Don Rickert Musical Instruments

The New Ultimate Octave (aka Baritone) Violin by D. Rickert Musical Instruments

Attention!: This is an older post. The instrument described has been replaced by the Rickert Tertis Body Tenor Viola (one octave lower than violin) 15.5 inch body size. Please visit the Don Rickert Musician Shop. The T-Max Tenor Long Scale Octave Violin by D. Rickert Musical Instruments and other amazing low-pitched acoustic bowed instruments are available at the Don Rickert Musician Shop. Introduction Since the beginning of our adventure as an independent boutique custom lutherie (2007 officially), we have always allocated much attention to designing and making the best possible acoustic octave (aka baritone) violins and fiddles. More recently (about 4 years ago), we added acoustic octave violas (aka chin cellos) to our product offerings. Our continuous research with octave violas has become intertwined with our constant quest for the best octave violins possible. Our newest offering, the T-Max Tenor Long Scale Octave Violin is an example of nexus of octave violin and octave viola design research. With the new T-Max Tenor, we have to revise what we mean by “ultimate.” This new instrument is the most incredible octave violin that is played on the shoulder, to date. It is the new ultimate octave violin. The T-Max Tenor Long Scale Octave Violin The T-Max Tenor Long Scale Octave Violin is a variation of the T-Rex Octave Viola. See our article, T-Rex Octave Viola by D. Rickert Musical Instruments with Demo Video. The new instrument from D. Rickert Musical Instruments was suggested by a client. Don't know why we did not... Read more →

The Tenor Guitar: An Odd Loner without a Real Family

Please visit the Don Rickert Musician Shop. The Tenor Guitar: An Odd Loner without a Real Family http://www.rickertmusicalinstruments.com/2015/08/the-tenor-guitar-an-odd-loner-without-a-real-family.html Prelude This article is by D. Rickert Musical Instruments and its online store, Don Rickert Musician Shop. We hope that you find this article interesting in its own right. That being said, the article is a background piece to an article that proposes a new graduated family of 4 or 5-string steel-strung instruments, tuned in 5ths and intended primarily for melodic playing rather than rhythmic chords. The instruments are designed to be played with a plectrum (pick). The instruments, as well as plans and kits for building them, will be available very soon at the Don Rickert Musician Shop. Introduction The tenor guitar is more or less a fluke (i.e. an accident) of musical instrument design history. It is a bit smaller than a 6-string guitar with a slightly shorter playable scale (23” vs. 25”-25.5”). It has four strings tuned in 5ths (just like the violin and mandolin families). Okay, an instrument of the tenor guitar’s size tuned in 5ths would be appropriate for a melody instrument tuned an octave lower than a violin or mandolin; essentially a single course octave mandolin. Note: The Octave Mandolin did not appear until about 40 years after the tenor guitar. Well, it is not. What we call the “Historic Tenor Guitar” is tuned way higher than an instrument of its size should be (rather, it is tuned like a viola: C-G-D-A) and traditionally is NOT... Read more →