Cello Rental:
Johnson String (in Boston but ship to NYC)
Stringworks (in the Midwest but ship to NYC)
Shar Music- REplay program (less than $40/month, 24 month commitment)
Flushing Violin Shop (in Flushing, Queens)
Quality Strings (Manhattan Upper West Side…can be a bit hit or miss. Try to ask for a new instrument if you go this route…)
A couple notes about cello rentals…
Johnson (linked above) is my personal favorite for their price, consistent quality of setup, excellent customer service, and easy delivery to your doorstep.
In general, I have not been super thrilled with the consistency of instrument quality from local rental places here in NYC. Not saying that you shouldn’t rent from local NYC places, but they feel like they can be a bit hit-or-miss with quality, and I feel that the value of their rent-to-buy options is not a good value. Again, just my opinion, so please make the choice that feels best for you!
Other notes on instruments:
If you are a beginner, I do not recommend buying a cello for multiple reasons, the primary one being that choosing your cello is a personal choice, and you’ll be able to make an informed decision about what you’re looking for in terms of aesthetic, sound quality, and budget with at least 6-12 months of playing experience.
Cello kits: I honestly do not recommend the $500 cello kits on Amazon; or anything under $1200 (unless you get a REALLY good deal secondhand…), as they are not well set-up (the pegs are not properly fitted, so it’s difficult to tune, the strings are very thin and prone to breaking and sound extremely tinny, and the string heights can be really off, which makes producing sound very difficult). Additionally, you will struggle to resell the instrument if you wish to upgrade to a better-quality one.
Electric cellos: having one for occasional home practice is okay, but you need to bring an acoustic instrument to classes.
Cello Sizing:
- You’ll need a 4/4 or full-size cello if you are above 5’3″.
- If you are under 5’3″ you might want to consider a 7/8 cello unless you have a large hand span.
- The basic rental model is perfectly fine.
Other Accessories needed for class:
- Download TE Tuner on your phone or tablet. Another tuning app is not suitable.
- Purchase a music stand for home practice (no need to bring to class but you NEED one at home)
- Purchase a String Vision Bow Grip
- Make sure you have a chair with no arms, no padding, and a flat seat for home practice. When seated, your knees should be at a 90-degree angle. Barstools and desk chairs are not appropriate. An ordinary wood kitchen chair or height-adjustable piano bench like the linked search results are excellent options. Craigslist, IKEA, and Amazon are all great websites to find a low-cost option.
Cello Purchase:
Cello purchase is recommended when you have been 6 months to 2 years.
I recommend the following places for cello purchase. Plan to spend anywhere between $3k and $6k. Some places will offer rent-to-buy credit and payment plans. Always ask!
Mike Purcell– luthier based in Philadelphia. https://www.purcellstrings.com/contact
Johnson String- based in Boston, but will ship you instruments to try. johnsonstring.com
Flushing Violin Shop–very nice student model cellos for a reasonable price. https://flushingviolin.com/
Other NYC-based shops:
If you are the financial resources and desire to invest in a fine instrument, there are many good options in and around New York, but expect to spend $5k and up for the cello alone.
If you are on a budget (under $5k) I do not recommend purchasing from Quality Strings, Finlay & Gage, or other Manhattan-based shops. These shops are perfectly fine for rentals, but I don’t think it’s a great value for the price.
Insurance: when you purchase an instrument, case, and bow, you will need to get it insured. You can add the instrument to your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance. If you have a fine instrument, instrument-specific insurance can be purchased through Anderson (mention that you are a student of Kirin McElwain).