Hello,

Do be gentle - I am new to this site and all a little confused!

I play the cello, piano and sing as well as starting my new job in teaching in September. Unfortunately, my cello has gone to the wayside slightly and I feel really bad. I was never very good, but enjoyed playing in orchestras and early music groups.

However, my cello is a 3/4 and now that I am 24 I feel I have outgrown it! Can anyone recommend good places to, firstly, sell a really nice 3/4 East German cello (valued at £450) and, then, to buy one that is not TOO expensive, but nice quality. I was going to try eBay, but not sure that is really the right area.

Many thanks for any help and encouraging words!

Harriet.

Hi Harriet, welcome to the forums! I got a new cello recently and was able to trade in my old one. If you have a look at Viva strings, you'll find some good advice there.

Hi Harriet!

First of all, welcome!

Second of all, I must apologise for not being in a position to help with selling a cello, but I'm sure others will be able to.

And thirdly, check out Viva Strings for fellow cellists and the Adult Learners forum for people in a similar position to yourself

Thank you so much for that - it is great to feel welcome! Don't worry at all, but hope some people can offer advice to someone stuck in the sticks with no clue!

I have just posted a similar request for advice on the Viva Strings forum (including ideas for music) and hope to get some replies! I will now look at the Adult Learners Forum - I am definitely learning today!

Thank you again

I'll help you Deborah!

The best way to get a good price for your 3/4 cello is to trade it in with the people you buy your 4/4 from. Any other method is going to lose you quite a bit of money. £450, remember, is the insurance value or the price a shop would sell it at - they won't give you anywhere near that much for it unless you're trading up to something a lot better. If you're only planning to spend say £600 on your new cello then you're not going to get anywhere near £450 for the trade-in. The bottom line is that retailers have to make a profit.

Selling it on commission is probably the next best option - approach a strings specialist shop. The trouble with this is that it can take a long time (perhaps up to a couple of years) to sell.

For quick liquidation but the worst price, try ebay.

What's your budget?

Liz

It, unfortunately, depends on what I can get for the 3/4 and when I get my first salary The 1 year teaching course and then the no-salary Summer holiday has left me slightly strapped. I guess I would be thinking about £600ish.

I think I am going to have to get rid of the 3/4 first, although I know a trade-in would be better.

Thanks for all your help and advice!

Harriet, I'm assuming from your username that you are, indeed, in Leicester...

if playing in a group might help with motivation and playing time, I'm trying to pull together an ensemble (very mixed ability) in Market Harborough. Check the adult learner's forum for details.


Regarding the cello - have you thought about renting? Sheehans in Leicester do chinese and hungarian cellos on a rental scheme - costs about £30 a month. It might be a good way of making sure that you definitely want to play. They also do a trade in scheme, so it might be worth asking what they'd give you for your 3/4. I bought a 4/4 Gewa from them, and it was fantastic. They're a good place to think about buying from - excellent after sales service. They'll also let you sit and play on the cellos in stock for many happy hours with no pressure to buy.

I'm also a cellist btw.

I have found both my cello teachers have had an interest (from time to time) in sourcing reasonable instruments for starter or progressing students. A good teacher always wants to ensure their students have instruments they can make decent progress on, and there's unfortunately quite a lot of rubbish around. So, that could be an avenue to explore.