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mycatmarti
Registered User
Posts: 64
(8/17/01 6:10:29 am)
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montagana vs.
strad
I already own one cello, which I dearly love.
At the end of next
year I will be purchasing another cello, which I would like to be a
Montagnana. I like the look of them.
Could you guys explain some
of the differences between them besides size. I am strongly drawn to
the Montagnana's but I want to know what to expect.
Such as where
my Strad copy would play one way, how would the Montagnana
differ.
Mia
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justinkagan1
Registered
User
Posts: 420
(8/17/01 8:35:38
am)
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Re: montagana
vs. strad
By "look like" I assume you mean a copy, which in the case of
Montagnana axes also provides the wrinkle of size...they're
generally somewhat larger all around than all other instruments.
This might take some adjusting to...many people are uncomfortable.
Then there's the issue of a case for it...most standard cases are a
tight squeeze for an oversize cello. As for the varnishing, most of
the best luthiers make a habit of copying down to the nth detail if
the buyer wants a real repro (don't count on it sounding like the
original, however...there are too many reasons to enumerate here why
modern makers are handicapped in this area, but wood quality is the
biggie...the forests just ain't the same as they were 300 years
ago). Arguably the best repros I've seen in recent years are by
Samuel Zygmuntowicz in Brooklyn, whose Duport Strads (1711, owned by
Rostropovich) are pretty amazing side by side with the original. But
count on many extra $$$ for this faithfulness.
Edited by: justinkagan1
at: 8/18/01 8:56:30 am
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mycatmarti
Registered User
Posts: 65
(8/17/01 8:56:50 am)
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rephrase
question
I own a not real expensive Strad Copy, and I'd like to buy a not
real expensive Montagnana copy (around $5,500). (I'm a newspaper
editor and can't afford more.) Besides look, what are the major
differences between them.
Mia
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samcn
Registered User
Posts: 16
(8/17/01 2:00:03 pm)
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Strad VS
Montagnana ( I mean copy)
HI,
After having my first Strad copy by Chinese Maker ( not well
known) Mao-lin Sung, 1989, from a string exhibition show at Taipei
-- I bought a Strad Copy by CC Lee around Dec, 2000 as a gift for
myself..
Unfortunately, CC Lee came a little shy in front of the
old Strad, so I traded for CC Lee Montagnana's model around July,
2001..
I can compare the both cellos made by same
workshop..
Both came with Helicore strings.. A string was too
sharp on Strad but much richer on Montagnana.. From the physics
point of view -- smaller chamber can generate higher pitch and
larger can produce lower pitch..
The formula is
sound speed
(is fixed as around 330meter/second)=
frequency(pitch) x per wave
length (depends on the intruments size)
So when you have a larger
chamber as Montagnana, you will experience the lower frequency is
"more obvious" even in the same pitch.. Because when we hear A note
at 440 as base tone.. There are 880, 220, 110, 55 Hz in that
"sound"
That's the beauty of "rich sound" in bow string
instruments becase the combination of different pitches together
from the instruments( that's why they have curve shape, hand carved
to create uneven surface to produce thousands of different
vibration), strings, bow to temperature..
So, Montagnana tends to
have richer in lower key, even to higher note.. But larger
instrument will also absorb/delay the sound as Strad is easier to
project as described "open, powerful"
I love both cellos.. Now I
use Helicore on Montagnana and Obligato on old Strad.. So far I
enjoy them so much, I have to double my practice time to be fareto
them!!
I have few pictures of them ( for insurance purpose) if
you are interested..
Sam
samcn@yahoo.com
|
 Steve
Drake
Registered
User
Posts: 432
(8/18/01 9:58:16
pm)
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Community Supporter
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Re: montagana
vs. strad
There are two main physical differences. The mont's have bigger
shoulders, and hence you need to move your left elbow up a bit
sooner as you move into the higher positions. Not much, and this is
quickly learned. The mont's also have smaller side cutouts, which
can be an issue depending on which model of montagnana is being
copied - some of these cutouts are very small. On one of my cellos
it took a while to figure out how to place my bow while playing on
the A string, because I kept hitting the corners.
Tonewise
you'll probably enjoy the mont's - I do. They're generally fatter
sounding, and can have amazing low notes. Both of mine have really
fat sounding A strings in the higher registers, which is a lot of
fun for solo work.
The string length and where the neck
corner is should be the same as most cellos - check this out on any
prospective cellos. The size difference is all in the width, which
is variable, as Montagnana made several different sizes, and his
models are often modified by the copiers.
My MP3's
My Cello
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