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FirstPosition
Registered
User
Posts: 3
(5/20/01 4:15:46
pm)
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Looking at a new
Chinese cello to purchase
What do you know about new cellos made in China?. My daughter(14)
has been
playing for 20 months and we're looking to purchase a
cello for her. She's looked at
and played on a number of cellos
in an effort to find the right one for her. Currently
she's
interested in a new cello made in China. It has a bright tone, a
little edge to it
but that we're told will mellow over time(in a
few years?). What do you know about
the quality of Chinese
cellos? It's going for $5000(no case or bow).
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MaryK
Registered User
Posts: 591
(5/20/01 5:32:30 pm)
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Re: Looking at a
new Chinese cello to purchase
Like other cellos, it's going to depend on the quality of that
particular instrument. Have you had anybody else check it out and
gotten his/her opinion re its price/value? I've got a 7/8 Chinese
cello for which I paid a little less than $5K, and like it a lot.
There's a pro who has a Chinese cello who likes his as a secondary
instrument. One of those caveat emptor, you get what you pay for,
situations for you I guess. Does your daughter like the instrument?
What does her teacher say? Good
luck.
Cheers,
MaryK
PS - different strings could
take off some of that bright edge, as could a soundpost adjustment.
Edited by: MaryK
at: 5/20/01
5:33:14 pm
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Andrew
Victor
Registered User
Posts: 314
(5/21/01 10:15:45 am)
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Re: Looking at a
new Chinese cello to purchase
"Edge" will mellow? My Carl Sandner (German) cello, that had losts
of "edge" when I bought it new in 1963 or 64 still has lots of edge.
If you don't want "edge" don't buy it. On the other hand, if you can
tame the edge with bowing technique for chamber and other ensemble
playing, it can be a handy thing to have later for solo and concerto
work.
I bought a Strad-model Jay-Haide, China-made cello
about 17 months ago. I was happy with it then and still am. It was
listed at $3,200 with some discount for also getting a case and bow.
HOWEVER, at the time I tried 5 other cellos in the shop of "exactly"
the same model, and I preferred this. They also had a couple of Jay
Haide "Montagnana"- models, at about $4,500 - but I thought the one
cello I selected played better than any of the others. I test a
cello carefully - and especially for responsiveness over at least a
4-octave range and two octages up each string - otherwise as your
playing technique and skill develop you may be disappointed if your
instrument prevents further progress. The church-style or
salon-style cello solos one often learns in the first two years
often do not tax the extremes of a cello's quality - on the highest
or lowest notes - or in string crossings in the thumb positions. If
your daughter is not yet ready to test those areas, be sure her
teacher does.
I also tried a couple of older cellos (before I
left the shop with my new Chinese cello purchase) priced up to about
$36,000 - and I was not at all awed in comparison with what I got
for 1/12 the price.
Andy
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bmollon
Registered
User
Posts: 3
(5/23/01 3:37:21
pm)
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|
Re: Looking at a
new Chinese cello to purchase
I strongly suggest you look into StringWorks (www.stringworks.com).
They have some very good quality cellos that originate in Germany
and are finished by them in their factory in the States. Complete
kits are available which include the bow and case for alot under
$5000.00
I recently purchased one of their higher end cellos and
absolutely love it. Their service and treatment was 1st
class.
They also have a trial period. If you dont like what you
get or hear, they will take it back.
Very nice company to
deal with. Please check them out before you buy.
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lblake
Registered User
Posts: 358
(5/23/01 9:55:28 pm)
Reply
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Re: "Edge"
mellowing...
When I read the original post, I understood "edge" to mean perhaps
a brightness in the tone. I'm not sure what was actually intended,
though.
The "edge" in Andy's Sandner is NOT a brightness, in
my opinion. I think, Andy, that your Sandner has a wonderful, rich
tone... the "edge" that IT has (and DEFINITELY HAS IN SPADES), I
would simply call volume and projection. 
I
have heard of bright "edges" mellowing some, though. I'd even say
that my own cello has mellowed to a sligtly less-bright tone.
I agree, though - I wouldn't count on even that kind of
"edge" mellowing much, if at all.
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stringworks
Registered
User
Posts: 14
(5/23/01 11:12:35
pm)
Reply
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Re: Looking at a
new Chinese cello to purchase
We just added our newest line of instruments, which happens to be
the first Chinese-made line we have. They haven't been posted on the
website as of yet, but the link below will bring you to the
page-in-progress, which is also in the new website design that
should be active by the end of the month.
Best to
all!
www.stringworks.com/cellomaestro.htm
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cellochris99
Registered
User
Posts: 194
(5/24/01 5:17:01
am)
Reply
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Re: "Edge"
mellowing...
I think that the "edge" is just the way a strong projecting cello
sounds under the ear that you haven't gotten aquainted to yet. As
you get use to the instrument and learn how to get more sound and
resonance out of it, the resulting resonation will knock off some of
the edge. Of course, an adjustment of the sound post might be a
solution if it's too bad. But, I wouldn't mess with it until it's
had time to settle in to your climate, and break in for a few
weeks.
Chris
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