Buying a cello?

Fassa Albrecht · #1 12-03-2011, 04:32 PM

I'm really considering buying my own cello now I've been playing a good few months (and I'm still not good at it!). Borrowing a cello is cheaper but I worry about doing any damage to it or something happening to it every time I pick it up or take it out the house. Having my own means any damage is my problem.

Anyone got any experience in buying (or even selling) a cello? I've never actually been in a music shop for anything cello-related and so I'm not really sure in how to actually approach buying one.

Any help?

fdeck · #2 12-03-2011, 06:18 PM

First, browse the threads on the DB side for a while. Many of the issues are in common between cello and bass, in terms of how to buy one. In particular:

1. Avoid the "general" music stores such as Bain Capital, who tend to carry low quality brands, and are un-equipped to set up an instrument for you. However, a number of TBDB'ers have reported getting decent instruments from Thomann on your side of the pond.

2. Contact a local cello teacher to get the inside scoop on who sells good student instruments in your locale. For instance, there's a person in Madison who sells instruments from his home, and is respected by everybody. Such a person will have a decent range of instruments to try out.

3. Things like cracks and other minor scuffs are not a deal breaker, if they have been correctly repaired. Some kinds of cracks, such as those that are in line with the soundpost or bassbar, would make a luthier nervous and demand special attention, so I would avoid cellos with those issues.

4. A cello might need a setup by the dealer, but I would avoid any cello that appears to need radical setup work.

Fassa Albrecht · #3 12-03-2011, 06:29 PM

Cheers fdeck!

Yeah, I'm decently lucky in that I live in a city with a specialist established orchestral/folk instrument dealer, and most other music shops in my area for this reason don't bother touching orchestral strings. I've actually dealt with the in-store luthier before with my violin and he's very experienced with pretty much any instrument.

Plus, they offer rehairing and other services for string players.

And I've still got some contacts in my old college music department, so I've sent out some emails to those people to try and see what they can find and even if there's any instruments being sold in the department.

WJGreer · #4 12-03-2011, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdeck

2. Contact a local cello teacher to get the inside scoop on who sells good student instruments in your locale. For instance, there's a person in Madison who sells instruments from his home, and is respected by everybody. Such a person will have a decent range of instruments to try out.

+1. Cellos tend to live in towns for a long time, like people do. If there is a university with a music school where you live, contact the cello professor who will not only be aware of the local dealers, but perhaps aware of the local cellos as well, and may be able to recommend you one.

I bought one this way when I was in high school in about 1986. The cello I bought had been through the hands of several students of Phyllis Young, one of the professors at Texas at the time, and it happened to be another of the faculty who sold it to me.

Fassa Albrecht · #5 12-03-2011, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WJGreer

+1. Cellos tend to live in towns for a long time, like people do. If there is a university with a music school where you live, contact the cello professor who will not only be aware of the local dealers, but perhaps aware of the local cellos as well, and may be able to recommend you one.

I bought one this way when I was in high school in about 1986. The cello I bought had been through the hands of several students of Phyllis Young, one of the professors at Texas at the time, and it happened to be another of the faculty who sold it to me.

+1

fdeck · #6 12-03-2011, 08:58 PM

Another note: Get a hard case. There are some nice lightweight ones nowadays with built-in wheels and backpack straps, not like my beast made from Tolex-covered plywood.

Fassa Albrecht · #7 12-04-2011, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdeck

Another note: Get a hard case. There are some nice lightweight ones nowadays with built-in wheels and backpack straps, not like my beast made from Tolex-covered plywood.

Given that I need to get the metro or the bus to get to band practices, this is a must. A friend of mine has a carbon-fiber case which seems to survive anything.