Don Rickert Musical Instruments

Octave Violin and Tenor Viola Options from Don Rickert Musical Instruments

Contact Info. Don Rickert on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/donrickert. This link gets you to ALL of my detailed contact information, my websites and social media. Email: [email protected] Phone (in US): 706-896-0909 or 706-400-1481 (mobile) What is an Octave Violin? An octave violin or octave fiddle, if you like, is a specially-designed or modified violin that is set up for and uses specifically-designed larger diameter strings and is tuned an octave lower (G2 to E4) than a violin in standard configuration (G3 to E5). The numbers after a note name refer to its octave vis-à-vis middle C, which is C4. With a few exceptions, the lowest note on any musical instrument is somewhere around C0. Most adult humans cannot even hear notes that low. An octave violin is played like a regular violin, as it usually has the same critical ergonomic dimensions as a standard violin. The most significant of these dimensions are a body that is about 14 inches long (give or take) and a playable string length of about 13 inches. For a far more detailed discussion of Octave Violins and related instruments, see: Octave Violins, Tenor Violas and Related Instruments from Donald Rickert What is a Tenor Viola? A “tenor viola” is our name for a viola-sized octave violin; in other words, a viola tuned like an octave violin (G2 to E4). Please note that, historically, tenor viola referred to various large violas, usually tuned lower than a regular viola. Today, tenor violas need not be larger than regular violas.... Read more →

Octave Violin or Violoncello da Spalla?

Update Intro: This is an update to an earlier article entitled, Do You Really Need a Violoncello da Spalla? Since publication of the original post, much has changed with respect to the instrument alternatives, including cost and variety. For example, I have rolled back prices to 2021 level on the popular Violoncello da Spalla Standard Model. See: Violoncellos da Spalla by Donald Rickert (Update Feb. 2024). We are now once again offering a decent factory-made entry-level Violoncello da Spalla for a base price of about $2,500. A new higher-end Artist Master-Built Model will be available soon as well. When it comes to octave violins, we now offer three models, starting at less than $2,500. Contact Info. Don Rickert on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/donrickert. This link gets you to ALL of my detailed contact information, my websites and social media. Email: [email protected] OR [email protected] Phone (in US): 706-896-0909 or 706-400-1481 (mobile) Introduction You might find it strange that I am asking this question. After all, I am a luthier who makes violoncellos da spalla. Should I not just be happy when someone wants me to make one for them? Caveats Before you read this, you need to know the following: I am not playing “devil’s advocate” here. I am quite serious in asking the question. I am not a violoncello da spalla “hater” or even a violoncello da spalla skeptic. I do not care whether or not J.S. Bach actually had a hand in the invention of the violoncello da spalla or whether... Read more →

Violoncellos da Spalla by Donald Rickert (Update Feb. 2024)

Contact Info. Don Rickert on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/donrickert. This link gets you to ALL of my detailed contact information, my websites and social media. Email: [email protected] OR [email protected] Phone (in US): 706-896-0909 or 706-400-1481 (mobile) Update: I am rolling back the price for my Violoncello da Spalla Standard Model to its 2021 price! Recent instruments have sold for more than $13,000. No secret reason; it is all about what "the Market" wants. The new retro price is what is was in 2021: $10,600, with a substantial discount for paying up front ($9,500). A new higher-end Artist Master-Built Model will be available soon as well. Also, we will once-again be offering a very usable factory-made entry level Violoncello da Spalla for about $2,500. See: NEW Violoncello da Spalla Basic Model by D. Rickert. All adjustments and setup are done in our workshop in the North Georgia Mountains. Many affordable upgrades are available as well, such as a hand-made Baroque figured maple-clad spruce-core fingerboard and matching Baroque tailpiece. Note: I know for a fact that some enthusiasts seeking a less expensive instruments have spent more than that on converted child's fractional size cellos and almost as much on seemingly budget priced eBay instruments, once the proper strings are purchased and necessary lutherie work to make them playable is done! I even know of people who tried to build their own, but still own a very expensive pile of wood. I understand, as that is how I got into lutherie, the ability to make... Read more →

Special Pricing for a Violoncello da Spalla (Standard Model) and a Tenor Viola (additional information for prior article)

Update: Since the original publication of this post, we have rolled pricing for my standard Violoncello da Spalla l to 2021 pricing, about $10K. This is about $3,000 less than the special pricing described below. As of today, March 2, 2024, we still have a Tenor Viola (tuned G2 to E4, like an Octave Violin) for the price of $3,500. The only reason for the price reduction is that it has been lovingly pre-owned and refurbished to better than new condition. Original Post: I recently announced that I have a newly-built Violoncello da Spalla and a refurbished Tenor Viola for sale. In that announcement, I mentioned special pricing, $13,500 for the Violoncello da Spalla and $3,500 for the Tenor Viola. Why the special pricing? A basic reason has a little bit to do with the competitive landscape. Quite simply, there are too many luthiers selling what amounts to their student projects as master-level instruments, often at attractively low prices. This is especially true in the world of niche instruments like violoncellos da spalla. This confuses those looking for an instrument and diverts business away from experienced makers. Competing on price is, in the end, a fool’s errand; however, a reasonable discount as a “nudge” is OK. Different reasons for each of the two instruments The Violoncello da Spalla The Violoncello da Spalla for sale is a nice example of my “Standard Model” in terms of workmanship, playability and, especially sound. It has a dramatically-flamed maple over spruce Baroque fingerboard and... Read more →

Violoncello da Spalla and Tenor Viola Available for Sale Right Now!

Update: Since the original publication of this post, we have rolled pricing for my standard Violoncello da Spalla l to 2021 pricing, about $10K. This is about $3,000 less than the special pricing described below. As of today, March 2, 2024, we still have a Tenor Viola (tuned G2 to E4, like an Octave Violin) for the price of $3,500. The only reason for the price reduction is that it has been lovingly pre-owned and refurbished to better than new condition. Original Post: Due to the bespoke nature of my practice, I generally do not have instruments hanging around that are ready to ship. Due to repeated resolutions that I have made to “get ahead of the game”, I presently do have two very nice tenor/baritone range instruments that are ready to ship. The first is a very nice example of my Violoncellos da Spalla (“Standard Plus” model). The other is a refurbished 4-string Octave Viola (i.e., tuned like a cello; sometimes called a “chin cello”) that I made a few years back. It is now set up as a Modern Tenor Viola, meaning that it is tuned a 4th lower than a viola, which is the same as an Octave Violin. You can also think of it as a large viola-sized Octave Violin, or even an Octave Violin on steroids! The Violoncello da Spalla The Tenor Viola This is a rare opportunity! If you have been looking, you know that the wait time for a commissioned violoncello da spalla... Read more →

Strings for Tenor and Octave-Tuned Violas

Contact Info. Don Rickert on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/donrickert. This link gets you to ALL of my detailed contact information, my websites and social media. Email: [email protected] Phone (in US): 706-896-0909 or 706-400-1481 (mobile) I am posting this article to provide more information to potential buyers of a Tenor (G2 D3 A3 E4) or, optionally, Octave-tuned (C2 G2 D3 A3) Viola that I am currently selling. It will be of interest to anyone who currently has, or is considering acquiring, a lower-pitched viola. Introduction Do you remember the “chin cello” fad just a few years ago. As far as I have been able to surmise, this pretty much revolved around the apparently successful marketing effort by Bellefina, a Chinese company with an Italian-sounding name, that made inexpensive large violas that were set up with octave viola strings. I recall that they even made a 5-string version. Apparently, Bellefina still makes them, at least the 4-string version. The going street price at the usual online discount megastores (e.g., Musician’s Friend, Guitar Center, etc.) is currently about $829us. I have no idea what type of strings these instruments for sale currently could use. Keep reading for more about this. Chin Cellos There is even a “Chincello Society” Facebook page self-described as “A community of string players dedicated to the advancement and promotion of the Chincello instrument”. This appears to be a marketing site for a company called Prodigio Strings, who apparently offered octave tuned violas costing even less than the Bellafina ChinCellos. There has... Read more →

New Violoncello da Spalla Model by Donald Rickert Available for Commission

Contact Info. Don Rickert on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/donrickert. This link gets you to ALL of my detailed contact information, my websites and social media. Email: [email protected] Phone (in US): 706-896-0909 or 706-400-1481 (mobile) Update: My original schedule for making this exciting new instrument available turned out to be over-optimistic, but it is definitely on its way very soon! Quite simply, unless I have commission for which I am being paid, it is hard to divert attention away from current paid commissions to develop a completely new instrument from scratch, but I HAVE managed to do it. Introduction New Violoncello da Spalla by Donald Rickert This post is more or less a pre-announcement, with a more detailed description and design rationale soon to follow. As of right now I am offering an exciting new model of Violoncello da Spalla. This new Violoncello da Spalla is for accomplished musicians seeking the best sounding and most playable instrument possible and a distinctive unique appearance. I have not yet decided what to call it, as in what its model name will be. My current Violoncello da Spalla models, which I call the ‘Standard’ and ‘Standard Plus’, will continue to be available for commission. My existing Violoncello da Spalla models are based on a traditional plan similar to the familiar 1732 “Hoffman” violoncello da spalla in appearance. Andrew Gonzalez on Vioncello da spalla by Don Rickert The “Hoffman” pattern, or something similar, is what you see in virtually all videos and images of violoncellos da spalla... Read more →

Need to Sell Violoncello da Spalla Fast!

An Opportunity that is Too Good to Ignore Here is a great opportunity for you if you have been dragging your feet on commissioning a violoncello da spalla from a top luthier based in the US. That would be Southeastern US if you want to be specific; Northeast Georgia to be even more specific. I have established a great reputation as a maker of "unusual" instruments such as octave violins and modern travel violins and violas, but especially unique Baroque period instruments such as violas d'amore, pochettes, baroque violins and violoncellos da spalla. If you have followed any of my social media, you know that I have made more violoncellos da spalla than most luthiers; 20 to be exact. My “spallas” are played by some of the preeminent players in the world, including Andrew Gonzalez and William Hurd, as well other professional musicians who play it as secondary instrument. Many highly-accomplished amateurs as well. Videos of my instruments being played are plentiful and easy to find on the web. You can see many of these in one place if you are interested, as well as several image galleries. You can see my instruments with a wide variety of varnish treatments and some of the possibilities for real Baroque fingerboards and tailpieces; from plain to ornamented. You can also see and hear my instruments being played (and discussed) in a recent episode of the podcast (the YouTube version), ‘Cool Instruments for Hep Cats’, and an upcoming episode as well. All I... Read more →

New Episode of Cool Instruments for Hep Cats with William Hurd on Violoncello da Spalla

Cool Instruments for Hep Cats Our new podcast, ‘Cool Instruments for Hep Cats’ launched in March, 2023. It is available as an audio podcast, currently only on Spotify. It is also available in video format on YouTube. In “Cool Instruments for Hep Cats”, we delve into the fascinating realm of unusual and intriguing musical instruments, the people who make them, the people who play them and the music they create. See my earlier article, ‘Our New Podcast and YouTube Channel, Cool Instruments for Hep Cats’. If you wish to discuss anything covered in this article, see Don Rickert on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/donrickert. This link gets you to ALL of my detailed contact information, my websites and social media. New Episode Episode 4 of ‘Cool Instruments for Hep Cats’ is now available. YouTube: @Cool_Instruments_for_Hep_Cats Spotify: The audio version of the ‘Cool Instruments for Hep Cats’ podcast on Spotify: Episode 4 focuses on the Violoncello da Spalla from the perspective of a player who is also a violin and viola teacher (Suzuki Method) The episode continues the Violoncello da Spalla theme of Episode 3 with luthier and musician Daniela Gaidano. Episode 4 features William Hurd. Will is a violist with the Air Force Strings, The United States Air Force Band. He is also a Suzuki teacher (violin and viola) in Washington, DC. Will has a unique perspective on the violoncello da spalla, as he uses it extensively in his teaching of violin and viola students. Episode 4 of Cool Instruments for Cool Cats... Read more →

Is It Finally Time For a Master-Built Violoncello da Spalla?

This is an update to a article that originally appeared several months ago (Spring 2023). See New Violoncello da Spalla Builds Underway: Now Might Be the Time If you wish to discuss anything covered in this article, see Don Rickert on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/donrickert. This link gets you to ALL of my detailed contact information, my websites and social media. New Content Since I started making Violoncellos da Spalla in 2017, I have made 20 or so. My violoncellos da spalla are highly-regarded and are played by some of the preeminent musicians performing on the instrument today. Many committed amateurs as well. Contrary to any reasonable predictions, the COVID-19 lockdown period was very busy for us with respect to violoncellos da spalla. Post-pandemic, I am busier making other instruments, such as mezzo violins, octave mandolins, travel violins and violas. I am keen to resume making 6 to 8 violoncellos da spalla a year. That is what marketing is for. Yes, this is marketing! Keeping the above in mind, I am convinced that will be in a slow period for makers of high-end musical instruments, violoncellos da spalla included, for a good while. I estimate that, of the population of enthusiasts who think that they want a violoncello da spalla, maybe 2% are actually willing to spend the money to have one made. If you are one of those 2%, I would love to discuss. For the rest, I think that I may have two solutions: Detailed plans and building instructions for... Read more →