Adventurous Muse: Musical Instruments and Whimsical Things

TWO New MP3s Demonstrating New Musical Instruments from Don Rickert Design

Is that a devil in my kitchen or just some tail toddlin' going on?

We have posted special renditions of two (actually 3...will explain) of some of the coolest Scottish traditional tunes ever!:

• Devil in the Kitchen (medley with the Strathspey version and the rare reel version...counts as 2 tunes!)
• Tail Toddle (I am told that "tail toddle" means in Old Scots pretty much what it sounds like it means.)

These MP3s demonstrate the first two of several free reed (harmoniums, accordions, reed organs, harmonicas, etc.) by Don Rickert Design.

Find more artists like Don Rickert at Myspace Music

Find more artists like Don Rickert at Myspace Music

We will be writing much more about these new and innovative foot-pump AIR-POWERED new instruments, the Rickert Chord Pad and the Rickert Drone Box, in the coming days. Two new videos for YouTube are in production now. 

A top (plan) view rendering of this pair of very Steam Punk instruments appears below (Click on the image for a larger view.):

 
The type of foot pump used to move air to this baby is the kind that can fill car and motorcycle tires, etc. and is shown below. It fulfills the role of a bellows on an old-generation free reed instrument and the compressed air tank in the rendering above performs the role of the "air box" or air reservoir. The air regulators with gauges keep the instruments from exploding from the 100+ psi in the air tank...the instruments use less than 5 psi!

 

 

Wait List Instruments at Adventurous Muse Store: Lower Prices

As mentioned in previous posts, we put a number of the most popular instruments from Don Rickert Lutherie on Wait List status. Plus, we raised the prices. We got the message that a lot of people were not happy with these changes.

As we explained in our prior posts, we had to raise prices because we were losing money on these instruments, especially when they had to be made on a short schedule.

 

Well, we have come up with a compromise.

The waiting list has to stay in place, as there is nothing that can be done about the speed of instrument construction, at least not at the present time, but we have established two ways to pay for the instruments.

Payment Options:

• Option 1: Pay the discounted price up front. This price is often less than the price BEFORE we raised prices.
• Option 2: Pay 50% of the full retail price now and pay the balance when the instrument is ready to ship.

In either case, we will let you know what the estimated wait time will be BEFORE processing your charge. Wait times right now are generally at least 60 days, but can be much longer for some instruments, but less time for several. The estimated current wait times for each instrument are listed for each instrument below.

 The Instruments

Wait List Instruments These are instruments for which there is a waiting list. You can purchase up front by paying the listed discount price OR pay a 50% deposit on the full list price...balance due when the instrument is ready.   Adventurer IId Travel Violin 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 a a modern pochette. Hear it: Adventurer IID Soldiers Joy Waiting period is currently 60-90 days. Retail: $1,650.00 Payment Options: $1,237.50 (You Save: $412.50) $825.00 now + $825.00 when shipped ($1650.00)   Customizable Fiddle, Don Rickert Lutherie We developed this customizable fiddle as an option for our fiddle retro-setup service offerings, for those who want us to make them a new authentic post-Baroque (mid 1700s to early 20th Century). It turns out that this makes an excellent contemporary fiddle as well. Please note that the price of this instrument is for the varnished instrument (see the link to the full product listing above) prior to stringing and set up. In other words, the price of the completed instrument is higher. Waiting period is currently 40-60 days. Retail: $1,200.00 Payment Options: $1,200.00 (You Save: $200.00) $600.00 now + $600.00 when shipped ($1200.00)   Flat-Top Flatiron-Style Mandolin by Don Rickert Design The Rickert Flat-Top Mandolin has a mellow, yet still loud and powerful sound sought by Celtic (both Irish and Scottish) players, as well as many Old-Time mandolin players. This is a MUCH more historically-correct instrument for Old-Time music than either an F or an A type mandolin. This sweet mandolin is our take on the now-defunct, and increasingly collectible, “Flatiron” Mandolin, which has a long and interesting story, as an independent company, as a division of Gibson, and later as a division of Weber Mandolins. Ours has a rosewood fingerboard, mahogany neck, as well as mahogany sides and back. It has a spruce top. Fittings such as tuners and bridge are top grade. Waiting period is currently 40-60 days. Retail: $800.00 Payment Options: $600.00 (You Save: $200.00) $400.00 now + $400.00 when shipped ($800.00)   Glasgow Pochette with Bundled Transitional Bow Option The NEW Glasgow Pochette by Don Rickert Lutherie: Those interested in the more primitive style of pochette, we now make one just for you. It looks a lot like the Neil Gow Pochette, but with smaller sound holes. It is called the Glasgow Pochette. Internally, it has a centered bass bar with no sound post. It comes to you strung with real gut (Pirastro Chorda or the BETTER custom-made gut strings). Everything has been done to achieve the best sound possible; thus, the Glasgow Pochette sounds like an extremely well-made old-style 18th Century pochette. Hear it: Glasgow Pochette Demo Waiting period is currently 60-90 days. Retail: $1,600.00 Payment Options: $1,200.00 (You Save: $400.00) $800.00 now + $800.00 when shipped ($1,600.00)   Mountaineer II Backpacker Fiddle The Rickert Mountaineer II Backpacker Fiddle is a really skinny (but full 4/4 length) travel fiddle that is extremely durable for the most punishing environments. The Mountaineer II Backpacker Fiddle is an improved version of the Mountaineer Backpacker Fiddle. The Mountaineer is designed to accommodate specially-designed chin rest and a new INTEGRATED Rickert Shoulder Rest Adaptor by Don Rickert Lutherie. Your own favorite shoulder rest clips to the new Rickert Shoulder Rest Adaptor  The instrument is just 2" wide and is standard 4/4 length (body just under 14" and total length about 23"). This instrument has now been on journeys in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Middle East, North Africa and the African sub-continent. Waiting period is currently 45-80 days. Retail: $1,500.00 Payment Options: $1,125.00 (You Save: $375.00) $750.00 now + $750.00 when shipped ($1,500.00)   Neil Gow 21C2 Travel Violin Our extremely popular Neil Gow Pochette, an interpretation of an 18th Century pochette (pocket fiddle or kit) on display in the Burrell Museum in Glasgow, Scotland. The 18th Century Neil Gow Pochette, in addition to being charming and beautiful, sounds wonderful. In fact, it has been chosen to be part of Pochette and Kit exhibit at Ringve - the Norwegian National Museum of Musical Instrument. Typical of the many comments we recieve on the Neil Gow pochette's sound is the one below, which was posted on YouTube. Wow - that sounds great ! To my understanding, this size/style of instrument usually doesn't have much of a bass response - but this one does. Some luthier magic there (and a good player too)! The main shortcoming of our original Neil Gow Pochette is that it is made to be played in the style of the late Baroque period, tucked in the arm pit and resting on the arm. Unless the player is an early music enthusiast, he or she usually wants the benefits of a shoulder rest and a chin rest. In fact, many Neil Gow owners have come up with ingenius methods to attach a shoulder rest and chin rest. Well, with the introduction of the Neil Gow 21C Travel Violin, work-arounds are a thing of the past. Hear it: Neil Gow 21C Demo The new Neil Gow 21C2, which it looks like the historic reproduction instrument, is different in many ways. A key improvement of the Neil Gow 21C2 has an integral Rickert Shoulder Rest Adpator, to which your own shoulder rest attaches, and and improved chin rest. There are also other important differences that make it sound even better than its predecessor, such as a tweaked bass bar and a Western Red Cedar top, known for its deep powerful timbre. Finally, the new Neil Gow 21C2 comes with the incredible Wittner Fine-Tune (internal planetary-geared) tuning pegs. Waiting period is currently 60-90 days. Retail: $1,650.00 Payment Options: $1,237.50 (You Save: $412.50) $825.00 now + $825.00 when shipped ($1,650.00)   Neil Gow Pochette II with FREE String Upgrade Plus Transitional or Tourte Bow Option Our extremely popular Neil Gow Pochette has been chosen to be part of Pochette and Kit (another name for a pochette) exhibit at Ringve - the Norwegian National Museum of Musical Instrument. Read about it at AdventurousMuse.com. You need look no further. We now make in our Hiawasse, GA lutherie a pochette based on the one in the Burrell Museum in Glasgow, Scotland... WANT TO PLAY A FIDDLE LIKE THE ONE THAT NEIL GOW (one of the founding fathers of Scottish fiddling) played. THOMAS JEFFERSON often played a fiddle of this type as well (yup, the President was a fiddler as well). Hear it: Neil Gow Pochette Demo Waiting period is currently 60-90 days. Retail: $1,650.00 Payment Options: $1,200.00 (You Save: $400.00) $800.00 now + $800.00 when shipped ($1,600.00)   Octave Violin, Rickert-Fiddarci, Darci Jones Model The Octave Violin Darci Jones Model (aka the "Type II" Model) was designed by Dr. Don Rickert, IDSA of Don Rickert Research & Design in collaboration with Fiddarci Lutherie in Birmingham, AL, who also builds the instruments, is a William Sidney Mount "Cradle of Harmony" inspired instrument, but with Chanot-type "slit" soundholes, with many modifications based on recent research in bowed string instrument acoustics. See The William Sidney Mount Historic 1852 “Cradle of Harmony” Violin.   Hear it: Octave Violin Demo Amazing Grace Octave Violin and Adventurer Pochette Demo Waiting period is currently 45-60 days. Retail: $3,200.00 Payment Options: $2,800.00 (You Save: $400.00) $1,600.00 now + $1,600.00 when shipped ($3,200.00)   Octave Violin, Rickert-Fiddarci, W.S. Mount Model The W.S. Mount Octave Violin, designed by Dr. Don Rickert, IDSA of Don Rickert Research & Design in collaboration with Fiddarci Lutherie in Birmingham, is our William Sidney Mount "Cradle of Harmony" inspired instrument, with many modifications based on recent research in bowed string instrument acoustics. See The William Sidney Mount Historic 1852 “Cradle of Harmony” Violin. Like the Darci Jones Model, this is a purpose-built (not a re-strung violin or viola) octave instrument with unbelievable projection and a nice deep timbre (unlike some other instruments, which are loud but 'thin')...this instrument has a sound distinct from a 'cello but projects like a fine 'cello! Waiting period is currently 45-60 days. Retail: $3,200.00 Payment Options: $2,800.00 (You Save: $400.00) $1,600.00 now + $1,600.00 when shipped ($3,200.00)

Read and Laugh OR Read and Weep!

It ALL depends on if you read and respond on Presidents Day (2-21-11) or after 2-21-11.

You can go right to the Presidents Day Sale section of the Adventurous Muse Store, where you find these and many other items on sale.

The Instruments and Related Items That We Have On Sale Through Monday 2/22/11. We have sound samples of all of the instruments listed here. Bows are at the end of this post.

 

 

Pre-20th Century Fiddle by Don Rickert Lutherie

This is a "new" instrument (based on a high-quality vintage fiddle) just introduced by Don Rickert Lutherie. It can be set up appropriately for any period from the mid-1700s to the early 20th Century (only $1395 with discounts on numerous period appropriate bows)

• Early 1800s Scottish Fiddling Example: The Keel Row (Darci Jones)...Note: Example also features the same tune played on the Darci Jones Model Octave Violin by Don Rickert Lutherie.
• 1860s Music Example: Fisher's Hornpipe (Troy Parker)
• 1860s Music Example: Napoleon Crossing the Rhine (Troy Parker)
• Early 20th Century Scottish Fiddling Example: Laird O' Drumblair (James Scott Skinner from an early recording)

This instrument can be set up and strung to authentically replicate any period from the mid-18th Century to the early-20th Century. The three most popular specific periods are the late 1700s, which was the Golden Age of Scottish fiddling, the mid-19th Century (Minstrel Era and Civil War) and the early days of American Roots/Old Time fiddling, which was the late 19th Century until the 1920s. This was also the period during which the great Scottish Violinist, James Scott Skinner was making the first successful recordings EVER of a violin. It is from these old recordings that we get a taste of the greatness of "The Strathspey King" (Scott Skinner's unoffical title).

 

Glasgow Pochette with Bundled Transitional Bow Option

We are selling this "new" model (it is actually a replica of an older pochette) for $999. You can get a really good discount on a period bow to boot.

• Irish Jig on Rickert 18th Century Pochette Darci Jones by Don Rickert Design: Musical Instruments

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Neil Gow Pochette II with FREE String Upgrade Plus Transitional or Tourte Bow Option

The Neil Gow is regarded as our sweetest-sounding in instrument. It is a more "modern" 18th Century pochette with a bass bar and a sound post. For Presidents Day only (not the day after!) we are selling it for $999. You get a really good discount on several types of bows that were used when the originals were new (in the 1780s)

• Darci Jones Plays 18th Century Pochette Slow Air by Don Rickert Design: Musical Instruments

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Cigar Box Fiddle Authentic 1860s Style Special Edition

Only $650 if purchased during Presidents Day Sale!

The Cigar Box Fiddle was invented during the Civil War. The best evidence is that it was a member of a Federal Irish brigade. They became very popular among soldiers on both sides. They ranged from very crude to quite nice. We replicate a nice one that plays and sounds better than you would believe.

• Mississippi Sawyer On Rickert Cigar Box Fiddle Troy Parker and Michale Fox by Don Rickert Design: Musical Instruments

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Our 1860s Cigar Box Fiddle is extremely popular among Civil War re-enactors.

Octave Violin, Darci Jones Model w High-end Bow and Case

This is a modern instrument inspired by several violins designed and patented in the 19th Century. It has the string length of a regular violin, but various structural differences and VERY fat strings, producing notes a full octave lower than a regular violin. Ours is regarded as one of the best playing and best sounding in the world.

Only $3025, including high-performance bow and case, during Presidents Day Sale!

• Rickert Octave Violin Amazing Grace by Don Rickert Design: Musical Instruments

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Bows

The Bows That We Have On Sale Through Monday 2/22/11

Georg Werner Intermediate Violin Bow Octagonal Shaft, Germany ...$366.50

Georg Werner Master Violin Bow Round Shaft, Germany ...$665

Georg Werner Master Violin Bow Octagonal Shaft, Germany ...$767.50

Herbert Wanka Master 24B Bow, Round or Octagonal Shaft, Germany ...$2200

Herbert Wanka Master 24A Bow, Round or Octagonal Shaft, Germany ...$2320

Sebastian Dirr transitional violin or pochette bow ...$1695.50

New Ska Version of a Famous Scottish Country Dance

We have lots to bring you up-to-date about, including our new experiment in the Trew Ska'ish project. We'll tell you all about it later, but for now, just enjoy our new medley (downloadable MP3) of the original Skye Collection version of Flowers of Edinburgh (on accordion...those strange chords are right out of the old manuscript...wish I could take credit for some of the stranger ones) paired with an insane Ska treatment of the tune...played really fast and, yeah, with relentless horn section and really cranked-up bass.

You will want a sub-woofer to really appreciate the Fender Precision Bass and baritone sax.

Link to the Trew Ska'ish Flowers of Edinburgh medley.

Back to you soon for all of the other promised updates, including the return of Darci Jones to YouTube.

NEW MP3 with Really Cool Octave Fiddle

As part of our ongoing Trew Ska'ish project (traditional Scottish fiddle tunes on synthesizers), we did a version of the Scottish reel, I'll Gang Nae Mair to Yon Toun, a few weeks ago. This version is in the key of F, as transcribed by James Scott Skinner ("The Strathspey King") with flute and accordion. The bass part is the left hand piano part as transcribed by Skinner played entirely on the accordion bass keys...all those buttons on the left side of accordions.

New Version with Prominent Octave Fiddle Part

We have a new version of I'll Gang Nae Mair to Yon Toun with Octave Fiddle, transposed to the key of D (better for fiddle, as we fiddlers all know). This version will be used ultimately (sometime soon) in a YouTube video tutorial on playing octave fiddle. In this D version, the accordion and flute are the primary melody instruments.

The octave fiddle part is typical of a well-played baritone range accompaniment. Lots of octave drones, open string and double-stopped chords (a good reason to get our guide to fiddle chords), harmony to the melody, guitar-style bass progressions, octave unison both with and without chords, timing tricks with the bow and so forth. In almost no case is the octave fiddle simply playing what the accordion bass is playing...makes for a wonderfully intricate baritone mix (I won't say counterpoint so as to avoid corrective comments from the music theory mavens). We promise that you will LOVE it. To get the full effect, use headphones or a subwoofer!

This new key of D with Octave Fiddle version of I'll Gang Nae Mair to Yon Toun is in two of our Facebook Playlists: Trew Ska'ish as well as Octave Fiddle.

Scots Strathspey with Octave Fiddle

Here is a new version of the classic Strathspey, Laird O' Drumblair, in which the octave fiddle is prominent among the accordion and piccolo. We'll talk about the various techniques used, including chords, drones, harmony and octave unison in a post tomorrow. You can download the MP3 for free.

• Laird O' Drumblair (take 2)

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The Elaborated Part 7 and Part 8 of the Cigar Box Fiddle Book are Ready

Finished the final details on Part 7 and completed Part 8 (Antique Style CBFs and the Whiskey Bottle Box Fiddle are ready for download. If you forgot your User ID and password, email me at don@donrickertdesgin.com.

Once I am finished re-writing the Introduction Chapter, which has nothing to do with making cigar box fiddles, but rather CBF lore, all sections will be combined into a single book.