Don Rickert Musical Instruments

How Will U.S. Tariffs (April 2025) Affect D. Rickert Musical Instrument Pricing?

Due to the apparent chaotic nature of new U.S. tariffs, everything about this topic is a moving target. I will post updates as appropriate. Key points My flagship instruments are made in the U.S. and, presently, there should be little, if any, effect on the prices of these more expensive instruments that are shipped within the U.S. The flagship instruments, as of this writing are: Violoncellos da Spalla Violoncello da Spalla Artist Master-Built Model Violoncello... Read more →

It’s Travel Violin (and Viola) Time 2025!

This is an update of an article first published in April 2024. Just as in the past, this is a time of year to be thinking about a travel violin or viola if you are going to be needing one in the late spring or summer. While an update of a year-old article, the prices are the same. No inflation or tariff-related price increases on these instruments! Contact Info. Don Rickert on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/donrickert. This... Read more →

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 →

It's a Buyers’ Market for New Bespoke Musical Instruments.

Looking for the best prices ever on high-end bespoke instruments, especially: Violoncellos da Spalla Octave Violins Tenor and Octave Violas Travel Violins and Violas To find out more about the instruments I build, see: Don Rickert Musician Shop. “Buyers’ Market” means that it is exceeding hard for makers to sell their stuff to buyers. That is the way it is currently in the realm of bespoke musical instruments. So, it is time for a sale,... 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 →