The design of the Rigel mandolin is one of the most original in the fretted instrument industry. It is the “stressless” mandolin – the one that’s fun to hold and play over hours of performance or practice time. This silken and inviting instrument comes with its own factory installed pickup; the tailpin doubles as a phone jack. One may note, upon careful inspection that its carved spruce top “drops into” a circle (and in this instance one can see the outline of the circle against the light when viewed at an angle) that the builder designed in a most proprietary manner. Consequently, the edges of the body are curved and smooth, and not right-angle as are most fretted instruments. The headstock is the singular and blunt Rigel promontory with the maker’s logo in colorful abalone inlaid positioned below the crest (instead of a dot over the “i” he uses a star since Rigel is, after all, the brightest star in the Constellation Orion).
The ebony fingerboard – which might be bound in polished ebony - is inlaid with 7 abalone “moons” in 6 fret positions, and has a scooped peninsula after the 22nd fret. The diminutive white-bordered black elevated pickguard depends from the lower treble side of the ‘board as a place that the fingers may tarry. The bridge is traditional, two-piece, ebony; and the gold-plated tailpiece that bears the “Rigel” logo is in fine condition showing just the slightest bit of cloudiness (which mean clean up). The three piece (maple and ebony) neck is attached to the body by the bolt that doubles as a strap button, behind the heel. Tuners are likely Schaller, with floral plates in relief, and its 8 buttons are pearloid with a Phillips screw at the outer end. WAS $2263 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR: