Don Rickert Lutherie is one of the few lutheries in the world providing this service to fiddlers!
Don Rickert Lutherie can set-up any high-quality modern violin or fiddle in good condition to authentically replicate any period as far back to the mid-18th Century, which is about the time that the transition from the Baroque Violin to the Modern Violin (the type we use today) was complete. While the violin has not changed in 250 or so years, how it is set up and played has evolved constantly and radically. For example, the setup of an 18th Century “modern” fiddle is a lot different than that of today, as was the way it was held and played.
We also sell replica instruments such as 18th Century Pochettes (Dancing Master Kit Fiddles) and Civil War Era Cigar Box Fiddles
We at Don Rickert Lutherie have finalized our design of the "skinny chin rests" that were used by some players in the 19th Century, notably Pablo de Sarasate. These minimalist chin rests are targeted to Old Time fiddlers and 19th Century-style fiddlers, who really only use a chin rest for holding their fiddle when going back to 1st position from 3rd position. This is by no means an modern ergonomically-correct chin rest, but we did the best we could to make it so.
These chin rests look a lot cooler and are definitely more period-authentic for re-enactors than a bulky modern chin rest. They are the ideal chin rest for:
The new chin rest, hand-made in our workshop of walnut, boxwood-stained maple, black-stained maple. The one shown is natural un-stained polished mahogany. See the article New 19th Century-Type Violin Chin Rest by Don Rickert Lutherie for additional information and photos.
If you are a contemporary fiddler playing any of the numerous styles of Scottish Traditional Music, and you are interested in a new instrument correctly set up for your fiddling style, this instrument is for you. We set the string height and the degree of bridge arch the way you want it, and string it with your preferred strings (about evenly split between metal strings and modern gut or synthetic gut strings for contemporary Scottish Traditional Music).
The select spruce top is graduated perfectly to the Guarneri or Stradivari specs (we can do either). The ribs and neck are nicely flamed maple. The fingerboard is select ebony.
We expertly varnish the instrument with traditional oil varnish. The varnish is applied and buffed by hand in the traditional manner; not sprayed! You get to pick the varnish color.
If you are a contemporary fiddler playing any of the numerous styles of Scottish Traditional Music, and you are interested in a new instrument correctly set up for your fiddling style, this instrument is for you. We set the string height and the degree of bridge arch the way you want it. The fiddle is strung with Dr. Thomastik Dominants. The select spruce top is graduated perfectly to the Guarneri or Stradivari specs (we can do either). The ribs and neck are moderately- flamed maple. The fingerboard is select ebony.
We expertly varnish the instrument with spirit varnish. The varnish is applied by hand in the traditional manner; not sprayed! You get to pick the varnish color.
The Adventurer IId Travel Violin (also known as a backpacker violin or fiddle) is just over 3" wide, but has a full 4/4 string length. Due to our innovative tuned porting and other trade secrets, this instrument has the volume and power of a full-sized violin or fiddle. The Adventurer IId Travel Violin is very similar in appearance to an historic (18th Century) pochette or "Dancing Master's" kit fiddle. Indeed, it looks very much like our own extremely popular Neil Gow Pochette. It can be thought of as a modern pochette.
Note: Listed price is for the initial deposit, which includes includes gut strings by gut strings by one of several Master String Makers specializing in gut strings AND special offers on Master Bows. We will contact you about additional required work for the conversion, which is generally in the $200 - $300 range.
We will retro-setup a violin of your choosing to a meticulously authentic early 20th Century Fiddle. As close as you can get the the real thing except in a museum!
Our Experience with Gut-Strung Fiddles
We have many years of experience in the use of old-style pure gut strings on fiddles. Dr. Don Rickert, who used to play fiddle in many Civil War re-enactments in Maryland and Virginia, played on a pure gut-strung fiddle (with a silver-wound g) with an overall 19th Century setup for many years.
Note: Listed price is for the initial deposit, which includes includes gut strings by one of several Master String Makers specializing in gut strings AND special offers on Master Bows . We will contact you about additional required work for the conversion, which is generally in the $200 - $300 range. Our Experience with Gut-Strung Fiddles
We have many years of experience in the use of old-style pure gut strings on fiddles. Dr. Don Rickert, who used to play fiddle in many Civil War re-enactments in Maryland and Virginia, played on a pure gut-strung fiddle (with a silver-wound g) with an overall 19th Century setup for many years.
We will retro-setup a violin of your choosing to a meticulously authentic late 18th to mid-19th Century Fiddle. As close as you can get the the real thing except in a museum!
Note: Listed price is for the initial deposit, which includes includes gut strings by one of several Master String Makers specializing in gut strings AND special offers on Master Bows . We will contact you about additional required work for the conversion, which is generally in the $200 - $300 range.
We will retro-setup a violin of your choosing to a meticulously authentic mid to late-19th Century Fiddle. As close as you can get the the real thing except in a museum!
Our Experience with Gut-Strung Fiddles
We have many years of experience in the use of old-style pure gut strings on fiddles. Dr. Don Rickert, who used to play fiddle in many Civil War re-enactments in Maryland and Virginia, played on a pure gut-strung fiddle (with a silver-wound g) with an overall 19th Century setup for many years.
Master-level viola da gamba-inspired shaped 4-string fiddle but with the carved arch top and back, as well as the neck, stringing and accessories of a modern violin or fiddle.
Highly-decorated with carving, front and back, as well as a carved dragon-head “scroll.”
Modern bass bar and sound post, expertly tuned and adjusted for the kind of power, projection volume and beautiful timbre expected by a Master-level or Professional musician.
Master-level viola da gamba-inspired shaped 4-string fiddle but with the carved arch top and back, as well as the neck, stringing and accessories of a modern violin or fiddle
Modern bass bar and sound post, expertly tuned and adjusted for the kind of power, projection volume and beautiful timbre expected by a Master-level or Professional musician.
5-String version of the 4-string Master-level viola da gamba-inspired shaped 4-string fiddle but with the carved arch top and back, as well as the neck, stringing and accessories of a modern violin or fiddle
Modern bass bar and sound post expertly tuned and adjusted for the kind of power, projection volume and beautiful timbre expected by a Master-level or Professional musician
The Bluegrass Pro Fiddle is for the serious Bluegrass performer, recording artist or contestant when the best possible acoustic fiddle is needed. This fiddle has a modern setup for the skilled artist who can handle its responsiveness to the bow. We set the string height (usually pretty low) and the degree of bridge arch (usually pretty flat) the way you want it, and string it with your preferred strings (generally modern metal strings).
The select spruce top is graduated perfectly to the Guarneri or Stradivari specs (we can do either). The ribs and neck are nicely flamed maple. The fingerboard is select ebony.
We expertly varnish the instrument with traditional oil varnish. The varnish is applied by hand in the traditional manner; not sprayed! You get to pick the varnish color.
This instrument is discontinued. See the Bluegrass Pro Fiddle in the Master Fiddles by Don Rickert Design category.
The Bluegrass Standard Fiddle is for the serious Bluegrass performer, recording artist or contestant when the best possible acoustic fiddle is needed. This fiddle has a modern setup for the skilled artist who can handle its responsiveness to the bow. We set the string height (usually pretty low) and the degree of bridge arch (usually pretty flat) the way you want it, and string it Helicore Medium Gauge strings.
The select spruce top is graduated perfectly to the Guarneri or Stradivari specs (we can do either). The ribs and neck are nicely flamed maple. The fingerboard is select ebony.
We expertly varnish the instrument with spirit varnish. The varnish is applied by hand in the traditional manner; not sprayed! You get to pick the varnish color.
One of the NUVO BAROQUE™ family of violins and fiddles from Don Rickert Lutherie in Hiawassee, Georgia Master/Professional version of our NUVO BAROQUE™ Chanot-style fiddle…very playable with incredible bass overtones distinctive to fine Chanot violin copies
Based loosely on the 19th Century “cornerless” (aka “guitar-shaped”) violin by Francois Chanot (1788 – 1825). The sound holes are NOT the “slit” sound holes used by Francois Chanot, but rather an attractive variation of a Baroque-type sound hole.
Has the neck, stringing and accessories of a modern violin or fiddle, as well as a modern bass bar and sound post, expertly tuned and adjusted for the kind of power, projection volume and beautiful timbre expected by a Master-level or Professional musician.
5-string version of our Master/Professional NUVO BAROQUE™ Chanot-style fiddle…very playable with incredible bass overtones distinctive to fine Chanot violin copies—plus a 5th string, to boot!
Based loosely on the 19th Century “cornerless” (aka “guitar-shaped”) violin by Francois Chanot (1788 – 1825). The sound holes are NOT the “slit” sound holes used by Francois Chanot, but rather an attractive variation of a Baroque-type sound hole.
Has the neck, stringing and accessories of a modern violin or fiddle, as well as a modern bass bar and sound post, expertly tuned and adjusted for the kind of power, projection volume and beautiful timbre expected by a Master-level or Professional musician.
Wonderful golden brown Christian Benker Violin manufactured by Hofner (yes, the makers of Paul McCartney's famous left-handed "violin" bass) and specially set-up by Don Rickert Lutherie. Made in Germany. Extraordinary, whether used as a violin or a fiddle, and you can't beat the price for the German-made instrument. This instrument has custom bridge work, Helicore strings and Wittner tailpiece. We'll even give you a slightly used molded case.
For an extra charge, we will install Wittner Fine-Tune planetary geared tuning pegs.
Thi instrument is powerful (loud), with a really nice balance of bass overtones and brightness. The bridge is cut for competition playing (on the low side, but not low enough to buzz).
Why would anyone waste his or her time bidding online for a piece of junk violin when they can get a quality German-made instrument for this price?
Most comprehensive reference available for making several different types of cigar box fiddles that are easy to play and sound great.
This book provides a general introduction to cigar box fiddles, their history, the differences between the solid wood 19th Century style fiddles and “modern” cigar box fiddles made from cheap plywood. The majority of the book deals with the actual making of two different types of cigar box fiddle, as well as a variation, a whiskey bottle box fiddle. 150 pages with over 100 illustrations.
PLEASE NOTE: This book is for experienced craftsmen and craftswomen with proper woodworking tools!
The Classic Old-Time Fiddle is for the serious Old-Time fiddler, especially one who performs and/or competes. We set the string height (usually pretty low) and the degree of bridge arch (usually pretty flat) the way you want it, and string it with your preferred strings (generally modern metal strings; however many Old-Time Players prefer a setup for modern gut strings, as pictured). The tailpiece we use has either 1 to 4 fine tuners, depending on your string preference.
The select spruce top is graduated perfectly to the Guarneri or Stradivari specs (we can do either). The back, ribs and neck are nicely flamed maple. The fingerboard is select ebony.
We expertly varnish the instrument with spirit varnish. The varnish is applied by hand in the traditional manner; not sprayed! You get to pick the varnish color.
Chord reference (a downloaded product) for Viola and 5-String Fiddle
This is a companion guide to our fiddle chord guide, but this one is for practitioners of viola and 5-string fiddle who play Old Time, Irish, Scottish and other “folk” styles. There are two sets of charts, one for the standard viola (ADGC) and 5-string fiddle (EADGC) tuning; the other for a “D-tuned” C string.
This is the completed body only for making an 1860s style cigar box fiddle. Made from Spanish Cedar with a Western Red Cedar top. You obtain the other parts, such as the neck, tailpiece, bridge, tuning pegs, etc. and make your own instrument.
Save yourself a lot of money and 50+ hours of your time!
For the already low price of the completed 1860s style cigar box fiddle body, you get the most comprehensive book on making PLAYABLE and nice-sounding cigar box fiddles (not an interesting looking but unplayable instrument to hang on the wall), Cigar Box Fiddles: About Them and How to Make Them..
We build custom early 20th Century style cigar box fiddles. We have the experience to create a nice playing and good-sounding instrument from just about any type of box (except cardboard). The listed price of $900 is only an average. Your instrument may be less or it may be greater. Most custom instruments tend to be on the higher end of the price scale.
The violin goes back about 400 years. The Post-Baroque or Modern violin is about 250 years old. Many (actually most) Baroque Violins, such as those made by the well-known masters (Stradivari, Gaurneri, Amati…) were converted to Modern Violins, with their longer, angled-back necks, bridges more like the kind we use today and a post-Baroque tail piece. Most of the older Baroque violins have had their bass bars replaced with all manner of new bass bar designs (bass bar innovations continue to this day).
We can set up any high-quality modern violin or fiddle in good condition to authentically replicate any period as far back to the mid-18th Century, which is about the time that the transition from the Baroque Violin to the Modern Violin (the type we use today) was complete. While the violin has not changed in 250 or so years, how it is set up and played has evolved constantly and radically.
Several years ago Darol Anger suggested that we make a baritone pochette. With the goal of developing a plausible octave travel violin, we had to figure a way to increase the internal air space substantially!...even though we have discovered ways to either circumvent or push the limits of the laws of physics with our travel / backpacker violins and fiddles, there is a finite limit to how far you can go in producing superior sound from an instrument that is theoretically too small.
We figured that we needed at least 30+ more cubic inches of internal air space for a decent-sounding octave backpacker fiddle. So, the new Don Rickert Lutherie Octave Travel Violin has approximately 35 cubic inches more internal air space than either the Neil Gow 22XL Travel Violin or the Adventurer IId. The body has essentially the same profile as the Neil Gow 22XL (i.e. plan view), which is approximately 14” long and just over 3.25” wide. The side views show how we increased the air space in the sound box.
If you are a contemporary fiddler playing any of the numerous styles of Irish Traditional Music, and you are interested in a new instrument correctly set up for your fiddling style, this instrument is for you. We set the string height and the degree of bridge arch the way you want it, and string it with your preferred strings (generally metal strings for contemporary Irish Traditional Music).
The select spruce top is graduated perfectly to the Guarneri or Stradivari specs (we can do either). The ribs and neck are nicely flamed maple. The fingerboard is select ebony.
We expertly varnish the instrument with spirit varnish. The varnish is applied by hand in the traditional manner; not sprayed! You get to pick the varnish color.
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