It is time to unite another new Violoncello da Spalla by Don Rickert with its new owner.
We have a new Violoncello da Spalla standard model underway.
I have a Violoncello da Spalla (Standard Model) in progress that is more than one-half completed. The Standard Model is less expensive than the Standard Plus Model. You will want to visit the Don Rickert Musician Shop [link] to see the differences between the two models. Both are professional level instruments.
See the in-progress Violoncello da Spalla in its current state in the adjacent photo of yours truly (i.e., Don Rickert).
Learn more about Violoncellos da Spalla, including the ones we make here in our Hiawassee, Georgia (USA) workshop.
If you are reading this, you probably already know a bit about what a Violoncello da Spalla is, the history of its development in the 17th and 18th Centuries, and its rediscovery in the early 21st Century.
If you do wish to learn or simply refresh your memory on this unique and versatile instrument, visit the following links:
Learn more about other really cool tenor and baritone range violin family instruments
If you visit the Don Rickert Musician Shop website [www.DonRickertMusicianShop.com], you can also learn about other tenor range violin family instruments, such as our octave violins and tenor-tuned (octave lower than a violin) violas. Tenor-tuned violas are also sometimes called octave mezzo violins. Violoncellos da spalla, octave violins and tenor violas are all sought by violinists, fiddlers and violists seeking to explore the cello range on much smaller instruments. Our 5-string mezzo violins will be interesting as well to players wanting to explore the lower frequency ranges.
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
If you are interested in finding out more about this instrument in progress, I am keen to discuss. I will be starting yet another very soon as well. That one can be either a Standard or a Standard Plus model.
Because it is more than half-finished, this lovely instrument can be in your hands before Summer (yes, 2023 š).
Also, if you know anything about the custom lutherie business, you will appreciate the desire to keep the schedule of instrument builds as full as possible. In other words, I am motivated to work with prospective customers on price, for the instrument as well as a custom case.
In upcoming episodes, you will be able to see and hear at two instruments just like the violocello da spalla in progress being played and discussed by some incredible players.
Our new podcast, āCool Instruments for Hep Catsā, went live with Episode 1 on March 28th 2023, will have several episodes on the Violoncello da Spalla and other 5 course cellos. Interviews with musician, luthier and violoncello da spalla expert Daniela Gaidano, as well as renowned violoncello da spalla players, Andrew Gonzalez and William Hurd have already been recorded. The first of these episodes about the Violoncello da Spalla will air either late April 2023 or early May.
We announced this very cool instrument in 2018. Since then we have made almost two dozen Violoncellos da Spalla for customers all over the world.
Our instruments are played by some of today's preeminent Violoncello da Spalla players, as well as many advanced amateur players alike. Well-known Suzuki Teacher and professional violist/violoncello da spalla performer, William Hurd is pictured here with his Rickert-made violoncello da spalla over his shoulder. Note: "da spalla" does mean literally "for the shoulder" in English, but the photo does NOT depict the actually playing position! We will get to that.
Please contact us if you wish to discuss purchasing one of these fine instruments.
Prior to 2018, we received a number of inquiries about the violoncello da spalla, based largely on our reputation for making extraordinary octave violins, mezzo violins and professional-level travel violins, which are modern versions of the dancing master's pochettes (portable pocket fiddles) of the Baroque Period. In 2018, I decided that the time was right for the violoncello da spalla as a standard product offering. Ours is a meticulously-designed and built 18ā (refers to body length) violoncello da spalla in proper Baroque configuration. Our Violoncellos da Spalla are deliberately designed to to accommodate gut strings tuned to lower Baroque period pitch as well as more trouble-free and sonorous modern metal, silk or synthetic core (i.e. āPerlonā) strings, tuned to modern or period pitch. The point here is that our instruments are made to withstand the higher tension of modern strings while still performing exceptionally well with historic gut strings. Consultation on stringing and performing appropriate setup for the type of strings chosen is included in the price.
The violoncello da spalla (Italian for ā'cello for the shoulderā) was, until fairly recently, a 5-string instrument of the violin family from the Baroque period that had fallen quite deeply into obscurity. It is a small baritone range instrument, about the size of a modern 1/10 size (child's) cello, that is tuned to C, G, d, a, eā (i.e. like a full-size cello with an additional string on the treble side that is tuned to eā, which is an octave lower than the eā string on a violin)
It is thought by some that the violoncello da spalla was invented, or at least perfected, by the German luthier, Johann Christian Hoffman, a contemporary and probably a close friend of Johann Sebastian Bach. It was NOT called "violoncello da spalla" back in the day. That is primarily a modern moniker. Bachās purported close relationship with J.C. Hoffmann has led to a now popular theory that J.S. Bach had a hand in the invention of the violoncello da spalla. This belief continues to be debated, often quite vigorously, by experts who study the history of musical instruments.
Anyway, what is now widely regarded as the primary candidate for distinction as the original violoncello da spalla, having been previously classified as either a "viola pomposa", "viola da spalla" or "piccolo cello", was made in 1732 by Hoffmann. It is this instrument that, today, is commonly regarded as the de facto āgold standardā for a proper Violoncello da Spalla.
The modern resurrection of the violoncello da spalla, and widespread attribution of the instrumentās invention to Hoffmann, is due largely to the Russian-Dutch luthier and media celebrity of sorts, Dmitry Badiarov. Badiarov, based in The Hague, introduced his first violoncello da spalla in 2004, essentially after Hoffmann, albeit, considerably more refined than the original 1732 instrument. While Badiarov, and his collaborator, Dutch violinist Sigiswald Kuijken, are more well-known, it was earlier research by the Dutch violinist and violist, Lambert Smit, that laid the groundwork for Badiarov and others involved in the 21st Century resurgence of the violoncello da spalla. Smit is regarded by many as the true father of the modern revival of the violoncello da spalla. Indeed, it was Smit who first posited the involvement of Bach, himself, in its invention. It was Smit who surmised that Bachās Cello Suites and Cantatas were written, not for the full-size 4-string cello, but rather for the much smaller 5-string violoncello da spalla.
Since 2004, the violoncello da spalla has grown exponentially in popularity, largely due to Badiarovās tireless ongoing research, teaching and and relentless evangelism. He also has made quite a few of these unique and very cool instruments for world-famous musicians and aspiring players alike.
How is the Violoncello da Spalla played?
The violoncello da spalla has been described as a "bass for violinists". Unlike the 5-string "chin cello", a.k.a. the 5-string octave viola (see image below),
the violoncello da spalla is held across the chest, secured with a strap around the shoulder and neck, as you can see in in the photo of violist and preeminent violoncello da spalla player, Andrew Gonzalez.
The violoncello da spalla is easily (a relative term) played by experienced violinists and violists. Indeed, experts believe that the instrument was invented in the early 1700s in order to minimize the learning curve of accomplished violinists and violists desiring to play a baritone range instrument.
Learning to bow the Violoncello da Spalla does not take much time at all, because, unlike a full-size cello, the bow is held the in the same manner as for violin or viola. That being said, any, if not most, experienced violinists and fiddlers, whose experience is primarily in playing the lead melody, will probably need to brush up on their music theory, particularly the principles for improvising baritone/bass harmony and chords. Put another way, they will have to learn the largely lost art of basso continuo improvisation. Of course, there are many fully-scored solo pieces for violoncello from the Baroque period, especially by J.S. Bach.
Interest in these newly re-discovered instruments is growing as part of an overall re-discovery of Baroque music and Baroque instruments, particularly those played with a bow.
Our violoncellos da spalla are inspired by measurements taken from the surviving instrument by Johann Christian Hoffmann (1732). As would be expected, our Violoncello da Spalla is 5-string instrument with a body length of 18 inches (14.5cm). It is tuned to C, G, d, a, eā. In other words, the tuning is the same as a full-size cello, but with an additional string on the treble side that is tuned to eā (an octave lower than the eā string on a violin). It is held across the chest, suspended by a strap around the players neck, not unlike a modern guitar, but much closer to the chin (see the image of Andrew Gonzalez above).
Approximate Critical Dimensions
Overall length: 30ā (75cm)
Body length: 18ā (45.5cm)
Upper bout width: 8.25ā (21.5cm)
Lower bout width: 10.25ā (26cm)
Ribs: 3.15ā (8.0cm)
Playable String length: 16.53ā (42cm)
Note about string length: The playable string length of this instrument requires a slightly disproportionately long neck length when compared to the āidealā string and neck lengths of a modern 1/10 size cello or an 18ā viola.
Varnish
A number of varnish options are possible. Traditional hand-rubbed oil or spirit. I prefer spirit varnish these days. Here are some examples for reference when discussing your preference.
Light Golden Brown
Golden Brown
Darker Golden Brown
Medium Brown Semi-Antique
Med-Dark Brown Semi-Antique
Reddish-Brown Semi-Antique
Setup: Baroque or modern
Nut and saddle: Ebony or Micarta
Micarta is a synthetic material that has the appearance of ivory. It is slightly softer than ebony and, thus, much kinder to gut strings. Further, real ivory is absolutely banned worldwide!
Pegs: Wittner FineTune (default)
FineTune(tm) pegs by Witttner are internally-geared tuning pegs that look identical to traditional ebony pegs. The gear ratio is 8:1, thus making tailpiece mounted fine-tuners unnecessary. We modify the Wittner pegs as necessary for use with either modern or gut strings.
While we consider the Wittner FineTune pegs to be preferred option, traditional pegs, either modern or baroque style, are available for our Violoncello da Spalla Standard Plus Model.
True veneered spruce Baroque fingerboard
A proper Baroque fingerboard is not made from either solid ebony or maple. Rather, it has a core of quarter-sawn spruce, which is then clad with thick veneers (2mm to 3.5mm) of various woods, including ebony and figured maple. The fingerboard options are illustrated below.
Plain Ebony
Black-Dyed Flamed Maple
Dark Brown Katalox w/Maple Border
Dark Brown Flamed Maple w/ Natural Maple Border
Medium Brown Flamed Maple w/ Natural Maple Border
True Baroque tailpiece
A Baroque Tailpiece can be made from solid ebony or boxwood; however, Baroque tailpieces are more often made from maple, which is then veneered to match that of the fingerboard (see the images above).
Custom bridge for a Violoncello da Spalla
One type of bridge is best described as a hybrid between an extra-wide (for 5-strings) viola bridge and an extra-wide cello bridge. There are no commercial manufacturers of blanks for such bridges; therefore, we make them for each individual instrument in our workshop. The the past year or so, I have been using a relatively unmodified treble viola da gamba bridge. I am very pleased with the sonic results and look really cool!
Strings
Standard String Set
The standard string set for our Violoncello da Spalla is designed to achieve a balance between period authenticity and the expectations of the modern player with respect to sonority/playability/practicality, as well as reasonable cost. As one should expect, we also offer premium replica real gut strings.
You would think that strings for a 1/10 size cello, with a long viola string for the E, would work. Unfortunately, there are NO makers of premium strings in the 1/10 size. Premium cello strings in the 1/8 size tend to be a bit too long. Custom violoncello da spalla strings by Infeld-Thomastik are possible; however, they are almost impossible to get and are insanely expensive. Currently we are using with good results a custom set, made up of repurposed extra long viola strings, with a custom-made wound silk string for the C. We also offer a complete set of silk-core strings from Atelier Boussoir, which is owned by the French luthier and string maker, Eliakim Boussoir.
We will work with you to determine the best combination for your needs. String configuration is a matter for post-purchase discussion.
Gut Strings
We know that some players want to play a Baroque period instrument replica that is strung only with the type of strings that were available in the early 18th Century. We understand the appeal of gut strings, despite their high cost and typically short life. So, if you are committed to gut, weāve got you covered. If you indicate that you may want gut strings, we will contact you to discuss the best string set to meet your requirements. We can supply Aquila gut strings for violoncello da spalla for an additional $100. We can also supply strings from the premier maker of historic reproduction gut strings, Gamut Music, Inc. (Dan Larsen). The additional cost for Gamut strings is considerable. A full set of period gut strings from Atelier Boussoir is a good and relatively affordable option as well.
Cases
The instrument comes with a padded soft case. We can supply a custom-made hard shell case. The current price for a wooden custom case is about $900. A custom fit ultra-light carbon fiber case runs about $1600.
We can also supply a custom-fit flight case (25 lbs. weight) for about $300.
Bow
The bow is your responsibility. If you like, we will find you the best deal possible for a Baroque cello bow in whatever price range you desire. Some players use a high-quality modern cello bow; however, that practice is becoming less popular. The least expensive good bows start at about $450, regardless of whether they are modern or baroque. Many players start out with a student-level Chinese-made baroque style bow, which costs about $200, and does a surprisingly good job.
Yeah, I know that I said that it would launch on March 17. What with some instrument completion deadlines and St. Patrick's Day stuff, it is going to be delayed by a few days. My bad! Stay tuned.
We just launched our new podcast, Offbeat Songs for Cool Cats, just in time for Christmas 2022. Below are links to play Episode 1, Parts 1 and 2 via Spotify. We aim to post an episode every 2 weeks. The next is scheduled for on or about January 5, 2023. I'll be telling you more about this podcast in the coming days.
We will also be launching yet another Podcast show in the near future. For now its name is Badass Instruments for Cool Cats. There will be a corresponding video version on YouTube.
D. Rickert Musical Instruments (bowed strings), together with its partner, Rickert and Hale, Luthiers (mandolin family and guitars), will once again be showing finished and in progress instruments at the 2022 Hoppinā John Old Time and Bluegrass Fiddlersā Convention. The festival happens September 15-17, 2022 at the Shakori Hill Community Arts Center near Pittsboro, North Carolina. That is central North Carolina. People come from throughout the Southeastern US, including Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and, of course, North Carolina.
We will have at least one of our in-progress violoncellos da spalla to show. As surprising as it might seem, a large number of American traditional fiddle players and enthusiasts are also baroque music enthusiasts. We have actually sold more violoncellos da spalla at (or shortly following) the Hoppinā John Old-Time and Bluegrass Fiddlersā Convention than ANY other instrument.
The in-progress violoncello da spalla that we will be showing is actually available for purchase right now. It is the same model played by several renowned violoncello da spalla players. If you are interested, feel free to contact me to discuss.
Later today or tomorrow at the latest, I will post about other instruments that we will have to show at Hoppin' John.
Effective May 30, 2022, we are offering the NEW Violoncello da Spalla Standard Plus Model. This new model supersedes its predecessor, which was called the āStandard Modelā.
This new instrument has the same basic specifications as the earlier Standard Model, but is primarily hand-made by Master luthier, Dr. Donald Rickert in our workshop in Hiawassee, GA, USA, with minimal apprentice or contract labor. Prices start at $16,000 US. To learn more, go to NEW Violoncello da Spalla by D. Rickert (Standard Plus Model) on the Don Rickert Musician Shop website.
Dr. Don Rickert is one of the preeminent cello da spalla makers worldwide. He is based in Hiawassee, Georgia, USA, which is located in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia. The workshop is located literally on the border of the Nantahala Wilderness area of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Dr. Rickert and his fellow luthier, Dr. Randy Hale also design and build professional-level octave mandolins, Irish bouzoukis, citterns, mandolas and mandolins. See the Rickert & Hale website. Their workshops are located on adjacent ridges.
Why the New Model?
Funny you should ask. In the past few years, the violoncello da spalla market has evolved such that it has become much smaller and more discerning. The time of exuberant enthusiasm, with throngs of eager beginners, has diminished markedly, and with it the market for violoncellos costing less than $10,000. Put bluntly, the fad has faded. Even the market for well-made Chinese-madeāset up in US instruments costing less than $4,000 has disappeared. I mean zero!
What is left is a cadre of highly committed professionals and advanced amateurs, who are only interested in instruments completely made by master luthiers, with NO factory-made components made by low-skilled workers. This group knows that such instruments cost a lot moreāsimple as that.
Our Violoncello da Spalla Standard Plus Model is for those aspiring violoncello da spalla players who are really committed for the long haul. We look forward to discussing what you want.
D. Rickert Musical Instruments has a model of Violoncello da Spalla for every level of commitment beyond ājust curious and doing researchā. Our Standard Model Violoncello da Spalla goes for just under $10K. This is the model played by some of the widely-recognized best violoncello da spalla players in the world, such as Andrew Gonzalez and Will Hurd. We also have a Deluxe Model, which costs more. Both of these are made by us in our Hiawassee, Georgia USA workshop. We also have a really nice entry-level model that this made in China and set up by us in our workshop. We also make a really cool small Petite Violoncello da Spalla. See the following product listings:
Introducing the Conservatory Model Violoncello da Spalla by D. Rickert Musical InstrumentsāFinally a violoncello da spalla suitable for professional performance that is affordable!
If you wish to learn more or buy this very cool instrument, our direct phone number in the U.S. is 1-706-896-0909. Our email is [email protected]. You can also learn more or buy now at:
For the past several years we have kept been busy making our Standard Violoncellos da Spalla. We are, in fact, one of the most prolific makers of these unique and very special instruments, but we are still only talking about 6 or 7 instruments a year. Letās be honest, the violoncello da spalla āmarketā is a really small niche! It is true that those outside of the niche do not yet know what they are missing, but that will take some time to change.
While far less expensive than some other master-built instruments of this type, including our own much higher-priced Artist Model, at just under $10,000, our Standard Model Violoncellos da Spalla are still out of reach cost-wise for many full-time professional musicians and advanced amateurs, regardless of commitment level. We are about to change that.
After much consideration, we have decided to follow in the footsteps of some venerable U.S.-based stringed instrument brands, such as Eastman Strings (violin family), Scott Cao (violin family), and Charlie Ogle (violas da gamba), and add inexpensive violoncellos da spalla that are made in China, but set up and adjusted in our U.S.-based workshop, in Hiawassee, Georgia to be precise. Like Scott Cao, Charlie Ogle and others, we will continue to offer our higher-dollar instruments that are completely made in our U.S. workshop.
The result of our decision is our new Conservatory Model Violoncello da Spalla. The introductory base price is only $3,499! There are NO hidden up-charges. Buyers who want hand varnishing done in our U.S. workshop, special baroque replica strings and the like will pay only slightly more. Sure, you may have to sell a guitar or mandolin on Reverb.com or Elderly Instruments to make it work, but the price is doableāwe know that this is true, as we have done considerable market and pricing research as part of the due diligence behind our decision to move forward with these exciting new instruments.
We are taking orders NOW for the first 12 instruments. You can order via our online store (www.DonRickertMusicianShop.com) or you can call us at 706-896-0909 or email to discuss and/or finalize a purchase. To be honest, there is really not much to discussāprofessional level violoncello da spalla, set up by a master U.S.-based luthier, for $3,499. The lead time from order to delivery is currently about 30 days.
Here are some photos of an actual Conservatory Model Violoncello da Spalla.
Attention!: The offer of a 10% discount to buyers is now expired. In the words of Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, "Time Waits for No One". The 10% commission for those who make a referral leading to an actual sale still stands, at least for now. That could mean almost $1,000 in your pocket! Call us or email us if you wish to discuss.
If you have decided to acquire a professional level violoncello da spalla, you should pay attention to this!
If you do not know what a violoncello is, or you are just kind of dreaming about getting one someday, this is NOT for you. Put another way, if you are not sure that you need a master-grade violoncello da spalla, you DO NOT need one! Or, if you are not that committed and you want one cheap, such as a converted fractional cello, go for it. That road is paved with failure and disappointment, made worse by wasted money and timeājust saying.
If you are merely curious, you can satisfy your curiosity elsewhere, such as:
I have not yet put you off and you are still here, read on ā¦
Of the top makers of violoncellos da spalla, which are played by the top players, I am pretty sure that we are the last who are still making instruments for less than $10,000. We still have enough materials on hand to make one or two Standard models, which are the same instruments played by the likes of Andrew Gonzalez, William Hurd and Albert Chang (aka sleightlymusical).
Andrew Gonzalez
After those are gone, we will only be making the Artist models, which are 100% hand-made in our Hiawassee, Georgia, USA workshop. The Artist model costs A LOT MORE ($16,500+) money and already has a lengthy wait list queue, along with our new Irish Bouzoukis and Octave Mandolins, which have not even been officially announced yet.
We are holding space in our instrument build workflow so that orders for the last one or possibly two Standard Model violoncellos da spalla can be completed in 60 days or less from time of order. The regular price is $9,600, with a discounted price of $8,600 for payment up front. Any one of our fans who help us sell a violoncello da spalla will get a 10% commission. That is $960 or $860! If you buy the instrument for yourself, you will get the same 10% commission as a discount. In summary, for the last time ever, you can have a professional level violoncello da spalla for a little as $7,740.
First things first: I have a new Violoncello da Spalla under construction.
Here are some photos of the instrument in its current state. Click on any of the photos for a larger view.
When it is paired with a lucky future owner, I will finish it. It will take about a month. In the meantime, we have several really exciting projects going on, which I will briefly describe below. Once the new Violoncello da Spalla is spoken for, finishing it will resume its place as a top priority.
If you follow me, you already know that the pricing for my violoncellos da spalla, including a discount for payment up front. If you donāt know and you are curious about pricing, specs, etc., visit Don Rickert Musician Shop on the web. If you are currently weighing your options for a new instrument, this is an opportunity to avoiding being stuck in a long backlog.
If you want to learn or refresh your memory of the beauty, workmanship and sound of my violoncellos da spalla, visit the following links on our main website for D. Rickert Musical Instruments.
If you wish to learn more or buy this very cool instrument, our direct phone number in the U.S. is 1-706-896-0909. Our email is [email protected]. You can also learn more or buy now at:
Our online store, Don Rickert Musician Shop had not been updated in quite a while. At the end of 2021 and beginning of this year, refreshing the online store to reflect what we are currently focused on emerged as a top priority. That project is more or less completed. Basically, we got rid of most product listings related to resale of someone elseās instruments, bows, accessories, etc.; the main exception being particularly interesting vintage instruments. Moving forward, we will generally sell only what is made in our workshops in Hiawassee, Georgia, USA.
āBig Mandolinsā and Related Instruments
When I say āBig Mandolinsā I am referring generally to octave mandolins, mandocellos and what are commonly referred to these days as āIrish bouzoukisā. As a long-time enthusiast, and occasional player of these tenor and baritone range instruments, I have been iterating designs for at least 5 years.
With the current instability of the luthier-built bowed string instruments market, the time seems right to start thinking about expanding horizons; that is, if one wants to continue to make a living as a luthier.
After some market assessment, I mean actual formal market research, including, surveys, depth interviews, conjoint analysis (i.e., features and pricing analysis), etc., I have concluded that there is a very healthy market for luthier-built octave mandolins, citterns and Irish bouzoukis. Another post will get into the details about our upcoming mandolin enterprise. For now, I can tell you that, in addition to our violoncellos da spalla, we will be introducing three models of mandolin family instruments, specifically:
An Irish bouzouki, which will sell in the $2,500 to $3,500 range
An archtop octave mandolin (4 courses)/cittern (5 courses), which will sell initially in the $5,500 to $7,000 range
A high-end archtop instrument, available as an octave mandolin or Irish bouzouki (4 courses) or cittern (5 courses), set to sell initially in the $7,000 to $10,000 range.
Learn more about Violoncellos da Spalla, including the ones we make here in our Hiawassee, Georgia (USA) workshop.
