Intermediate’s Guide to Buying a Cello – Dolce Violins

It happened: you’ve been practicing faithfully, the squeaky sound is gone, and finally, your teacher pauses your lesson. “Your sound is coming along,” they say. “I think it’s time to get a real instrument.”

Beginning students often start with an entry-level cello to build their skills and decide whether they want to continue playing. But when the time comes to upgrade to an intermediate cello, how do you know which instrument to choose?

This guide will help you identify instruments in the intermediate range and explain what to look for when choosing your new instrument.

What is an Intermediate Cello?

Cellos come in a range of qualities that suit all levels of musicianship. After a student has been playing for about a year, they usually outgrow their entry-level instrument. Both financially and musically, purchasing an intermediate cello is the best choice. 

An intermediate quality cello allows the player to develop their ear, fine-tune their bowing, and build their musicality on a more advanced instrument, without the higher price tag of a professional model.

Intermediate cellos need to be selected with care. Finding the right cello will keep you from getting stuck with a low-quality instrument that may inhibit your musicianship or overpaying for a professional instrument.

Entry Level Instruments vs. Intermediate Instruments: What’s the Difference?

Beginner Cellos

• Has less expensive steel strings
• Is often machine-carved with wood that has been aged less than 10 years
• Comes with a beginner-quality Brazilwood bow
• Is finished with synthetic lacquer instead of an oil varnish
• Has a price that reflects its quality: below $1500 and, in some cases, below $800
• Is playable but lacks the rich tone that higher-quality instruments offer

Intermediate Cellos

• Is hand-carved from aged tonewood by experienced luthiers
• Comes with higher-quality, synthetic core, European-made strings
• Is finished with a hand-rubbed spirit or oil varnish
• Is usually priced between $2,400 and $6,000, although some may cost up to $10,000

Overall, intermediate cellos are more carefully constructed and use higher quality materials, resulting in the increase in both playability and price. 

Professional cello players often play antique instruments that deliver the richest, most nuanced sound. A non-professional may have difficulty telling these instruments apart from their intermediate counterparts; however, their price is a clear indicator: a professional cello will cost over $10,000.

The Best Cello Brands

Choosing Your Cello

As an intermediate player developing your personal style, finding an instrument that matches your tastes and skill level can take time.

At Dolce Violins, we carry a wide range of intermediate cellos from the best brands, and each instrument is hand-picked by our staff for quality and playability. Our favorite intermediate cellos include: