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reverie74
Registered User
Posts: 3
(6/26/01 2:04:19 am)
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Evaluating the
quality of new cellos.
Hi,
Wondering if any of you have a process/technique of
selecting a good new/old instrument which you care to share (i.e
clarity, responsiveness, tone, comfortable to play)?
I
usually would let my ears be the final judge. But I find it
particularly difficult to compare between new and old instruments.
Does anyone here have the same experience?
I have been
looking for an instrument with a warm tone but somehow, to no
success. Most of the NEW instruments I try has a nice superficial A
string sound but lacked a certain "thickness" that is more present
in goold old instruments. (not sure if its the contributing
overtones etc). Do you think such a tone will develop as a new
instrument age? Hope I am making sense.
thanks!
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cellochris99
Registered User
Posts: 201
(6/26/01 3:31:25 am)
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Re: Evaluating
the quality of new cellos.
Hi, based on my own experience I have noticed that every wooden
acoustic string instrument that I'd bought new has improved in tone
over a period of time. Usually the more I play them the better they
resonate and respond. Of course there are alot of different things
which could also contribute to this, but generally it's been true.
My cello had a very bright sounding A upper range for several months
after I'd bought it, but since I've been playing alot in that range
over those months, it has a much fuller, rounder sound. It seems
that playing the instrument is the key, not just the age in itself.
This also applies to acoustic guitars as well.
Basically, my
cello seems to have developed a much more heartyness in it's sound,
even with my el cheapo bow that I'm financially strapped
to.
And I will add that even the plywood double bass that my
dad bought me back in 1988 has really "opened up" over the years,
humongously. When it was new, the g string sounded dull and
plasticky and there were dead spots all over the d string. The low
open A(plywood bass) sounded so boomy that you didn't really notice
the actual fundamental low A, just the the upper harmonics rang out.
But as I played it alot over the years, it has really balanced out
with much more fullness, and the low open strings have more
definition and resonance. I've actually received many compliments on
it's tone recently,-keep in mind that it's plywood-. One
acquaintance, an ex-professional bassist who was looking for another
older bass in the $10-15k range had been listening to mine in our
community orchestra, was impressed with it's sound and actually
wanted to try it out! I didn't tell him that is was just a $1,200
plywood. I asked to try his old bass and I must say that it didn't
sound much better than mine, just a little louder and crisper in the
upper range, but not warmer.
But, as a general rule, if
you're buying a new cello, expect that it will improve as you play
it, but....the same thing affects older instruments that haven't
been played much,...they sound new! So, the score is even, I guess
the ear rule still takes affect, use the process of elimination, buy
a cello that sounds good(comparatably) to you and responds and
generally feels the best, old or new. Just go ahead and eliminate
the ones that just plain suck and go from there. Try to spend some
time playing the two or three best ones over several days, and
you'll know eventually which is the right one. I could go on
forever, but I'll let it rest for now!
Chris
Edited by: cellochris99
at: 6/26/01 4:14:18 am
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Andrew
Victor
Registered
User
Posts: 346
(6/26/01 10:54:21
am)
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Evaluating the
quality of new cellos.
If you are lucky, the dealer will hand you a really good bow to try
on the cello - so that will not be a problem - but in one case, I
actually had to ask for a better bow.
Go equiped to play
music that covers the range of the instrument. I've written of this
before, and quoted it again here not very long ago.
1) The
'church solo" range - about the two ocataves below the first
A-string octave harmonic. Most instruments sound pretty decent in
this region - so it is more a first order test of responsiveness and
tone character. Do note if the G string plays the same was as the
higher strings.
2) Low notes, the C and G strings are often
less responsive and require harder bowing - it's really nice to find
a cello that playes the low strings about as easilly as the higher
ones. Sometimes it's a matter of what strings are on there - but
often it's just harder to play there.
3) The thumb positions,
above the lowest octave of each string are eventually used a lot,
and you want them to be even and smooth and quickly responsive to
the bow. You should be able to play the A string up to the high C
above the second octave without a problem.
4) The higher
notes on the C string (above the first octave) seem to be a problem
on some cellos (and are also very bow dependent). This region is not
played as much as the others - but it does come up. It's the last
region I try on a cello.
Chances are that a cello you try
might do better with different strings. Makers, dealers, and
teachers often seem to adopt a "string habit" and do not stray from
it, regardless ("If you can play it with these strings, you'll learn
to play better!"). Instruments, on the other hand are different from
each other and for some a different string choice, a different
tailpiece - and even a different endpin can do wonders for the tone
and responsiveness.
If you think there is more to a
particular instrument than you find in your tests, don't be shy
about asking the dealer to change some of the
strings.
Andy
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Todd
French 
Moderator
Posts: 209
(6/26/01 3:13:52 pm)
Reply
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Re: Evaluating
the quality of new cellos.
First of all, the other two responses are both fantastic! Some
really valuable information submitted by Andrew and cellochris -
good for all looking for new cellos.
All I might add is to
reiterate that new cellos typically have shallow low registers
compared with a cello even just 2-3 years old. The tightness of a
new instrument can help the treble register, while it is contrary to
what is best for the bass register, but after some playing, a good
cello will start to mellow out right away.
One way to tell
if the cello 'might' develop to have a really great bass register,
listen for resonance, but not thin, metallic sounds, rather a large
amount of overtones. While it may not be as deep as what you want,
if it has good resonance, once it mellows out it may very well
develop into a big, rich bass register.
There are new cellos
available that have a tone that is warm right from the start, and
companies that are willing to hand pick an instrument for you
depending on what your request is for tone if you order by
phone/mail/online. If you are going to a shop, try as many of the
same brand as possible because each can be quite
different.
Last thing - have a friend or colleague or teacher
play the cello for you because the treble and bass registers can
often sound quite different next to the instrument versus away from
it. You might also try recording them on your computer (most
computers have decent media capabilities with built-in microphone
and speaker) so you can compare one with the other.
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reverie74
Registered User
Posts: 4
(6/27/01 12:55:51 am)
Reply
|
Re: Evaluating
the quality of new cellos.
Thanks! Its been very helpful from all of you.
But just one
last question (pertaining to Todd's posting). How do you test the
resonance of each string. Do you play an open string and listen, or
a stopped note. And is there a measure to determine if it is
long?
Some of the instrument does not sound nice but have a
huge "resonance" or rather the vibrations and sound go on and on and
on till I wonder if that is really good.
I have heard that
the resonance of each note should remain focused on the note rather
than going to other notes.
I tried a new instrument (made
some years ago) recently that has a clear and focus voice. I suppose
that is the mark of good quality?
ch.
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