If you are looking for a well made, solid cello within the $2500 - $3000 price range, I have a special treat just for you! What I’m going to talk to you about are the Gliga III and the Struna Concert cellos. Firstly, I have to mention that all our instruments are professionally set-up with new parts to ensure the absolute quality of the sound. This includes replacing the sub-par strings and bridges that initially come with the instrument with the high-quality parts that highlight all the quality of the instrument to the fullest.
The first thing that I would like to pull your attention to with the Gliga III is the hand-applied varnish. What this does is allow the wood to vibrate in the proper way, by making sure that the varnish is applied in an equally thin layer across the entire instrument. This is done by applying a thinner layer and waiting for it to settle before applying another layer, and so on. Sadly, many cheaper cellos come with a varnish that almost seems like it was thrown onto the instrument in uneven blotches, making it sound very poorly.
On to the next thing; the sound. The first thing I noticed when playing Gliga III is its incredibly mellow sound. This means that the sound does not carry as it would with some other instruments, like for example the Struna Concert, but it makes the Gliga III perfect for practicing in your room and just playing for yourself.
When compared to the Struna Concert, the difference can be heard from one single note. The sound is drastically stronger and has more edge to it, making it more suitable for advanced cello players. One other particular thing about this cello is that it has a distinct ring to its sound. You can hear the ringing for some time after you remove the bow from the strings, which I quite like about it.
Finally the most obvious difference between these two instruments is their general appearance, mainly color. The Gliga III is almost one-tone and has a darker color, while the Struna Concert has an aged, almost antique look. One particular detail I found interesting in Struna Concert cello are the small physical scratches that were added to complete that aged look.
All in all, these two cellos are quite different and both of them have their strong suites, meaning you can’t go wrong with either of them as they are well worth their price.