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Folk of the Wood presents Rigel Mandolins Custom Options: The Virzi Tone Producer RIGEL IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS Virzi Acoustical Enhancer: Custom Option Can be installed on any current Rigel mandolin with the exception of the Mandocaster and the Rigel Resophonic. Virzi Following is an excerpt from the original 1920s Gibson literature of when the Virzi was first developed: "THE VIRZI TONE PRODUCER A remarkable Invention for the Tone of Magnifying and Clarifying String Instruments The Virzi Tone Producer, available for installation in any gibson instrument on order, was first introduced to the world through the enthusiastic recommendations of the worlds greatest musicians, among whom are Kreisler, Heifetz, Spaulding, and other violinists whose names are household words. The Tone Producer is a simple device of wood, built in conformance with certain scientific principles, and set within the body of the instrument, directly under the bridge. The Tone Producer increases the amplitude of vibration of the sounding board and the air-chamber, thereby increasing the amplitude, or power of tone, of the resulting sound wave. It also increases the number, and improves the proportion, of the over tones of the tone of the instrument or the partial waves of the sound wave Thus, it secures a tone of more richness, sonorouness and sweetness, in addition to increasing the volume of tone. The Tone Producer is being successfully applied to pianos, violins, and all stringed instruments with wood sounding-boards." Below is an image of the Rigel Virzi before it's installed in a Rigel:	Hello Mickey, The Virzi Tone Producer was developed by the Virzi brothers of Brooklyn in the early years of the twentieth century for use in violins. The general idea, at least as I understand it, is that the Virzi eliminates harsh overtones and accentuates wanted overtones, thickening the tone of the instrument. Sounds vague, but the result is clear to the ear. When Lloyd Loar came to work for Gibson in 1921, he brought with him many ideas for mandolin construction that were derived from the world of violin building, as well as a licensing arrangement with the Virzi brothers that allowed Gibson to install Virzi Tone Producers in instruments at customer request. Many of the Master Model instruments built from 1922 to 1924 had Virzis installed. The Virzi is an oblong spruce disc about 4" long and 3" wide with 2 f-holes. It is glued to the underside of the top with 3 spruce feet. In an ovalhole instrument, the Virzi is mounted symetrically in the center of the instrument. In an F5 style instrument, the Virzi is off-set to the bass side. The tone of a Virzi'd instrument is, to my ear, darker and thicker than a non-Virzi'd instrument with exceptional balance across the range of the instrument and generally wonderful sustain. When we installed the Virzi in my own R-100, we voiced the instrument without the Virzi and it sounded wonderful. When we installed the Virzi, the change in tone was immediately evident. Without exception, players and luthiers alike have proclaimed it among the finest mandolins they have heard. cheers, Peter Peter Mix Rigel Instruments Ltd PO Box 288 943 Will Grimes Road Hyde Park VT 05655 802-888-4161 http://www.rigelmandolin.com
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