The Rickert Model 2.5 Fiddle sounds better than most fiddles. It definitely plays better than the average fiddle. With a better bow than the one that comes with the base instrument outfit, the Model 2.5 is one serious performance fiddle!

The Rickert Model 2.5 Fiddle starts as a new John Juzek Model 100 violin, a serious step-up instrument, but an intermediate violin nevertheless.  The Model 100 is a completely hand-made and hand-varnished instrument, with slightly-flamed back and ribs (sides) and a good quality select spruce top. It has plain but well fit ebony tuning pegs, a polycarbonate tailpiece and reasonable quality ebony chin rest.

To transform the Juzek 100 into a Rickert Model 2.5 Fiddle, we make the following alterations:

• Tuning pegs replaced with Wittner Fine-Tune™ internally-geared pegs.
• The polycarbonate tailpiece is replaced with either ebony Dov Schmidt compensated (“harp”) tailpiece
• The strings are replaced with Thomastik Infeld SuperFlexible (rope core) strings, which are very powerful, responsive and dark (possibly the darkest-sounding strings made), yet focused and balanced.
• The nut grooves are expertly lowered.
• The bridge is lowered and the arching is adjusted to your preference. Because the SuperFlexible strings are rather high-tension, the bridge height can be quite low without the “bottoming out” typically associated with low string height.

The fiddle comes with a good quality feather-weight suspension case and nice-looking and pretty good, but not great, brazilwood bow. The bow should be replaced with a better one.

About John Juzek Violins

John Juzek began producing master quality violins in Schoenbach, Czechoslovakia in 1900. He established a violin shop, then called the Czeckoslovak Musical instrument Company, in New York City around 1920. The company is now called Metropolitan Music Co. and is one of the most respected suppliers of instruments and tools to the lutherie trade.