In this video, I build a working cello out of an old wooden box.
Steps:
1. Intro 0:00
2. Buying hardware 1:44
3. Buying wood 3:03
4. Building the cello 5:05
5. Playing the cello 10:07
Random observations:
- The scale length on a cello roughly 27.4"
- If you're going to build a cello out of a box and you plan for it to be a four-string cello like mine, you should make it with a fairly narrow box, otherwise the outer two strings will be very hard to play. The box I chose was too wide. Ideally, the box should be no wider than the narrowest part of the cello (approx. 9 1/2 inches). The narrow parts are called the "waist" or "center bouts".
- Cello necks are rounded to match for the layout of the strings. Mine is flat which means that the middle two strings are higher than the outer two strings.
- When you buy a cello bridge, you really just buying a bridge blank-it comes with a square top that needs to be sanded into a point. It also needs to be filed down to be the right height for your cello. I did this with a power sander-not exactly a precision instrument.
- Cello tailpieces are very long compared to the floating bridges on hollow body electric guitars and basses. The thing that connects the tailpiece to the end pin is called a "tailgut".
- Ukulele tuners work better than you'd think with cello strings. We'll see how they last.
- All classical bowed string instruments have sound posts-essentially a short wooden dowel that runs from the sounding boar to the back of the instrument. These are almost always located just under the bridge. I put one in my instrument, too, and it seems to help keep the body from caving in.
- These are the cello strings I purchased: www.ebay.com/itm/CELLO-STRING...
Support what I do on Patreon: / dhilowitz
Find my FILM & INSTRUMENTAL music here: davidhilowitz.bandcamp.com
Find my ROCK MUSIC here: manwomanchild.bandcamp.com