10/04/2013

Conditions That Affect The Sound Of A Handmade Cello

By Angel Dudley


Some people are attracted to the beauty of an instrument based on the way it is made. While this can draw someone to the instrument at first, it is the sound that to consider getting it for themselves. If one understands the conditions that affect the sound of a handmade cello, they will be able to get one that is of the highest quality.

It is well known that wine gets better with age and this is also true about cellos. The older this instrument is, the better is sounds and this is no accident. This could be due to a number of conditions, such as how the wood was treated before it was put together to make the it. Also, as time goes on the wood is not as soft, which can cause the sound to vibrate better.

One also has to think about where the trees come from, since this does play a role in the quality of the sound though not entirely. This is because, there are a number of countries that might have the same type of trees, yet each might create an instrument that sounds different. So the preparation of the wood, and even the type of varnish that is used is a factor.

Even though the older cellos have a better quality of sound than newer ones, one has to consider its condition as this is a factor as well. Older cellos might have cracks in them which can appear for a number of reasons. Usually these are repaired by the owners, and they might even sound good when an individual first buys it.

These cracks are also affected by the weather and its many changes. The humidity or lack of it, causes these cracks to open and close which can mean constant changes in the sound. Even though repairs are made, one has to think about how often they are done. Too many can cause the quality of sound to decrease since a person will have to constantly try to close the cracks.

Strings are another element that affects the sound. An instrument can sound bright or dull depending on the material the strings are made of. These include guts from the sheep or goat, metal or synthetic material. There are also known as gut core, metal core, and synthetic core strings. The most expensive of the three is the gut core and it is also quite unstable in performance.

An example of this is the gut core strings which are made from sheep or goat guts. These type of strings are used by those who play Baroque music, even though they quite expensive and unstable in pitch. On the other hand, steel core strings are for more stable and less expensive. They are also more widely used by amateurs and professionals.

The sound of a handmade cello depends on how well it has been kept overall. Some people go to a general music store in order to get a good string instrument. However, if one is looking for quality it is best to go to a store that specializes in cellos and similar instruments. You are more likely to get the best quality for your money.




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