Rent or Buy your First Instrument?

So you want to learn to play cello (or bass)--should your rent or buy your first instrument? Rent. It doesn't matter if you are a child, teenager, or adult. With the glut of cheap.com cellos available you might be tempted to buy something. We have a special term in the industry for cheap instruments: CSOs. What is a CSO? Cello Shaped OBJECT. It may look like a cello, but it won't play or sound like one. In fact it may not even play at all. I recently had the sad experience of telling the parents of one child that the instrument was so poorly made that it would cost more to fix it then it did to buy it in the first place. And, oh yes, it was unplayable. (See my post on CSOs.)

So what about snatching up a deal from the classifieds? Again, if you are just starting out you don't know what you want for a cello. Do you want a dark or a bright sound. What size cello should you get 1/2? 3/4? 7/8? Full? Does the cello "speak" easily or not? Has it an open or a closed sound? Are there hidden cracks, poorly made soundposts, etc. A beginner really can't tell these things. So if you are starting out, rent. When you are ready to buy, see my blog post on buying instruments.

By the way, if you are looking at upright basses, children generally play 1/4 to 1/2, taller teens and adults play 3/4 size. That's right, most orchestra basses are only 3/4 size. Some taller players prefer 7/8 bass. Full size bass? You had better be a center on a basketball team!

Where to rent? Here in Salt Lake City there are three good places. Don't forget to get insurance on the instrument when you rent it.

1. Charles Liu. His instruments seem to be better quality. You can rent to own.

2. Riverton Music or Summerhays Music. The provide instruments for all the schools in town. Probably can get into renting an instrument cheapest through one of these places. Can also rent to own but see my blog on buying an instrument before buying here.

There are others but I have dealt with these three and have had good feedback.

Renting Checklist:

1. Cello (or bass)

2. bow

3. case

4. rosin (see post on rosins)

5. instrument cloth for wiping rosin off of strings (buy this from the store, don't use regular rags as they scratch the finish of the instrument)

6. endpin stop (keeps the cello/bass endpin from sliding on hard surfaces)

7. nametag to attach to instrument case

I also recommend Notes & Strings flashcards, 1st position for cello to help you learn to read bass clef and learn the notes on the cello.

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So you have played for a while and are ready to buy your first cello/bass. Then check in on my post on buying.