Don Rickert Musical Instruments

It's Baroque, Man! (or the Low-down on Baroque Violins)

Please visit the Don Rickert Musician Shop. This article is primarily for those considering acquisition of a proper Baroque violin. D. Rickert Musical Instruments has been making baroque violins, violas and violoncellos da spalla since our inception in 2007. We also make Baroque period pochettes (pocket fiddles) and their modern descendants, usually called Travel Violins. See the article in the March/April 2023 issue of Strings Magazine, 'The Tiny Pochette Violin Made Constant Travel a Breeze for Dance Masters of the 18th Century', for which Don Rickert was interviewed. We would love to talk to you about a baroque instrument built from the ground up or an existed instrument "back-dated" to Baroque configuration. Don Rickert on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/donrickert. This link gets you to ALL of my detailed contact information, my websites and social media. Our Podcast, 'Cool Instruments for Hep Cats' YouTube (video version): https://www.youtube.com/@Cool_Instruments_for_Hep_Cats/podcasts Spotify (audio version): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cool-instruments-hep-cats ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` A future article and maybe my podcast, 'Cool Instruments for Hep Cats' will focus on WHY? In other words, the many reasons why someone would want to take up the Baroque violin or fiddle (there was no real differentiation between violin playing and fiddle-playing in the old days). The fact is that if you need to ask "why?", you probably don't need a baroque violin. This article only deals with the instruments themselves and not with playing techniques or the evolution of the bows used to play them. I have touched on baroque playing technique and baroque bows in past articles.... 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 →

Announcing the Long-Awaited Violoncello da Spalla by D. 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 the Standard Model, see: Violoncello da Spalla by D. Rickert or, learn about the Standard Plus Model, see: NEW Violoncello da Spalla by D. Rickert (Standard Plus Model) We look forward to hearing from you. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Original Article >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> We announced this very cool instrument just several weeks ago and are already building three for customers. As of this writing, the next one ordered would be completed by mid-Summer, 2018. We are the one of the sources in the U.S. for true replicas of this 18th Century instrument. Introduction Over the past year, we received a number of inquiries about the violoncello da spalla. Recently, we started making them on a custom basis. We, in fact have a healthy backlog of commissions for these instruments. We decided that the time is right for the violoncello da spalla as a standard product offering. Ours is a meticulously replica of an 18” violoncello da spalla in proper Baroque configuration. While the instrument is built for gut strings, it can be strung with more trouble-free and sonorous modern synthetic core (i.e “Perlon”) strings. Background: What is a Violoncello da Spalla? The violoncello da spalla (Italian for “cello of the shoulder”) was,... Read more →

What Is a Master Violin? Not a Simple Answer

Please visit the Don Rickert Musician Shop. "Master violin" is one of those phrases that can confuse rather than clarify. There is no international violin grade classification policing organization. The term is actually used very loosely, at best. Hopefully, this brief article is helpful in evaluating claims of "Master Violin" status. What is meant by the descriptor, “Master Violin”? There are at least three meanings, which are summarized below. 1) Expertly restored (by Master restorers) old violins that are well-authenticated as having been made by renowned violin makers of the 17th, 18th or early 19th Centuries Instruments in this category would include those by such makers as Paulo Maggini, Gaspar da Salo, Andrea Amati, Jakob Stainer, Joseph del Gesu Guarneri and, of course, Antonio Stradivari. There are many other Masters who are lesser known to the general public, but whose instruments are masterpieces of great value. The image to the right is a a Strad. The instruments in the “Old Masters” category sell in a wide range, from tens of thousands of dollars to more than $1,000,000. Violins by the “Big Three” (Amati, Stradivari, Guarneri) generally fetch the highest prices. 2) New custom made violins by living violin makers who are widely regarded as Masters The makers include such notable figures as Jonathan Cooper and Joseph Curtin. In fact, Bernd Dimbath, owner of Heinrich Gill is regarded as one of these contemporary Masters. The image to the right is a Joseph Curtin. Violins by these violinmakers typically sell in the... Read more →

Luthier-Built 1920s Stromberg-Voisinet “Venetian” Style Octave Mandolin by D. Rickert

Attention!: This is an older post. We are currently working on newer and better instruments in this category. Please visit the Don Rickert Musician Shop. Introduction The new 1920s Stromberg-Voisinet “Venetian” Style Octave Mandolin by D. Rickert is available now at the Don Rickert Musician Shop (D. Rickert Musical Instruments) The 1920s Stromberg-Voisinet “Venetian” Style Octave Mandolin by D. Rickert is an octave mandolin with the same scale length as a typical commercial “Irish” octave mandolin; however it has a considerably larger body. The body design inspired by the Stromberg-Voisinet fretted instruments of the 1920s, particularly the tenor guitars. This is a made-to-order professional performance level instrument, with a price tag to match. The instrument can be fitted with a pickup system to meet the needs of the buyer’s live performance needs. The potential buyer should follow the links below. Links The Octave Mandolin and its Relative, the Octave Mando-Guitar About Stromberg-Voisinet and it Successor, Kay Musical Instruments and How This Relates to D. Rickert Musical Instruments What is an Octave Mandolin? The octave mandolin is a fretted string instrument with four pairs of strings tuned in unison fifths, G, D, A, E (low to high), an octave below a mandolin. It has a 20 to 23-inch scale length and its construction has generally been, until recently, is similar to other instruments in the mandolin family, particularly those of the flat-top type rather than the carved arch-top (e.g. Gibson “A” or “F” types) type. Octave mandolins did not exist in... Read more →

About Stromberg-Voisinet and it Successor, Kay Musical Instruments and How This Relates to D. Rickert Musical Instruments

Attention!: This is an older post. We are currently working on newer and better instruments in this category. Please visit the Don Rickert Musician Shop. Introduction This article relates to several new instruments to be announced soon (or will have been announced by the time you read this) by D. Rickert Musical Instruments and available from the Don Rickert Musician Shop. These new luthier-built (i.e. not factory made and not cheap!) instruments by D. Rickert are all based on a design motif introduced by a company called Stromberg-Voisinet in the 1920s. The design motif is quite distinctive and is called the “Venetian” style. Stromberg-Voisinet and Kay Musical Instruments The Groeshel Mandolin Company was established in Chicago in 1890. In 1921, the company was renamed to Stromberg-Voisinet. In 1923, Henry Kay Kuhrmeyer joined the company. He later became president. In 1928, with help of an investor, bought the company. The new company, "Kay Musical Instruments" was formally established in 1931 from the assets of Stromberg-Voisinet. Stromberg-Voisinet primarily manufactured mandolins, tenor guitars, tenor banjos and 6-string guitars under its own brand as well as a large number of other brands, as Stromberg-Voisinet was an OEM supplier to many other manufacturers. Kay Musical Instruments continued this practice; however, Kay did sell many instruments under its own brand, “KayKraft.” Stromberg-Voisinet has a special place in guitar history. Stromberg-Voisinet produced the first commercial electric guitar, the Stromberg Electro, in 1928. Stromberg-Voisinet is particulary well-known among serious students of stringed instrument design for its unique “Venetian”... Read more →

Authentic Cases for 19th Century Musical Instruments

Please visit the Don Rickert Musician Shop. The type of case usually used for fiddles and guitars of the mid-19th century is often called a "coffin" case, owing to its resemblance to a coffin. Coffin cases were sometimes used for banjos as well. Here are some examples of some actual cases for period guitars and a pretty worn out fiddle case. Shown below is a design diagram for the coffin cases that we will be selling. They will be made from 3/8" pine lined with heavy felt and will be available with either an oiled finish or painted black, per common practice. All joints will be super-strong box joints. The cases will sell for about $325 for a guitar case and $220 for a fiddle case. We will also be making heavy duty weather resistant fabric cases for guitars, fiddles, banjos and Irish harps. All cases will be available at the Adventurous Muse Store. Read more →

The Violin Was Perfected 300 Years Ago...Hogwash!

Please visit the Don Rickert Musician Shop. Recently I had been looking at a lot of violin and fiddle related websites and blogs and have seen far too many assertions that the violin was perfected centuries ago. This ranks up there on the idiocy scale as the statement by the Director of the U.S. Patent Office early in the 20th Century that the Office was no longer needed, because everything worth inventing had already been invented. The violin was not perfected three hundred or even 400 years ago (I prefer the Magginis of the early 1600s myself). What was perfected was a basic design pattern for a particular type of violin adopted for particular types of music. Heck, even Thomas Jefferson, who was in debt up to his ears, but managed to get an Amati and one of the first Tourte bows (which were considered as outrageous as IncrediBows when first introduced) did not dare take his Amati to the local pub for a fiddling jam session. He took a Dancing Master's Pochette, for which he had a leather saddle case made. The best pochette in the world would not have compared to an Amati, Strad or Guarnerius, but it was absolute perfection for Tom J's immediate problem, getting to a pub and back home on horseback, with a lot of drinking and playing in between. That's all for the moment...back to the shop to get ready for our next effort at divergence from stupid perfection. Probably something old Antonio... Read more →

Photos of the Three Basic Types of Old-Style Banjos

These photos are being posted in preparation for adding old-style banjos to our online store www.AdventurousMuseStore.com. From left to right, a Gourd Banjo, a Tackhead Banjo and a Minstrel Banjo Read more →