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ace11ist
Registered User
Posts: 2
(6/27/01 5:22:36 pm)
Reply
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Carbon Fiber
Cellos..?
Recently, I have noticed carbon fiber cellos... and began looking
at various makers, and the concept of a carbon fiber cello itself.
It poses several questions. Does this kind of cello have a good tone
quality? Can this be used as a person's everyday cello (as opposed
to using it just for traveling, or outdoor gigs), would this be
practical? Any information, regarding these questions or just
general info on the Carbon Fiber Cello, would be really helpful!!
Thanks, ace11ist.
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lblake
Registered
User
Posts: 394
(6/27/01 5:36:58
pm)
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Re: Carbon Fiber
Cellos..?
The Quintus cellos have had quite good reviews. The intent,
according to their website, is that they are everyday instruments.
Ellen has lots of info on them (and a link to their website) on
www.cellos2go.com . Personally, I think they make a lot of sense.
The question of purfling, I haven't fully considered yet, but.... 
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Paul
Tseng ICS Staff 
Administrator
Posts: 1412
(6/27/01 6:07:15 pm)
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Re: Carbon Fiber
Cellos..?
Are they safe to check in baggage on a plane in a regular hard
case?
Paul Tseng
My Website
Free Cello
Music!
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Ellen
G 
Registered
User
Posts: 785
(6/27/01 7:04:11
pm)
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Subjectivity and
objectivity
OK, let's see what I can explain here. Like everything else
cello-related, some people like them and some don't. They were
intended as a secondary cello for people trying to preserve the
integrity of their concert instruments in less-than-ideal playing
conditions. Now you can broaden the field.
They would make
excellent school cellos because the sound is far better than any
school instrument I've come in contact with. Price is an issue for
most schools, so you tend not to run into them in that setting.
Pity. One cellist took one with her to the Peace Corps. Another
self-proclaimed klutz who had broken the neck on her carved cello
multiple times (I think her cello actually sued her) sold the poor
wood one and bought a Quintus which she loves.
The setup is
done at Quintus. When available, they use Deluxe Aubert French
bridges. The scarcity of those at the moment is probably going to
result in the use of the next best bridge available. Post tightness
and placement is subjective, and movement can occur during shipping
as in any cello. Some people are happy with the bright Helicore
sound, but others prefer a Larsen A-D combination.
They have
new composite pegs out now which are being used. They look really
nice and work well. They are actually available for regular carved
instruments. Less sticking so far.
The glossy finish tends
to allow the bridge to slip laterally when stored in a soft case.
Some people rough up the finish a little or try rosin under the feet
of the bridge.
I know a number of professionals who do use
the Quintus as a secondary instrument and are quite happy with it.
There have been a few retoolings over time, so if you heard a cello
with a more nasal A or a slightly out-of-position 4th position, rest
assured the new cellos don't have these problems.
What
else.... I feel if one is going to own one cello, it should be
carved wood. But the Quintus has a lot of advantages in certain
"sole cello" situations.
It is not indestructible. The
finish is automotive paint and can be chipped or scratched, but it
can be refinished as well. "Purfling" is more like pinstriping and
is for aesthetics only. Many people find it comfortable to play
because the back is slightly contoured with no edge to dig into your
legs.
There's someone on the other board test driving one at
the moment. He's curious as to what happens with bridge and post
changes, and I am as well. Maybe we'll hear from him.
Like
everything cello-related, you really have to find out for yourself.
I can give you empirical data and feedback, but whether it appeals
to YOU can only be determined by you going one on one with the
cello.
Oh, some people are not happy with little paint
bubbles or spots that occasionally occur. My understanding is that
these things -- particularly around the F-holes -- are not that easy
to paint and finish. If the cello came with a picture perfect paint
job, the price would be much higher to account for the time and
labor involved. I think Quintus tried to keep the cello in an
affordable range, make a nice looking instrument that sounds
surprisingly good.
I know someone with a Luis & Clark
cello. He says there are similar paint issues with that one. It has
a very persistent wolf tone, and he's trying an inside mount
resonator to try to solve the problem since nothing else is working.
I suggested the cork fix first. His wife was happy to help drink the
necessary bottle of wine. That cello is the guitar-shaped one,
considerably more expensive than the Quintus. I've not heard one but
I think Justin may have.
Sorry this is so long!
Edited by: Ellen
G at: 6/27/01 7:08:57 pm
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justinkagan1
Registered
User
Posts: 399
(6/28/01 8:07:01
am)
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Re: Luis &
Clark, carbon fiber bows, etc.
Ellen is partly right; I heard the demo video for the L & C
which Luis Leguia was circulating when the cello was introduced...he
plays some Bach, and the recording quality is mediocre, but it
certainly sounds like a cello. Apparently someone played a concerto
on one here in NYC recently, haven't heard the buzz yet.
But in
my new life as a rehairer (apprenticing in NYC with bowmaker Michael
Yeats) I have seen only one carbon fiber bow come into the shop, a
Roland bass bow. Talk about pains in the arse! The tooling on this
one was so awful...for starters, could barely budge the ferrule,
always a bad sign (the frog was ebony, but machines TOO close to
tolerance). The tip and frog plugs were cheap plastic, and the head
mortise pathetic, reminiscent of the worst German bows..all in all a
nightmare to rehair. If a bowmaker refuses to rehair your carbon
fiber bow you should understand; or at worst graciously accept an
upcharge, certainly for its unitial rehair, since much "reworking"
would be nominally required to make it easier for the next person to
do. Anyone had this experience of an extra charge or griping by the
archetier?
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ruthann
Registered User
Posts: 510
(6/28/01 1:17:36 pm)
Reply
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Re: Luis &
Clark, carbon fiber bows, etc.
I have a student with a Quintus. It came set up with Prims and had
a nasty sound and a big bad wolf. The cello had been used for some
years as a rental. We changed the strings to Dominants, which I
think really improved things, including the wolf!
cello_suttonr@hotmail.com |
Christopher
Chan
Registered
User
Posts: 134
(6/28/01 1:44:21
pm)
Reply
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Justin Kagan the
rehairer
I think it's about time for a rehair on my bow, where in NYC is
Michael Yeats's shop? When are you there? It would be nice to say hi
and get a rehair as well.
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justinkagan1
Registered
User
Posts: 401
(6/29/01 7:57:10
am)
Reply
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Re: Justin Kagan
the rehairer....here we are
Chris....address is (Michael Yeats-Bowmaker) 150 W. 28 St., Suite
1500, tel 212-414-4979. The shop hours are 12-6 M-F but call first,
or call me at home at 718-601-2599. Love to see you! Did you get the
Haydn cadenza?
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Peter
D
Registered
User
Posts: 33
(6/29/01 3:58:07
pm)
Reply
|
Lewis and
Clark
Mr. Leguia of the BSO gave me a one hour tour of his carbon fiber
cello (advertised as "new beauty") back in January. At the time he
had sold three carbon fiber cellos altogether, including one sale to
Yo-Yo who was planning on using it in an up-comming video production
which would take him across Mongolia or some such place. Mr. Leguia
says that he gave the prototype instrument a humidity test by
leaving it out in his garden for several weeks during the summer
without noticing any change in sound or setup - so these instruments
should be weather proof.
Outdoor concerts and summer music
festivals can cause havoc with traditional carved instruments. Mr.
Leguia told me of how at Tanglewood one season, he had to play the
Kodaly Sonata, Op. 8 with Mr. Kodaly sitting in the audience. The
neck of his traditional instrument had fallen so far that he could
hardly manage, - "but, after the concert, Mr. Kodaly signed my
program anyway."
Mr. Leguia recently took one of his carbon
fiber cellos over to Shar's for a test. He reports that it
outperformed every cello there, which is why he believes that
contemporary cellomakers may be severely tested by the new carbon
fiber products. In some ways he is certainly right. His carbon fiber
instrument has no limit on projection; and in that respect it is
more like a different instrument - a super-cello.
As far a
quality of sound goes, I don't know what to say. The two instruments
I played were not set up properly, due to the fact that they were
newly made, and usually require an eight week settling-in period
before they can be properly set up, according to Mr. Leguia.
Therefore, I was just an adagio player because the action was too
high to give the instrument a proper testing... But I don't think
so. Maybe I need another chance up at Tanglewood this
summer.
Mr. Lugia says that as good as the carbon fiber
product is, he likes the sound of his traditional instrument,too. It
is worth more than one million dollars, and he plans to keep
it.
Their business name is "Lewis and Clark" (Clark is the
manufacturer), and they have a web site, where one can go to watch
the video and learn more.
The original ad campaign featured
beautiful young girls in elegant clothes holding the product, called
"new beauty". The new ad campaign features adult women models,
wearing fashions from the popular culture, pretending to
play.
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