Don Rickert Musical Instruments

What Are ‘Alternative’ Violin Family Instruments?: Three New Articles On that Topic

Introduction These recent posts on www.RickertMusicalInstruments.com, by luthier Donald Rickert (me), will be of particular interest to players of such instruments as 5-string violins, octave violins, tenor violas, 5-string violas, octave violas and revival instruments such as the violoncello da spalla. With the exception of maybe the violoncello da spalla, classical repertoire is NOT the norm for alternative strings. The violoncello da spalla is becoming common in contemporary Baroque ensembles, which is sometimes thought of... Read more →

Brief Descriptions for Various Alternative Violin Family Instruments

Introduction This post provides brief descriptions of the various alternative and extended range violin family instruments made by D. Rickert Musical Instruments. The descriptions include the normal tuning for each instrument, as well as links to other reference material about each instrument. There are two related posts: Alternative Violin Family Instruments: What Are They For? Alternative Violin Family Instruments: Relative Sizes and Shapes of Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Range Instruments Travel / Backpacker Violin... Read more →

Alternative Violin Family Instruments: Relative Sizes and Shapes of Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Range Instruments

This article, which includes a photo essay, is about the different “form factors” of various “alternative” or “non-standard” violin family instruments, all of which are made by Don Rickert Musical Instruments. With a few exceptions, the images in the photo essay part of this post are of actual instruments made in the workshop of Don Rickert Musical Instruments, located in Hiawassee, Georgia, USA by the hands of me (Donald Rickert). The exceptions are as follow:... Read more →

Alternative Violin Family Instruments: What Are They For?

Related Articles: Alternative Violin Family Instruments: Relative Sizes and Shapes of Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Range Instruments Brief Descriptions for Various Alternative Violin Family Instruments In this context, “Alternative” or “Non-Standard” bowed string instruments refer to the following: Violin Variants 5-string Violins: See 5-String Violins and Fiddles Travel / Backpacker Violins: See Travel and Backpacker Fiddles (and Violas) Octave Violins (aka Tenor Violins): See Octave Violins, 5-string Violas and Octave Violas Travel / Backpacker... Read more →

Travel Violin Trade-in Offer Ends March 31, 2024!

Recently I posted two articles on our newest models of Travel Violins and Violas. See: Travel Violins and Violas: Don't Miss Out on Substantial Trade-in Offer It's Travel Violin (and Viola) Time 2024! In both of the aforementioned posts, I said that we would give a substantial trade-in for several popular travel violins by other makers towards the purchase of one of my travel violins or violas. There is little that I can do with... Read more →

Travel Violins and Violas: Don't Miss Out on Substantial Trade-in Offer

In a very recent post, I mentioned that we would take a Cricket Travel Violin or a Wiplstix as a trade-in ($500 for the Cricket, $300 for the Wiplstix) for one of my newest travel violin or travel viola models. See: It’s Travel Violin (and Viola) Time 2024! Our trade-in allowance is not that much lower than the purchase price for the Cricket and Wiplstix. The trade-in can apply to either a Ranger IV Travel... Read more →

It’s Travel Violin (and Viola) Time 2024!

Special Trade-In Offer! For a limited time: $500 trade-in for a Cricket Travel Violin or $300 for a Wiplstix. 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 a travel violin or travel viola? 18th Century Pochette A modern travel violin has a full 13” (like a 4/4 violin) playable... Read more →

Donald Rickert is In the March/April 2023 Issue of Strings Magazine

I (Don Rickert) am in the March/April issue of Strings Magazine! I am honored to have been one of several experts interviewed for the article, A Pocket Full of Sound, by Karen Peterson in the March/April 2023 issue of Strings Magazine (No. 311, March/April 2023). I wish I could share the entire article here, but I am pretty sure that that would be a copyright violation. That being said, I feel pretty good about how... Read more →

We Just Shipped the First International Travel Violin “Lefty” Version

We just shipped this left-handed version of our new International Travel Violin. This instrument, while having a full-length scale, is short enough to fit into a 4" diameter x 22" long case. That meets all known carry baggage size restrictions in the world. The instrument, in its case, will fit into many roller bags. This instrument, as well as many others, are on sale from now until June 4th, 2018. Check it all out at... Read more →

Yet Another New Travel Fiddle For International Travel by D. Rickert Musical Instruments

The New International Explorer Travel Violin by D. Rickert The newest instrument by D. Rickert Musical instruments is the International Explorer Travel Violin. It is available at the Don Rickert Musician Shop. Like its larger-bodied sibling, the International Travel Violin, this new travel violin was designed for violinists and fiddlers wishing to travel without worry with their instruments by air: To destinations outside of the U.S., especially Europe From one European region to another or... Read more →