wow. I am impressed in so many ways. That is such a fantastic approach to realizing a dream, and Pete's implementation is just breathtaking. It's like some kind of Time Machine, with a bit of the past and a bit of the present. Congratulations to both the new owner and the luthier!

Wow.

[Larry S Sherman]

Beautiful! I wish more mandolins had violin scrolls.

Larry

[Gregory Tidwell]

Looks great Bill. But what's that metal post shown on the treble side in photo 4 of 7? And is it retracted in photo 5 of 5? Is that some sort of stand or something?

[delsbrother]

That's the kickstand. It's only on the male ones, the females don't have them.

[Bill Clements]

That's the kickstand. It's only on the male ones, the females don't have them.

Not sure of the gender of this little instrument. I turned it upside down and STILL no answer! (I gotta come up with a name)
This leg rest was one of the features L&H offered, since there is no strap button on the tailpiece. Again, Pete fabricated this little retractable rest.
I'm either using a footrest or crossing my leg to hold the instrument as you might do with a bowl back. The shorter scale inherently makes it a bit easier to hold.

Thanks for all the replies so far!

[billhay4]

Nice instrument!
I'd like to hear it.
Bill

[Jubal]

What a gorgeous instrument. I love the violin scroll headstock. Happy playing.