5 Amazing Intermediate Cellos You Need to Read About
When looking to buy a cello, whether you’re upgrading from a beginner cello or you have the cash to start out with a higher quality instrument, you may find it hard to locate musical instruments in the “intermediate” niche. Honestly, the distinction between an intermediate and advanced cello instrument is often blurry. You can find great cellos with a sound qualities reminiscent of much more expensive cellos for several thousand dollars.
At Dolce Violins, we carry a wide range of cellos from a careful selection of the best cello brands, all of them hand-picked by our staff for sound quality. If you’re looking at buying a cello in the intermediate price and quality range, look no further, we have you covered.
Ivan Dunov Model 401 – $4,190
The Ivan Dunov Model 401 from Eastman is one of the most affordable intermediate cellos we carry here at Dolce. Crafted in Romanian workshops from seasoned, aged Carpathian tonewoods, the Dunov Model 401s are finished and varnished by Eastman Strings. That said, we always adjust and refine the setup of this Eastman cello here in our San Rafael workshop.
Although Eastman is already one of the best cello brands in the business, our owner Moses tests out each Model 401 by hand, oftentimes playing as many as 20 cellos, before choosing the best to stock here at Dolce. The Ivan Dunov Model 401 cellos offer high-quality sound married to the affordability of Eastman products. This is an exquisite sounding instrument and one where Old-World craftsmanship meets modern quality and affordability.
Jean Pierre Lupot Model 501 – $4,279
The Jean Pierre Lupot Model 501 from Eastman is another excellent choice in the same range of cello instrument prices. This cello features a Stradivari pattern providing a well-seasoned and flamed maple back, coupled with a well-seasoned spruce top and flamed maple back. Ebony pegs and a Wittner ultra tailpiece round out the fittings.
The varnish’s rich, red hue gives this cello the appearance of an antique cello in a much higher price bracket. While it is an Eastman product, we refine the setup the Model 501 in our workshop in San Rafael.
We play the cellos we carry, and the Jean Pierre Lupot Model 501 is no different. Each one comes hand-picked by our experts after numerous play tests. Sometimes only 1 in 20 manage to make the cut. What’s more, our shop owner Moses selects each Jean Pierre Lupot’s strings by hand.
Master Linn Cello – $4,199
The Maple Leaf Strings Master Linn Cello is another perfect marriage between modern cellos and exquisite Old World style. This cello harkens back to the grand instruments of the 18th and 19th century.
Built with select tonewoods in the style of master Italian luthiers, it features a select spruce top, back and sides of highly flamed maple, an ebony fingerboard and fittings, hand-inlaid ebony purfling, and a Wittner Ultra tailpiece. This is a unique and elegant instrument, with an aesthetic and qualitative appeal far beyond its price.
Ivan Dunov Model 402 – $4673
The Ivan Dunov Model 402, like its little brother the Model 401, is another Eastman Strings classic. This is a stellar student cello for intermediate players moving into secondary or tertiary cello education. It’s far from the most expensive cello on the market, at an affordable $4,673, but it packs the quality and craftsmanship of a hand-carved, Old World cello, crafted from exquisite, solid wood. Here we have an aged Carpathian spruce top and maple backing, along with fine ebony fittings.
The Model 402 features an antique-style spirit varnish, eliciting a feeling of the work of master luthiers of centuries past. This 4/4 cello is perfect for students looking for top-of-the-line quality while searching for a cello for sale in value-oriented price brackets.
Calin Wultur #6 Cello Guarneri – $5,500
From a small workshop in Romania, Calin Wultur crafts string instruments in the Old World tradition with New World prices. Wultur and his team create one-of-a-kind instruments with exquisite workmanship while maintaining a stunningly low price range.
The luthiers, who number less than thirty, craft their instruments mostly by hand, as opposed to larger, factory-style shops. With this cello, we have top-quality European workmanship and tradition married to a lower price range. This is made possible by the cheaper work environment in Romania.
These cellos come setup with Versum strings and produce a deep, broad core tone. The range of the sound the Calin Wultur produces will impress even expert cellists. This cello’s almond-brown varnish gives the appearance of quality far beyond its cost.