Score!

[spacebug]

When s4 and I moved into our new place and were searching for a storage locker, there was one without a lock on it with a cello in it. I'd always assumed it belonged to a tennant, but I checked with the sorta kinda caretaker- my friend and coworker J- who says the old owners of the cello moved out years ago, and I should take it before someone else does. Awww, yeah.

I'm excited, but I've no way of knowing if this thing is at all in working order. String instruments aren't at all my expertise (all I know about them I know from orchestration class), but I've always loved cellos and maintained that if I learned another instrument, it'd be the one. Anyone have any advice? Karlyn? r4c? pied piper? Unfortunately, I didn't find a bow with it.

I don't even know what size it is, or how to tell. It looks as though it needs new strings- that's about as far as I can get. Hmm.

Comments

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Not sure if you're particularly friends with her, but eiregirl has a cello and apparently plays. Perhaps she'd know.

Cool, though - congrats!

[star5.livejournal.com]

yay! neat!

[spacebug.livejournal.com]

Investigation so far has determined the following:
It seems to be a fairly decent student model cello, and it's full size (4/4). It's missing a bridge (no wonder the strings were all goofy).
A cheap new bridge can be purchased for under $20, and a new bow isn't much more (assuming it's a pretty base one).
A full set of new strings might be pricier.
I have no idea how one goes about replacing a bridge, or if it's easy to do. Does it just stay there via tension, or is it affixed with something?

More web searching...

[karlyn-desteno.livejournal.com]

OK here's what I know, although if you want me to take a look at it I'll do that too (coz, damn, free cello!! congratulations!!) And remember I'm a viola person so cellos are slightly mysterious to me.

Bridges are held on by tension (of the strings), there's no glue or anything. The trouble is, the soundpost (thing under the bridge inside the instrument that tranfers vibrations from the bridge into the whole body of the instrument) is, as far as I know, also held up with tension. Having a bridgeprofessionally replaced can be pricy (like 120 or so for a violin, maybe more for a cello) or you can prolly do it yourself (just purchasing the bridge itself would cost a lot less than that...less than 30 maybe?), but if yer soundpost has fallen over, you are, as they say, screwed. Then you'd have to bring it to a cello doctor and pay them some large amount of money to fix it.

I don't know how to tell if the soundpost has fallen over or not (since it's inside the instrument and not visible as far as I know) but somebody in a violin shop could probably tell you for free. Claire Givens Violins is pretty good, it's down by Orchestra Hall between 10th and 11th on Marquette. (Right by Karlyn's house--the Oakwood--remember to stop by for tea if you happen to go there!)

If you need help putting on the bridge + strings and stuff, I'll totally help, but a real cellist might do better than me. :)
For 50 bucks or less the best bow you're gonna get is gonna be made of plastic, but those are functional (enough.)

Hooooooray for free cellos!
Double hooray!

good luck,
-karlyn

[spacebug.livejournal.com]

Hee, this is so fun, it's almost okay if it's FUBARed, just 'cause I didn't know what the heck a soundpost was until tonight. From looking inside the F-holes, I've determined I have a soundpost and it's standing up. I don't know if it's in the right spot or not, but I have one, at least. I've been looking online at repair places; it looks as if soundpost and bridge adjustments are pretty commonplace (and not superduper pricey) since strings are so picky with even just changes in the weather. It's a Glaesel (I also learned Glaesel is a part of Selmer, who, if nothing else, makes some darn fine saxophones), and a new bridge made by the same company can be had through the woodwind/brasswind catalog for under $20. I don't know if they need to be specifically adjusted to each individual instrument or not, though. The pegs and fingerboard and tailpiece and stuff seem fine to me, but I really don't know anything. More new words! Woo! There aren't any visible cracks in it anywhere, though, just one ding on the side where the finish came off. I'd LOVE for you to come help me put strings on it, once I get a new bridge. I'd also love to bring it someplace and ask advice about it, though I don't have a case to speak of and would feel slightly odd toting a naked 'cello around downtown...

[r4c.livejournal.com]

Big score! That's awesome. Usually when you buy a new bridge it has to be fitted to the instrument by filing it down and shaping it to the contour of the fingerboard so the strings will sit at the correct height. I had this done to one of my violins (which I later broke at a gig and had to play a borrowed 3/4 size heh) but my cello was already set up when I bought it so I don't know how much that will set you back. Certainly a lot less than buying a new cello.

New strings are expensive! The last time I bought a set they were like $70-80 a set. I would say take it in and get it all set up and have them put new strings on it so you can have a functional instrument.

[pied-piper70.livejournal.com]

I would like to take a look at it myself...
gimme a call; I might be able to do a short appraisal for you...

[vaxjo.livejournal.com]

Holy crap! I never find any new instruments when I go poking through my storage space downstairs. You lucky devil!

Maybe if you look harder, you'll find the skeleton of the former cellist among the cobwebs.

And, umm, if you ever in the future find that you've lost interest in the cello, and that it's merely consuming space in your tiny apartment which could be better put to other uses, I would be happy to take it out of your way. :)

[harlequinskiss.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I'm given a second chance to say this in a single month, but "this looks like a job for superluthier!"
unfortunately, she moved to wisconsin.