Please contact us if you wish to discuss purchasing one of these instruments.

 Our email is don@DonRickertDesign.com and phone number is (706) 896-0909 or (706) 400-1481 (mobile). You can also use the "Contact" link on this page.

This instrument is quite interesting. We designed this unique “da spalla” initially as a one-off custom basis. It has a 15-inch body, which is just a bit larger than a violin. The plan profile is quite small, even for a viola. A 16” or 16.5” body size is generally considered to be a full-size modern viola. While having a very small plan profile, the ribs, however, are 80mm (3 inches), which is the same as our full-size standard violoncellos da spalla. The standard tuning is an octave lower than a regular violin, with an additional B-string on the treble side (G D A E B). Without changing the strings, it can also be tuned down to F C G D A; that is, a viola with an additional F-string on the low end.

It can be seen as a huge 5-string violin (or very fat small viola) that is set up to be played da spalla (i.e., with a shoulder strap). In theory, it can be played under the chin, provided that the player has a large physique or an unusually long neck.

The volume and tone of the Petite Violoncello a Spalla are breathtaking, and it is quite easy to play.