just about to leave my school and go on to a private sixth form so therefore cant keep my county music cello...am about grade 4 and would like a cello with gorgeous tone, that will last me for along time. where do i look?? and what sort of things do i look for like good makes etc... am grade 8 piano and grade 6/7 flute thanks!

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where do i look?? and what sort of things do i look for like good makes

Romeolovesjuliet,

You (or your parents) don't necessarily have to spend a fortune but bear in mind that cellos are quite big instruments and therefore good ones, with a nice tone, aren't exactly going to be cheap in the first place. Even a good new student instrument tops £2,000+ these days, so you are looking at paying in excess of that, unless you are very lucky.

Realistically it will cost several thousand, especially since you want an instrument that is going to last you a long time, if not indefinitely. An investment now will mean you will save money later because you won't have to upgrade again, but it depends on what your budget is right now.

I know of a good Austrian/Tyrolese cello for sale with a beautiful tone that would be suitable for playing right the way through to professional orchestral level, but the seller is looking for offers in the region of £7,000. That's a good price for an instrument of this quality, but the seller is changing it for a smaller cello so for a private sale they are asking a lot less than you'd pay at a dealer.

Dealers will charge a mark-up because they have to make a profit, but if you go to dealers do make sure you shop around as there are lots of variations in general pricing.

Beware of adverts for old instruments being sold cheap. Unless you have sufficient knowledge and the right tools to look inside the instrument, there could be a manifestation of problems ready to rear their ugly head only months, if not days, after you've made the purchase. A good instrument will not be cheap, but you will at least be buying something that has been looked after and kept in good playable condition.

DO NOT BUY OFF EBAY!!!!!!!! It's a minefield of dodgy secondhand instruments being foisted on the unsuspecting and innocent buyer thinking they are getting a bargain. What often looks like a gem in the photos turns out to be a carrier-bag-full of junk when it arrives on your doorstep. Even if you only paid £500 for that 'old masterpiece', that's still £500 wasted if it's going to take £4,000 to get it into a remotely playable condition - and how do you know you'll even like the tone of the cello once it's been restored?!

As we can no longer PM, if you would like any further advice email me on amanda@athome11.freeserve.co.uk

QUOTE (AmandaL @ Apr 8 2005, 07:00 PM)

Even a good new student instrument tops £2,000+ these days

Liz Ward can (I think) Do you a Gliga Gama professional cello for £1400 or a Gliga Gems II for £1000. Both are extremely highly rated, although I think the Gama is the more outstanding deal: check out her website at elidatrading.co.uk or google around the comments on violinslover.com.

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Liz Ward can (I think) Do you a Gliga Gama professional cello for £1400

True. Plus a refund if you don't like it - providing you live in the UK (tax regs etc.) Gliga Gama's are terrific for teaching purposes or good amateur orchestral work, but I know that Liz mentions on her website that they are not really suitable for anyone studying at music college.

The instrument you finally settle on will also depend on how far you wish to take your playing.

thanks!! but because it's my third instrument im going to talk to my next school as to whether i can hire one

QUOTE (romeolovesjuliet @ Apr 10 2005, 01:58 PM)

thanks!! but because it's my third instrument im going to talk to my next school as to whether i can hire one

I think unless you're going to get a really nice instrument, that's a wise move - you seem to be able to pay £500 quite easily for a fairly horrible instrument if you're not careful, so if you can find a hire one you're happy with, you'll save quite a lot of money at least in the short term.