When to upgrade to a better instrument is a complicated question. Often, when the student begins lessons with his or her first private teacher, it is time to step up. Others choose instruments from this level for a beginning player. One thing is for sure- In the lower price ranges, a little extra investment goes a long way to improve the playability and quality of tone over an entry level product. Pick a price point that is comfortable for you, and consider upgrading in a year or two. Our trade-in policy gives you the flexibility to upgrade the instrument freely, without losing value on your initial investment.

Many of our customers will choose the Cello only, and then consider bow and case separately. In choosing a bow we recommend a budget of 15%-30% compared to the cost of the instrument.

We stock a large selection, but the best way to shop is to contact us by email and let us know a little about which models seem appealing to you in terms of the size, price range, tone, and appearance. We can use your preferences to make a specific recommendation of instrument our outfit which is in stock. We also offer a 10 day in-home trial. So, please do not hesistate to contact us. There are no stupid questions. We love email. Thanks in advance for contacting us.

What is the most important aspect of a step-up instrument? The simple answer is "modulation", or, if you are keen on musical acoustics jargon, "waveform modulation". Intermediate level instruments offer better tone, but more specifically, wider tonal possibilities. A player with some skill needs an instrument that will respond to the subtle techniques being developed, such as vibrato, advancing bow strokes and dynamics. Student violins are like an automatic transmission. No matter what you do, you get a Violin-like sound, but at the cost of variety of tones. Intermediate instruments are like a manual transmission, which produce those tonal varieties for the advancing player on demand.

Segue is our private line of instruments from China. We source these from numerous workshops and are constantly looking for better values to offer you. European Workshops is our private line of European made products.

Xueping Hu Model 200. Also known as Snow 200. This is the popular, entry-model from this workshop. Snow is a small workshop by Chinese standards, and is also a family-run business. We like the round, warm tone balance that these instruments offer, because they represent a nice alternative to many other Cellos, which are engineered to be bright and sharply focused. This model features very clean carving, subtle antiquing, and an easy response, especially in the low range.

Johannes Kohr K565. The top model of the K500 series. The best available tone woods for this price range. Great depth to the varnish color and complex tone possibilities.