dimanche 6 octobre 2013

Factors 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.

One of the elements that affects the sound of a cello is its age. Older instruments tend to have harder wood which makes the sound vibrate more effectively. The varnish used on the wood is also hardened over time, but this depends on the kind of varnish that is used. If it is a soft varnish, it might not have the same effect as one that is meant to harden over time.

A piece of wood is usually treated before it is used in order to make it last longer. It can also be done to create a certain effect and this is also true of musical instruments. One also has to think about where the wood comes from, since certain trees tend to produce certain qualities of wood that are more dense than others.

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.

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.

Handmade cello tend to have a better sound than one that has been produced by a machine. When a person is looking for the best cello for their budget, it is a good idea to go to a person that deals only with stringed instruments. This is the only way to ensure that one is getting the best quality they can afford.




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