Hello again my fellow cello enthusiasts! 

Today I am going to discus with you about two cellos from the $4000 price range - the Gliga I and the Master Struna. Before we dive into the detail, I would like to point out that if you are contemplating buying a cello of your own; it is recommended you do so at a specialist shop. The reason for this is that these shops, like our own, offer professional set-up of instruments, which includes swapping out the low-quality parts that come with the instrument by default, with new, custom made parts crafted here in our shop. 

On to the good stuff, the cello reviews. To begin I will introduce the Gliga I cello, made in the workshop and under strict specifications of Vasile Gliga. The front of the Gliga I is made from the strait-grain spruce coated with an oil varnish imported from Germany, giving the instrument a nice deep and mellow tone characteristic of Gliga instruments. The back is made from maple and the entire instrument sports a darker matte finish.

By comparison, the Master Struna has an aged finish to it, making it appear much older than it actually is. I will often get asked by customers where did I get such an old cello from, when in reality it was made in 2010! They are made in the small German workshop set up in China, making the instrument much more affordable than its European counterparts, but offering the same quality.

The sound of the Gliga I proved very deep, mellow and lush, with much more volume and a thinner, more focused sound on the A string, than say, Gliga III, mainly because of the Belgian style bridge I fitted it with. The Master Struna is fitted with a French style bridge, giving it a rounder, warmer sound. The Struna also has a lot of ringing across the strings, contrasting the much flatter sound of the Gliga. 

Both cellos have nice depth in the bottom end: one of the main reasons why they are very popular amongst players. The combination of a French style bridge and the style of the cello makes it sound rounder on the A string. Summing it all up, both of these instruments are a magnificent testament to the quality of cello craftsmanship and either one of them will easily prove their worth if you let them.