Cello bargain
January 13, 2010 10:20 PM Subscribe
Should I buy this $300 cello? Advice on (re)learning cello needed.
I'm a 6' tall woman who has recently come across a $300 Scherl & Roth cello and I'm considering buying it. The catch? It's a 3/4 size.
I played cello in school for 5 years and was good at it then, but it's been 8 years since I've touched one. Today I walked into the music store where my friend works, and they had a former rental cello on clearance. I couldn't keep my hands off! It's heavily used, but the damage seems mostly cosmetic (some dents in the wood), and it sounded great to me. Sure, it's not the best cello out in the world and I am no expert, but the cello I played at school were mostly crappy student cellos and this one sounded so smooth and lovely.
Nostalgia is at work here, and I have no idea what it means to try and re-learn an instrument. I'm good at teaching myself skills but with a cello it would be good to have a group to play with, and a teacher of some kind eventually, but I don't want to spend a fortune on lessons. What are my options out there now that I don't have a free orchestra class to attend every day? What the heck kind of ensemble would want a 3/4 cello player? Is this really that good of a deal, or should I wait for something better? I don't think I can justify paying hundreds more for an instrument that I haven't touched in years. Does anyone with better familiarity of the cello market think I can find a similar bargain on a full size?
I'm a 6' tall woman who has recently come across a $300 Scherl & Roth cello and I'm considering buying it. The catch? It's a 3/4 size.
I played cello in school for 5 years and was good at it then, but it's been 8 years since I've touched one. Today I walked into the music store where my friend works, and they had a former rental cello on clearance. I couldn't keep my hands off! It's heavily used, but the damage seems mostly cosmetic (some dents in the wood), and it sounded great to me. Sure, it's not the best cello out in the world and I am no expert, but the cello I played at school were mostly crappy student cellos and this one sounded so smooth and lovely.
Nostalgia is at work here, and I have no idea what it means to try and re-learn an instrument. I'm good at teaching myself skills but with a cello it would be good to have a group to play with, and a teacher of some kind eventually, but I don't want to spend a fortune on lessons. What are my options out there now that I don't have a free orchestra class to attend every day? What the heck kind of ensemble would want a 3/4 cello player? Is this really that good of a deal, or should I wait for something better? I don't think I can justify paying hundreds more for an instrument that I haven't touched in years. Does anyone with better familiarity of the cello market think I can find a similar bargain on a full size?
Response by poster: hal_c_on, what do you mean by clean it up? I don't know the first thing about what it would take to repair a dent in the wood of a cello.
I have never actually owned one before, or even rented. When I played as a student, I only used the cellos while i was at school... which, yes, was unusual. So I've never had to maintain a cello, because the school took care of theirs.
Renting is a possibility. I was just thinking that it might be cheaper in the long run to purchase. Buying a cello online that I've never seen or heard before makes me a bit nervous, what would I look for? The quality of wood and varnish is visible to an extent through photos but beyond that...
posted by inactivist at 10:49 PM on January 13, 2010
I have never actually owned one before, or even rented. When I played as a student, I only used the cellos while i was at school... which, yes, was unusual. So I've never had to maintain a cello, because the school took care of theirs.
Renting is a possibility. I was just thinking that it might be cheaper in the long run to purchase. Buying a cello online that I've never seen or heard before makes me a bit nervous, what would I look for? The quality of wood and varnish is visible to an extent through photos but beyond that...
posted by inactivist at 10:49 PM on January 13, 2010
If you seriously want to play the cello again, I think it would be better for you to rent a full size for a couple months to try it out. I'm guessing if you buy and try to relearn on a 3/4th, you'll have to adjust your fingering and posture if you end up wanting to get a full cello. Better to start out on a full size, especially since you are so tall.
posted by gnat at 10:58 PM on January 13, 2010
posted by gnat at 10:58 PM on January 13, 2010
My advice: it's cheap, it's beat up, and it's small -- buy it, and find a lovely corner to prop it up in for appearance. Then, each day you'll walk by it, and you won't be able to keep your hands off it, so you'll keep playing it, and soon you'll realize that you miss it and want to have a full-size cello again, and you'll buy one. Having a reminder of your passion around will only serve to inflame it, which is a wonderful thing.
posted by davejay at 12:26 AM on January 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by davejay at 12:26 AM on January 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
From what you've said in your question, I say buy it. It sounds as though you have a passion for playing one and this might be a good way to find out how much of a passion. If things don't work out, after a period of time you can probably sell it and get most of your money back. A lot of the "should I buy this $300.00 cello?" depends on how much $300.00 means to you also.
But theres a catch here too. I'm not a cello player and have no idea what kind of adjustments you'd have to make to play one. But you did sound as though you could play it. If you can make the adjustments because of its size without much difficulty, definitely buy it. IMO
posted by Taurid at 12:27 AM on January 14, 2010
But theres a catch here too. I'm not a cello player and have no idea what kind of adjustments you'd have to make to play one. But you did sound as though you could play it. If you can make the adjustments because of its size without much difficulty, definitely buy it. IMO
posted by Taurid at 12:27 AM on January 14, 2010
I would probably keep looking. $300 is a good price, but you're far too tall to be playing a 3/4 size cello, even if it is for nostalgic purposes (I'm about 5'4" and really really had to switch to a full-sized around age 12-13). A 3/4 can sound okay played by a professional/cello teacher when instructing a student, but normal cellists (or former cellists) like you and me need the full sound of a normal sized cello. I'd go with the renting idea to see if you want to play it for more than a couple of nostalgic weeks. Also if you're going to play with a group, that richer sound is a must.
posted by mokudekiru at 1:09 AM on January 14, 2010
posted by mokudekiru at 1:09 AM on January 14, 2010
I say hold off and get what you really want - a full-size cello - rather than spending the money on something that really isn't going to work for you in the long run. The rental idea is a good one, and will give you a chance to talk to some music shops about purchasing one as well. In the meantime keep an eye on craigslist and similar sites for reasonable deals on a full-size cello. Here's one not too far from you that is also going for $300 but is full-size. With Craigslist you can subscribe to an RSS feed to immediately notify you whenever a cello comes up for sale in your area - very handy!
posted by platinum at 1:27 AM on January 14, 2010
posted by platinum at 1:27 AM on January 14, 2010
I have an automatic response to anyone who asks me if they should buy any musical instrument for a three-digit "good deal" price, and that is "do it!"
However, even a tall peg isn't going to help this instrument fit your needs better than a full-sized cello would. This is the universe telling you to rent one, and to find a good teacher, and when spring comes, ask your teacher to hook you up with a good used one. If you're lucky, the place you rent from will cut you a deal on the one you already have.
posted by Sallyfur at 1:50 AM on January 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
However, even a tall peg isn't going to help this instrument fit your needs better than a full-sized cello would. This is the universe telling you to rent one, and to find a good teacher, and when spring comes, ask your teacher to hook you up with a good used one. If you're lucky, the place you rent from will cut you a deal on the one you already have.
posted by Sallyfur at 1:50 AM on January 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Dear god no, not if you value your spine. Save up, buy/rent a full-size cello. It's not worth the pain.
posted by coriolisdave at 3:11 AM on January 14, 2010
posted by coriolisdave at 3:11 AM on January 14, 2010
you'll blow away your technique if you try to play this thing.
your left hand will be too low/too tight together in first position, you'll constantly over-extend when you change positions, your bowstrokes will be too wide and too far up the neck, and as coriolisdave said: you'll snap your spine from being curled around it.
considering the price they're offering it for, it probably sounds like a rubber band and cigar box banjo unless you're getting improbably lucky. i'm assuming they know what a cello is supposed to sound like, and if they're charging that low a price...not good.
if you're feeling lucky, buy the thing, sell it at a higher price if you think you can, and use the profit to a full-size.
posted by patricking at 3:24 AM on January 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
your left hand will be too low/too tight together in first position, you'll constantly over-extend when you change positions, your bowstrokes will be too wide and too far up the neck, and as coriolisdave said: you'll snap your spine from being curled around it.
considering the price they're offering it for, it probably sounds like a rubber band and cigar box banjo unless you're getting improbably lucky. i'm assuming they know what a cello is supposed to sound like, and if they're charging that low a price...not good.
if you're feeling lucky, buy the thing, sell it at a higher price if you think you can, and use the profit to a full-size.
posted by patricking at 3:24 AM on January 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
We had a (full size) $500 cello and it lasted a few years before self-destructing beyond repair. (Repair places told us that was what we could expect when paying so little.)
posted by Obscure Reference at 4:37 AM on January 14, 2010
posted by Obscure Reference at 4:37 AM on January 14, 2010
In terms of how to get back into playing, try the local community colleges or high school continuing education classes. When I started playing violin again, I knew I wanted to play in a group because that's the way I enjoy playing. I found a small string group for "adult beginners" and that was really helpful for getting started again without alot of pressure, since most people were learning for the first time and I was actually ahead of the curve (but very rusty). After a few years, I graduated to the college's chamber orchestra. In most cases you are going to have to pay to play, something like $50 - $100 a semester. Also, where I am there is a glut of casual cello players. I hope that's not the case where you are, but if so you may have to shop around to find a group that needs more cellos.
posted by cabingirl at 5:33 AM on January 14, 2010
posted by cabingirl at 5:33 AM on January 14, 2010
Also, you might consider Stringworks for a cello...they are out of your price range right now but they do rentals too (they will ship it to you). I have a violin from them and I love it.
posted by cabingirl at 5:36 AM on January 14, 2010
posted by cabingirl at 5:36 AM on January 14, 2010
Best answer: Check craigslist. In my area there are currently a few full-sized cellos (including bows) available for that price or thereabouts. There's no way to judge the quality online, but you'll be able to test them out before you buy. Beyond that, renting a full-sized is a much better idea than buying this one regardless of the good price.
I learned on student cellos as well, and they're crap, so I understand your desire to re-start with a higher quality instrument, but there are three thing to consider.
1. This thing is just too small. Your hand positioning will be wrong, your bow arm will be bent uncomfortably, and your neck and upper back will hurt. And it will just feel wrong and awkward - which will discourage you from sticking with it. Plus, you'll have to re-re-learn if and when you move on to a full-size.
2. In my experience, music store rentals are generally better instruments than school instruments.
3. Even if you end up with a garbage instrument for a while, a good bow can make a huge difference in the sound and joy of playing. Rent a cello, buy a bow.
Of course, I'm speaking as someone whose beautiful cello has been sitting in a closet for several years because I'm too cheap to have the fingerboard reglued and the bow restrung. Sigh.
posted by Dojie at 5:56 AM on January 14, 2010
I learned on student cellos as well, and they're crap, so I understand your desire to re-start with a higher quality instrument, but there are three thing to consider.
1. This thing is just too small. Your hand positioning will be wrong, your bow arm will be bent uncomfortably, and your neck and upper back will hurt. And it will just feel wrong and awkward - which will discourage you from sticking with it. Plus, you'll have to re-re-learn if and when you move on to a full-size.
2. In my experience, music store rentals are generally better instruments than school instruments.
3. Even if you end up with a garbage instrument for a while, a good bow can make a huge difference in the sound and joy of playing. Rent a cello, buy a bow.
Of course, I'm speaking as someone whose beautiful cello has been sitting in a closet for several years because I'm too cheap to have the fingerboard reglued and the bow restrung. Sigh.
posted by Dojie at 5:56 AM on January 14, 2010
Forgot about the other part of your question. Community colleges can be a great place to find a group to play with, but they're not usually so great for individual learning on anything but the most common instruments. You'd have to be pretty lucky to find a cello instructor there. I would ask your music store friend for some names and pay for two or three lessons.
This is a lot like the instrument, in that you don't need high quality instruction at first - you'll mostly just need someone to watch you play and point out changes you should make to your basic positioning and things you need to work on. Then you can practice by yourself. If you stick with it and decide it's worth it to take the next step, get in touch with your closest professional orchestra or university with a music program to get some names of better instructors.
posted by Dojie at 6:07 AM on January 14, 2010
This is a lot like the instrument, in that you don't need high quality instruction at first - you'll mostly just need someone to watch you play and point out changes you should make to your basic positioning and things you need to work on. Then you can practice by yourself. If you stick with it and decide it's worth it to take the next step, get in touch with your closest professional orchestra or university with a music program to get some names of better instructors.
posted by Dojie at 6:07 AM on January 14, 2010
No, no, no do not buy a cello that's the wrong size. And it's not the sort of thing you can clean up and sell without MAD SKILLS.
As cabingirl said, a cheap cello is a miserable, soulless thing. Even a 1st year cellist can tell the difference between a beater and a nice one. I'd try to find someone to borrow a full-sized instrument from for a while, if it were me. There are lots of us who had plans to go to music schools, got sidetracked, and now have many thousand dollar instruments sitting around that never get touched that we can't bear to sell but don't want to see rot away.
posted by paanta at 6:37 AM on January 14, 2010
As cabingirl said, a cheap cello is a miserable, soulless thing. Even a 1st year cellist can tell the difference between a beater and a nice one. I'd try to find someone to borrow a full-sized instrument from for a while, if it were me. There are lots of us who had plans to go to music schools, got sidetracked, and now have many thousand dollar instruments sitting around that never get touched that we can't bear to sell but don't want to see rot away.
posted by paanta at 6:37 AM on January 14, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for the wake-up call everybody. The purpose of that little cello in my life was not to go home with me, but to remind me of what I loved and to make me realize that the factors which prevented me from continuing my studies... are gone. I'll be looking into renting and getting in touch with some old cellist friends.
posted by inactivist at 1:04 PM on January 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by inactivist at 1:04 PM on January 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Alternatively, have you thought of renting a good cello?
P.S. I love this question because I love anything and everything cello... rawr.
posted by biochemist at 10:24 PM on January 13, 2010