This is a pretty good cello for the price, but it requires a bit of attention from the buyer before it's really playable.The cello arrives, as advertised, with the strings slack and the bridge un-installed -- and rightly so, it shouldn't ship under tension.Putting the bridge up is covered, well enough, in the enclosed instructions.
But, before you do that, the fingerboard and nut (the little block at the top end of the strings) can really use some final finish work.As is understandable in such an inexpensive cello, the finish work has been done quite hastily and is a bit ragged.But, it's a simple matter to get the scratch marks out of the fingerboard and nut with some sandpaper of progressively finer grits -- sanding *with* the grain!Fortunately, these two parts don't have varnish on them, so you can sand them up nicely without having to refinish anything.
That will help with the cosmetics of the cello, but it also needed some help with the playability.As with any stringed instrument, how easy it is to play varies with how high the "action" is -- the distance between the strings and the neck.If the strings are too high, it takes a lot of effort to push them down to the neck, and gets tiring and painful for the player (especially if she's only 12).The default action on this cello (and, probably, all inexpensive cellos) is way too high, and MUST be adjusted before this is a usable instrument.
This will require a tiny file to deepen the notches in the nut that the strings ride in, until the bottom of each string is about 1/32" from the fingerboard just in front of the nut.I've been playing guitar for 30 years and have encountered this issue many times before, so I had the tools to, and no qualms about, doing this myself.If you're unable to do it yourself, you will have to find someone who can, or you will be unhappy with the playability of the cello.After the notches are deep enough, the nut should be filed down so that the strings are only half-way in the notches, and half-showing above the wood -- the strings should not be buried in what will probably be very deep notches once they're properly cut.
After the nut is right, you'll probably also have to deepen the notches on the bridge, too.Install the bridge and tighten the strings up to the proper pitch (or close).I'm not a professional luthier, but I measured a friend's well-set-up cello, and matched the heights of each string above the lower-end of the fingerboard: C-string=12/32" (or 3/8"), G-string=10/32", D-string=8/32", A-string=5/32".The lower strings were pretty close already, but the highest string needed to go down quite a bit.Especially since it's the one that's played "way up the neck" the most, its action is important.
Again the strings shouldn't be "buried" in the notches, so you'll have to sand or file the bridge until the notches are tiny nicks again.This is tougher, because you can't just flatten the top of the bridge -- it was, and should stay a "knife edge", so you have to sand the side of the bridge until it tapers up to the new notches' depths.(But notice that the bridge is flat on one side, and the taper is only on the "front".Don't sand the flat side.)Again, if you're uncomfortable doing this yourself, find someone who can.I don't think it necessarily has to be a professional luthier (though that's the safest route), but someone who's used to working with wood.It's not rocket science, but it does require some care.
Also, the strings that come with these cellos aren't very good.It was certainly playable, but we replaced them with a known-brand set, and it sounds noticeably better.The old ones are in the case, though, for emergency replacements.
One more thing -- while I had the strings off, I noticed that the tuning pegs would turn easily for a quarter-turn, then get tight, then easy again.This turned out to be caused by the pegs themselves being undetectably not-quite round -- probably (and understandably) caused by the weather difference between China and Southern California.It was causing the cello to be tricky to tune, because of the non-even force required to turn the pegs.
I fixed the problem by removing each peg and sanding the part that rides inside the hole, causing a "matte finish".Then I tightly re-inserted the peg, and turned it.When removed again, I could see where the peg was tight by where the matte finish had been burnished shiny.I sanded the shiny parts, and did it again.Eventually, each peg would burnish all the way around, and also turn smoothly and consistently.
If you've read this far, you're probably thinking that this is a "no good" cello.But I actually feel that it only suffers from some understandably hasty manufacturing, and that with a little extra attention, has become a quite good cello.I feel that, at the "price" of X dollars, a few hours of my time, and a new set of strings, it's a terrific cello.If you're expecting Ready-to-Play out of the box, you won't get it at this price -- but if you're willing to touch it up a little, or have someone else do it, it's a very good "deal".Other than the details I tweaked, the main part of the cello is well made (though the varnish is a little thick), the wood is pretty, and the staining is a nice deep red-brown (we don't like the usual "orange" finishes).
By the way, the company was great to deal with, too.They "upgraded" the cello from the described "alloy tailpiece" to an real ebony one.That's probably a welcome free upgrade for most people, but I actually prefer the alloy tailpiece because it has "designed in" fine tuners, where the ebony tailpiece has those atrocious kludged-on ones.I emailed them and they immediately sent an alloy tailpiece -- we had it two days later.
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Crystalcello MC500 Oil Varnished Flamed 4/4 Size Orchestra Cello with Lightweight Case + Padded Bag + Bow + AccessoriesBuy cheap Crystalcello MC500 Oil Varnished Flamed 4/4 Size Orchestra Cello with Lightweight Case + Padded Bag + Bow + Accessories now
This is a very good rosin that I am enjoying using! It seems to be responding well to the humid climate i live in.
After my daughter returned from music camp, she said she needed a mute for her cello. I read up on them and it was suggested to try several types. This was one of the mutes we tried. This mute did not fit on the bridge. She was afraid that if she forced it, it would break her bridge. It is not flexible because it is made of wood. It is a very pretty but other than looks we find it to be worthless.
Bought this book for my daughter- age 10.She likes it, but likes Volume 2 better.It has interesting songs, but seemed too simple for her as she had a piano background.Preferred Volume 2 and thinks you should go straight to #2 if you already have a background in music.
I requested this item as a gift because it was affordable.The bow is, of course, important to the sound and I have to say that even though this bow is inexpensive, as an upgrade from my standard issue student fiberglass cheap bow it is 20x the sound quality for 1.5x the price. 
We bought this for our daughter for Christmas to go with her 1/2 size cello that was in a padded bag type of case.I'm a cellist as well and as an adult, I beat up my hard shell cello case.I was so worried that at age 10 she was going to bash her cello getting it in and out of the car and going through doorways that I had to order a hard shell case at a great price.This fit the description perfectly.It arrived quickly, the price was great, and I could tell that it was very durable.
I tried a number of carbon fiber bows at about the same price range, and the JonPaul had the best balance.It also might have been a bit lighter in weight. The shape of the "stick" and the frog felt more comfortable in my hand than the others.Needless to say, you would not find a wooden bow anywhere near the quality for ca. $300.
This pick up is great for amplifying your acoustic instrument. It works for guitar and can pick up the higher notes of a banjo or mandolin.
A fantastic "tuner" for the money.It's accurate, dependable and super small.I use it all the time for a quick tune of my viola.I highly recommend it!!!
my cello teacher higher recommends this mute. He said its one of the best he has come across.For me it mutes the strings evenly, clamps on the bridge securely.It just turns the volume down by half which is good because I live in an apartment.However, if I want to practice in the middle of the night, I think my neighbours can still hear me.
I play in church worship monthly, the pickup has made it so I can be heard equally with all the other instruments that are connected electronically.The sound is beautiful and it was easy to install.
It's a handy little stool. One that is great for people who need to not sit so high off of the ground. It's not the most durable. I use it for playing guitar, though and tend to move quite a bit while I'm playing. Movement causes the thumbscrew to loosen and the seat swivels by the end of a couple of songs - nothing dangerous. Given that the seating platform is cardboard, I doubt it will last for long. It's inexpensive for the quality. The company ships promptly.
Well, I purchased some cheap rosin previously and was very disappointed. I decided to pay a little more and this rosin was rated pretty good, so I gave it a try. Works very good on my daughters cello. I really like this product.![Wicked Cello a New Musical BK/CD [Paperback]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ss3Na0veVR5HTQGpfOpVJmQNmJBmQVJvV9IvmpFYhyHrIBO95LNxpWkKMfGzaMEMULdi1IzrtiaCiy8IPUUXFU2Si4hicZM9P48p3fn96K9BuAgqWje_41utk3MBhpHgE=s0-d)
I bought this for my 14yo daughter.Overall, it's a good purchase. The music is instrumental, with music for the cello to play the melody along with the CD.The cd also has a bell-sounding instrument playing the melody, which I'm not a huge fan of.I think she'd rather be playing along with the actual soundtrack (we have it - I haven't checked to see if the key signatures match), and perhaps even playing a more traditional cello harmony rather than the melody.But I still think it's a fun product for a beginning cellist who loves "Wicked!"
item arrived quickly and packing quality was very good.It shows that Johnson string has good quality control.
Im a cello player and wood bows are by far the best i have ever used, I will only by wood bows.
This is a fantastic stand and well worth the $41.55 price tag.Here are a few things I considered when looking for a cello stand and how this product matched up:
Cello player have often distroyed flooring with the sharp end pin of their instrument.This product keeps the cello in position wonderfully while protecting the floor.
I am a professional cellist.![CelloPhant[tm] Instant Bow Hold Bow Accessory for CELLO - BRIGHT BLUE](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ukN2zr8E7sKraDZ2eZ45vULWz98L8_EgpTVs6aKcphXB_Dojivf4lDVklLqj9YFhl_Uwi-sl5VKtTitYeeknsChPIQ3R21QqEu6q9PLqg4ayfK778pZu0GNt54hrJ44A=s0-d)
Cello bow holds are easy with the CelloPhant[tm] Instant Bow Hold Bow Accessory for CELLO - BRIGHT BLUE