Feel free to hijack this thread with information about your violins, violas and basses! There's been something similar on the piano thread, so I just wondered what makes of cello everyone has. I'm looking to buy a new cello, and have been browsing Ebay, Elida Trading and our local music shops, so I have an ulterior motive!

I've got a Primavera, a very nice cello, but i got it set up by the luthier when i bought it.

As you told us to hijack your thread I will. I play A yamaha V20g violin, which i paid £915 for. The bow is carbon fiber, not sure of the brand, and I paid £490. The case was hinderside which cost me £95.

I have a Zeller cello -subsequently set up by a luthier -new bridge/tail piece/strings/soundpost adjusted etc. Am very happy with it.

I play a gorgeous antique French instrument as my main session fiddle, with a great old French bow too. I can't honestly ever imagine writing a cheque that big again - it actually prompted a call from my banker - meddler! Still, at least we still have personal bankers and not that computer says no nonsense.

I have two other fiddles too, a basic mirecourt and a modern Chinese instrument. My viola was made for me by a Chinese luthier that I corresponded directly with and I've had a variety of cellos, my current one is a basic Chinese instrument with a great set up by my luthier. Not as nice as some that I've previously owned but it sounds good and for the little time that I play it, it suits me fine.

I used to have a rather nice Lockey Hill cello. It belongs to a professional cellist now as her second instrument.

my cello is a chinese intrument, but was set up and varnished in Belgium by Henry De Lille....really really nice, wouldn't swap it for any other cello

Son has a lovely French cello from around 1870. We could only afford it because it's had some major repairs over it's life. It sounds beautiful.

Cello - Austrian, very attractive cello with a lovely warm tone, formerly a baroque instrument c.1770, now with modern neck and set up. Not a full-size instrument; somewhere between 3/4 and 7/8.

Violin - English, by James Brown c.1830. Small full-size instrument with a rich warm tone.

Decision made! I was worried about buying online, as I really wanted to try it out first, so off I went to our local shop and tried out a few. Was very good, and didn't try any that were seriously out of my price range! Tried a Gewa Maestro, and kept coming back to it. So, came home with a cello, new hiscox case, and rather nice carbon fibre bow. Very pleased with all, although I think I might need to take the cello back to get the D string raised a little - it keeps catching when I'm in 4th position. Will let you know how I get on!

Violin - A Breton Brevette from ~1870 with Pirastro Synoxa strings. I absolutely love it. My bow is a Marco Raposo.

Viola - Modern viola, but sounds gorgeous and a Marco Raposo bow.

x

Violin - mid nineteenth century Neuner and Hornsteiner. (When I bought it, the luthier initially said it was from 1820, but when he sent me my receipt he wrote 1860, so not actually sure exactly how old it is, but it should be 150-190 years old). I love it to bits! (Well, not to bits, as it wouldn't be much use to me then, but you get my meaning). I'm using Correlli Crystal Strings with Kaplan Golden Spiral Solo "E".

I also have two bows: one a 10 year old Zeller my mum bought when the bow I was using broke, which has never been rehaired but would cost more to get rehaired than it actually cost (about £15, I think!) which is really only of use as firewood, but I keep in my case anyway, "just in case", though I am not exactly sure what I mean by "just in case"! The second a beautiful silver mounted pernambuco bow (don't know the maker - it doesn't say on it) I spent several weeks choosing at the end of last year!

Cello -erm, no idea, random student outfit of some kind.

My cello is a Gliga which we found for £500 on Ebay (compliments to a glued together break in the bottom which does not affect playing )

In the process of gradually fitting new strings, tail-piece... you name it. I say gradually, my parents won't fork out the money for it but they paid £6000 for my brother's new violin

Why the "but"?

I have a 2006 handmade violin by a local Luthier. It's starting to settle in properly now and I think it's very nice (Strung with Obligato G, D and A with a Larsen E). I have a Marco Raposo bow, and a spare which came with my beginners violin.

I have a Yita T20 viola (2008) which is very green at the moment although I've just strung it with Obliagtos. It just has a beginners bow and I'm looking at buying a Gewa case for it.

Cello.... well I've always wanted one but my dear husband says NO... we don't have room and (apparently) I don't have time

Violin daughter has a John Betts violin, with a wonderful tone. It has had some repairs, so wasn't as expensive as it might have been, still it cost enough!
Cello daughter has a modern chinese cello. It was one of the first made for the western market and is very nice. It was set up by our great luthier.
Violin bow modern by Clutterbuck. Cello bow, 19 century French!
Violinma

Mine is a German Mittenwald which I had as a teenager and love it

It is a very dark red and one of the teenage boys at the school I teach at said he liked it beacause it is "blood red" - mmm?!?