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How To Choose A Cello

Good job! You are about to buy your first Cello...

Finding which Cello to buy can be thrilling, if not a little daunting. As part of our ‘Beginner’s Guide To Learning Cello’ series, this section will help you start your journey as you mean to go on.

How To Choose A Cello

Things you should know before buying your first Cello

There are many different types and varieties of the cello. The main things to think about are size, price and quality. It is also important to think about what sort of music you will be playing and where it will be stored.

How To Choose A Cello

Types of Cello

Whilst the standard wooden cello is the most common, there are also electric and carbon fibre versions. The style of music you want to play will help decide which type of cello would be most suitable.

Wooden Cello

How To Choose A Cello

If you are interested in performing mostly classical music, then a wooden cello is the way to go. A handmade wooden cello will also be more responsive than a factory-made one.

Electric Cello

How To Choose A Cello

For the regular session player, an electric cello would be best as you can connect it to an amplifier and therefore match your volume to that of the band.

Carbon Fibre

How To Choose A Cello

If you will be playing outdoors a lot – such as at festivals – then a carbon fibre cello may be for you as they are more resilient to changes in heat and humidity. 

Sizes of Cello

How To Choose A Cello

Having the right size cello is crucial to the successful development of any cellist, especially younger children. If you pick an instrument that’s too small, playing will feel cramped and restricted. Playing on an instrument that’s too big could become strenuous and frustrating. Therefore choosing the correct size instrument is an important step that must be considered carefully. 

Cellos come in a variety of sizes, with a full size being appropriate for the majority of adults. There are then fractional sizes such as  ½, ¼, ⅛, 1/10 and even 1/16. These fractional sizes are great for children and others who may struggle with a full size. 

A ⅞ size was historically called “Ladies’ Cellos”, and is slightly smaller than the standard full size. ⅞ size cellos are beneficial to those “with smaller hands as well as those with arthritic or other painful conditions ”.

For more detailed guidance on choosing the right size cello, please see “What Size Cello Do I Need?” 

Let's talk about budget

Cellos can vary greatly in price – from little over £100 to over £15 million! Therefore deciding on a budget is very important when buying a cello. 

Wooden Cello

As a beginner, you may find that there are a number of packages which would be suitable for you. These will often come with both a cello and a bow as well as a case. These can be a great starting point with a full size typically costing £100 – £500  for a wooden cello. But bear in mind that as you progress you will probably need to upgrade to a more  expensive cello.

Electric Cello

Electric cellos are cheaper than carbon fibre cellos with prices from £100 – £2000. But bear in mind that to make the most of your instrument, you will also need to buy all of the accompanying equipment.

Carbon Fibre

Carbon fibre cellos are naturally more expensive as the material used is more expensive. However, there is a limit to their price due to the fact that many cellists simply do not consider them as good overall as wooden cellos. For a good carbon fibre cello, you can expect to pay £1000 – £5000.

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Quality

Wooden cellos are most commonly made out of spruce and maple. Generally, an older cello is considered more valuable as the wood has had time to mature and adapt to the shape of the cello, allowing for greater responsiveness and possibility for subtleties.

However there have been some great advancements in cello making over the last 20-30 years, and you can now find a much younger cello that is just as good as an older and more expensive one. 

Traditionally ebony is used for the fingerboard, tailpiece and pegs, but other woods can be used. Finetuning pegs, made from hi-tech plastic, can make tuning with the pegs much easier and less stressful for less experienced players. Spikes are usually made from metal, however, carbon fibre ones are quickly becoming more common, due to how light they are. 

Whilst handmade cellos will naturally all be very different, so to can factory-made ones, so it is important to try a cello before buying it, as even the cheapest factory made cellos can sound great if set up correctly and used in combination with a good bow and strings. 

Many shops do not stock carbon fibre or electric cellos and it may be difficult to try one before you buy it. Therefore, when buying a carbon fibre or electric cello, it is best to read reviews and buy from well-known brands such as Yamaha. 

Bows, cases and other accessories

Buying a cello wouldn’t be complete without also purchasing a bow and a case to put it all in!

As you progress through your cello journey, you will find that there are more options and possibilities to explore and trying things out for yourself is always the best way to choose something new. But if you really don’t know, then ask for advice from your teacher or another professional, they will be able to help.

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How To Choose A Cello - Summary

The cello is a beautiful instrument, with the right size and budget and practice, of course, it can convert a simple person into a musical genius in no time. Using this guide, choosing the right cello for you makes it much easier. Of course, you can always reach out to our Ted’s List community at Facebook so you can talk to like-minded people who can give you the advice in choosing the perfect cello for you.

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