Tag: octave fiddle
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Instruments Completed in 2025 to Date
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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 SpallaI 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.…
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How Good Can an Octave Fiddle Sound?: Demos of the NEW Double-Fat Strad Octave Violin
Introduction Anyone who has followed this blog for the past 15+ years or has ever spoken to me about musical instruments will know that I am passionate about Octave Violins, which are regular violins modified and fit with special strings to play one octave lower. They are between violas and cellos pitch-wise. They, the good…
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Octave Violin and Tenor Viola Options from Don Rickert Musical Instruments
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: doctorfiddle@gmail.com Phone (in US): 706-896-0909 or 706-400-1481 (mobile) What is an Octave Violin? An octave violin or octave fiddle, if you like, is a specially-designed or modified violin that is set…
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Octave Violins, Tenor Violas and Related Instruments from Donald Rickert
Note: This is an update to an earlier article entitled, Octave Violins, Octave Violas and Hybrids from Don Rickert Musical Instruments. With a current introduction of several new Octave Violins underway, this post is a good resource for one wanting some details on what octave violins and similar instruments (e.g. tenor violas) are, where they…
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Octave Violin or Violoncello da Spalla?
Update Intro: This is an update to an earlier article entitled, Do You Really Need a Violoncello da Spalla? Since publication of the original post, much has changed with respect to the instrument alternatives, including cost and variety. For example, I have rolled back prices to 2021 level on the popular Violoncello da Spalla Standard Model.…
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Do You Really Need a Violoncello da Spalla?
Note: There is an updated version of this article entitled, Octave Violin or Violoncello da Spalla? You might find it strange that I am asking this question. After all, I am a luthier who makes violoncellos da spalla. Should I not just be happy when someone wants me to make one for them? Donald Rickert,…
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Introducing the Quasi-Mezzo Violin by Luthier Donald Rickert: Details
Here are some details about the new Quasi-Mezzo Violins by Don Rickert. The instrument is available in 4-string, 5-string or Octave Violin configurations. Email: don@donrickertdesign.com Phone: 706-896-0909; 706-400-1481 (mobile) What Is It? I will get in to the specifics, including its name, forthwith. But first, I will tell you what it is. It is violin…
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Octave Violins, Octave Violas and Hybrids from Don Rickert Musical Instruments
Note: There is a newer updated version of this article entitled, Octave Violins, Tenor Violas and Related Instruments from Donald Rickert. See the Don Rickert Musician Shop for current product offerings. Introduction Darol Anger and Vasen w/ Rickert Octaves In 2006, one of the first things we at D. Rickert Musical Instruments set out to do…
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Baritone (a.k.a. Octave) Violins/Fiddles (‘Reprint’ of 2013 Post
This is an old article; however, much of it still rings true today. One of the first things Don Rickert Musical Instruments (see Don Rickert Musician Shop) set out to do is to design and build the best acoustic baritone violin in the world. There are several instruments referred to as ‘baritones’. You can find…
