Folk of the Wood

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Folk of the Wood presents
The Rigel A-Plus Deluxe with Custom Finishes

RIGEL IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS

Current Discount price includes free hardshell case...the A-Plus includes a featherlite case...the A-Plus Deluxe and up include the standard tweed case...

Optional Deluxe Tweed case can be purchased for an additional 75.00.
The Deluxe tweed case features
1) Cloth tweed, rather than vinyl
2) Leather end binding & handle, rather than vinyl
3) Higher grade interior

The Rigel Deluxe offers gold hardware with special attention to detail.

See this mando played on a video sampler:
Rigel A+ Deluxe Mando

A-Plus Deluxe
The Rigel A-Plus is a loving nod to the classic A-style mandolin translated through the wizardry of Pete Langdell and his talented team of luthiers into a sleek and beautiful powerhouse of a mandolin. With radiused sides, carved maple back, carved and painstakingly tuned spruce top, maple neck, radiused ebony fingerboard, nickel Schaller tuners and Rigel tailpiece and internal piezo, these elegant instruments are powerful, bright, responsive and woody, with a very comfortable neck. They are simply a delight to play. The A-Plus will turn heads everywhere it’s played.

A-Plus Deluxe: Figured maple back and sides, a 3-ply maple-ebony-maple neck and gold-plated hardware make the already gorgeous A-Plus a knockout.

Rigel mandos have a radiused, ebony fingerboard...Loar-reproduction ebony bridges, plated-brass Rigel tailpieces and Schaller tuners, hardshell case is included...This is a superb acoustic electric mando that plays really well. In fact, it plays itself. You cannot find a better neck than what the Rigel offers. Smooth, fast and easy! This combination, with the capability of plugging in, allows you as a player to approach your mando playing with finesse. Now's the chance to capture those nuances and subtleties that escape on the average acoustic mando.

Rigel says: "The A-Plus is a nod to the classic Gibson A-model mandolin translated through the amazing skills of Pete Langdell, creator of the Rigel G-110. With radiused sides, carved maple back, carved and carefully voiced spruce top, maple neck, ebony fingerboard, nickel Schaller tuners and Rigel tailpiece, these sleek, elegant mandolins are bright, responsive and powerful, with an extremely comfortable neck. They're a delight to play."

Rigel A+ Deluxe w/F-Soundholes MP3 Sound File Played by James Watts a dedicated FOTW Customer

Testimonials:

Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2000 Greetings Craig, Nice to hear from you...I had a very close friend of mine Sebie Denson, with Capitan Gap, play the Rigel A+ Deluxe in stock...we had a bluegrass jam session in the store Saturday...so, I pulled out this A+ Deluxe, just arrived a few days ago, out of the new Solid Tweed cases coming with Rigels, and he stated explicitly that it outperformed other mandolins he tried in the store, including a 3,000.00 mandolin (which I'm not disclosing any names)....He played in context with the bluegrass jam and it rode on top of every instrument with lots of punch and power. He stated later that same day essentially that: "the Rigel has to be making the coolest mandolin he's ever had the honor to play!" It's most definitely an exceptional Rigel...even so, I don't think it would be much of a gamble for you to wait for your Rigel you're currently having made...they are fairly consistent. Mickey

Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2000 Dear Mickey, The Rigel A+ Deluxe arrived safely on Tuesday just in time for the traditional Thanksgiving jam of old time music. I played it most of Wednesday evening getting comfortable with it. The tone is spectacular. I have two wonderful 1920's Washburns that I would stack up against any Gibson for sustain and brightness if not depth, but the surpasses anything I could have expected in an oval hole for tone, clarity and note separation, ease of playing, depth on open chords, volume, and all around wow-ness for fiddle tunes and celtic music--O'Carolan's Morgan Megan never sounded better. The classical pieces I've tried sound wonderful. I think I like the fact that the sustain isn't so long that it blurs the next note. In short, I'm delighted. It was the right decision to go for the Rigel. I don't have the technique yet to get the sound that Simon Mayor can get out of an f-hole. But this mandolin is extraordinarily sweet-toned and positively rings on a tune like Soldier's Joy or Liberty both of which I played about a hundred times since getting the Rigel. Thank god I live alone.

I want to thank for your advice and your care in updating me about the time of delivery. I received your voice-mail message with all the joy of an expectant father and to hear you make the Rigel sing for me over the phone was a delight. The whole process of consulting with you, working out the details, and finishing the transaction with you was a delight. As I said before, I've dealt with other concerns but yours is the finest top to bottom I've ever encountered in the instrument business. I doubt in fact that any other business has ever been so patient with my inquiries and in keeping me updated. All the thanks in the world goes to you and the gracious folk of the wood. I just put the Rigel down long enough to write this and now I'm going to pick it up again and teach myself "St. Anne's Reel"--the first chord of which sounds saintly already. Bless you Mickey. And thanks be to heaven for you and Folk of the Wood. Warmly, Jon

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2000 Mickey, I received my Rigel A+ Deluxe Custom on Tuesday and I just now put it down long enough to write and let you know I am absolutely thrilled with this incredible mandolin and Folk of the Wood (a.k.a. Mickey Cochran).  First, the Rigel- I looked for a long, long time for what I wanted and let go of a 1925 Gibson mando to get this fulfillment of my dreams! The tone is killer and sounds better than any mando I have ever played. It had that "aged" or "mature" tone, from the first time I took it out of the case. The custom ordered solid cream color is drop-dead gorgeous. I have already played it publicly once and it is truly a jaw-dropper. Visually and sonically-this is a stunner. It is really a thrill to watch other mando players turn green; stutter as they ask if they can play MY Rigel, and then watch their eyes pop as they feel the magic. It is almost funny to watch those died-in-the-wool Gibson mando freaks as they make not-so-discreet inquiries about the price and where I got this tone monster. To put it mildly-I couldn't be happier. I may own other mandolins; but I can't imagine ever, ever, ever getting rid of this jewel!!!

Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2000 Hi Mickey Well I've had my new A-plus Deluxe with F holes for about 2 months now and its starting to come alive. I want to thank you for steering me towards this fine instrument. I'm no professional (barely amateur) but this is one of the nicest sounding mandos I've ever heard. A couple of players here who have mandos (F copies) at more than twice the price were amazed at the tone and the loudness of the Rigel. Then I plugged in and it blew them away. Yup, it's a keeper. Thanks again John

Date: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 Just received my Rigel mandolin. It arrived in perfect shape and right on time to your 's and Peter's estimate given 6 weeks ago when I placed the order. I thank you for all your advice and professional help. It is much appreciated. The Rigel is beautifully shaped and finished and has excellent tone all the way up the neck. Regards, John

Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 Mickey, I received my Rigel mandolin today and it is everything you said it would be, and everything I hoped it would be. Even though I had pretty much made up my mind on a Rigel, your confirmation that it would be ideal for the kind of stuff I play (Jazz) was right on the money. Thanks. I've played music, bought, sold and traded instruments most of my life. I have never had a fairer, squarer deal, ever. It's not easy to give up a vintage piece that you've had for a long time but the deal you offered me made it absolutely painless. I know that my new mandolin is much better suited for my purposes. Thanks again. My best to you, Rick Breeden.

Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 Hey Mickey, Just wanted to drop a line to let you know how much I appreciate doing business with you. Every transaction was a breeze and everything was as promised. The Rigel is an absolute joy, I can hardly put it down, much to the chagrin of my wife(who does now have a potter's wheel!) I will definitely recommend you and plug you whenever possible. Good luck with your production projects. I am sure they will be first class, informative and helpful to the student. You will be the one I contact for all my future acoustic needs. Sincerely, Tim Winey

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