Don Rickert Musical Instruments

Fine Violoncellos da Spalla for Sale: Hiawassee, Georgia, USA

D. Rickert Musical Instruments has a model of Violoncello da Spalla for every level of commitment beyond “just curious and doing research”. 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: NEW Violoncello da Spalla Conservatory Model by D. Rickert NEW Violoncello da Spalla by D. Rickert ($8,400 - $9,600) Petite Violoncello da Spalla by D. Rickert ($6,500) Recent videos of Andrew Gonzalez and Will Hurd Read more →

Time-Sensitive Violoncello da Spalla Opportunity!

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! Email: [email protected] Phone: 706-896-0909 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 time—just saying. If you are merely curious, you can satisfy your curiosity elsewhere, such as: The product listing for Violoncellos da Spalla at Don Rickert Musician Shop Demonstrations and Photo Galleries I have not yet put you off and you are still here, read on … 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... Read more →

New Violoncello da Spalla in Progress, Big Mandolins, and Other Cool Projects at D. Rickert Musical Instruments

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 don’t 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. Demonstrations and Photo Galleries Demonstrations of Violoncellos da Spalla by Don Rickert Gallery: Violoncellos da Spalla by Don Rickert 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: NEW Violoncello da Spalla Conservatory Model by D. Rickert or learn... Read more →

Demonstrations and Photo Galleries

Everybody wants to hear what an instrument will sound like before making a considerable financial commitment. People also want to see examples of workmanship...and who doesn't enjoy eye candy? Here are links to important demonstration videos of the Violoncellos da Spalla and other instruments we have completed in approximately the last three years, all in one place. You will also find photos of most of the instruments we have built in the same time period. You will find additional demos not shown here within individual product listings in our online store, the Don Rickert Musician Shop. Demo Videos of Violoncellos da Spalla by Don Rickert Click here for demo videos Photo Galleries of Recent Instruments by Don Rickert Photo Gallery: Violoncellos da Spalla by Don Rickert Photo Gallery: Other Recent Instruments by Don Rickert Photo Gallery: Travel Violins by Don Rickert Read more →

Don Rickert Musical Instruments, Makers of Violoncellos da Spalla and Other Fine Bowed Instruments

For more information about us, including our online store, the Don Rickert Musician Shop, see Introducing the Don Rickert Musician Shop. Don Rickert Musical Instruments is a premiere designer and maker of innovative custom and historic musical instruments. Since starting our musical instruments enterprise in 2007, we have dealt primarily in those of the bowed variety (e.g. violins, fiddles and related instruments such as octave fiddles). We have also designed and made a number of fretted instruments along the way: mandolins, parlor guitars, acoustic bass guitars, tenor guitars and the like. We will soon be branching out in a serious way into the world of fretted musical instruments. Look forward to some really interesting mandolins, octave mandolins, mandocellos, parlor guitars, acoustic bass guitars, tenor guitars and the like. Regular production items are usually available at the Don Rickert Musician Shop. If you want something that is not there, give us a call... Our email is [email protected] and main phone number is (706) 896-0909. Don Rickert's mobile phone number is (706) 400-1481 Mailing address: Don Rickert Musical Instruments 726 Hall Creek Road Hiawassee, GA 30546 See: Our new online store, the Don Rickert Musician Shop (www.DonRickertMusicianShop.com) Our companion blog, Don Rickert Musician Shop: Latest News (www.DonRickertMusicianShop.com/blog) The Facebook page of our owner, Donald Rickert (We still have a large number of photo albums there) (www.facebook.com/donald.rickert1) Our new company Facebook page, also called D. Rickert Musical Instruments (www.facebook.com/DonRickertMusicianShop) Our YouTube Channel: www.YouTube.com/DoctorFiddle >>>>>>> Click here for Our full contact information <<<<<<<< ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~... Read more →

Demonstrations of Violoncellos da Spalla by Don Rickert

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: NEW Violoncello da Spalla Conservatory Model by D. Rickert or learn more about our top-of-the-line Standard Model, see: NEW Violoncello da Spalla by D. Rickert ($8,400 - $9,600), (it is the Standard Model that is featured in ALL of the videos) We look forward to hearing from you. Having our instruments in the hands of some truly world-class musicians has been a real blessing. There are some really good demonstration videos of our violoncellos da spalla out there. This page brings them, or at least the ones we know about, into one place. Click and enjoy! Those videos on YouTube and several other video streaming services have previews. Those on Facebook do not. If you are interested in exploring the possibility of purchasing a Violoncello da Spalla by Don Rickert, please visit Don Rickert Musician Shop. We are one of the most prolific makers of these instruments in the U.S. We are located in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia on the North Carolina border. We have two instruments, as yet unspoken for, in construction. Video with Previews NEW Will Hurd: Courante from Bach Suite no 6 using a bow by Harry Grabenstein | 2021 Virtual Exhibition Andrew Gonzalez playing one of the first violoncellos da spalla I made. Thanks Andrew. Some Non-Baroque Demonstrations Albert... Read more →

The New Mandolin Family Part 2: Octave Mandolins, Citterns and Irish Bouzoukis

This article is Part 2 of 2 and a follow on the article, The New Mandolin Family Part 1: Ancient Mesopotamia to Orville Gibson. We will pick up with other developments staring in the 1960s and culminating in today's New Mandolin Family of instruments. Here I will discuss the large tenor range instruments of the New Mandolin Family. These instruments are often called ‘octave mandolins’, ‘citterns’ and ‘Irish bouzoukis’. There is considerable confusion about whether these monikers are synonyms or whether they refer to clearly distinct tenor mandolin variants. I might be able to clear that up for you. I will also say some more about the modern mandocello, the largest member of the New Mandolin Family, such as the new breed of mandocellos that are hybrids of big mandolins and guitars. The Octave Mandolin, Irish Bouzouki and Cittern As previously stated, I believe the two most important antecedents to the octave mandolin to be the bouzouki and the Renaissance/Baroque cittern. It is uncertain who first coined the moniker “octave mandolin”. As described below, the instruments that we now call “octave mandolins” were until recently mostly called bouzoukis, citterns and even mandolas. Discussion of the origin of modern octave mandolins will hopefully shed some light. The Bouzouki The Greek bouzouki is, like the mandolin, a double-course stringed instrument. Indeed, the mandolin and bouzouki are presumed to be branches of the same lute family tree, the Arabic oud. The original Greek bouzouki, called the trichordo, was a three course/six-string instrument with... Read more →

The New Mandolin Family Part 1: Ancient Mesopotamia to Orville Gibson

This is the first of a multi-part series on the New Mandolin Family of musical instruments. Those who follow this blog will know that this is also the first article I have posted in some time. This reason for this hiatus is simple; we at Don Rickert Musical Instruments have been very busy making instruments. The success of our 5-string Violoncello da Spalla was far greater than anyone could have predicted. This is the kind of problem that we can deal with! Here I will briefly lay out the evolution of the mandolin, which appears to have started around 2000 BC, to the heyday of mandolin orchestra and the "Golden Age" of the mandolin in the 1920s. Part 2 will pick up with other developments staring in the 1960s, which culminates in today's New Mandolin Family of instruments. The “New Mandolin Family” of musical instruments includes the following core members: Mandolin Mandola or Alto Mandolin Octave Mandolin Mandocello Mando-bass In reality, the mando-bass is such a rarity these days that it should probably be considered an ancestor rather than a “living” family member. Very closely related members are: Cittern Irish Bouzouki More distant relative members are: Greek Bouzouki Portuguese Mandolin Bandolin or Bandolim Oud Portuguese Guitar Viola Caipira Cuban Tres Puerto Rican Cuatro Columbian Tiple Charango There are many other more exotic variants the above instruments. What follows is a brief history of how modern mandolin family and its close relatives came to be. Brief History of the Mandolin A... Read more →

Video Treat: A Master (Andrew Gonzalez) Playing Our Violoncello da Spalla

With high-end bespoke musical instruments, "trying before buying" is not usually a realistic possibility. It NEVER has been. Potential buyers who cannot wrap their minds around this fact are limited to used instruments or mass-produced instruments from large musical instrument mega-stores, who have the cash reserves necessary to absorb the losses associated with returns as part of the cost of doing business. Buying a master level instrument is a lot like buying a new car - once you drive it off the lot, it is yours. This is why most instrument makers, including us, work very hard to build a great reputation for quality and trustworthiness. Nevertheless, musicians planning on purchasing musical instruments often want to hear these instruments being played by accomplished musicians. Seeing the instruments being played is even better. Making this happen has always been easier said than done. The fact is, it is exceedingly difficult to produce a well-executed professional quality audio recording. Making a compelling video recording is even harder. For this reason, obtaining good video demonstrations of our instruments has always been a rare treat. We are delighted and awestruck by a recent video recording of the brilliant performance of Andrew Gonzalez, for whom we recently completed a Violoncello da Spalla set up in full Baroque configuration. Andrew, you have our compliments and gratitude. Watch the video and be amazed! The violoncello da spalla is a small 5-string cello that is held across the chest, suspended by a small shoulder strap; hence, the name,... Read more →

Newly Completed Violoncello da Spalla by Don Rickert

This is an old post! 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: NEW Violoncello da Spalla Conservatory Model by D. Rickert or learn more about our top-of-the-line Standard Model, see: NEW Violoncello da Spalla by D. Rickert ($8,400 - $9,600) We look forward to hearing from you. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Original Article >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> We have just completed the first of three current commissions for our new Violoncello da Spalla. We will periodically publish reports, including video recordings, of this new instrument as it is put through it paces by its owner, a top Baroque period musician based in New York and Virginia. The violoncello da spalla is a small 5-string cello that is held across the chest, suspended by a small shoulder strap; hence, the name, which, in Italian means literally "cello of the shoulder". It is often described as a "cello for violinists and violists". We are one of only a handful of makers worldwide. To learn all about this exciting instrument and how you too can have one, see the product details at the Don Rickert Musician Shop (Violoncello da Spalla by D. Rickert). See also our earlier post entitled Announcing the Long-Awaited Violoncello da Spalla by D, Rickert. There is a complete photo album of this newly-completed instrument on our Facebook page (D. Rickert Musical Instruments) - See the album entitled New... Read more →