This has become one of my favourite cello models. I first came across it a few years ago when in collaboration with three fellow violin makers we made a copy of it as a project at the Royal Northern College of Music, which owns the original. It’s a fine instrument with a rich quality of sound, and the versions I’ve made so far have all worked well. In fact this one is a commission from a Norwegian player who met the owner of the last one I made and liked it enough to commission one for herself.
As ever, I start with making the rib assembly. The back and ribs of the original cello are poplar, which gives a lovely warmth to the quality of sound, so I have used that too.
While working on the ribs, I’ve started the scroll. This is made from a lovely piece of gently figured maple.
