We have an aspiring cellist in the house! Thought this was a pretty cool shot of my matte-finished guitar up against this shiny and pretty thing. I changed the strings on the cello (the ones that came on it were pretty bad) and tuned it up, but I can't make heads or tails of it musically. Very foreign territory!
Anyone else here play cello or know a cellist?
That is a beautiful musical still life portrait.
Quote from: William2 on November 22, 2024, 05:16:39 PMThat is a beautiful musical still life portrait.
Definitely!
I love the cello. To listen and even just to look at it.
I can't play the cello so I play my baritone guitar.
Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott have a new recording just out. "Merci".
Recommended 👍🏿
A guy I used to work with son played the cello. Never realized how much a bargain guitars are! :nana_guitar
Quote from: Myopic Squirrel on November 22, 2024, 06:04:03 PMNever realized how much a bargain guitars are! :nana_guitar
No joke there! I got a pretty good deal on this one but the money would have bought a lot more guitar.
Back in late 2008 or early 2009 I was playing electric bass in a band. For something different I bought an NS Design Omni Bass. They may have called it something different back then, I can't remember. It was a upright, electric, fretless bass crossover. It had a standard electric bass guitar scale length. I used a bow on it some but never gave it enough time. I sold it in less than a year.
This might help.
https://www.adultcello.com/
Have fun!
When my co-worker told me how much for his son's cello, I asked him was that in lira or dollars?
Lovely pic! I've wanted to learn cello for the longest! I just have too many projects going. After I finish building my wife's violin I may build myself a cello.
Quote from: Silence Dogood on November 22, 2024, 04:54:00 PMAnyone else here play cello or know a cellist?
When I was young, I saw the fat strings on the guitar, EADG, were the same as the mandolin and violin, except upside-down, GDAE. That opened up understanding of violin, mandolin, and later, the octave mandolin, bouzouki, and the mandocello and cello (CGDA).
You are "this close" to getting the cello. You can probably already play it, even just playing notes with fingers, not even bowing.
Mike
Quote from: B0WIE on November 22, 2024, 07:24:04 PMLovely pic! I've wanted to learn cello for the longest! I just have too many projects going. After I finish building my wife's violin I may build myself a cello.
This is my wife's cello. But I want to hear more about this violin build! Pics too!
Quote from: Silence Dogood on November 22, 2024, 11:39:22 PMThis is my wife's cello. But I want to hear more about this violin build! Pics too!
He he. I guess I'll have to make a thread when it's done then. Won't be until the spring as I have a crazy number of projects I'm working through. It started with a simple StewMac kit but then I decided to learn about tap tuning, violin finishes, etc and 4 years later I'm still coming out of that rabbit hole. If anyone thinks guitar making can get complicated with hide glue, bracing, etc, violin building concepts make guitar building seem like a paint-by-number. They get into extensive chemical analysis and xrays in searching for the secrets of the masters. Some insist that the presence of silica indicates that one should use horse tail reeds for sanding instead of sandpaper. Certain egg formulations for sealing, etc. It's pretty wild. But, a fun journey.
Quote from: B0WIE on November 23, 2024, 12:56:36 AMHe he. I guess I'll have to make a thread when it's done then. Won't be until the spring as I have a crazy number of projects I'm working through. It started with a simple StewMac kit but then I decided to learn about tap tuning, violin finishes, etc and 4 years later I'm still coming out of that rabbit hole. If anyone thinks guitar making can get complicated with hide glue, bracing, etc, violin building concepts make guitar building seem like a paint-by-number. They get into extensive chemical analysis and xrays in searching for the secrets of the masters. Some insist that the presence of silica indicates that one should use horse tail reeds for sanding instead of sandpaper. Certain egg formulations for sealing, etc. It's pretty wild. But, a fun journey.
Wow, that's all very fascinating! I admire your sense of adventure. Does your wife already play violin and you are building her an additional instrument, or does she intend to learn on the one you are making? My wife dabbles in violin and has always wanted a cello. I'm not sure it will ever take off, but she wanted one so I got it for her. She's actually a brilliant pianist and a very good singer.
I have watched lots of documentaries on violin makers over the years. It really is a completely fascinating world inside a world. I always think how great of a job that would be, to be holed up in one's workshop all day making instruments. That's one of the jobs I would definitely consider learning if I could go back in time and talk to my younger self.
Quote from: Queequeg on November 22, 2024, 06:02:13 PMDefinitely!
I love the cello. To listen and even just to look at it.
I can't play the cello so I play my baritone guitar.
Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott have a new recording just out. "Merci".
Recommended 👍🏿
I like baritone guitars a lot but have never owned one. I've seen one made by Alvarez that's not too expensive. What kind do you have?
Also, are you familiar with the mandocello? They are pretty rare but are such a beautiful instrument!
Don't know if this link will work. I've had the pleasure to play along side cellist Mike Karoub on a number of occasions. He would join my friend, Rollie Tussing and I as our soloist. Rollie on guitar and me on tuba. This video link is not us but rather the Royal Garden Trio. A group that Mike has been in for a number of years. I include so those not used to hearing jazz cello can get a taste of Mike's amazing talent.
https://youtu.be/YAzZKbqsP8c?si=E6oAmW8Xh7H3RCzX
Quote from: Tuba Mike on February 14, 2025, 09:09:09 PMDon't know if this link will work. I've had the pleasure to play along side cellist Mike Karoub on a number of occasions. He would join my friend, Rollie Tussing and I as our soloist. Rollie on guitar and me on tuba. This video link is not us but rather the Royal Garden Trio. A group that Mike has been in for a number of years. I include so those not used to hearing jazz cello can get a taste of Mike's amazing talent.
https://youtu.be/YAzZKbqsP8c?si=E6oAmW8Xh7H3RCzX
Thanks for posting this video. Great band. :thumb
I really liked this performance. I seem to be hearing the arch top more than the acoustic. It would have been interesting to have a guitar solo in the performance as well with maybe the cello playing a bass line behind the guitar solo. When I was a guitar student, my teacher would give concerts with a couple of faculty string players usually violin, viola, and guitar. Occasionally there would be a cello. The ensemble seemed to work for me from an audience perspective. My teacher said the cello put something on it, so the sound wasn't overbearing and drown out the guitar. In these pieces when the guitar had a solo the strings would drop out and the guitar was featured. When everyone was playing, the guitar usually played arpeggio patterns on chords. Once when I got to do something with a cellist, I felt the cello was really overbearing and felt I maybe wasn't being heard so I never really got interested in this repertoire. After I had an opportunity to hear an early music ensemble that used lute, flute and strings, I was amazed at the balance in the group and my ability to hear the virtuosos passage work of the lute while the strings were playing. I preferred this repertoire much more than 19th century string ensemble music and gave up guitar and switched to playing lute. I believe the success of the early music ensemble balance is the different tonal characteristics of the instruments. The string sound of the viola da gamba is so much more open, light and less powerful, that all the instruments were able to be heard on their own terms. I like cello, but I'm not sure if cello and guitar at least unamplified guitar are an ideal combination. Jimmy Bruno did record an album of guitar and string bass that ism interesting.
Quote from: William2 on February 17, 2025, 03:18:02 PMI really liked this performance. I seem to be hearing the arch top more than the acoustic.
Generally speaking, archtops will be louder than flat top guitars, in my experience.
Archtops however, will decay quickly while a flat top has greater sustain.
Been over a year and no one in my house has learned to play a note on that cello.
:wacko:
Quote from: Silence Dogood on February 19, 2025, 11:54:34 AMBeen over a year and no one in my house has learned to play a note on that cello.
:wacko:
LOL! I would add that the viola da gamba is played with the hand holding the bow under handed which is the opposite of how a cello bow is held contributing to a lighter attack. And the 6 string intervals of the gamba are same as a guitar with the third stringed tuned down a half step like g to f#. And the gambas came in various sizes like the violin family.
Quote from: B0WIE on November 23, 2024, 12:56:36 AMHe he. I guess I'll have to make a thread when it's done then. Won't be until the spring...
How'd the violin turn out?
:wave
On topic... I'm going to take this cello to a fellow at a local university soon and he's going to set it up properly. I took it to a guy in Dallas a while back and he didn't do much for it. Then it sat. Again. Playing this thing is a beast (keeping it in tune!) and I finally figured out it needs a good look from someone in-the-know. My wife has messed around with it but hasn't gotten very far. Hopefully she can after it's set up better. We shall see. It sure looks pretty in the corner though, no matter what.
Quote from: Silence Dogood on December 18, 2025, 12:10:32 AMHow'd the violin turn out?
:wave
On topic... I'm going to take this cello to a fellow at a local university soon and he's going to set it up properly. I took it to a guy in Dallas a while back and he didn't do much for it. Then it sat. Again. Playing this thing is a beast (keeping it in tune!) and I finally figured out it needs a good look from someone in-the-know. My wife has messed around with it but hasn't gotten very far. Hopefully she can after it's set up better. We shall see. It sure looks pretty in the corner though, no matter what.
Thanks for asking. I undertook so many woodworking projects this spring that I developed a repetitive stress injury. Actually, several, in both hands. Bad enough that I couldn't play guitar or do anything normally. It wasn't getting better so I got a cortisone shot in August and have been in physical therapy for 4 months. I'm finally to the point where I'm 90% recovered and catching up on life. I'm finishing the amp I had to pause on and I hope to tackle the violin this coming spring.
Quote from: B0WIE on December 18, 2025, 07:28:40 AMThanks for asking. I undertook so many woodworking projects this spring that I developed a repetitive stress injury. Actually, several, in both hands. Bad enough that I couldn't play guitar or do anything normally. It wasn't getting better so I got a cortisone shot in August and have been in physical therapy for 4 months. I'm finally to the point where I'm 90% recovered and catching up on life. I'm finishing the amp I had to pause on and I hope to tackle the violin this coming spring.
Dang, man, I'm sorry to hear that but glad to hear you're on the mend.
I knew a lady once who made her own violin. She lived a long and very full life, unmarried with no children, and did all kinds of interesting things. Her house was full of odd bits and souvenirs from decades of creativity.
I remember seeing the violin on a shelf and being blown away upon learning that she'd built it. And not only built it, but did so using basic tools she had around the house. Granted, it was a little rough but the whole thing was damn impressive.
I made a flat-top mandolin once with a friend in his garage workshop. It was unplayable and becoming lovingly referred to as "the wood turd." It did look pretty cool, and we had great fun making it. Unfortunately it got destroyed at some point.
I hope you'll post some pics of your violin when it's finished one of these days.
World-class cellist Tina Guo added on two tracks of my band's album, Crooked Nail. She used her Yamaha signature model electric cello. The titles are "Bonesnapper Boogie", and "Knuckledraggers Waltz". It's on all the streaming services, if anyone is curious. She's friends with our sax player. I believe we got her for a Friends & Family discount, lol!
Quote from: magnusvalhalla on January 06, 2026, 07:29:29 AMWorld-class cellist Tina Guo added on two tracks of my band's album, Crooked Nail. She used her Yamaha signature model electric cello. The titles are "Bonesnapper Boogie", and "Knuckledraggers Waltz". It's on all the streaming services, if anyone is curious. She's friends with our sax player. I believe we got her for a Friends & Family discount, lol!
How cool. I have one of her albums.
I collaborate with a fellow in Norway. We've released plenty of guitar duets in the past but recently, he purchased a cello to start recording with. He's really new to it but he's a talented musician and has quickly worked out some nice stuff. Here's our latest release. I'm playing my Larrivee 00-24 tuned to DADGAD and he put some lovely cello over it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnRSJ3bcYgo
Quote from: Denis on January 07, 2026, 04:04:02 PMI collaborate with a fellow in Norway. We've released plenty of guitar duets in the past but recently, he purchased a cello to start recording with. He's really new to it but he's a talented musician and has quickly worked out some nice stuff. Here's our latest release. I'm playing my Larrivee 00-24 tuned to DADGAD and he put some lovely cello over it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnRSJ3bcYgo
You should have had a new thread for this.
It is really good. I had my headphones on and looking west out the back window (ranch land and huge live oaks in the distance) with the sun going down, and I imagined I was in a movie.
Mike
Quote from: Denis on January 07, 2026, 04:04:02 PMI collaborate with a fellow in Norway. We've released plenty of guitar duets in the past but recently, he purchased a cello to start recording with. He's really new to it but he's a talented musician and has quickly worked out some nice stuff. Here's our latest release. I'm playing my Larrivee 00-24 tuned to DADGAD and he put some lovely cello over it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnRSJ3bcYgo
Wow, what an insanely beautiful piece of music! It sounds like the best kind of movie soundtrack music. I've saved it to a playlist on YT. Really nice work!
*** typed my reply the same time Mike did. I agree, this needs its own thread.
Quote from: mike in lytle on January 07, 2026, 06:34:16 PMYou should have had a new thread for this.
It is really good. I had my headphones on and looking west out the back window (ranch land and huge live oaks in the distance) with the sun going down, and I imagined I was in a movie.
Mike
...and I just imagined I was in a novel. Very well-written. You really put me there.
Thanks guys. I like it too! Liked it when I came up with that guitar part. My 00-24 doesn't get played enough. I've developed an obsession with classical guitars. What are you gonna do?? I do love the cello though!
Tommy, my Norwegian friend, and I do really well with Spotify mostly. But we're pretty much everywhere, Apple, Youtube, Pandora, Spotify....etc. He's quite good with the mixing and mastering stuff too. We both collaborate with tons of other people we've met online.
Quote from: Denis on January 07, 2026, 04:04:02 PMI collaborate with a fellow in Norway. We've released plenty of guitar duets in the past but recently, he purchased a cello to start recording with. He's really new to it but he's a talented musician and has quickly worked out some nice stuff. Here's our latest release. I'm playing my Larrivee 00-24 tuned to DADGAD and he put some lovely cello over it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnRSJ3bcYgo
Outstanding piece of music! Comfortable and warm from the first notes.
My wife has had this cello for a couple years and hasn't gotten very far with it. A while back I took it to a guy in a shop over in Dallas to see if he could do anything with it. He made some adjustments (not much else) and sold me some better strings, which I installed myself. She still had to fight with the thing. I recently found a guy at a local university with a really cool little workshop. I took the cello to him and he's going to get setup the best it can be for what it is. It's apparently not the best cello (didn't think so when I bought it) but it should be ok for what she wants to do. Apparently, even a "decent" student cello starts around $5k. Sheesh. Glad I play guitar!
I went to a nice chamber music concert over the weekend where the fellow was playing an Italian cello made in the 1740s (the bow was also some rare item). He spoke a bit about the cello but I was distracted by the instrument itself and missed some of his presentation. Seems like it's on loan to the local symphony from some rich patron (like happens with violins). I kept thinking of all the places that thing must've been over the centuries. Quite fascinating!
It looked to be a bit smaller than modern cellos and had a very mid range-focused tone: but when he dug in on the lower strings the thing really growled. I was sitting very close to him and the sound was heavenly.
Harry Chapin was one of my main influences who brought the cello into his music. It really added a new dimension to his music and live performances.
Harry Chapin had some amazing songs. Died too young...
Yo Yo Ma was on Colbert last week and in the course of the interview demonstrated replicating some sounds whales make with his cello. Showed him in a boat in Hawaii, sitting on the deck playing - cool! Admittedly easily entertained, I've always been intrigued with whales' communications :blush: And his "Over the Rainbow" rendition was very cool!
As an aside - seeing his energy level at age 70 was also very cool!
This thread sent me digging for the references. Loved 'em! My view broadened.
I'll never forget the first time I saw, in awe, Yo Yo Ma. Jeff :donut2