Don Rickert Musical Instruments(tm)

Bows and Availability at www.fiddleandbowstore.com

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The Summer fiddle competition season is upon us and this can be a problem for bow availability. We are fortunate in that the major high-end carbon fiber bow manufacturers guessed well this year. This is shear luck, as the wacky economy makes it hard to plan for anything right now. Here is the low-down.

• CodaBow Diamond Series bows for violin and viola/octave fiddle are in-stock and we are getting them in 2 days from our supplier.
• Glasser Octagonal Braided Carbon Fiber bows for violin and viola/octave fiddle are getting to us in about 5 days...the price has gone up considerably. We absorb part of this increase in our discounts, but you are still going to pay over $400 for these magical bows.

We don't know what the situation will be next month, so waiting is NOT prudent. When the manufacturers run out, it takes weeks for us to get bows.

We don't carry any pernambuco bows, with the exception of a nice old one we have for sale, at this time, nor do we any longer carry entry-level carbon fiber or graphite bows (there is a difference).

Order at www.FiddleandBowStore.com.

availability, bows, braided, carbon fiber, CodaBow, competition, Diamond, fiddle, Glasser, octave, violin

Three (3) Rickert-Fiddarci 'Cradle of Harmony' Octave Violins IN STOCK NOW (NO WAIT!!!!)

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We have the rare situation of having several of our celebrated Rickert-Fiddarci Octave Violins in stock...this means you can have one in your hands within a week rather than waiting several months. You should consider this very seriously if you would like a baritone fiddle for the summer festival season.

Note: The model we have in stock is the same one used by Alasdair Fraser.

Available at www.AdventurousMuseStore.com.

Rickert, Fiddarci, Octave, baritone, violins, fiddle, Alasdair Fraser, in stock, Cradle of Harmony

Realist Pickups added to www.FiddleandBowStore.com today

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We have not had an under the bridge pickup for violin, fiddle, viola and octave (baritone) violin available since the Shadow NFX became suddenly unavailable with Meisel Music going out of business several months ago. We did not like the first generation of the Realist pickups very much but love the new ones (a whole lot!).

Available at www.AdventurousMuseStore.com

Realist, pickup, violin, fiddle, octave, baritone, Shadow, NFX, under the bridge

CodaBow Diamond Series Model Carbon Fiber Bow Feature Comparisons

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All models listed are available at a discounted price from Don Rickert Musical Instruments (www.AdventurousMuseStore.com)

Diamond NX ($574 list) vs. Diamond SX ($399 list)

Summary: The key advantages of the Diamond SX over the Diamond NX are: The silver fittings, tonal clarity, power, strength. agility and response to fine nuance of technique. It requires somewhat more bowing skill to handle (i.e. a bit less stable in the sense that a race horse is less stable than a work horse). Of course these qualities are sought after by more experienced players.

Link to CodaBow's Comparison Table

Diamond GX ($774 list) vs. Diamond SX ($574 list)

Summary: Key Advantage of the GX over the SX is Tone Color

Link to CodaBow's Comparison Table

Key Advantages of the GX ($774) over the NX ($399 list)

Summary: Tone color, Clarity, Power, agility and response.

CodaBow, Diamond Series, Feature, Comparisons, NX, SX, GX, bow, carbon fiber, Don Rickert, Musical Instruments

New Version of Rickert Travel Master Pochette

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We made a custom all cedar version of the Rickert Travel Master Pochette, using waterproof glues and finishes that are also resistant to wide variations in temperature and humidity. It turned out to be the best sounding one ever to leave our studio, so it is now available as regular production item. Nice acoustic power and great bass overtones. This one has the new plug in chin rest like the one used on the Adventurer II Travel Violin.

Available at www.AdventurousMuseStore.com

Click on any image for a larger view.

 

Rickert, Travel Master, Pochette, waterproof, glues, finishes, temperature, humidity, variations, resistant, power, bass, overtones, plug in chin rest, Don Rickert, Musical, Instruments, cedar

User-installable "wing" kit for new Travel Master Pochettes

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Rickert Travel Master Pochettes no longer use the "wing" type shoulder rest adapters. Some customers still want the wings, so they are now available, either installed by us or user installed.

Available from www.AdventurousMuseStore.com

See the images below showing new Travel Masters without wing adapters and older ones with wings.

Click on any image for a larger view.

Rickert, Travel Master, pochettes, wing, shoulder rest, adapter

Don Rickert Musical Instruments is starting an email newsletter soon

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We will be doing it completely legally (NOT SPAM), with double opt-in, easy opt-out, etc.

If you have ever purchased anything from us, we are allowed to send you one email asking whether you wish to opt-in. This is not defined as spam, which we hate as much (maybe more) as you do.

If our ONE invitation email is not welcome, apologies in advance.

The email and subsequent email newsletters (if you opt in) that you get will come from the domain DonRickertDesign.com, the parent company of Don Rickert Musical Instruments. It will probably be Don@DonRickertDesign.com.

Sincerely,

Don Rickert, Ph.D., IDSA

Don Rickert Musical Instruments, Don Rickert Research and Design, DonRickertDesign, emai, newsletter, opt-in, opt-out, spam

YouTube Video Showing Rickert Adventurer II Travel Fiddle Being Played

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The video on YouTube of violin/fiddle prodigy Edward Charity playing Scottish fiddle material on his new Adventurer II demonstrates its beauty and power. You can also see what it looks like with the optional shoulder rest adapter.

The Adventurer II replaces the now-discontinued Adventurer II pochette, incorporating improvement suggestions by users of the Adventurer II.

The Adventurer II Travel Violin is available from www.AdventurousMuseStore.com. 

Adventurer II, Don Rickert, Edward Charity, Scottish, travel violin, video, YouTube, shoulder, rest, adapter

Our First Fretted Pochette for a Customer

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While we at Don Rickert Musical Instruments have experimented with fretted instruments, and will continue to do so, we have a customer for whom we are doing a special version of a Travel Master Pochette (Travel Fiddle / Violin) with tied frets like a Renaissance Fiddle. The use of frets is pretty much what distinguished the Rennaisance Fiddle from the Renaissance Vielle, an updated (from the the Middle Ages) version of the Vielle that was pretty much like a modern fiddle in many ways.

Instead of gut, we will be using monofilament (15 lb fishing line), using one of several methods for tying what is called a "fret knot". Tied on frets allow the player to adjust the intonation (by moving the frets) depending on their bowing style, bridge height and so forth, variables that are far more important on violins than guitars for good intonation.

We'll let you know how it goes. Another advantage of tied frets is that they can be cut off if it doesn't work out.

If it DOES work out, you can be sure that we will be doing a story about it.

Have a great weekend and visit our online store (www.AdventurousMuseStore.com)...yes, that was a shameless plug.

Don Rickert, Musical Instruments, fretted, violin, fiddle, pochette, tied, Rennaisance Fiddle, gut, monofilament, Vielle

Don Rickert Musical Instruments Adding 8 New Fiddle Models on May 14

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These are all high-end regular fiddles geared towards Advanced Amateurs and Professional fiddle players. They are proudly appointed and set up as fiddles and not violins. They are targeted to those who compete in the important fiddlers' contests, recording artists and stage performers, for whom unique aesthetics as well as power and playability are important virtues. You will not be seeing too many of these in orchestra string sections!

It is actually 4 new models, each of which will available as either a 4-string or a 5-string (the makes 8)

The models are currently named:

The Rickert Rose: Black "ebonized" (i.e. not glossy) varnish emblazoned with a prominent Art Neuveux rose on the back
The Wraith: Also black ebonized with really cool Wraith etching on the back
The Celtic Muse: A dark amber instrument with lots of Celtic knot inkwork on the back AND the ribs
The Rickert Professional: Dark amber

Will have pics soon!

The basic instruments will run in the $1,600 to $2,200 range with various upgrades, including Wittner internally geared tuners and a number of pickup and mini-goose neck mics available.

Come back in a few days to check on progress.

new, fiddles, violins, unique aesthetics, power, playability, advanced, amateur, professional, recording artist, stage performers, Rickert, Rose, Wraith, Celtic, Wittner, geared tuners