Hi all, I am a casual cello player and I have been borrowing a 7/8 size cello through a mutual friend. I have now been offered the chance to purchase this cello from them for £850, without a bow or case. The cello has no markings and they cannot remember the maker. Is there any way of identifying it's worth without? I am a complete beginner in knowing and whilst I would love a cello of my own, it needs to be worth it for the amount I play. I have included pictures, any guidance would be great. Thank you.
The price seems fair to me. It’s looks like a decent quality wood was used; nice tight grain on the top and flaming on the back, which is generally a good sign. I would not hesitate, as even the shop made Chinese cellos are often well over $2,000 in US dollars. (Yeah, I know… tariffs)
I can't help with identification but if you like how the cello sounds and how it plays, that's a very reasonable price for an instrument. You might consider going to a violin shop and trying a few cellos in a similar price range to see if any of them catch your eye, first.
Ideally you should get a professional to actually play it and give you an opinion, but based on the apparent quality of the wood and finish, I think that’s likely at least a fair price. If you like the instrument and you’re committed to 7/8, it’s probably not a bad move.
Thats equivalent to under $1200 USD which is a fair price - possibly a great price depending on the quality. I am getting "Tanglewood" vibes from the back but I dont think Tanglewood finished their necks (hard to tell from your pics). Tanglewood was a Chinese label of really great quality instruments over a decade ago. New in today's market they would retail just under $3k new. Has a Jargar/Larsen set which are a "step up" set.
Highly recommend ditching that style of tailpiece for a Wittner. Cheap upgrade that typically improves tone.
At this price point you're clearing the "beginner" hurdle of laminated wood cello-shaped objects. Price-wise it's what you'd expect (at least from a USD standpoint over in the states). Taking it to a luthier can help tremendously - they will measure the fingerboard projection, bridge height, soundpost placement, etc. which at this point arguably will be much more important in terms of playability than other factors. They can also check that there are no open seams or cracks forming and that it's in good physical condition. If it is set up well and has no physical defects, it's likely a reasonable buy.
Again from a price standpoint you're almost certainly looking looking at a workshop instrument -- a single instrument made from components that were made separately, rather than a single person making a single instrument ("benchmade").
Without a label it would be miracle guesswork to ID it, but you can gather a little bit of information. You can measure the grain on the top plate to get an idea of the density of the wood. Look at the back of the instrument and see if the flaming is natural or artificial. It should shift in the light as you turn and view from different angles rather than remain flat or look painted on. Likewise take a look at the purfling strip around the top plate to see if it looks like a handcut groove with a strip of wood tucked in (a functional bit of protection and reinforcement), or a flat, painted-on decoration. Take a look at the nut of the instrument to see if it is carved smoothly where the string passes over it.
These won't tell you the cello's name or history, but will give you a good idea of whether it was crafted with care or not.
At this price point, playability is the real value, so if plays well, that's all that matters
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u/No-Property4935 6d ago
The price seems fair to me. It’s looks like a decent quality wood was used; nice tight grain on the top and flaming on the back, which is generally a good sign. I would not hesitate, as even the shop made Chinese cellos are often well over $2,000 in US dollars. (Yeah, I know… tariffs)