ATTENTION!: You most likely got to this page via a search engine rather than visiting the Adventurous Muse Storefront. This is a custom-made instrument, available ONLY at our new store, Don Rickert Musical Instruments (www.RickertMusicalInstruments.com).

Don Rickert’s newest musical instrument creation is the Rickert Series 6 XS Electric Violin. It is a small instrument (slightly larger than a pochette) with a standard 4/4 scale length. It uses the Rickert Adjustable Shoulder Rest and a small over-the-tailpiece type chin rest.

Specifics:

The sound box of the Rickert Series 6 XS Electric Violin is very similar to the Rickert Mountaineer Backpacker Fiddle. It has highly-resonant Western Red Cedar sides without a bass bar or sound post but, rather, special internal bracing that performs the function of those components. The top is Sitka Spruce (reclaimed, of course) and the back is Curly Maple. While the top is glued, the back is screwed on to allow easy removal for installing electronic components. The neck uses a unique bolt-on system, which allows it to be raised and lowered in order to change the string height.

What the Rickert Series 6 XS Electric Violin is for

The Rickert Series 6 XS is designed and created specifically to be configured as either an electric violin OR as a platform for certain types of violin synthesizers. Given its size, the Series 6 XS is very “live” acoustically for an electric violin body (“live” is indeed a relative term), making ideal as a practice instrument as well.

The Rickert Series 6 XS is one of several violins being used as part of the Active Acoustics research for the “Overtone Fiddle”, the brainchild of Dr. Dan Overholt.

Typical Pickup Configuration and Pre-Amp

A typical pickup configuration would use a bridge transducer (either attached to the bridge or the entire bridge itself with some multi-transducer pickups) in conjunction with an under the bridge or soundboard transducer. An internally mounted condenser microphone is commonly uses with this instrument. Both pickups (or pickup and mini mic) are wired to a dual-input “onboard” (i.e. inside the instrument) pre-amp.

The pre-amp not only allows you to balance the effect of each pickup, but also strengthens the signal from each pickup. The right pre-amp makes all the difference between a thin cheap electric violin sound and an output with beautiful timbre and power.

The Series 6 SX Electric Violin Has NO accessories until you specify them

Electric Violins by Don Rickert Design are sold in a manner analogous to buying a Dell Computer. You buy the basic unit and then specify the options necessary to make it a functional computer that meets your needs.

There are a number of options and accessories requiring specification, but it is NOT that difficult. Dr. Don Rickert, who has owned over a dozen electric instruments by other makers and has designed and built about 40 instruments will walk you through the process personally.

Final Cost of the Complete Instrument

The cost will typically be about twice the base price. The cost, of course, is much more than that if you decide on pickups costing the same as the basic instrument, for instance. For example, a Barbera pickup with a Schertler preamp is about $1,000…but you do not need these unless you have very unusual professional performance requirements.

Options and Accessory Menu

If you purchase this instrument, you will be asked to answer Yes or No to whether you want the 5-string option.

Accessories

All accessories are sold as separate items. Generally, you will have consulted with us first. If you do not choose any accessories or you choose accessories that do not make sense to us, we will contact you to discuss your choices.

In all cases we will send you an invoice that includes the cost of all accessories before authorizing a charge on your credit card.

The accessories you will need are:

Tuning Pegs (unless otherwise requested, we will install Wittner Fine-tune planetary pegs)
At least one pickup, but probably two (See pickup recommendation tables)
An internal pre-amp (See pre-amp recommendation tables)
Chin Rest: The Wolf Special Chin Rest is particularly well-suited and is, indeed, the recommended chin rest for this instrument; however, other small chin rests can work.
Shoulder Rest: Owing to its smal size, the only shoulder rest that really works with this instrument is the Rickert Adjustable Shoulder Rest
Tailpiece: For electric violins we ONLY recommend either a Wittner polycarbonate (a VERY hard plastic) or a Thomastik-Infeld metal tailpiece. Both come in 4 and 5 string versions. Unless specified otherwise, we will install a Wittner stainless steel tail hanger…the stainless steel gives more sustain than the nylon type.
Strings: Unless you are using a magnetic pickup (like an electric guitar), you can use any kind of high quality string, including genuine gut if you want to spend the money (see string recommendation table)
External Pre-amp: For stage performers, an external preamp with active gain and equalization controls is usually a requirement. Such an external preamp can be either belt-mounted or be on the floor (with foot controls). We can supply either type.