Okay, if someone had described this to me, I probably would have thought it a bad idea, however this rocks:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=18207&query=retrieval
I’d love to hear how it sounds.
Loren
Loren, i am truly shocked.
Which part are you shocked about, that I like it, or that I wouldn’t think it a good idea?
Time to tell Rick his Session Mando is now ready 
Loren
Oh yeah. That’s one of my holy grails. Rigel mandolins are fantastic. However, that one’s priced right about the same as the blue book value of my car. Who on earth can afford these things?
That might even have gotten Les Paul interested in playing mando. BTW, where’s the plug-in? Oh, it’s not electric…right?
it has a piezo under the bridge, the jack doubles as the strap button on the end of the instrument.
If I am not mistaken Dash Crofts (of Seals and Crofts) played an electric mandolin and mandola both on stage and in their recordings. Seems like a lifetime ago…
Wow Rob, those are great photos. You aren’t tying to tempt me, are ya?
Well, it did get me thinking, might be nice to have a mando to match my Epi Les Paul Ultra, although I wouldn’t really need the carved back
:
Loren
those are just the Goldtop photos, there is more mando-porn here:
http://www.rigelinstruments.com/publish/article_132.shtml
for example this one, which might just suit you better:
Ach, no. I can live without the flames and those colors, thanks.
Different strokes though.
Loren
I do like the blue ones though.
We used to have a guy that was affiliated with Rigel post on C&F, but it was some time ago, I wonder what happened to him…
Loren
how 'bout this 99 Sullivan?
if you want something more Paul-ish, maybe a Stevens Paul (Glasse):
or Roger Bacorn could put together something for you
I can see there’s no escape! In all seriousness, I may be selling everything except my flutes here shortly (which is why I took photos of the Epi), so you’ll have to torture someone else 
Loren
well, my wife is tortured daily by all the hours i spend looking at mandolins on line
seriously, though, i’ve pretty much decided that i’m giving up some instruments as well because i’d be better off focusing what practice time i have on mandolin.
I can’t imagine!!!
BTW, you did see this, didn’t you Rob? http://www.mandolincafe.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=18213&query=retrieval
i did. looks very tempting.
That really does seem like a very good price.
Loren
