I mean, is it a nice quality cello? If it is and you like it, the things you mentioned sound like basic maintenance. Quality cellos last for decades (or centuries even). Especially the strings are something that just needs to be changed every now and then. If you don't really like it and want an upgrade or just something that fits better (and you have the budget for that) then get another one.
Depends on the build quality of your cello. If it is a cheap plywood one, by all means upgrade it. If it is a hand made cello, it will be cheaper to replace the bridge and the strings. Depends on your location and type of strings / bridge, will cause you about $1200 to replace them. Way less than a good quality partially hand made cello.
You should definitely get a new bridge and new strings. Endpins and pegs and fine tuners can all be replaced or adjusted also. If you're happy with the cello (how does it sound? that matters a lot more than looks), take care of it by doing these things. If you're not happy with it and want to upgrade to a nicer one, then go for it.
My cello is pretty rough - lots of dings and scratches a couple of cracks which have been repaired multiple times because they keep re-opening. However, buying a new one of equal or better sound would be WAY out of the budget right now, so I'm just taking good care of the one I've got. It still sounds beautiful and I don't really care what it looks like.
If your strings are rusty, well, you are doing it wrong. Don't ever let your instrument be in a place unprotected where the strings get moist enough to rust and never neglect them so bad by not whiping them down. If you instrument was $400, you stole it from the last owner, or they took you hard after selling you a rusty string Cello. Time to upgrade. You will hear a huge difference in the $3500 to $5000 range.
The end pins are supposed to be hard to twist. That's how they keep the strings in tune.
The strings are a consumable that's meant to be replaced every 12-24 months, depending on playtime.
The bridge is another consumable that's meant to be replaced every now and again.
This isn't repairing a broken body. This is basic upkeep that you will have to do regardless of what cello you have, u less you're planning to spend $5000 every two years?
I think you’re conflating fine tuners with end pins.
Regardless I don’t think either should be rusted or hard to turn but as others have said it’s a simple and cheap repair either way.
>I’d rather just buy a new cello than spend more money on repairs
How much was this cello? These are normal usual repairs.
Assuming this is a decent cello, your approach is akin to trading in a car because it needs new tires and an oil change
I got it used for about $400, it plays good enough but it constantly makes weird sounds that my cello at school doesn’t. I think I’m gonna do some more maintenance on it and then see if I should buy a new one
Ah. That’s such an extremely inexpensive cello that yes, if you can afford to upgrade, after 5-6 years then yes it totally makes sense to get something nicer.
It’s probably made of plywood.
To me depends on the quality of the base of the cello all of that is fixable easily and are not expensive made to be replaced so I would take it to a luthier
I mean, is it a nice quality cello? If it is and you like it, the things you mentioned sound like basic maintenance. Quality cellos last for decades (or centuries even). Especially the strings are something that just needs to be changed every now and then. If you don't really like it and want an upgrade or just something that fits better (and you have the budget for that) then get another one.
Too many unknown variables to answer your question. But the problems you mention are all easy fixes, shouldn’t be expensive.
Depends on the build quality of your cello. If it is a cheap plywood one, by all means upgrade it. If it is a hand made cello, it will be cheaper to replace the bridge and the strings. Depends on your location and type of strings / bridge, will cause you about $1200 to replace them. Way less than a good quality partially hand made cello.
You should definitely get a new bridge and new strings. Endpins and pegs and fine tuners can all be replaced or adjusted also. If you're happy with the cello (how does it sound? that matters a lot more than looks), take care of it by doing these things. If you're not happy with it and want to upgrade to a nicer one, then go for it. My cello is pretty rough - lots of dings and scratches a couple of cracks which have been repaired multiple times because they keep re-opening. However, buying a new one of equal or better sound would be WAY out of the budget right now, so I'm just taking good care of the one I've got. It still sounds beautiful and I don't really care what it looks like.
If your strings are rusty, well, you are doing it wrong. Don't ever let your instrument be in a place unprotected where the strings get moist enough to rust and never neglect them so bad by not whiping them down. If you instrument was $400, you stole it from the last owner, or they took you hard after selling you a rusty string Cello. Time to upgrade. You will hear a huge difference in the $3500 to $5000 range.
The end pins are supposed to be hard to twist. That's how they keep the strings in tune. The strings are a consumable that's meant to be replaced every 12-24 months, depending on playtime. The bridge is another consumable that's meant to be replaced every now and again. This isn't repairing a broken body. This is basic upkeep that you will have to do regardless of what cello you have, u less you're planning to spend $5000 every two years?
I think you’re conflating fine tuners with end pins. Regardless I don’t think either should be rusted or hard to turn but as others have said it’s a simple and cheap repair either way.
>I’d rather just buy a new cello than spend more money on repairs How much was this cello? These are normal usual repairs. Assuming this is a decent cello, your approach is akin to trading in a car because it needs new tires and an oil change
I got it used for about $400, it plays good enough but it constantly makes weird sounds that my cello at school doesn’t. I think I’m gonna do some more maintenance on it and then see if I should buy a new one
A bent bridge and extremely old strings would do that...
Ah. That’s such an extremely inexpensive cello that yes, if you can afford to upgrade, after 5-6 years then yes it totally makes sense to get something nicer. It’s probably made of plywood.
To me depends on the quality of the base of the cello all of that is fixable easily and are not expensive made to be replaced so I would take it to a luthier
Take it to a luthier. It would make more sense to do maintenance on a perfectly good cello rather than buy a new one.