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Originally posted by RinconMtnErnie

I bought this instrument a little more than two years ago. I meant to post a review a long time ago.

Here is a link to Rickert's website about the instrument: https://donrickertmusicianshop.com/rickert-tenor-viola-15-5-or-16-tuned-like-octave-violin/

In a nutshell, this is a Tertis pattern viola voiced an octave below a regular violin. I have the 15.5" back version.

I wanted an instrument with a different timbre than a regular violin. A regular viola satisfies that requirement, but is difficult for me to play with others by ear. A nice thing about being tuned an octave below violin is it's easier to play by ear. I tried octave strings on one of my instruments and did not like the results.

There are three important parts:

• Viola body
• Strings
• Bow

As I understand it, the back plate and bass bar are tuned for lower frequencies. So it is optimized for the lower register and would not be expected to sound good with regular viola strings.

Speaking of strings, I am using a complete set of silk-core custom strings made by Atelier Boussoir: https://www.atelier-boussoir.fr/les-cordes/. I got them via Don Rickert. In fact I need to order two new sets. In theory you could use a combination of octave viola and regular viola strings, but nobody makes octave viola strings now. The silk-core strings have been working well, but if they were not available I would switch to gut-core strings. Why? Because gut-core strings are available in pretty much any equivalent gut diameter that is necessary, so I know they will always be available.

The Atelier Boussoir silk-core strings sound good. When I'm playing well the A and E strings almost sound like someone singing. Someone commented on that once so it's not just my perception.

Regarding bows, I have two. I bought the viola with a faux-snakewood Incredibow. The incredibows have a ribbon with very sticky "hair". So that bow pulls a big tone and is great for slower material. I find it difficult to play fast with the Incredibow. So I also have a Marquise GS viola bow. Except for weight, it's pretty much identical to my Marquise GS violin bow. So I can switch between the two easily.

The projection of the instrument is good, but it's not as loud as a violin. For playing in a jam session environment, it has been loud enough. That said, there are times when I've led tunes in a larger group where I wished I had more volume. I said I wanted an instrument with a different timbre, and I got one!

Playability is good. I have no major difficulty with intonation going back and forth between this instrument and a regular violin. Every so often my left hand fingers go to unfortunate spots, but overall intonation is not a problem. I have a larger viola with a 16" back and the same comments apply to that.

I've been happy with it!

 

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I looked up the website but he doesn't list the price?

@martyjoe,

I just sent an email to Rickert asking if he can either update pricing information on his web page or give me a number to quote here. Otherwise I can send you a message at some point.

Also note that his phone number is given on the web page. Calling him is going to be the best way to get current pricing information.

@RiconMtnErnie This is the tenor I’m currently playing. 16” back, the width of an 18”, 415mm string length (equivalent to a 19” viola) and it has 4/4 cello strings. It is has plenty of volume.

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Originally posted by martyjoe

@RinconMtnErnie This is the tenor I’m currently playing. 16” back, the width of an 18”, 415mm string length (equivalent to a 18.5" viola) and it has 4/4 cello strings. It is has plenty of volume.

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Originally posted by martyjoe

quote:

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Originally posted by martyjoe

@RinconMtnErnie This is the tenor I’m currently playing. 16” back, the width of an 18”, 415mm string length (equivalent to a 18.5" viola) and it has 4/4 cello strings. It is has plenty of volume.

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Thanks for posting the picture!

I would say that my tenor has "plenty of volume". It's just not as loud as my primary fiddle with heavy-tension helicores!

Regarding strings, I chose to use a full custom set, but one doesn't have to. Mine came with steel core viola strings for the top three strings (CGD viola strings tuned up to DAE), and a fractional cello string (helicore as I recall) for the G string. But as I recall, the tension on the G string was high. Rickert recommended the custom silk-core G as an alternative and I ended up doing that for all four strings.

What I like about your tenor is that size of the ribs. The ribs aren’t as big in mine. I have other tenors with deeper ribs that produce a slightly better bottom end but they are harder to play. I love the fact that I it takes any standard full size cello string. I was playing in a busy pub lounge session St Patrick’s day 100+ people and 20 musicians including 5 accordions and I could easily be heard. Another thing I forgot to mention is I use a high tension cello incredibow with dark rosin and love it for fast or slow.

I got a reply from Don Rickert about pricing. He's busy with various luthiery projects. He plans to retire the current product listing and replace it with a new listing for “Octave and Tenor Viola Options". That is going to take a few days. In the meantime, the following are statements are true:

• Intermediate Level Octave or Tenor Viola 16” or 16.5” (about $3000)
• Professional Level Octave or Tenor Viola (15.5” to 16.5”) (about $6000)
• Master-built Octave or Tenor Viola (any size) (about $12000)

The best place to start for someone just learning about the alternative violin family instruments that he offers is: https://www.rickertmusicalinstruments.com/2025/03/what-are-alternative-violin-family-instruments-three-new-articles-on-that-topic.html

I'm going to revise one statement I made about strings. I said that when I'm playing well the A and E strings almost sound like someone singing. That's really only my perception for the E string,

quote:

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Originally posted by RinconMtnErnie

I got a reply from Don Rickert about pricing. He's busy with various luthiery projects. He plans to retire the current product listing and replace it with a new listing for “Octave and Tenor Viola Options". That is going to take a few days. In the meantime, the following are statements are true:

• Intermediate Level Octave or Tenor Viola 16” or 16.5” (about $3000)
• Professional Level Octave or Tenor Viola (15.5” to 16.5”) (about $6000)
• Master-built Octave or Tenor Viola (any size) (about $12000)

The best place to start for someone just learning about the alternative violin family instruments that he offers is: https://www.rickertmusicalinstruments.com/2025/03/what-are-alternative-violin-family-instruments-three-new-articles-on-that-topic.html

I'm going to revise one statement I made about strings. I said that when I'm playing well the A and E strings almost sound like someone singing. That's really only my perception for the E string,

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Thanks a million. I have a feeling that I'll be speaking to him in a few months. I was given a figure more than double the price of his master model a couple of years ago so I'm in the process of making my own at the moment. That is going to take me at least a couple of years to complete.  This Tenor I'm paying now is very close to being Goldilocks but you can only go so far pimping up a Chinese workshop fiddle. I've entered the national music competition here (Fleadh Ceol). The first round at county level is in 6 weeks so I ordered a set of strings for it yesterday. G&D Spirocore tungsten strong A&E Larsen soloist medium. The plan is to move the bridge forward about 3mm and hopefully the Wittners will take the tension. 

Very interesting, @martyjoe, thanks for sharing. Good luck in the competion!