Tenor and Octave Violas – D Rickert Musical Instruments

Demonstrations and Photo Galleries

Aug 20, 2026

—

by

in 5-String Violins and Fiddles, Backpacker Violins and Pochettes, D. Rickert Musical Instruments, Don Rickert Musical Instruments, Don Rickert Musician Shop, Historic Instrument Replicas, Octave and Baritone Violins, Pochettes, Kit Fiddles, Pocket Fiddles, Tenor and Octave Violas, Tertis Violas, Travel and Backpacker Fiddles, Video and Sound Demos, Violoncello da Spalla

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…

Instrument Builds Planned for 2026: Violoncellos da Spalla, Octave Violins, Tenor/Octave Violas, Travel Violins/Violas and 5-String Banjos

Mar 25, 2026

—

by

Donald Rickert

in 5-String Violins and Fiddles, Announcements, Backpacker Violins and Pochettes, Banjos, D. Rickert Musical Instruments, Don Rickert Musician Shop, Octave and Baritone Violins, Tenor and Octave Violas, Travel and Backpacker Fiddles, Violoncello da Spalla

I try to start every year with a basic idea of what I am going to build in the coming year. This is my way of establishing some type of focus, especially when there is a lot of chaos going on, like, for instance, right now. Every year, I am surprised by the way things…

Instruments Completed in 2025 to Date

Oct 1, 2025

—

by

Donald Rickert

in 5-String Violins and Fiddles, About Don Rickert Musical Instruments, Announcements, D. Rickert Musical Instruments, Don Rickert Musical Instruments, Don Rickert Musician Shop, Mezzo and Quasi-Mezzo Violins, Octave and Baritone Violins, Pochettes, Kit Fiddles, Pocket Fiddles, Tenor and Octave Violas, Travel and Backpacker Fiddles, Violoncello da Spalla

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.…

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

Apr 23, 2025

—

by

Donald Rickert

in 5-String Violins and Fiddles, Announcements, Banjos, D. Rickert Musical Instruments, Don Rickert Musical Instruments, Don Rickert Musician Shop, Observations and Opinion, Octave and Baritone Violins, Pochettes, Kit Fiddles, Pocket Fiddles, Tenor and Octave Violas

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…

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

Apr 20, 2025

—

by

Donald Rickert

in Announcements, Backpacker Violins and Pochettes, Don Rickert Musical Instruments, Don Rickert Musician Shop, Pochettes, Kit Fiddles, Pocket Fiddles, Tenor and Octave Violas, Travel and Backpacker Fiddles

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…

The Latest on Octave Violas and Tenor Violas by D. Rickert (with Demos)

Apr 17, 2025

—

by

Donald Rickert

in About Don Rickert Musical Instruments, Announcements, Don Rickert Musical Instruments, Don Rickert Musician Shop, Low-Pitched Instruments, Octave and Baritone Violins, Tenor and Octave Violas, Video and Sound Demos

New product listing for Octave Violas and Tenor Violas at the Don Rickert Musician Shop! For the first time in years, we have a specific product listing on our online store website, Don Rickert Musician Shop (www.donrickertmusicianshop.com), having treated Octave Violas as completely custom commissions. Octave Violas and Tenor Violas are now listed as two…

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

Mar 13, 2025

—

by

Donald Rickert

in 5-String Violins and Fiddles, Announcements, Backpacker Violins and Pochettes, Baroque Instruments, Don Rickert Musical Instruments, Don Rickert Musician Shop, Octave and Baritone Violins, Pochettes, Kit Fiddles, Pocket Fiddles, Tenor and Octave Violas, Travel and Backpacker Fiddles, Violoncello da Spalla

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…

Brief Descriptions for Various Alternative Violin Family Instruments

Mar 11, 2025

—

by

Donald Rickert

in 5-String Violins and Fiddles, Backpacker Violins and Pochettes, Baroque Instruments, Don Rickert Musical Instruments, Don Rickert Musician Shop, Observations and Opinion, Octave and Baritone Violins, Pochettes, Kit Fiddles, Pocket Fiddles, Tenor and Octave Violas, Travel and Backpacker Fiddles, Violoncello da Spalla

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: Travel / Backpacker Violin A travel violin, also…

Alternative Violin Family Instruments: Relative Sizes and Shapes of Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Range Instruments

Mar 10, 2025

—

by

Donald Rickert

in 5-String Violins and Fiddles, Backpacker Violins and Pochettes, Baroque Instruments, Don Rickert Musical Instruments, Don Rickert Musician Shop, Observations and Opinion, Octave and Baritone Violins, Pochettes, Kit Fiddles, Pocket Fiddles, Tenor and Octave Violas, Travel and Backpacker Fiddles, Violoncello da Spalla

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…

Alternative Violin Family Instruments: What Are They For?

Mar 9, 2025

—

by

Donald Rickert

in 5-String Violins and Fiddles, Backpacker Violins and Pochettes, Baroque Instruments, Guitars, Observations and Opinion, Pochettes, Kit Fiddles, Pocket Fiddles, Tenor and Octave Violas, Travel and Backpacker Fiddles, Violoncello da Spalla

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…

Category: Tenor and Octave Violas