I'm a cellist (cello player), and I really want to buy a cello. Any recommen

Question:I play on a beat up school instrument in class, and have a cheap rental at home. I'm looking for a somewhat inexpensive cello, without the edge student cellos have. But as to actually buying a cello, I'm clueless. I'll gladly take any advice!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I play on a beat up school instrument in class, and have a cheap rental at home. I'm looking for a somewhat inexpensive cello, without the edge student cellos have. But as to actually buying a cello, I'm clueless. I'll gladly take any advice!

Look at Eastman Strings--they have fantastic prices for quality instruments. I would actually avoid most online stores (especially if they don't have a return policy!)

Let me list the options--from most expensive and highest quality to least expensive and questionable quality.

1. String shop. Somewhere in a big city near you is a store called "Baroque violin shop" or "Symphonic string repair" or so forth; this is the place where the professionals take their instruments for repair. These stores will usually have, or know of, used instruments for sale--and maybe new. You'll pay top dollar, but you'll get a sweet instrument, expertly adjusted, with some warranty.

2. The best music store in town--the one where you buy or service a full range of band, orchestra, and pop instruments. Similar deal to the speciality string shop in #1.

Now, the subsequent recommendations depend on whether or not you know about strings--e.g., do you know how to assess the quality from a description?

3. Online stores like http://www.wwbw.com or http://www.musiciansfriend.com and if you have a big budget there are specialty online string shops like http://www.orc.ca/~riedstra/index.html

4. ebay and similar online auction sites

5. local pawn shops and classified ads.

6. http://www.shopgoodwill.com

I'd recommend, after you have your honey instrument, that you go to ebay and find one of those semi-hard cases that's mostly foam plastic. Great protection, yet affordable.

Check out metzlerviolins.com. I live near the store and they are very helpful.