2005 Rigel G-110 Red Sox Tribute Mandolin

Overview: Who knew that this existed, right? When I popped the case on this guy I was shocked to find a bright red Rigel with the Sox logo prominently inlaid the headstock and baseballs in the board. It's impressive! I'm a Rigel fan and I've met and hung with Pete (the builder/Rigel founder) a few times now and then and he was actually here last week(!) when he saw this one hanging in the racks to his surprise. He told me this one was built at a time when his workshop was bigger and he had a crew building alongside him and, just as I suspected when I first saw it, nailing that translucent red color was quite the task. He also told me that there was a mild kerfuffle over building it in the first place as the Sox don't usually like to let branding run astray. As you might expect, as an instrument, it's superlative -- with excellent cut and pop and that clean, clear, Rigel voicing. The neck is fast and it has a comfy, radiused board.

Interesting features: Obviously, the Red Sox regalia is the main draw! All of its fittings are also high quality and the overall build is, as you'd expect, top notch. It's got the typical Rigel hippie-grass flavor in its looks and the carves in the top coming off of the two points are nicely-done. The flamed maple on the back and sides pops out just enough from the red finish to give you a glimpse, too.

Repairs included: I just gave it a restring and glorified setup. The frets are essentially new and so I didn't need to level/dress them. It's playing spot-on, has room for adjustment at the bridge, and is ready to go.

• Weight: 2 lbs 7 oz
• Scale length: 13 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 3/16"
• Neck shape: medium/bigger C/V
• Board radius: 10"
• Depth at first fret: 59/64"
• Depth at seventh fret: 61/64"
• Body width: 10"
• Body depth: 1 3/4"
• Body: solid carved spruce over solid maple back/sides
• Bridge: ebony adjustable
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: maple
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on, room to adjust)
• String gauges: 36w-10
• Truss rod: non-adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-narrow

Condition notes: It's very clean with only the lightest usewear throughout (seen in light scratches and scuffs but nothing that you can find at a glance) and the instrument appears all-original.

It comes with: It has a good hard case that is more than likely original. It's also got a pickup installed.

Consignor tag: STRB