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 The instrument described has been replaced by the Rickert Tertis Body Tenor Viola (one octave lower than violin) 15.5 inch body size.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 think of it first. Kudos to Dr. Jeff. The T-Max Tenor Long Scale Octave Violin is, essentially, a T-Rex Octave Viola, but strung and optimized as an Octave Violin (aka Bariton Fiddle). This instrument is not for the timid. It is the most sonorous, full-bodied and focused acoustic octave violin you will ever play, if you are up to the larger body and 14.5" scale (vs. 13" for a regular octave violin). The instrument is loud. In fact, it positively thunderous!
We can fit the instrument with a pickup bridge (we only use Barbera pickups on our instruments); however, we will not take responsibility for any breakage of windows or glassware!
The T-Max Tenor is based on a 16” Tertis wide body pattern viola (note: viola sizes are designated by their body length, expressed in inches). There are many guides on the Internet for measuring your reach to determine whether or not you can handle a 16" viola.
See the article: Measurements for Determining Correct Violin/Fiddle or Viola Size
See also the table below:
|
Instrument |
Body Length |
Neck thickness at Nut |
Nut Width |
Grasp |
Playable String Length |
Average Playable String Length |
Minimum Player Left Arm Reach |
|
Violin |
14” |
.5” |
23mm |
Narrow |
12.8” |
13” |
23” |
|
Fat Strad Deux Medium Nut |
14” |
.5” |
24mm to 26mm |
Narrow to Medium |
12.8” |
13” |
23” |
|
Fat Strad Deux Wide Nut |
14” |
.5” |
28mm |
Wide |
12.8” |
13” |
23” |
|
Tertis 15” |
15” |
.6” |
26mm |
Medium-Wide |
13.5” |
13.5” |
24.5” |
|
Tertis 15.5” |
15.5” |
.625” |
26mm |
Medium-Wide |
13.9” |
14” |
25” |
|
Tertis 16” |
16” |
.625” |
27mm |
Wide |
14.4” |
14.5” |
26” |
|
Tertis 16.5 |
16.5” |
.626” |
28mm |
Wide |
14.9” |
15” |
26.5” |
About Tertis Wide Body Violas Such as the T-Max Tenor
Lionel Tertis is regarded by many as the greatest viola player of the 20th century. Tertis preferred a large viola in order to get an especially rich tone from his instrument. Tertis created a viola pattern that would provide the tonal advantages as a large 17 inch plus viola from a 16” viola, which is today regarded as a full size viola. Tertis violas are wider than violas of the same body lenths. On average, a Tertis a has:
- An upper bout that is 6% wider
- A middle bout that is 21% wider
- A lower bout that is 4.5% wider
Large But Quite Playable
As big as it looks next to a regular violin (see image that accompanies this listing), it has a 16” body. Because it is based on a Tertis viola pattern, it is really wide, making it look like a much larger instrument. The span of the lower bout is more than 10 inches. That is really wide! Nevertheless, the instrument is surprising easy to manage and hold (yes, with an extra large shoulder rest), as the rib height is a manageable 38mm; about the same as a regular 16” viola.
Some More Details About This Instrument
Case
- Comes with a pretty nice lightweight oblong case, at no charge.
Bow
- You must use a bow suitable for a large octave violin. Choices would include:
- A standard viola bow
- A D. Rickert Specialized Octave Violin or Fiddle Bow [link], based on a carbon fiber viola bow, but with more aggressive synthetic hair (Zaralon)
- Specialized Series Light Octave Viola Bow [link] (based on a viola bow shaft). . . more aggressive synthetic hair (Zarolon)
Tuning Pegs (Graduated Sizing: the right size for each string)
- The T-Max Tenor is fitted with a special set of Wittner FineTune internally geared tuning pegs
- Rather than using one size of peg for all of the strings, the pegs on the T-Rex Tenor are graduated in size to match the extreme variation in string diameter from lowest to highest.
- The pegs range from a large viola peg for the large diameter G-string down to a standard viola peg for the E string.
Chin Rest and Shoulder Rest
Given the size of the T-Max Tenor, we work with the customer to determine the ergonomically correct combination of chin rest and shoulder rest to match the musician’s physique. We apply a $100 credit to the chin rest and shoulder rest. For the most common setup of a Kun shoulder rest and a Strad or Guarneri over-the-tailpiece chin rest, there would be no additional charge.
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