Don Rickert Musical Instruments

New Podcast Episode of Cool Instruments for Cool Cats on Violoncello da Spalla is now Live on YouTube and Spotify.

Don Rickert on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/donrickert. This link gets you to my detailed contact information, my websites and social media.

About:

Cool Instruments for Hep Cats podcast, Episode 3, with luthier Daniela Gaidano on the Violoncello da Spalla is available NOW on YouTube and Spotify.

Host is Dr. Donald Rickert. Daniela Gaidano is a violinist, violist and luthier specializing in making violoncellos da spalla. She worked for the famous string maker, Aquila, where she was part-owner for 15 years. She is based in Northern Italy near Austria. Host, Don Rickert, is a musician and luthier as well, who makes various stringed instruments, including violoncellos da spalla.

Links:

• YouTube (video version, in 5 parts): https://www.youtube.com/@Cool_Instruments_for_Hep_Cats/podcasts
• Spotify (audio version): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cool-instruments-hep-cats

Just information – NO marketing!:

I am not against marketing. After all, if you make things, you have to find ways of telling potential buyers about what you do. There is a time and place for sales pitches, self-promotion and such. I mean, this post is marketing for the podcast when you think about it.

The ‘Cool Instruments for Hep Cats” podcast is just NOT the time or the place for self-promotion and marketing. It is more than one hour of just really interesting information and informed opinion. The podcast is also a politics free zone. But it is a positive energy zone!

Check out also…

Episodes 1 and 2 (audio versions), with Dr. Roger Landes, are available on Spotify. Episode 2 (video version) is available on YouTube. Note: Episode 1 was audio only.

The episodes with Dr. Landes are about Irish (and Greek) bouzouki, octave mandolin, citterns and related tenor and baritone range, double-course, plucked instruments. The links shown above get you where you need to be for the Roger Landes episodes.

Sponsorship:

The ‘Cool Instruments for Hep Cats’ podcast is brought to you by D. Rickert Musical Instruments. I (Don Rickert) am the owner, designer and luthier.

Contact:

Don Rickert on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/donrickert. This link gets you to my detailed contact information, my websites and social media.

Image Assets for Cool Instruments for Hep Cats Ep 3

These are some of the image assets presented by Guest Daniela Gaidano in Cool Instruments for Hep Cats Episode 3. Host: Don Rickert of D. Rickert Musical Instruments.

 

New Violoncello da Spalla Builds Underway: Now Might Be the Time

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 17^th and 18^th Centuries, and its rediscovery in the early 21^st Century.

If you do wish to learn or simply refresh your memory on this unique and versatile instrument, visit the following links:

• Violoncellos da Spalla by Donald Rickert
• Demonstrations of Violoncellos da Spalla by Don Rickert
• Violoncello da Spalla Standard Model by D. Rickert
• NEW Violoncello da Spalla by D. Rickert (Standard Plus Model)
• Violoncello da Spalla in Old-Time Music: A Match Made in Heaven
• Happy New Year 2022! Looking for a World-Class Violoncello da Spalla?

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.

• Phone: 706-896-0909 (landline)
• 706-400-1481 (mobile or text)
• Email: [email protected]

Get it FAST!

Because it is more than half-finished, this lovely instrument can be in your hands before Summer (yes, 2023 😊).

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.

Listen to and/or watch our new podcast / YouTube show, “Cool Instruments for Hep Cats”.

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, “Cool Instruments for Hep Cats”, went live with Episode 1 on March 28^th 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.

To learn more about “Cool Instruments for Hep Cats”, click here.

You can listen to the audio podcast of Episode 1 on Spotify, with other distribution platforms to follow soon. Click here to listen.

The video version of “Cool Instruments for Hep Cats” will be available for Episode 2, which will air beginning on April 6, 2023.

Cool Instruments for Hep Cats Podcast: First episode to post week of March 19, 2023

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.

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2023!

Our New Podcast and YouTube Channel: Cool Instruments for Hep Cats

I am launching a new podcast and YouTube show, “Cool Instruments for Hep Cats”. It will be available, both as an audio podcast, as well as a video version on YouTube. Initially, the audio podcast will be available on Spotify, with the other usual channels to follow. Interviews with guests and recording has been going on since early February. The first episode is scheduled to air on Spotify and YouTube on March 17, 2023.

In “Cool Instruments for Hep Cats”, we delve into the fascinating realm of unusual and intriguing musical instruments. From the depths of history to the cutting edge of innovation, we'll explore the instruments that push the boundaries of what we consider music. Join us on a journey of discovery as we uncover the secrets of the world's most fascinating instruments, the people who make them, the people who play them, and the music they create.

The bar for music-related podcasts and shows is high; for example, Rick Beato’s “Everything Music” YouTube channel, and the "Voices from the Vernacular Music Center Podcast", hosted by Dr. Chris Smith and Dr. Roger Landes of Texas Tech University. As far as I know, "Cool Instruments for Hep Cats" is the only podcast focused exclusively on unusual musical instruments, the people who play them and the people who make them. If there are others, we are honored to be part of the same club.

I have received an incredible response from some very Hep Cats, who have generously agreed to be guests on the show. Some of those who have committed are:

• Daniela Gaidano of Visintini Gaidano Violoncello da Spalla Makers (luthier, writer, historian and player: violoncello da spalla)
• Mark Wickersham (player: violoncello da spalla and tenor-tuned viola - folk and trad. styles)
• Gerald Trimble (player: viola da gamba, violoncello da spalla and cittern)
• Natalie Haas of Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas (player: folk-style cello, particularly contemporary interpretation of Scottish Traditional music)
• Mikael Marin of Vasen (player: violoncello da spalla folk and trad. styles)
• Roger Landes, Texas Tech University (historian, musicologist and player: cittern, Irish bouzouki, octave mandolin and bagpipes)
• Andrew Gonzalez (player: violoncello da spalla, viola)
• Will Hurd (player: violoncello da spalla, viola)
• George Kelischek (Geigenbaumeister and historical woodwinds maker: hurdy-gurdy, crumhorn and other capped reeds, vielle, viola d’amore).

Some of the cool instruments that we will be talking about:

• Tenor and baritone range instruments either in the mandolin family or similar (double string courses, played with a pick, etc.)

This will be the focus of the first episode, with special guest, Dr. Roger Landes

• • Bouzouki Greek and “Irish” variants)
  • Cittern (historic and modern)
  • Octave mandolin
  • Mandocello
• Dulcimer (standard mountain lap and bowed)
• Nyckelharpa (traditional Swedish “keyed fiddle”
• Capped double reeds
  • Rauschpfeiffen
  • Crumhorns
  • Kelhorn
• Violoncello da spalla (in Baroque music)
• Violoncello da spalla (in Traditional folk music)
• Alternative full-size cellos (e.g., 5-string cellos)
• Viola da gamba
• Sultana (aka cither viol)
• Cello-viol hybrids
• Full-size 4-string cello as a folk instrument
• Tin whistles and other flageolets
• Recorder
• Hurdy-gurdy
• Bagpipes and related
  • Great Highland pipes
  • Uillean pipes
  • Shuttle pipes
  • Parlor pipes
  • English bagpipes
  • Smallpipes
• Lower-pitched violins and violins with 5 or more strings
  • Modern octave violin
  • Octavgeige
  • Modern tenor viola
  • Octave viola (aka “chin cello”)
  • Mezzo violin
  • 5-string violin
  • 6-string violin (aka “Fadolin”)
  • 7-string mezzo violin
• Banjos
  • Gourd
  • Tackhead
  • Minstrel
  • Old-time 5-string
  • Bluegrass 5-string
  • Tenor
  • Banjo-uke (banjolele)
  • Banjo-mandolin (banjolin)
• Cigar box instruments
  • Cigar box fiddles
  • Cigar box Guitars
  • Cigar box Mandolins
  • Cigar box Ukes
• Pochettes, kit fiddles and modern travel violins
• Jaw harp
  • Asian
  • European
• Hand percussion
  • Djembe
  • Talking drum
  • Cajon
• Spoons
• Experimental and super-weird instruments

The list merely scratches the surface. Since some of the topics will require multiple episodes, we are good topic-wise for at least a year of bi-weekly podcasts.

Value proposition

Guaranteed

• Learn something new and interesting or your money back, guaranteed!
  • The podcast and YouTube episodes are actually free.
• Hear really intriguing musical instruments being played by skilled players.
• Get to see what we look like (sorry, only on the YouTube video version)
• Get to hear how world-class musicians and makers sound when they talk.
  • They sound surprisingly like other humans

Not Guaranteed but Likely

• Hear musical instruments that you have never heard before, and possibly never even heard of.

Possibly

• Settle arguments and bets with colleagues and friends.

Probably Not, but Maybe

• Get rich.

You can be sure that you will be hearing much more about this, including where you can listen, watch and/or download episodes, in the coming weeks.

Cool Instruments for Hep Cats is brought to you by D. Rickert Musical Instruments and Don Rickert Musician Shop.

Offbeat Songs for Cool Cats: New Podcast From D. Rickert Musical Instruments

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.

Episode 1, Part 1

Episode 1, Part 2 (Ska, Ska Punk and Reggae)