Don Rickert Musical Instruments

How to Assemble a Take-Apart Bow (Photo Essay)

Click on any thumbnail image for a full-size view. Read more →

Kira and Her Adventurer IId Travel Violin Save the Day at the Abbey in Conques

Before Our Story, A Little Bit About the 1,000 Year-Old Sainte-Foy Abbey Church The Sainte-Foy Abbey (of the Benedictine Order) Church in Conques, France (the Southern part of France) was a popular stop for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela, in what is now Spain. Its construction began sometime in the 1020s and was completed almost a hundred years later in 1120. The original dome later collapsed and was replaced in the 15th... Read more →

The Violin Tail Gut: What Goes Around Comes Around (Part 3)

Introduction We ended Part 2 of this article with commentary of the difficulty of installing a Kevlar tail cord. This final part delves into how its done and touches on the matter of whether or not it is worth the trouble. Removing the Tailpiece First, "tie-off" the strings so that they do not unravel on the pegs when loosened. We use a piece of leather boot lace, as shown in the following photos. Remove the... Read more →

The Violin Tail Gut: What Goes Around Comes Around (Part 2)

Introduction If you read Part 1 of this article, you would know that what we call the "tail gut" secures the violin tailpiece to the end pin (a.k.a. tail button). Part 1 ended with the assertion that the tail gut is more important than most musicians realize. Assuming a properly set-up violin or fiddle of at least moderate quality with decent strings and a good bow, NOTHING enhances (or diminishes) the sonority of a violin... Read more →

The Violin Tail Gut: What Goes Around Comes Around (Part 1)

Introduction Innovations the realm of musical instruments, as with all other areas of invention, are often inspired by very old ways of doing things. It may be the materials used or it could be a variation of implementation that takes into account other discoveries subsequent to the original invention that transforms the old invention into something completely new. In the world of Intellectual Property (i.e. Patents), many patents are for improvements upon old inventions rather... Read more →