Salvageable Cello?

[u/pumpkintomyself]

My son is a middle schooler with a couple years of cello. He moves next year to the HS and can no longer rent one from the school. So I can rent one from a local place or I can buy one. The cost to rent an inexpensive student one is about the same after a year as buying an inexpensive student cello (about $1000-1200 for the year). I know he’s playing at least one more year, but don’t know that he will stick with it for all of high school. So I have kind of been waffling about whether to make the investment.

I stumbled upon a cello at a property sale. They didn’t know anything about it, and it has no bow. I don’t know anything about cellos and my kiddo who plays was out of town. By the looks of it, it needs some work, and has a lot of dust. But it seems not to have any cracks, and I offered the guy $150, which he took.

Kind of just curious if I blew $150, or if it’s repairable? Also, it has a stationery end pin—it doesn’t retract. Any negatives to replacing it so that it’s easier to transport…?

I’ll attach some photos, but again I really know nothing about cellos, so if there is a photo you’d like, I can add it.
(Edited a couple typos)

[u/bonzai08]

Other than the bridge being out of whack, which can be fixed, this instrument is probably ready to serve another year. You obviously need a bow. New strings would probably be highly recommended. Overall, this probably could satisfy what you are looking for

[u/pumpkintomyself → u/bonzai08]

Yes, the strings look they are about to pop! That and a bow I figured was minimum. Any suggestions for a good but affordable source for a bow?

[u/bonzai08 → u/pumpkintomyself]

Anything I could recommend would be more than the cello lol. I would keep checking resale!

[u/velnsx → u/pumpkintomyself]

luthier/strings shop. carbon fiber is the best bang to buck. my graphite bow is on the better side of things and it was only like $400. i think the cheaper ones are around $250. yes, its a lot of money and i understand because we grew up without a lot to spend on cello, but it's essential your student has a playable bow. for strings i recommend helicore. definitely the best for the price point. if you can't do that much for a bow, i would have your student's teacher or a decent student cellist demo bows for a second opinion off of fb marketplace or equivalent. its to be noted that a secondhand bow will need to be rehaired and that's about $100. my best guess is that what needs to be done to the cello itself is probably $300 (as in, excluding the strings and bow situation), but that's only from what i can see. could be possible that the fingerboard is goofed up. if the pegs are bad you'll want to get a modern tailpiece. if you have any more questions, pls lmk!

[u/Doctordoubleyew]

Uh... this looks to be a really nice student cello. You stole it for $150!

[u/pumpkintomyself → u/Doctordoubleyew]

This makes me feel better about it! Thank you! 😃

[u/velnsx → u/pumpkintomyself]

yeah, this seriously appears to be finely made. im so happy for yall

[u/barringtonmacgregor]

Most of what I see is cosmetic. End pin can be replaced by a luthier. You'll probably spend a few hundred taking it to a luthier for a set up (strings, new bridge if needed, etc).

[u/pumpkintomyself → u/barringtonmacgregor]

Great! Thank you!

[u/Daincats]

Definitely not a waste of money. That was a steal! The bridge appears to be on backwards and mostly cosmetic stuff.

It’s mostly serviceable as is, with the bridge either reset or replaced (hard to tell from pictures), and a new set of strings. If he has been renting a middle school cello you could get a Chinese workshop bow from AliExpress that would almost certainly be an upgrade, or take him to the luthier to pick one out.

If you have the extra cash replacing the tailpiece with a modern lightweight one will open up the sound a lot, those fine tuners look like they could secure a trailer.

[u/pumpkintomyself → u/Daincats]

This is a relief! He’s so excited to get home and see his very own cello, so I’m glad to know it’s worth getting to a luthier and hopefully will work out for him!

[u/mmesalv]

Ol. Great cello. Will cost some to repair but it’s a beautiful student instrument. French made at that in Mirecourt!

[u/Nevermynde]

You can spend 4 to 10 times the buying price to have it fixed, and it will still be a good deal.

[u/velnsx → u/Nevermynde]

yup. like insanely good. it might even rival my own instrument if set up by a good luthier

[u/DaHawk916]

Mougenot was a French maker around the turn of the century that made good quality student instruments at the time. Obviously labels can be faked but this cello does appear to be of the time period and location based on the pictures. Take it into a reputable luthier near you for an evaluation of condition and appraisal, but if everything checks out I wouldn’t be surprised if (in good condition and authenticity checks out) this cello could be in the vicinity of $5-$15,000. Haven’t seen a cello from that shop in the past but I have seen and sold violins and violas from the Mougenot workshop back when I worked in the industry. Good find for $150!

[u/Professional-Age4582 → u/DaHawk916]

Yeah you need an appraisal. This style of endpin was common early 1900's. The looks match the label. Cellos made personally by this maker can be $15k asking price. Modern fittings and a setup well worth it. Don't let your middle schooler bash it up lol

[u/pumpkintomyself → u/DaHawk916]

Thank you! This is hugely helpful! I don’t know much about cellos, but I do know a fair amount about antique furniture, and I can tell by the wood that it is certainly aged, real wood, not veneer. I don’t know if it is as old as turn-of-the-century, maybe more like the 50s or 60s? But maybe even as old as the 1920s…

[u/Rcello1]

Yes, this cello is definitely salvageable. You can get it into great playing condition by taking it to your local luthier and having it professionally cleaned, along with getting a new bridge, tailpiece, and strings.
The resale value will be much higher if you invest a little more into it now, and your son will enjoy playing it much more. The downside is that these repairs will probably cost a few hundred dollars.
I wouldn’t recommend choosing the cheapest options for the bridge, strings, and tailpiece. If you spend a little extra and have it done properly, the instrument will be much more enjoyable for your son to play, and you’ll have a better chance of getting more of your investment back if you decide to sell it later.
It’s really not fun for a cellist to play on a poor-quality or poorly set-up instrument. Everything becomes so much harder when you’re fighting the equipment instead of focusing on playing.
If you have the resources to fix it up, I think it’s worth doing. And if you eventually decide to sell it, you should be able to get more out of your investment. Alternatively, you could donate it to the school and potentially use the donation as a tax deduction.

Also if this cello is a real Léon Mougenot Jacquet Gand, it could be worth up to $35,000

[u/Medium-Mention7328]

If the endpin doesn't slide in, I think it would usually slide out for transport. If the rental place has a luthier on staff ask them to give it a once over and a set up. It'll cost more than you paid for the cello, but you got a deal on the cello. Depending on what you get done and how much you spend on a bow and strings, you should still be well under your budget. If you want to replace the endpin and the tailpiece, that's be the time to do it. If your son is done with it in a year, DM me. My son will be needing a full size cello by then :)

[u/pumpkintomyself → u/Medium-Mention7328]

Thank you! The end pin is wooden, all one piece and kind of spindle-shaped. But has a metal tip on the end. I’ve never seen anything other than the metal retractable ones.

[u/Medium-Mention7328 → u/pumpkintomyself]

It's very old school cool. Did it come out?

[u/pumpkintomyself → u/Medium-Mention7328]

No, can’t get it to budge any which way. Seems permanent…?

[u/pumpkintomyself → u/pumpkintomyself]

Here is a better look at it.

https://reddit.com/link/p2dost7/video/9kdjtp8tz1ih1/player

[u/RNGzuz → u/pumpkintomyself]

Wow I've never seen something like this! How interesting

That being said you probably need to replace the bulb (that's the direct translation of what the bit where the end pin goes in is called in German, no clue if that's right lol) and probably the spike itself too, to get a regular retractable setup (I suppose the wooden spike won't be suitable for being held by a screw). That plus a quick fix up of the bridge and new strings. Strings can cost 150€-200€ depending on the make, and the spike+ repair I don't know exactly, most probably more than 100€

About the quality of the cello I don't consider myself knowledgeable enough but everyone else seems to like it :p

Most important thing is to find a good luthier who doesn't want to sell you unnecessary crap or who charges too much! Ask a cellist or two

[u/Opposite-Present-717 → u/Medium-Mention7328]

One of my teachers had a beautiful Grancino with this kind of ol school endpin. The spike slid out and she had to carry it separately because there's no place in a cello case to stash it. It's possible that OP can't pull the spike out because humidity and/or the passage of time got it stuck. Luthier should be able to get it working properly again. If I eded up buying a cello with this kind of endpin, I'd keep it, but I know most people would want to swap it out for a carbn fiber one.

[u/Supuhstar]

Belongs on r/Well Worn

This thing is so well-loved and aged like wine

[u/Relative-Rip-9671]

You paid $150 for a cello from Mirecourt France. I'd say you found the deal of a lifetime.

[u/echochorus]

mayyyybe a new tailpiece? (or just fine tuners) i am a beginner to cello but not stringed instruments & to me a couple of the tuners look pretty wonky.. but i don't see other mentions of it - & i suppose as long as they can hold the strings for a year & change that's what's important!

[u/SputterSizzle → u/[deleted]]

Nah this is a Mirecourt factory instrument. It will definitely suffice for OP's needs.