Are there any Violin or Cello players out there?

What type of aftermarket power cord do people suggest with their string instruments?

Okay, just had chime in with that one.......

audiotweek, that sounds like quite an innovation.

Roomtunes makes wood platforms for string players, (as well as singers)

The combination of the two of these could be an amazing step forward in acoustic reproduction.

Thanks Mr E.

Maximum coupling is the key. I saw the platforms. With what I am doing now for floor standing instruments you would not need to have an additional platform. My device provides maximum coupling at the instrument side as well as the floor room interface surface. Looking for a wider audience of open minded musicians to try the pin out. Tom

$5000 for a fine instrument seems pretty cheap. Would these be good for young people who can't afford $50,000?

$5000 for a fine instrument seems pretty cheap. Would these be good for young people who can't afford $50,000?

I worked on photographing some beautiful older Italian made cellos over the course of ten years. The images are very technical and shot in large format. I think over that time we must have shot over 60 instruments, most valued in excess of what you mention. Eventually it will become a book. During that time I came to know Dr. Ray Carlsen, who established The Carlsen Cello Foundation specifically to get good instruments into the hands of gifted children who may otherwise not afford such instruments. Check the link and feel free to pass it on to anyone you think may be interested. I do not know the current status of the non-profit, nor the parameters for qualification. I have no doubt there may be other similar programs as well. My in-laws (mother and sister) are first viola and cello in the a local orchestra. I will ask them about these carbon fiber instruments and see if they have any strong opinions. From the site and comments there, they sound like a good value, as you suggest. I would also doubt they'd have the same kind of qualities a classical wooden instrument could impart, but then I'm not a musician. The difference in price certainly could mean the difference for many of having an instrument and not having one. Aren't there also programs that lease fine instruments?

It is worth considering that the majority of traditional wooden instruments past and present, like cellos, violins,etc. . . just sound very bad. However, as they have been made for so long, and there have been so many luthiers in history, there are a lot of excellent extant instruments in the morasse. The application of carbon fiber to the manufacturing of string instruments is fairly new and not yet wide spread. . . as the carbon instrument inventory grows, and related manufacturing techniques evolve, we will see more and more new technology instruments that pass high muster. Besides, new instruments need to broken in. . . sometimes for a couple of years before they sound their best. In the meantime, the question to ask is: given a certain semi-fixed budget, how does one get the sound sought after? a good carbon instrument, or perhaps a Goronok or something else? It will be a matter of personal taste. . . besides, like in audio there are means to optimize the sound of a cello. . . Some Perastro and larsen string are excellent for sweetening the sound. . . then there are different bows, bridges, tail pieces, end pins. . . and sound posts. . . they all make a significant difference. . . and it is no New Age mumbo-jumbo either. Sounds eerily and audiophilically familiar? G.