Instruments Completed in 2025 to Date

I have been very busy in the first 3 quarters of 2025. I have completed and delivered 12 instruments thus far in 2025. The represent an even mix of ‘Conservatory’ level (intermediate “value priced” instruments) and ‘Professional’ level (high-end) instruments. The latter are the ones made completely by me in our Hiawassee, Georgia (US) workshop.

Per the recently-updated home page to this site, all but one of the 2025 builds are ‘Alternative Violin Family’ instruments. See:

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

ALL of these are also ‘Extended Range’ instruments, which means that they are tuned to lower pitch than standard violins or violas and/or have more than 4 strings. The one instrument that is a regular violin is a restored vintage Maggini pattern fiddle.

In addition to what has been completed, I have a standard Violoncello da Spalla and an ‘Exhibition Level’ Violoncello da spalla under construction. Further, I am working on prototypes for three historically-inspired banjo models (Mountain banjo, Minstrel-type and Gourd banjo).

Take a look at the photo gallery of the instruments completed in 2025 below. The are grouped by type and sub-type.

Octave Violas

See Octave Violas and Tenor Violas by Don Rickert for a full product description.

Viol shaped

Rickert Octave Viola 1 (viol type) front

Rickert Octave Viola 1 (viol type) back

Rickert Octave Viola 1 (viol type) side

Rickert Octave Viola 2 (viol type) front

Rickert Octave Viola 2 (viol type) back

Rickert Octave Viola 2 (viol type) side

Wide body

See Octave Violas and Tenor Violas by Don Rickert for a full product description.

Rickert Octave Viola (wide body) 1 front

Rickert Octave Viola (wide body) 1 back

Rickert Octave Viola (wide body) 1 side

Rickert Octave Viola (wide body) 2 front

Rickert Octave Viola (wide body) 2 back

Rickert Octave Viola (wide body) 2 side

Octave Violins

Performer Series

See Performer Octave Violin for a full product description.

Rickert Octave Violin (Performer Series) front

Rickert Octave Violin (Performer Series) back

Rickert Octave Violin (Performer Series) side

Double-Fat Strad Model

See Double-Fat Strad Octave Violin by Donald Rickert for a full product description.

Double-Fat Strad Octave Violin front

Double-Fat Strad Octave Violin back

Double-Fat Strad Octave Violin 2 front

Double-Fat Strad Octave Violin 2 back

Double-Fat Strad Octave Violin 2 side

Vintage Fiddle restorations

Vintage Maggini Restoration front

Vintage Maggini Restoration back

Vintage Maggini Restoration side

Travel Violins

Images of a newly completed Custom Octave Travel Violin coming soon.

See Travel and Backpacker Fiddles (and Violas) for full product descriptions.

Violoncellos da Spalla

See Violoncellos da Spalla and Related for full product descriptions.

Rickert Violoncello da Spalla Conservatory Model 1 front

Rickert Violoncello da Spalla Conservatory Model 1 back

Rickert Violoncello da Spalla Conservatory Model 1 side

Rickert Violoncello da Spalla Conservatory Model 2 front

Rickert Violoncello da Spalla Conservatory Model 1 back

Rickert Violoncello da Spalla Conservatory Model 1 side

Petite Violoncello da Spalla front

Petite Violoncello da Spalla back

Petite Violoncello da Spalla side

If you wish to discuss this instrument or a completely new build, I look forward to hearing from you.

Contact Information

The web address for the “Cool Instruments for Hep Cats” video podcast is: @Cool_Instruments_for_Hep_Cats – https://www.youtube.com/@Cool_Instruments_for_Hep_Cats/podcasts

Don Rickert’s main website, ‘D. Rickert Musical Instruments’, is https://www.RickertMusicalInstruments.com.

Online store, ‘Don Rickert Musician Shop’, is https://www.DonRickertMusicianshop.com.

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: don@donrickertdesign.com; doctorfiddle@gmail.com

Phone (in US): 706-400-1481 (mobile)