http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Beautiful-White-Full...1QQcmdZViewItem

Can any one tell me if this cello would be terrible, because i seems to be painted with thick white paint. Hiding something? Or perhaps the paint would spoil the sound?

Thanks guys

Probably just a white Chinese cello (you can get coloured cellos as well as coloured violins). Looks like either someone who has managed to buy up bankrupt stock or who has found a cheaper Chinese source than we have!

Liz

To be honest, I would steer well clear of these coloured instruments.

Go for a normal looking cello, if you have to get it off ebay. There are plenty of inexpensive Chinese cellos on the market at the moment.

ebay wouldn't be the best place to buy an instrument; I personally would rather go to a shop and try lots out to see which suited me.

I managed to get a new 4/4 cello of ebay for £80 delivered a few months ago. I was and still am very pleased with it. I had never played a cello before and so I know absoloutely nothing about how good it is in comparison to other cello's, but I am a violin player and the tone and quality of the instrument is fantastic for the price. For £80 I couldn't really complain anyway.

I'm no expert, but a thick coat of white is unlikely to do anything beneficial for the sound, surely? As it may dampen vibrations...

If in doubt, check it out. Ask the seller about the white colour, if it's painted etc.

Sorry Good Intentions, but Gerald Ratner's infamous remarks about his jewellery and prawn sandwiches spring to mind. You basically get what you pay for in this world, and there are no half-decent cello's around for this price. I don't think the white paint is there to hide anything bad, I think it was produced to look like that rather than being painted as an afterthought.

Perhaps a better way to obtain a cheap cello is to buy a starter cello second-hand, privately. Lots of people start out with instruments of around £350 to £500, but buy a much more expensive one quite quickly. There must be lots of Stentor II cello's lying around in attics, unplayed. Mine is! (though I am keeping it as spare, so it is not for sale). I bet you could pick one of those up for very little money. There is a website http://www.musicalinstrumentsales.co.uk/ that might help. Or ask around within your local music-making community.