Cello

I took my cello to the shop yesterday, and it was good.

redmed and I have a few opportunities coming up to play music together. In order to take full advantage, and hopefully to re-kindle my enthusiasm for the instrument, I decided to get new strings. On a whim, we stopped in at Rutmans Violins by Symphony hall. They didn’t have any of the “red label” cheap-o student strings that I’ve always used, but said that they would order some and call me. They also encouraged me to bring the instrument in so that they could re-string it for me. Having some recollection of sound-posts and bridges collapsing and being a real pain to reset … and also being totally rusty on the instrument … I agreed.

When I brought in the cello and showed it to him he pointed out some things of which I had been only dimly aware. I had seen the warping in the bridge, but I had no idea how bad it had gotten. I had seen the way the top string was burying itself into the top of the bridge … but I hadn’t noticed how deep it was. After a quick inspection in which he knocked gently all the way around the instrument and peered inside it, he said something to the effect of “You used to play, for perhaps 5 or 6 years, but then you have taken many years off, correct?”

I nodded, he was dead right. He continued and described exactly the flaws that I had found most frustrating with the instrument. The wobbly pitch on the open strings, the increasing shrillness on the top end, the “wolf” on any D, anywhere in the range.

“Option one: I reset this bridge, graphite the slots, put parchment under the top string to keep it from cutting further. You are waiting for the bridge to snap, or perhaps for you to get bored again and we wait another few years. For this, no charge, but you have to wait if anyone else comes in.”

“The other option is for me to carve you a new bridge. In that case, I will sell you new strings. There is no reason to put new strings on this bridge.”

While I was there, he casually handled four or five other customers, from a woman who was obviously a professional violinist trying to select a new bow through parents upgrading their children’s instruments. In every case, I saw the same gentle depth of knowledge at work.

I’m getting a new bridge and new strings. While we were figuring out which bridge blank he would use, and which strings, he actually asked me a few very specific questions about the music that I play, how I hold the bow, etc, and then walked to the back of the shop and came back with a set of strings. “I will put these on, and leave one of the envelopes in the case so you know what sort they are. Return on Tuesday and your cello will be renewed.”

Whatever the domain, it’s always awesome to see a real master at work.