New Octave Violin and Octave Viola Lineup at Don Rickert Musician Shop

Introduction

This article is about the purpose-built octave violins and octave violas that we currently sell via the Don Rickert Musician Shop. Two other "legacy" octave violins, on which we established our reputation for expertise in designing and crafting these unique instruments, the "W.S. Mount Model" and the "Darci Jones Model" Octave Violins, are no longer in regular production; however, new ones can be made on a custom-built basis. One of these legacy models, owned by Alasdair Fraser,(a W.S. Mount Model) was actually played (we hear by Alasdair himself) on his new CD with Natalie Haas, "Abundance." You should get the CD or download it from iTunes. It is another great one by Fraser and Haas! (made even better by our octave violin, of course...nod, nod, wink, wink...yes, I am kidding, more or less :-)). Natalie owns a Darci Jones Model.

For those with a burning desire (and a lot of time) to read many of the articles I have written over the years on octave violins and fiddles, see the links at the end of this article.

Very brief summary of what an octave violin is (and some related stuff)

An octave violin is either a regular violin or purpose-built octave violin (I'll get into the distinction forthwith) strung and specially set up with special octave violin strings, of which there are two makers, Thomastik-Infeld and SuperSensitive. Octave violins generally have 4 strings, tuned one octave lower than a reqular violin. Technically, this is the tenor range for bowed string instruments: in between a viola (alto) and baritone (cello).

For the most part, a regular violin set up with octave strings is a joke...no acoustic power and lousy timbre. There are exceptions; for example, Darol Anger, who kind of revived an old notion of the octave violin with a seminal article (in Strings Magazine, as I recall), plays a regular fiddle strung with octave strings with a regular violin bow. Given his extremely unique playing style, the result is quite effective. Darol uses an innovative rhythmic bowing style and various techniques (e.g. the "chop") to do what he does. Darol simply does not play powerful harmonies, arpeggios, basso continuo and the like...so it works for him.

I have NEVER heard it work for anyone else. I have seen scores of amateur octave string conversions of regular fiddles over the years. They have all sounded horrible to my ear...maybe suitable for quiet practice at best. I, myself, was one of these misguided souls who, many years ago, tried to make an octave fiddle from a regular fiddle. Hey, everyone has to start somewhere. I started making my first experimental purpose-built octave violin the following week (i.e. made to be an octave violin). I am here to attest to the inventor's motto: "Fail early and fail often!"

Building more prototypes than I care to count, I began to discover the loopholes in the "established" laws of violin acoustics. Yes, these discoveries are still trade secrets, but I will tell you that the loopholes have to do with ignoring many of von Helmholtz's conclusions about acoustics, and focusing on different graduations than standard violins, a radically different bass bar, more internal air, thin (i.e. resonant rather than damping) high ribs, carbon fiber reinforcement (in just the right places), adhesives, internal tension rods, tuned porting, to mention a few. 

Octave Violas (a.k.a "chin cellos")

Whereas an octave violin is tuned an octave lower than a fiddle, an octave viola is tuned an octave lower than a viola. In other words, an octave viola is tuned exactly like a cello. Making an octave viola that sounds good proved to be far more challenging than making an octave violin (which. itself, took a decade of experimentation). Getting a decent sound from that pesky octave C string on the bass side of the octave viola was the wicked problem needing a solution. After many tries, we have solved the problem. Without giving away our trade secrets, I will tell you that an effective octave viola must be a lot bigger than an octave violin. The playable string length must be just right (about that of a 16" viola) to achieve the optimal string tension to produce a powerful, full-bodied sound. The bow must be very stiff (it pretty much needs to be carbon fiber to achieve the necessary stiffness) and either much heavier, such as a cello bow and/or haired with extremely aggressive horsehair (generally a synthetic "hair" called Zarelon, developed by Dr. Peter Zaret)

Bows for Octave Violins and Violas

You will find the right bows for both octave violin and octave viola among the Rickert Specialized Series Bows in the "Bows" category of the Don Rickert Musician Shop.

Our Current Octave Violin and Octave Viola Offerings

Fat Strad 8vb Acoustic Octave Violin: See Product Details

• Current Sell Price: $1,995
• Wait time: Generally less than 30 days

This is the very latest entry to D. Rickert Musical Instruments' long history of making incredible purpose-built (made to be an octave violin or fiddle...not a conversion of a regular instrument) violins and fiddles. The new Fat Strad 8vb Acoustic Octave Violin is, as the name implies, is based on the Fat Strad body, which has proven to be more versatile than we ever imagined. 

It has a lovely timbre in the octave-strung configuration and has the projection power needed for an octave violin. It is almost as powerful (loud) as our considerably larger Attuned Special Series Tenor (Octave) violin, as well as our tried and true legacy W.S. Mount Model and Darci Jones Model Octave Violins.

General Information

Fat Strad 8vb Acoustic Octave Violin has a 14” long body and a 13” playable scale...same as a violin, fiddle or small viola. The ribs are approximately 37mm rather than the 29mm to 30mm more typical of an instrument this size. Overall, the Fat Strad 8vb Acoustic Octave Violin will feel quite familar to a violinist or fiddler.

Structural Design of the Fat Strad 8vb

The Fat Strad 8vb Octave Violin is both slightly wider in the middle and lower bouts and “thicker” (37mm vs. 29mm ribs) than a regular violin or small viola. It is also more extremely arched top and has new bass bar design (closer to a viola than a violin), which dramatically enhances the responsiveness of lower-pitched strings. 

With its wider girth (8.5” lower bout rather than the standard 8”), higher arching and wider ribs (sides), the Fat Strad 8vb Octave Violin has approximately 27+ more cubic inches of internal air space than a standard violin or small viola. The greater air volume, combined with the new bass bar, is the instrument for players wanting a lower-voiced acoustic instrument have been seeking.

V-8vb Long Scale Octave Violin: See Product Description

• Current Sell Price: $1,900
• Wait time: Generally less than 30 days

The V-8vb Long Scale Octave Violin is a completely new instrument from D. Rickert Musical Instruments and available NOW at the Don Rickert Musician Shop. It is for the player who is up to handling a small viola sized (15.5” body) instrument in order to gain a lot of extra power and “bassy” punch from his or her octave violin.

Sonically, the V-8vb Long Scale Octave Violin is, metaphorically, an octave violin on steroids. It is louder, darker and richer in low frequency overtones (i.e. more bass “growl”). Technically, it is closer in size to what an octave violin should be. A theoretically “perfect” octave violin, the Tenor Violin of the New Violin Family (aka Violin Octet, consisting of 8 graduated instruments, based on the research of Dr. Carleen Hutchins and others), is about the size of a ½ size cello!

For the violinist or fiddler, moving up to a substantial larger instrument is a commitment that will take some practice. The playable string length is 13.5”, compared to the 12.8”-13” playable length of a violin. The larger body requires a “heavier hand” with the bow than a violin; even an octave violin. Holding (while playing) the larger body is different from a violin; not necessarily more difficult.

The experienced viola player will already have the necessary skills, especially with regard to bowing, for this instrument. Learning curve for the violist is negligible.

The V-8vb Long Scale Octave Violin is based on a 15.5” Tertis wide body pattern viola. 

About Tertis Wide Body Violas Such as the One on Which the V-8vb is Based

Lionel Tertis is regarded by many as the greatest viola player of the 20th century. Tertis preferred a large viola in order to get an especially rich tone from his instrument. Tertis created a viola pattern that would provide the tonal advantages as a large 17 inch plus viola from a 16” viola, which is today regarded as a full size viola. Tertis violas are wider than violas of the same body lenths. On average, a Tertis a has:

• An upper bout that is 6% wider
• A middle bout that is 21% wider
• A lower bout that is 4.5% wider

T-Rex Octave Viola: (See Product Description)

• Current Sell Price: $1,900 (4-string); $2250 (5-string)
• Wait times:
  • Generally less than 30 days for 4-string
  • Generally 60-90 days for the 5-string

Available NOW at the Don Rickert Musician Shop

The T-Rex Octave Viola is the replacement for the The B-Rex II 5-String Octave Viola. Unlike the B-Rex, the default configuration for the new T-Rex is as a 4-String octave viola. This means that it is tuned exactly like a cello. For this reason, people often call such an instrument a “chin cello.” A 5-string version of the T-Rex is also available at an additional cost. For now, the 4-string version is a standard offering (ships in less than 30 days); while the 5-string version is a special order item than ships in 60 to 90 days. If there is sufficient interest, the 5-string version will become a standard offering with a fast shipping time.

The T-Rex is based on a 16” Tertis wide body pattern viola. It is also available with a 16.5” body if requested. Consider carefully going with the larger size, as 16” is the largest viola that most people can comfortably play. This is not something you want to “cheat” on, as you will pay immediately with the 4th finger intonation and pay later with physical problems associated with playing an instrument that is too large.

There are many guides on the Internet for measuring your reach to determine the ideal viola size for you.

The Right Bow is Critical!

An extremely stiff, heavy and aggressive bow is more important for an octave viola, especially one in 5-string configuration, than for an octave violin.

• You must use a bow suitable for a large octave viola. Choices would include:
  • A standard cello bow
  • A Rickert Specialized Series Heavy Octave Viola Bow, based on a carbon fiber cello bow, bus is lighter than a standard cello bow
  • Specialized Series Light Octave Viola Bow (based on a viola bow shaft).
• Both the"Light" and "Heavy" bows have special extremely aggressive synthetic hair (Zaralon by the legendary Dr. Peter Zaret) matched to the weight of the bow shafts.

Get the right bow at the Don Rickert Musician Shop.

A Brief History of D. Rickert Musical Instruments' Experience with Specialized Octave Violins and Fiddles

We have been researching violin-length octave violins for more than a decade and have been selling them for nearly as long. The links below will give you a glimpse into our efforts, particularly with respect to design research involving actual musicians. You will find many sound samples.

• NEW Fat Strad 8vb Octave Violin by D. Rickert Musical Instruments
• Baritone (a.k.a. Octave) Violins and Fiddles
• Rickert Octave Violin, W.S. Mount Model
• Rickert Octave Violin, Darci Jones Model
• Update on Baritone (a.k.a. Octave) Violins and Fiddles
• Types of Octave Fiddles
• Design Research Behind the Rickert-Fiddarci Octave Violins (Details)
• More Photos from Field Research on Octave Violin Prototypes
• Baritone (a.k.a. Octave) Violins/Fiddles

Related articles

Baritone Violin, Darci Jones Model

Rickert Octave Violin, W.S. Mount Model

Baritone (a.k.a. Octave) Violins and Fiddles

Update on Baritone (a.k.a. Octave) Violins and Fiddles

NEW Fat Strad 8vb Octave Violin by D. Rickert Musical Instruments