Rickert and Ringholz Musical Instruments

Who are you people?

The Fiddle and Bow Store is owned by Don Rickert, Ph.D., IDSA, Guild of American Luthiers. Dr. Rickert is a Professional Member of the Industrial Designers Society of America and teaches part-time in the Industrial Design Program at Georgia Tech. Jonathon Rickert is a student at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC and manages our fiddlers' convention logistics during the summers. We used to work closely with another product design firm in Atlanta, Thing Farm, who did most of our laser cutting work for us. David Ringholz, IDSA, also a member of the GA Tech Industrial Design Facutly was an owner of the now (unfortunately) defunct Thing Farm. Can you guess where the "Ringholz" in our name came from?

We have joined forces in a joint venture with Fiddarci Lutherie, owned by master craftsman and luthier, Shep Jones. Many of our instruments are co-branded with Fiddarci Lutherie...i.e. the label inside the instruments has both of our logos.

You can see some recent videos from our booth at the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers' Convention 2008, and other interesting stuff such as Dr. Don playing at a Clydesdale (the BIG Budweiser horses) on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/DoctorFiddle).

Here is a montage with some pictures of us (and lots of other people) in action at various festivals, mostly from the 2007 festival season:

Comparison of Our Various Pochettes with a Really Good Fiddle

This is our Adventurer Travel Fiddle...it's made to be heard!. See how it stacks up against a really good fiddle based on a Maggini copy and our other pochettes.

Go to the special comparison "Playlist" we put together on YouTube to hear them all.

Photos of a Custom Travel Master Pochette

Click on any thumbnail for a larger image.

This custom version (1 of 1), instead of using shoulder rest adapter wings, has now such adaptor, as is the case with the Neil Gow Pochette, which is intended for Baroque-style playing, although an old school foam shoulder rest (or similar object) can be used, as shown.

 

 

 

 

Help Us to Help You!

We know that our instruments are not cheap. One of the reasons is that they are made in the U.S.A. instead of "off-shore" by underpaid workers. We want to prove wrong those who laughed when we said that we are going to stick to our ethics and not exploit workers, here or anywhere else in the world.

If you see something that you want but just can't afford right now, email Don Rickert (drickert@bellsouth.net) about making a partial initial payment and then "rent to buy" with 0% interest over some reasonable period of time (3 to 6 months, for instance). We make no guarantees, as we are not in the credit business; however, we will bend over backwards to make something work for you (we benefit as well). Bottom line: People love our instruments, we are very trustworthy, we are easy to work with, and we need to sell our stuff...so please consider this "win-win" offer.

See our growing selection of baritone (octave) fiddles, pochettes, backpacker and travel violins and fiddles and our new octave violas (also known as Chin Cellos) at www.fiddleandbowstore.com.

Price Reductions on Select Items at the Fiddle and Bow Store Ends Tonight

Our Instrument-Buying Stimulus Program: Crazy Price Reductions on Our Most Popular Stuff Ends at Midnight Tonight.

In concrete terms:

• The Adventurer Travel Violin/Fiddle will go from $450 (including a high-end case) to $680 after normal discount is applied, plus the cost of the case (the one's we have been giving away are $75)
• The Octave Violin Type I (with nice molded case) will go from $550 to the normal discounted price of $700
• The Octave Violin Type II and Cradle of Harmony models (supplied with a free $180 suspension case!) will go from $2,400 to $3,000 (with a $60 featherweight case...you'll have to buy the suspension case separately)
• All of the bows, shoulder rests, etc. will go to their regular prices.

Find out more at the Fiddle and Bow Store (www.fiddleandbowstore.com)

Hear a Rickert and Ringholz Octave Violin (Fiddle) in the Hands of an Expert

To own a great octave (baritone) violin or fiddle, you don't have to spend several grand.

Violinists Ben Powell and Duncan Wickel (on Octave Violin, in the red shirt), guitarists Jon Sosin and Adam Tressler, bassist Dan Carpel, and mandolin player Eric Robertson perform acoustic string music. If I am not mistaken, all are from the Berklee College of Music. Even if you don't like Jazz/Bluegrass fusion, give it a listen. In his solos, Duncan Wickle shows what a committed and gifted player can do with a baritone fiddle.

Watch this Performance, which occurred on May 22 at the Kennedy Center.

As much fun as looking is, t's more fun to get a great deal on a great instrument

Yesterday, the first day of our sale, there was lots of happiness to go around...happy customers who got great deals on baritone fiddles and pochettes and happy us. Today, mostly window shoppers. What will it take to put a new fiddle in your hands? :-) We REALLY want to help!

We've got a lot of other fiddles that are not even listed in our catalog...saving them for the upcoming festivals. If there is something are looking for, we probably either have it or can get it for you.

BIG SALE on our Most Popular Instruments and Accessories

Everybody has money issues. You've got 'em and so do we. This is a time of year when it is difficult to sell ANYTHING, especially "non-essentials" like cool musical instruments. I know that many of you have been looking for a way to afford some our most expensive instruments. Well, now is the time. Read on:

We've temporarily cut prices so low on some of our most popular instruments and some other accessories that you may not believe what you see. For example, you can now get a Type II Octave Fiddle for $2,400, which is about $1,000 off of the normal price. We're selling our new Adventurer Travel Fiddles for $450 (ALMOST HALF PRICE).

We are so keen to stimulate some action that we will even consider crazy things like half down and 60 days to pay the balance. You have to call us (404-713-3750) about this and have good credit.

Anyway, if we have something that you want and have not been able to afford, it's pretty much now or never, so get on over to www.fiddleandbowstore.com NOW!. The next three buyers of a Type II Octave or Cradle of Harmony Octave or  will get a free standard fiddle.

Rare Photos of Twin Travel Master Pochettes Together

We finished two Travel Masters on the same day. Here are some photos, showing the shoulder rest "wings" both open and retracted. Our new heavy duty short case is in some of the pictures. Most people who buy our pochettes and travel violins/fiddles opt for a short case and to carry their bow(s) in a separate bow case.

As with most of our instruments, you can see them played and hear them on YouTube (Click to see and hear them now). Of course, you place an order for one by going to www.FiddleandBowStore.com.

As usual clicking on any of the photos below displays a larger view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prices on Adventurer Travel Violin to Increase on May 2

Our promotional pricing on the new Adventurer Travel Violin ends on May 2. These instruments are already selling quite well and they have not even gone into full production. Two reasons to purchase today:

1. Price will go from $650 to $825
2. The longer you wait, the further down on the waiting list you will be

These instruments will be our first that are sold through other dealers and online stores, but for now, you can only buy them at www.FiddleandBowStore.com.