Buying of musical instruments

Begin violin, viola or cello. A first look to the instrument.

italian language only

<< Today we have a study cello and I want you to see what give you the answers to the most frequent questions of a student, or of those who (for him) are interested in a stringed instrument for first time. Practically what customers usually asked me “What are the first things I have to do with my bowed instrument?” Because initially you buy it for studio, it will therefore be of a certain construction, inexpensive, that will have an equally economical quality control . As a result it needs some relatively simple maintenance setups, even quite economic. The first question is surely “But how do I play the violin or the cello?” It is not a superficial question, the strings with a non prepared bow do not sound because actually the bow runs on the string and does not grip it, let’s say it slips over it . So the first step is to take the rosin from the case, slightly nick it and rub it on the hair. Stretch the bow without exaggerating, the stick must be neither too straight nor too little, at this point begin to rub. Obviously it takes a few minutes, for the most inexperienced even a few good minutes! You need to make a quick movement because the heat spreads it faster. Next there will be a part 2 in which I explain what are the parts of the instrument that we should carry under maintenance the first time we buy a cello or a violin >>

To prepare the bow do not use rosin in the studio sets you buy, it is better to use a better pitch. The cost is negligible compared to the time you can use it. A package of it can last up to two years for a student. We recommend the following (Corelli Bernardel and Royal Oak rosin), you can also find them in more specialized physical stores.

Bonus Stradivari – 2018

We can guarantee the BONUS STRADIVARI 2018, until funds run out (10 million euros). The plafond is little compared to possible questions, so we advise you to immediately request a quote from Atelier Cesarini, starting already from January to look for your instrument.

Bonus 2018:

Extension of the Bonus to students of all the courses of the Conservatories, ISSMs and organizations authorized to issue recognized Afam qualifications: preaccademici, triennio, biennium and previous regulations. In addition, complementary instrument courses (excluded in 2016) are also included; Extension to the students of the Music High Schools;
The terms of the Bonus change: no more than 1,000 euros, but a 65% contribution on the purchase price, up to a maximum contribution of 2,500 euros;
The law will come into force from 2018 (still needs to be confirmed in which month), you can already book your instrument in January.

To know the sound of our instruments we recommend our Youtube channel, where there are many visual audio tests.

Pro Student Instruments, musical instruments for sale

In this video, Mathilde Sigier plays a beautiful theme by John Williams, with our cello Cesarini Pro Studio, in its semi-professional version, and with Cesarini Selected cello bow.

Atelier Cesarini has created the semi-professional series to give the opportunity to all students with a forward-looking perspective (Academy) to buy a good cello with excellent timbre output and exceptional soundness, also the price is very interesting.

The amateur series is more suitable for all beginners, especially students who have to face the 4/4 seize for first time, but who do not want to buy an entry level.

Violoncello prezzi — Cello, semi professional

The price of a Cesarini Pro Studio cello is even less in case you opt for a package including bow and case.

Children’s musical instruments, how to buy

The question is, how much to spend for a children’s musical instruments?

50,00 euro, 100,00 euro, 200,00 euro, 500,00 euro, 1.500,00 euro, 2.500,00 euro, 10.000,00 euro, 20.000 euro?

An example of studio violin 3/4 size on pic.

violino da studio — studio violin 3/4 size

Parts of the instrument that need to be standard and well-regulated are not few. As a result, an bowed instrument, beyond its cost, must comply at least with some rules for being used in the study.

Do not value the instrument, it means not giving importance to the study. This can be considered as a general rule, which can surely lie in many other areas of study.

But how is it possible to understand what is the musical instrument that can be a good quality compromise? Surely the times change, the prices accordingly. A Chinese industrial violin 10 years ago cost 300 euros and was a trash , while an industrial violin today costs 200 euros and it’s done better.

Industrial production requires us to spend less, but we react accordingly, we want to spend less and less.

violoncello da studio

I look at some families that want to get a good timbre, a decent playability, a good reliability and a low price, from an entry level instrument set. These are things that unfortunately do not go well together.

My advice is to buy the second studio band, where we will begin to find a better quality instrument, better woods, more than sufficient playability, better strings, a true ebony keyboard and parts and a usable headband.
The Stentor II violin is for you, it is not the only one, but it is one of the most reliable along with Soundsation. Then a tune-up is always easy on those two. In the size 4/4.

In the size 3/4:

In the smaller sizes all the violins 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, look alike, you can spend less. Soundsation offers a low cost for “small sizes”.

Let’s have a look here to which are the characteristics that should have a entry level musical instument.

Cesarini Custom Shop, Expo – Pioracoustic 2017 – Guitars for sale!

Expo of Liuteria Cesarini – Guitars for sale, we are in the Center for Biblical Studies, Montefano (Marche). We thank Danilo Vecchi and the Center for Studies for the organization. In the video Exhibition of three-day “Pioracoustic 2017” (earthquake edition) at the Center for Biblical Studies, our stage.

Continue reading Cesarini Custom Shop, Expo – Pioracoustic 2017 – Guitars for sale!

Why are luthiers still influenced by antique violin makers?

Building a violin, a cello or a viola with personal shapes and dimensions is always the right choice for Atelier Cesarini. But there are exceptions, some works are certainly inspired by the well-known stradivarian shapes and by dimensions of antique violin makers (Amati, Guarneri, Gasparo da Salò). Perhaps the most used, in general in violin making, is the “Cremonese” violin template (faciebat Stradivari, year 1715).

violin holes

The experimentation, of the various and possible forms of stringed instruments, has been widely done in the past years. Today it is difficult to reinvent something new in this sector.

The dimensions and volumes of classical lutherie have kept them unaltered, since the timbre of the instrument as it was conceived in the past, has been achieved following many empirical tests, which have fixed the sound canons in the ears of musicians and authors, who are past or modern.

It comes naturally to a classical orchestra musician, wanting to replicate the “sound” of a certain repertoire of the period, through an arched instrument that does not go too far from the known.

Conceiving sounds in an abstract and inventive way is a luxury that unfortunately does not belong to the classical repertoire (it is called “classic” also for this reason). The canons are there, getting out from those, can lead to the non-compatibility of the musician with this world.

here you can see a restoration of an old violin. we’ll give you also some advice to understand antique instruments value

Chinrest, how to choose it?

The chinrest is a wooden part (ebony, boxwood, tamarindo, rosewood), which is mounted on violins and viola, through metal clamps that tighten by threading. It was invented in the early 1900s, so by many past interpreters it was not used. With the request for a repertoire, increasingly difficult to play, the chinrest has become an integral part of the instrument, only a few do without it, thinking of ruining the vibration of the instrument with its presence.

In our opinion, the chinrest for violin and viola does not ruin the sound, being cantilevered (which can therefore ideally oscillate on vibration) and being placed on a low resonance area. The two clamps in fact tighten on the ribs, near the bottom block, non -“pulmonary” area of the picea soundboard.

The structure of the chinrest and the wood used, must respect the principles of vibration, certainly will not have to rest on “pulmonary areas” or on the tailpiece

THE DIMENSIONS (THE CONCAVITY AND THE HEIGHT) ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUONABILITY.

Mentoniera Guarneri ebano — Chinrest Guarneri ebony

Continue reading Chinrest, how to choose it?

Cesarini Jam Session 4.1 – Valter Vincenti 4tet and cool handmade guitars

Cesarini Jam Session Season 4.1 in the company of:

Valter Vincenti, guitar (Cesarini “C-Reptilia” – C-Shapely Cesarini Pickups)
Lusi, bass (Cesarini “C-Gold Bronze“, Cesarini Vintage Series)
Saverio Federici, drum
Special Guest: Luca Ravagni, sax (Giorgio Gaber)

“Ussa and al bene così” extract from Valter Vincenti “Colors” , filming takes place at “One More Dub studio” the cave studio in Orvieto (Umbria).

The recording takes place through collective direct shooting, with metronome (given the use of a base composed of atmospheric sounds). Valter uses Orange amplifier and Costa Lab pedals, Lusi Proamp amplification and no effect. Great special guest is the fourth man, Luca Ravagni, saxophone by Giorgio Gaber.

Cesarini Jam Session is a project of Liuteria Cesarini, jam are done with our endorser and our musical instruments.

Footage by SNAP production.

To know better C-Reptilia ( handmade guitars ) go here

Different quality compared, how to buy a cello

The following video represents the dilemma of every student or professional, where to look for the “perfect” musical instrument?

Vintage, handcrafted or studio?

We are in 2017, the era of the web is more real than ever, but unfortunately the common musician does not have exactly a precise idea of what goes on in the market and, above all, of what he needs.

Doubt is certainly a symbol of ability to discern, too much security often leads to risky purchases. Try and listen, this is what we recommend to all musicians looking for their musical instrument.

One’s own subjectivity plays an important role and must not be put aside. The advice of a friend or a professor should never be disdained, indeed it is precious, but it must be sought and not received in a coercive manner. This must never become a “dictat”, one’s taste must become contaminated with various opinions, to strengthen oneself not to annihilate oneself.

In the video Mathilde Sigier plays three cellos, in order:

1 – Semi-professional “Cesarini Pro Studio” cello
2 – Vintage Cello, old french factory (Cesarini Collection)
3 – Old violin-making, cello (circa 1800)

The cello bow used is a Cesarini Selected in round pernambuco.

Best place to buy a violin is where is set a good wood reserve.

The search for wood, for the realization of musical instruments, is a very important discipline for the violin maker, it requires its maximum effort in the online and physical research of the material.

Online market is larger and richer than many others market, the same can not be said for the wood market. This precious material is sometimes found in the most unexpected ways …

… from an elderly violinmaker who closes, from a carpenter who has bought too much for himself, from a farmer who cuts his own plant under his house. Obviously, the seasoning of the wood must be done, especially if the plant has recently been torn down. A different story is made of wood taken from a luthier, who often bought already seasoned wood at the beginning of his activity. This is the best pratice to become the best place to buy a violin.

In Atelier Cesarini often we select seasoned woods, at least 10-20 years, but thanks to the availability of old lutheries that end up activity, we can have seasoned wood up to 40-50 years. This precious material creates the difference in production. The best woods are not used for the production of studio instruments, but for the only professional musical instruments.

Category: Buying guide