| Author |
Subject |
Kimberly
M
Global
user
(6/19/00 12:02:08 pm)
Reply |
Help
needed for purchasing a cello
I am interested in buying a cello
for myself to learn on. I have never played the cello before (I'm a
pianist), so I'm not sure what to look for when buying an
instrument. I have seen some relatively inexpensive cellos
advertised on ebay and elsewhere (such as Cremona and Palatino), but
I don't know if these are any good. I will be an absolute beginner,
so I don't necessarily need a top of the line instrument. Any help
would be appreciated!!
|
OyOy
Global user
(6/19/00 1:41:26 pm)
Reply |
new
instrument
Go to www.cellos2go.com. They will
help you.
|
Todd
French 
Global user
(6/20/00 12:32:59 am)
Reply
 |
Re:
Help needed for purchasing a cello
I highly recommend you rent first
since you are a beginner. Find a rental plan that credits your
rental fees towards purchase - that way you are not simply throwing
your money away. See if you take to cello well, then you can go
ahead and spend a little more money and get a decent instrument that
will improve with age. Welcome to our world - the wonderful world of
cello! You'll find lots of helpful and supportive folks in this
arena...
|
Kimberly
M
Global
user
(6/20/00 10:56:34 am)
Reply |
Re: new
instrument
Thanks for your input. I did send a
message off to Cellos2go, and they were very helpful. I think I am
going to end up going the "rent-to-own" route, just to make sure I
like it (and to get a better instrument!). I'm sure I'll have more
questions, so I'll keep you all posted. In the meantime, if anyone
has any other input, I would love to hear it! Thanks again!!
|
Todd
French
Global user
(6/20/00 12:11:30 pm)
Reply
|
Re: new
instrument
Well, you can also try StringWorks -
but I don't think they have any 4/4 cellos left. Last I heard, there
was 10 people already on the waiting list, but that may have been
for Artist cellos, not Crescendo which is what the rentals would be.
All fully guaranteed, generous buyer's incentive plan for renters,
and complete trade-in policy.
http://www.stringworks.com/
Good
luck with your search - remember to come to the board with any
instruments you are considering, particuarly if they are from local
music stores. Utilize the expertise and information available to you
here - we are all glad to share our knowledge with fellow cellists
(it's those violinists we like to hide our vast knowledge from
:-)
Todd
|
Kimberly
M
Global
user
(6/20/00 1:22:26 pm)
Reply |
Re: new
instrument
What do you know about Mathias Thoma
cellos? A friend a 1968 one, which appears to be in good condition,
though she said there are no strings on it. Also, do you know how
much it should roughly cost (just a range) to re-set up a cello with
new harware and strings? Thanks!
|
Todd
French
Global user
(6/20/00 2:04:10 pm)
Reply
|
Re: new
instrument
If you are talking about the one on
Ebay, it's certainly cheap, but getting cheap plywood cellos is not
the best way to learn cello. A bad instrument will not only make it
more difficult for you, but may actually hold back your progress.
Getting that cello setup with a new bridge, fittings and strings
might run about $200 - $500 depending on who is doing the work.
Also, remember that buying off Ebay can be risky unless you are
buying from a legitimate business and have a guarantee of some
sort.
|
Kimberly
M
Global
user
(6/20/00 2:35:37 pm)
Reply |
Re: new
instrument
No, I hadn't seen that one (after
your first response, I gave up looking at the stuff on eBay).  The mother
of my friend Krista used to play in high school and briefly in
college, and she still has her old cello in the attic (she hasn't
even looked at it in years). I was just wondering if the Thoma
cellos were any good, and if it would be worth investing the money
to get it all fixed up.
|
Todd
French
Global user
(6/20/00 3:33:42 pm)
Reply
|
Re: new
instrument
Most Thoma celli are plywood, and
the only good plywood is no plywood. Sound is awful and weak, weight
is heavy. I'd still go with a good solid rental plan with good
instruments - buy later when you have rental fees to credit toward
your purchase, and end up with a good cello to learn with.
|
totostone
Global user
(6/21/00 12:31:20 pm)
Reply |
Help
need for purchasing a cello
Have anyone heard of Karl Hofner
(German) and Strunal (Czech) (models 4/15 and 4/4) cellos? Are they
of good quality? Would they be a good buy for an adult
beginner?
Edited by totostone
at: 6/21/00 12:31:20 pm
|
Kimberly
M
Global
user
(6/22/00 4:31:23 pm)
Reply |
Re: new
instrument
I have been recommended to try a
Chinese cello, though I don't know who exactly makes the one that
I've been told about. It looks like a beautiful instrument from the
pictures I was sent--are they good sounding cellos?
Also, is
there a preferred wood (that sounds better) for a cello to be made
from?
Thanks!
P.S. I did see a Munich cello at the
music store yesterday--any info on this brand?
Edited by Kimberly
M at: 6/22/00 4:31:23 pm
|
Todd
French
Global user
(6/22/00 4:54:13 pm)
Reply
|
Re: new
instrument
The Chinese instruments can be
really quite good or completely awful - depends on the instrument.
Munich cellos are really basic student models although they cost
more than most basic student models. I believe they are Romanian
made. There are better brands out there for certain at that price
range.
|
lblake
Global
user
(6/22/00 8:41:03 pm)
Reply |
Yup -
rent
if you rent, you'll learn more about
your own tastes, and also, you'll discover an amazing amount about
qualities to look-for/avoid.
www.cellos2go.com rents
cellos!!!
|
Kimberly
M
Global
user
(6/23/00 3:53:15 pm)
Reply |
Re:
Help needed for purchasing a cello
Edited by Kimberly
M at: 6/23/00 3:53:15 pm
|
Kimberly
M
Global
user
(6/23/00 3:52:48 pm)
Reply |
Re: new
instrument
Again, Todd, thanks for your help on
this. Ellen at Cellos2go has been SO helpful--I think I'm going to
go that route with her. Now I just need to find a good teacher!
|
Lisa
Shipman
Global
user
(6/27/00 3:49:58 pm)
Reply |
Help
needed for purchasing a cello
I agree with the rent to own plans.
I got my first
cello last Oct. It's a Mathias Thoma cello.
Student
model to be sure but it plays pretty good. I've been
studying with a fantastic teacher who has moved me along quite
quickly. I also play piano and flute so it was just a matter of
learning the instrument. I am now ready to move to a hand carved,
better quality instrument. I know it's time because I can't get what
I want out of the model I have. My suggestion? I'm planning on
taking my teacher with me to the string shop to play on and try
every cello in my price range. She is 76 yrs. old and started
playing at age 8. Oddly enough she has never gotten into the
different brands out there and when I ask her about one she doesn't
have a clue. I do trust her opinion but obviously she is going to
need to look, feel and play to be able to help me choose my new
cello.
I do have one question to add here. I am just getting
ready to buy a new bow. I have the cheap plastic looking thing that
came with my student outfit. My teacher says get wood and get an
octagonal bow. She also said brazil wood is fine and pernambuco is
better.
She has both a German bow and a French bow (brand new and
costing $3000). I understand German is heavier that the French but
I'm clueless on what I should get or at least look for. I can't
afford what she paid that's for sure. I have seen octagonal bows on
ebay (yes, I know, not the place to shop) and they are octagon
shaped only on the end. They are round the rest of the way up to the
tip. Is this right? Is this still an octagonal bow?
Sorry this
is so long. Any info would be appreciated.
|
Todd
French 
Global user
(6/27/00 8:27:36 pm)
Reply
|
Re:
Help needed for purchasing a cello
Lisa,
Well, you don't need to
spend that much on a bow, that's for certain. $2,000 - $3,000 is
quite high, usually what is spent by pre-professionals or cello
majors in college. You can get a fine pernambuco bow for around
$300, octagonal or round, doesn't really matter (I'll address that
later). Regarding French and German bows, the weight of each bow is
different - German bows are not heavier than French bows as a rule,
although the heaviest bows I've ever played with have been German
(97 grams). Weights of cello bows vary from 68 grams up to 100
grams, with the average weight being 80 grams.
The
differences between round and octagonal sticks are small, and vary
between each bow. As a general rule, octagonal sticks are a bit
stronger, but that's not necessarily the case. Simply choose a bow
that works for you, no matter if it is octagonal or round, French or
German or American or Chinese. Each piece of pernambuco is
different, so even bows by the same maker or company will be utterly
opposite in some cases.
Feel free to email me - I have a few
specific ideas for you.
Todd
tfrenchh@aol.com
|
jekerry
Global user
(6/28/00 7:24:18 am)
Reply |
Re:
Help needed for purchasing a cello
Lisa,
Why don't you get the
cello first. That way you can pick a bow that feels good with that
cello. I know the people at www.cellos2go.com will send you a bunch
of bows to try and I think other places like Shar will do the same.
I've noticed different bows feel different depending on the
cello.
By the way, I have a bow right now I only paid $250
for and I love. I don't think you need to spend that much when
you're a beginner. If you buy a good wooden bow you can always trade
it in or keep it as a backup when you want to move up.
Good
luck!
Jane
|
42
Local
user
(6/28/00 7:59:43 am)
Reply |
100
grams?
Todd, Where can I find one of these
monster bows? How does a bow that is so heavy play? I was surprized
to se a salchow bow listed at 89g recently..... now you are saying
thay they can get even heavier..... wow.
--- MC
|
Todd
French
Global user
(6/28/00 9:18:57 am)
Reply
|
Re: 100
grams?
MC,
Well, I can't say exactly
who makes the very heaviest bows I've played, but bows by Werner
Ernst are around 95 grams, I believe. I have an original H.R.
Pfretzschner bow that weighs in at about 87 grams. It's interesting
to play with bows of such weight as they really pull out a huge
sound without much effort, yet you can get sore playing fast passage
work with them if you are not accustomed to the
weight.
Todd
|
Eric
Benning
Global
user
(6/28/00 6:08:50 pm)
Reply |
Heavy
bows
Original early Dodd cello bows can
also be very heavy. So heavy in fact that many early Hill & Sons
bows are cut down Dodd bows with new frogs and screws.
Best
regards,
Eric
|
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7/19/00 8:46:47 pm