Author: Donald Rickert
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NEW YouTube Videos by Don Rickert Design (and Don Rickert Lutherie)
First, you might have noted that we are starting to use the name Don Rickert Design rather than Don Rickert Lutherie. The reason for this is that we are branching out from just designing and making stringed instruments. Lutherie only refers to the design, making, setup and repair of STRINGED instruments. We are also in…
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Lyrics to Tail Toddle (Robert Burns, 1799)
…Tail toddle, tail toddle…Tammie gars my tail toddle…But an' ben wi' diddle doddle,…Tammie gars my tail toddle. When I'm deid I'm oot o' dateWhen I'm seik I'm fu' o' troubleWhen I'm weel I stap abootAn' Tammie gars my tail toddle. Jessie Rack she gied a plackHelen Wallace gied a boddleQuo' the bride, " It's ower…
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Guest Appearance by Dr. Don Rickert at GA Tech Guitar Design Studio Course
I recently had the privilege of being invited to review and comment on outstanding electric guitar design work by students in a GA Tech studio course on electric guitar design, taught by Sam Harris, IDSA, Adjunct Faculty Member and also President of Form and Function, Inc. The web site for Sam's Industrial Design/Product Development firm, Form and…
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Reinventing the Wheel and Musical Instrument Design
In response to one of my recent posts, a short "teaser" article for a new line of free reed instruments by Don Rickert Design, my friend David Mills commented that he once proposed the idea of replacing the bellows of organ-type free reed instruments with a foot-powered air pump and was accused of simply reinventing the…
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Video of Dr. Rickert Installing Pure Gut Strings: UPDATE
Yesterday (Saturday, June 11) we shot most of the video of Dr. Rickert of Don Rickert Design installing 18th Century type gut strings (copper wound g string and unwound pure gut d', a' and e' strings) on a an 1780s style pochette. We were also shooting video for a demonstration of the use of basso continuo fiddle accompaniment using our new…
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Video of Dr. Rickert Installing Pure Gut Strings on a Pochette
On Saturday, June 11, we will be shooting video of Dr. Rickert of Don Rickert Design installing 18th Century type gut strings (copper wound g string and unwound pure gut d', a' and e' strings) on a short bodied (but 4/4 playable scale) pochette. The principles apply to the installation of gut strings on any fiddle. The demonstration will…
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Kira and Her Adventurer IId Travel Violin Save the Day at the Abbey in Conques
Before Our Story, A Little Bit About the 1,000 Year-Old Sainte-Foy Abbey Church The Sainte-Foy Abbey (of the Benedictine Order) Church in Conques, France (the Southern part of France) was a popular stop for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela, in what is now Spain. Its construction began sometime in the 1020s and…
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The Violin Tail Gut: What Goes Around Comes Around (Part 3)
Introduction We ended Part 2 of this article with commentary of the difficulty of installing a Kevlar tail cord. This final part delves into how its done and touches on the matter of whether or not it is worth the trouble. Removing the Tailpiece First, "tie-off" the strings so that they do not unravel on the pegs…
