Don Rickert Musical Instruments

Interview With Don Rickert About Pochettes in March-April 2023 Edition of Strings Magazine

Not too long ago I published an article about an interview I had with Strings Magazine about Baroque pochettes, aka 'pocket fiddles'. See: Donald Rickert is In the March/April 2023 Issue of Strings Magazine I summarized the Strings article, as it was then only available in print. It is now available in a digital edition. I am pretty certain that you can read the digital version free of charge. The link works for me, but I am a Strings Magazine subscriber. Feel free to post an angry comment. If I am wrong, mea culpa! See: The Tiny Pochette Violin Made Constant Travel a Breeze for Dance Masters of the 18th Century I think that the Strings article has been good for business, as I have now made three Ranger IV Travel Violins and one Ranger IV Travel Viola this year, which is more than I usually make in a year. The Ranger IV Travel Violins and Travel Violas are basically Baroque pochettes on steroids, as they make use of principles that have been learned in the past 250 years, and use modern strings. They also have chin rests and removable shoulder rests, not to mention modern Wittner geared tuning pegs. 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 Read more →

The Truth About the Current State of the Custom Musical Instrument Business

Introduction The image is not a new musical instrument but a faucet. If you continue you will understand I make my living making very good custom musical instruments, including: Violoncellos da Spalla Octave Violins Travel Violins Octave Mandolins Citterns Mandocellos I would very much like to sell you one. If you are reading this, you can easily figure out how to contact me (706-896-0909; [email protected]). Now, I’ll cut to the chase – Very few people are buying custom musical instruments these days. It is even worse than the worldwide financial crisis of 2007-2008. Well, maybe not worse, but just as bad. Very few makers of custom hand-built musical instruments will admit publicly that the current state of affairs is really dire, which is a polite way of saying that it sucks! Why? — because it is generally not a good marketing strategy to say out loud that business is challenging and things like you might lose your home to foreclosure and the like. The “Market” could not care less. Well, the truth is the truth! For me, the time of daunting backlog queues is a thing of the past. Since Q3 2021 it has been quite the opposite. You do not see economists on National News programs talking about any of this, as small businesses that make bespoke goods are, quite simply, a tiny segment of the overall economy. Since you will not be hearing from economists on the current dire situation for custom luthiers, I will tell you what... Read more →

Demonstrations and Photo Galleries

Everybody wants to hear what an instrument will sound like before making a considerable financial commitment. People also want to see examples of workmanship...and who doesn't enjoy eye candy? Here are links to important demonstration videos of the Violoncellos da Spalla and other instruments we have completed in approximately the last three years, all in one place. You will also find photos of most of the instruments we have built in the same time period. You will find additional demos not shown here within individual product listings in our online store, the Don Rickert Musician Shop. Demo Videos of Violoncellos da Spalla by Don Rickert Click here for demo videos Photo Galleries of Recent Instruments by Don Rickert Photo Gallery: Violoncellos da Spalla by Don Rickert Photo Gallery: Other Recent Instruments by Don Rickert Photo Gallery: Travel Violins by Don Rickert 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 Don Rickert Musician Shop (www.DonRickertMusicianShop.com). See images of a newly completed International Travel Violin. The International Travel Violin is our newest design. It is, of course, a TRAVEL VIOLIN that we 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 from one country to another On any small plane (< 50 seats), regardless of destination, within the U.S. or abroad AND Desire an all wood, luthier-built instrument with a 4/4 playable string length, AND Require an instrument with the sonority and timbre close to that of a full-size instrument. This completely new instrument has a full-size playable string length of just approximately 13 inches. The cool thing about the International Travel Violin is that it has a body length of approximately 13 inches (normal 4/4 violin has a 14” body) and a cleverly shortened “scroll-less” pegbox. The result is a full-size instrument with a total length of just under 21”! This allows the use... 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 from one country to another On any small plane (< 50 seats), regardless of destination, within the U.S. or abroad AND Desire an all wood, luthier-built instrument with a 4/4 playable string length, AND Require an instrument with the sonority and timbre as close to that of a full-size instrument as possible for a small instrument. As with its predecessors, the Mountaineer series (I through VIII), the International Explorer Travel Violin is the instrument of choice for adventurer-musicians for whom any of the following apply: Willing to sacrifice the full-size violin sound of the International Travel Violin or the Ranger C3 (but still sounds pretty good) in favor of considerably greater durability. The new International Explorer Travel Violin is ideally suited for outdoor adventure, where weather, rough conditions, rough treatment (e.g. being dropped onto the ground or into water) etc. are part of the deal. Are seeking a travel violin that is less expensive than either the International Travel Violin or the Ranger C3. Indeed, the International Explores is hardly cheap, with a sell price... Read more →

NEW Travel Violin Designed for Worldwide Travel and Adventure by D. Rickert

The New International Travel Violin The newest instrument by D. Rickert Musical instruments is the International Travel Violin. It is available at the Don Rickert Musician Shop. 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 from one country to another On any small plane (< 50 seats), regardless of destination, within the U.S. or abroad AND Desire an all wood, luthier-built instrument with a 4/4 playable string length, AND Require an instrument with the sonority and timbre close to that of a full-size instrument. Introduction and Summary This completely new instrument has a full-size playable string length of 12.75 inches. The cool thing about the International Travel Violin is that it has a body length of approximately 13 inches (normal 4/4 violin has a 14” body) and a cleverly shortened “scroll-less” pegbox. The result is a full-size instrument with a total length of only 20”! This allows the use of a case that is a mere 21” in length. It will fit into many TSA-certified 22” (height) carry-on roller bags! We will be happy to give you recommendations for our favorite carry-on bags. FREE Test Fitting!: If you wish, we will send you a heavy-duty 4” x 21” craft tube for a test fitting with your carry-on baggage. Let us know if you would like to do this before we start building your... Read more →

The Latest on Travel Violins and Fiddles by D. Rickert Musical Instruments

Please visit the Don Rickert Musician Shop. Introduction Travel violins and fiddles are specially-designed instruments for adventurers and other travelers for whom small size, extreme durability and easy portability are essential. Travel violins/fiddles are also commonly known as “backpacker fiddles”. Travel Violins and Fiddles by D. Rickert Musical Instruments D. Rickert Musical Instruments has been designing and making historic pochettes (e.g. Baroque-period dancing master’s “kits”) and best-in-class modern travel violins (aka backpacker fiddles) since 2005. Continuous improvement based on customer and market feedback and our own continuous evaluation, is just the way we roll. This has led to the design and production of more than two-dozen models over the past 13 years. We currently make three regular production models of travel/backpacker violin. We also make various custom variants, including “lefty” and 5-string models, as well as travel violas. All of our regular production travel violin models have 14” bodies with 13” playable scale lengths; the same body and scale lengths as full-size violins. All of these instruments are available at the Don Rickert Musician Shop. See the Travel and Backpacker Fiddles category of the Don Rickert Musician Shop website (online store). Late Baroque Pochette While our modern travel fiddles look superficially like Barqoue pochettes (pocket fiddles), they are, in fact, full-length violins intended for backpacking and travel. All of our travel and backpacker violins are full 4/4 length instruments with chin rests and shoulder rest adapters. They are very popular among traveling classical violinists as well as adventure-loving fiddlers. Unlike... Read more →