I had one of those thoughts flit in to my head today. You know, totally random, but once it was there it was stuck.

So, as you may know, I've got a Yamaha Silent Strings cello. This was a foolish purchase error many years ago, etc, etc (I won't repeat the whole story in every post I make to Viva Strings, I promise). I'm currently trying to find it a new home but as yet haven't had much success. Nevermind, if it doesn't get a new home, it stays here with me. If it did get a new home, my intention had been to buy some nice recorders and hopefully have some left over to do something sensible with

But today I thought, I wonder if any strings shops would consider swapping it for a normal cello (+ or - a bit of money). Then I realised I have no idea what I'd be looking at. I wouldn't want the most basic-of-the-basic (e.g. Stentor I) but on the other hand I wouldn't need anything snazzy (after all, I'd be re-starting almost from scratch and I doubt I'd be going to dizzying heights). So just any pointers on what would be a decent cello for a beginner...

Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind tomorrow and decide celli aren't for me; after all, today I also rather fancy singing lessons too Mind you, I have gone so far as to retrieve some cello music from the "put it on eBay" pile (a.k.a our spare bedroom )

I bought my Paesold for around £1500 when i was at about grade 1or2 it's lasted me so far well (grade 6 in June) and has 'allowed' me to improve, if that makes sense. i love it but don't know how much you want to spend or what to go for. Paesold is a pretty good make.
I'm not an expert so am not going to stick my nose in any further and make assumptions. this is what i know.

Hope this meagre bit helps. (no doubt i'll have written this for no reason as you'll have decided that you'd rather put the money to some new great idea! )

Piello

I'm not sure about Paesold now. Didn't they go out of business or get bought? I think there was a time about a year ago when there were genuine Paesold instruments available at good prices because of this. Now I think the Paesold brand is being slapped on some things which haven't necessarily been made in the same factories or to the same standards. Not sure about all this though. A second hand one might be a good buy though.

Just a thought - I am not a great fan of electric stringed instruments but since you have one and you admit you might not stick with cello longer term why don't you start some lessons on the electric one rather than sell it. If you do that and don't take to it you will still get about the same price for it in a years time. If you take to the cello you will be better placed to decide what you want a year down the line. If you sell the electric and buy a traditional student model you will lose quite a lot if you sell that after a year.

You will need to find a teacher who is not prejudiced against the electric cello.

I seem to remember from your previous posts that you are a bit embarrassed to have what you percieve as an advanced instrument when you are only a relative beginner, but I doubt any teacher will worry about that (as long as they are not against electric instruments altogether).

This is largely true, in my opinion. I have a 'Paesold' viola, which is actually a Schroetter in the guise of a better brand. It's by no means the basic VA400 that would be a real Paesold, but they get away with selling it for an extra £20 just 'cos it says it's a Paesold. It isn't at all. Anything with a Schroetter code 'something-60', (mine says VA060) is not a real Paesold, but a cheaper model dressed up by the label. The other stuff, ie the one Piello is talking about, will be the real macoy, esp as s/he's had it long enough to progress 4 grades!!!

Very good thought. I shall spend the weekend pondering, to see if I can work out what it is I actually want In some ways I'm probably already panicking over 'what if I don't sell it?' in which case I'll feel obligated to do something with it - swap it or play it.
Thinking about it, on part-ex I probably am only going to be able to swap it for a v.basic model. The money I'd get from selling it is of course cello + case + bows + spare strings, etc. If I were to sell just the cello, it's be quite a bit less, and obviously part-ex gets you even less.

So I'm thinking now that if I don't sell it, it's probably better to hang on to it and try to sell again in a couple of years - rather than swapping it for something even more worthless

Actually, there's a 'music school' just round the corner from where I work. I mean to get in touch with them about recorder lessons anyway, so I might ask them about the cello. On their website it says that they provide instruments at the lessons (which seems odd) but it might mean I could have lessons on a normal cello with them but practice at home on my cello which could be a good compromise.

Oh it's all too confusing, I'll have to do a load of thinking-out-loud at my musical-friend this morning

Ohhh. i always seem to cause debates! Everything i write - in any thread - seems to be slightly off course . sorry guys and gals. maybe i should stick to asking, not answering stuff.

Sorry, this is . Hope you sort something good out, Maizie.

I don't think it was off course - we're only having a conversation after all, and a used Paesold from 3-4 years ago could be a great buy if one turned up. I just thought I would warn that the name might now be being used on some less good instruments.

Keep posting

What did you say that was wrong or a pain, Piello??

For interest sake, I was talking to the chap from our local music shop and he was in Germany at the Paesold factory buying good quality violins and, yes, they are still going strong! Wonder what the real story is with all that??

Anyway, wish I could afford any sort of cello!!!!!

Sorry. Paranoia kicks in often - i think it's the..dunno...internet rather than conversation. Right. I'm fine now. Good good.

Anyway...
Does anyone have any idea of how different from a normal cello an electric one is? I was lookiing at them on the internet a few weeks ago and have found them for about £1000, but i'm not really sure on their real pros/cons. I'm just interested, as there's no way i'll get one in the near future, but i'd like to know..for the future, maybe!?!