Soloist III Cello Special Edition

Great Cello, Great Process

As an adult returning cellist, I wanted a few specific things from my new instrument; 1. good playability (ergonomics!) 2. Within a modest budget. As a trained singer, I also wanted a cello with a particular tone - warm and dark. I worried that I wouldn't be able to find something that matched all three requirements. Enter Stringworks. I really didn't want to purchase a cello sight unseen, and luckily I had already planned a trip to the area. I contacted Todd and Evan and gave them my request, and I was delighted to hear they had some options for me. We set up a time for me to audition cellos in person. The shop was very welcoming, and Evan provided me with a selection of cellos to try. One didn't have the right "voice", the second was close, and by the third - a Soloist Special Edition - Evan stopped me midway through a scale to change a string to make it sound more like me. Despite being a "smaller" instrument, the sounds that comes from the cello is powerful, and yes - warm and dark. I have my own bow, but he also gave me a few to try that work with both the cello and the way I play, so I have a good idea of where I might be picking up my "back-up" bow in the future. The cello was packaged securely for shipping, and arrived in perfect condition. I now look forward to my practice sessions. For every hour that I play the tone gets a little richer. My teacher has also noted how my articulation is improving because of how responsive the cello is. And while I was initially hesitant to purchase an instrument online (and I am glad I got to play it in person), I have no doubt that I could have sent Todd and Evan a sound file of me singing and they would have selected exactly the same instrument and strings for me. If you can go in and try them, do it! But if you can't, you can trust Stringworks to send you a great instrument.

Absolutely gorgeous cello with a rich, velvety tone!!! NO regrets!!!

Simply, the best!

It’s hard to think of a way to effectively convey the level of service, attention to detail, and amount of care that I felt throughout the entire process of buying my new cello from Stringworks. I am an adult (re-beginner) after many years away. While I may not be an expert, I was never made to feel as if my input was anything less than important and valid. Todd and Evan and the entire Stringworks family are the sort of people that you want to work with. They love what they do and love sharing their passion with others. This comes through in all that they do and is reflected in their work, the setup of the instrument, and the concern they show for customers. Buying a new high-quality cello was the realization of a decades-long dream for me and the instrument I received was exactly what I expected and more. I feel that I received great value for the money and the cello is just beautiful. I can only hope that with enough practice, I may do it justice someday. In the meantime, it will make practice much more enjoyable. Thank you so much. I would not hesitate to recommend Stringworks to anyone. Without reservation, I can say that the entire experience was wonderful from start to finish.