Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Elements That Affect The Sound Of A Handmade Cello

By Angel Dudley


There are a number of elements that affect the sound of a handmade cello. One has to consider age, the condition, and the materials used to create the instrument among other things. These factors in addition to the look and beauty of craftsmanship can play a huge role in the decisions that one has to make when deciding what kind of cello to purchase.

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.

Since wood comes from trees, it is natural to assume that the right tree can give a person the right piece of wood to do the work of creating cellos. However, this is only part of the equation. The way the wood is prepared has much to do with the sound of the instrument as the wood itself. The right treatment can create hardness or softness over time which can affect sound.

Even though an older cello might sound better in terms of depth and tone, one also has to consider the condition that it is in. Some instruments have had many repairs over the years for various reasons. With large instruments like cellos, they are more likely to be bumped more frequently than smaller ones. This among other things can change the sound.

Cracks are also common which need to be fixed from time to time. These cracks can change the sound of the instrument, especially when affected by the weather. If it is too hot, cold, or humid, the cracks can change to accommodate these conditions which can make matters worse. Too many repairs can weaken the instrument.

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.

Metal core strings can be made of steel or aluminum and are very stable. They are also less expensive so more people tend to purchase them for a number of reasons. Synthetic strings are made of nylon and are of a lesser quality than the metal strings. There are people who choose any of the three depending on the type of sound they are trying to achieve.

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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