One more technique to help with selection. Don’t play several instruments in a row. Play two instruments and determine which of the two you like best. Then compare the next instrument to the one you previously determined to be best. Again determine which you like best and make this the standard for comparison with the next instrument. Keep doing this until you have the instrument you like best. This technique helps reduce ear fatigue.
All the music teachers I’ve had say if your going to spend money on a cello it should be no less than $2000. This is because of quality and time spent making the instrument on the other side I myself am not rich so my first cello was $500. What I did was I bought more expensive strings and re stringed the cello, that cello lasted me 5 years. Although this might not be the case for everyone you can also check out used cellos on ebay etc. many people will not know the true value of the instrument and you can get a really good deal! That being said ofc you can play cello even if your not financially compatible for the more expensive cellos. Your playing skills will matter too my personal experience, having my cheaper cello I always spent time understanding the instrument and striving to sound my best this takes time but in the end it is worth it and when your ready to upgrade your sound on a new cello will sound so much better than you would think because of the technique you’ve learned over the time you spent with your cheaper cello. Happy playing bets of luck! I hope this helped somebody.🙂
This is very helpful! What I usually recommend to those who are unsure which cello to buy, is to rent the one they like most. Once they feel really comfortable with it, they can come back and buy it.
Exactly my thought, too and I did the same. This guy is having a laugh. OK, resale value will be high, but the majority of beginners taking heed of this 'advice' would be immediately put off by the quoted prices and that would be a shame.
Unless you want to purchase an absolute piece of crap, you've got to make an investment. Making a quality instrument like this is an extremely labor-intensive process. If you spend $500 on a cello, you're not getting something that will sound good or play well. It's just not possible.
I got a Sam Alexander Cello for $150 and they cost roughly $5,000! I recommend looking on Letgo, Ebay and Craigslist. You never know. You might get lucky!
im advanced but i never had my own and im dropping that much on a cello because honestly the more advanced you can get you can fool people because what if you had a strad cello but you sound mediocre compared to if you typically sound amazing on any cello you get me anyways congrats
Was the airline Delta? They destroyed my cello, the first and only I owned, after my parents saved up to buy me one as a graduation present. They offered me 2 $50 coupons as compensation! They were contacted before flight and said the instrument would be accommodated. That wasn't true. They couldn't care less that my young heart was broken.
I have played some examples like cecillio 500 and some Primaveras that rivaled many Cellos that cost 4 times as much. It all boils down to solid woods instead of laminate, and quality of the construction from the luthier. Set of the neck, graduation of the carved sound board ect.... The Chinese have come quite a long way.
12:30-13:00_Completely agree in that if trust is there you'll win! I was/am skeptical & cautious which cost me $, but after wasting many $ I eventually realized everything the store owner initially told me (was true), what a relief! I'm speaking of an hobby other than cello, but the essence still stands. Just think, if you were the store owner, how long would you remain in business if you scammed customers, word spreads and you know the rest.
Yes, of course the bridge is an important determinant of tone quality, but it's not the only one. Surely the setting of the sound post, which is not mentioned at all in this video, is equally important. And how about the way the instrument is strung? It's a complex, multi-faceted business.
I did a rent to own for a couple of years, but I got a cheaper European one and put the best strings I could afford on it. Strings make a huge difference
Wow. I just upgraded my cello about a year ago. I watched this video with a little fear, worried that I’d missed some important detail along the way. I love my cello, so I figured even if I messed up, it wasn’t tragic. This is FABULOUS guidance and I would have felt more confident had I seen it before shopping. I have my “lifetime” cello and don’t expect to be shopping again however everyone who is in the market…just watch this great video. PS. I did actually go from rental…to purchase (Jay Haide)…to upgrade (new workshop cello) at Carriage House and agree that they are wonderful.
Also, the price must depend on the region (at least the used ones). People in the US earn at least 3 times more money than people in Hungary for example.
I also play a Jay Haide, the l'ancienne Ruggieri model. Other cellists and cello teachers tell me that it really plays and sounds like an instrument in the $12,000 - $20,000 price range. I love it!
Very good info here. You mentioned that your earlier cello was acquired from Wayne Burak’s Arlington TX shop... did you hear that he just passed away? Apparently his son Nick will continue the work there. Sad though. He was the go-to guy for the region.
I'm getting a Yinfente 5 String Electric Cello & it has a High E String just like the Violin which might allow me to play Violin pieces down an Octave.
It's interesting that there was no mention of the quality of the cello bow when trying out new cellos. I would think that a poor quality bow could make a good cello sound bad.
I agree with him on the price for a beginner's cello because I think the definition of a beginner is not necessarily the time you have played the cello but the level of skills you have. I just started to play the cello a month ago and would see myself being at beginner level for years, so a 5000 USD cello for a few years wont be too bad (though I am on a rental, better ;P)
I'm a Jazz tenor saxophonist of 5 decades. My Selmer Mark VI (best sax there is) is worth $9,000 (I paid $500 new in 1973). Similar Mark VI altos go for $6,000. A perfectly playable instrument can be had for $2000 and $600, respectively I did just that with nearly 100 year old Conn New Wonders. I'm looking for my first cello (same range, more or less!) after playing some guitar and bass since March 2021. I'm considering an electric cello, so $1500 to $2,000 buys an NS Wav. I see "student" and "intermediate" cellos for $1000 to $1500, yet you say $2,000 to $6,000 is needed. And into the stratosphere for "pro" instruments. Is this diminishing marginal returns? And if I need to spend $6,000 for a decent cello, are not I better off with the electric? Thanks!
Cellos and bowed strings in general are basically playable sculptures, with a ridiculous amount of labor going into each one. The stratospherically priced cellos are usually ones made by famous instrument makers that are no longer alive, so like in fine art, the price skyrockets posthumously.
@@kadthejedi I bought a Strauss electric cello; works great for me and also takes pedals really well for electronic stuff. Sounds a lot more like a real cello than some other, more famous brands do, which to me sound more like an electric guitar. It has pegs and a real cello bridge, and came with $400 strings (Reverb purchase).
He was/is a rich kid :( I'm almost 51 and never been able to pay more than $1000 on an intrument. (And I played for a living off and on since I was 20.) Still trying to find the best "affordable" cello :(
Here's a "stupid" question from a guitarist interested in the cello as a new instrument. Is price really that much of a factor? Or is it more of a bloviated niche of elitism? Is that $50,000 cello REALLY that much better than a 10k one? After some very well spent time with luthiers, I have a hard time believing the difference is that great. I wouldn't consider a $5000 guitar 50 times better than an 100 buck one. It is obviously better but by that much? A cheap $500 cello is fifty times worse than a $25k one? I don't know, and that's why I'm asking. It still just comes down some wood and strings. Thanks for the information and any response.
Tempest Fury honestly feel like over 10k it’ll be hard to notice a difference it just comes down to preference. But the difference between a 2k cello and a 5k one is pretty noticeable usually. Also a really expensive cello will only gain more worth with time so you can actually make a profit off of it. Think of it as a long term investment as well
The expense comes mostly from the maker and the year of the cello just as it would be with the guitar. Yes the sound quality is affected but it is not on a "poor, fair, good, great" scale. When you get into the higher price ranges. It's more of a tone, feel, and look difference. It all boils down to the musician's personal preference. If a $500 cello puts out the quality of sound that you like or with a change of strings you can love than I think you got a heck of a deal. If you want to spend more than that... well more power to you. I hope that this helps. Remember that you are never to old to learn and to use the knowledge that you have already acquired with your guitar to help you choose the sound you want in a cello.
It depends upon your ears. If you have 500 dollar ears, a 500 dollar instrument may be all you need. If you have 50000 dollar ears, a 500 dollar instrument will annoy the hell out of you, while a 50000 dollar instrument will sound awesome to you. And how do you get 50000 dollar ears?, practice, practice, practice...
30 000€ to 80 000€ to get a professional lv cello ? 😆😂 So what about my cello teacher, who's also cellist in National Orchestra. She only has a "10 000€" cello.
You can play open strings and you can have them play the cello for you while you move around. The sound is different in front of the cello and behind it as if playing, so make sure to listen from behind as well.
Then you best start renting a Cello. Mine costs about 30€/month, that's probably about 25USD. I could buy it and would pay 2600€ minus 6 months worth of rent.
I dont call 5000 an affordable cello, most people could not afford that amount of money. This video is almost saying if you cant afford 5k then don’t bother, take up another hobby. It being elitist. Sorry but my reply is get real.
Most rental shops have an option where you can rent for years and then use it as credit to purchase an instrument. That's what I'm doing. I have very little money, but I'm renting my cello at $50 a month and have for the past three years. I can then use that as a down payment and finance my cello that way or just buy one straight out. And I can rent for as long as I'd like. The cello that I'm looking at is 4500. But I'll never be able to walk into a shop and pay in cash. And most students are probably doing the same thing.
I started on a 1700 dollar plywood cello that I rented, now I play a 25k cello made in 1935 by a known maker and it took me 10 years to pay off the loan. My current instrument is an investment, and has far more capabilities in sound production than my ears can detect, but hopefully I can elevate my musicality to be worthy of playing this instrument.
I guess the answer to the question "Which cello should you buy?" is none at those prices! I have a 14yo that started learning to play at her school. I came here for advice on a usable learner model. I am leaving here with nothing. This guy is on crack. $5k for a beginner. Sheesh. I see new ones for about $1k and many for less still than that. Go smoke another one buddy!
Go to fiddlershop.com they have cellos from 500-1600 that would be excellent and they have a 45 day trail and a lifetime warranty on the fiddlerman branded cellos.
Save money buy a Rickenbacker! The shop MAY be willing to set up the instrument for you for $15,000 Seeing this 9 months later and remembering you say $2000 - 5000 for a BEGINNER CELLO , i think your industry is completely insane and needs a reboot OR extinction , what normal lower middle class family could afford that. 😮
Such an inflated market for no good reason; it's a shaped piece of wood with metal bits. Luthiers are clearly milking the build, It'll be cheaper to invest in machine learning and get a robot to build me one.
You obviously don’t know how difficult it is to make a cello right? The Luthier selects top quality wood and puts it together without any screws! (The glue is made of animal materials) and this can take months or years depending on the quality and then they have to hand varnish it and oil rub it over a few weeks! Next they have to make the bow where they select white Mongolian horse hair for the bows and use a special wood (pernambuco/brazilwood) and they also use mother of pearl on the bow. Not to mention the cello is made of Spruce, Ebony and Maple, this takes a lot of man hours and hard work and the sound you can hear it’s workmanship, while factory crafted cellos are a thing, they usually have no color to the sound! You obviously don’t know what your talking about.
yeah, the violin family industry is absolutely king on cork sniffing. you've already caught one response below (color to the sound; give me a fucking break). Look up any double blind study taking experts listening to cheap violins, expensive ones, and the cork sniffer's favorite, the vintage. The result is the same every time, where nobody can hear the fucking difference unless they're told which is more expensive. Ebay has a guy called Song chung, his stuff is priced reasonably and gets great reviews, under 500ish for cellos. Even cheaper for the small ones but not so cheap as to be garbage. There are plenty of other avenues for good playable instruments at a price that isn't ball busting, but luthiers try to convince everyone that the "wood has to breathe" and "their handmade pieces bring out the individual resonance of the" etc etc.
One more technique to help with selection. Don’t play several instruments in a row. Play two instruments and determine which of the two you like best. Then compare the next instrument to the one you previously determined to be best. Again determine which you like best and make this the standard for comparison with the next instrument. Keep doing this until you have the instrument you like best. This technique helps reduce ear fatigue.
What a great idea! Thank you!!
Also can just eliminate them both if you don’t like the sound of either. Keep going then do the two cello test when you get one or more you like.
All the music teachers I’ve had say if your going to spend money on a cello it should be no less than $2000. This is because of quality and time spent making the instrument on the other side I myself am not rich so my first cello was $500. What I did was I bought more expensive strings and re stringed the cello, that cello lasted me 5 years. Although this might not be the case for everyone you can also check out used cellos on ebay etc. many people will not know the true value of the instrument and you can get a really good deal! That being said ofc you can play cello even if your not financially compatible for the more expensive cellos. Your playing skills will matter too my personal experience, having my cheaper cello I always spent time understanding the instrument and striving to sound my best this takes time but in the end it is worth it and when your ready to upgrade your sound on a new cello will sound so much better than you would think because of the technique you’ve learned over the time you spent with your cheaper cello. Happy playing bets of luck! I hope this helped somebody.🙂
This is very helpful! What I usually recommend to those who are unsure which cello to buy, is to rent the one they like most. Once they feel really comfortable with it, they can come back and buy it.
I love the fact that your cello has a lot of sweet spots
I switched off when he said a beginner cello was 5000, that is not affordable for someone wanting to start from scratch.
dude I dont know why I am watching a cello video I dont even play any stringed instruments
Exactly my thought, too and I did the same. This guy is having a laugh. OK, resale value will be high, but the majority of beginners taking heed of this 'advice' would be immediately put off by the quoted prices and that would be a shame.
It's possible to get a good $500-800 dollar cello that's on par with $2000 ones, but rare.
@@USA4thewin You can buy them second hand
Unless you want to purchase an absolute piece of crap, you've got to make an investment. Making a quality instrument like this is an extremely labor-intensive process. If you spend $500 on a cello, you're not getting something that will sound good or play well. It's just not possible.
I got a Sam Alexander Cello for $150 and they cost roughly $5,000! I recommend looking on Letgo, Ebay and Craigslist. You never know. You might get lucky!
Rentals are a great option for just starting cello. That gives you a chance to try out what you like before you buy it.
Me: an intermediate cellist looking to upgrade my $500 cello to a better cello.
This guy: intermediate cellos are around $10-20,000
;-;
Me an intermediate who only used school cellos 👁👄👁
@@littlewhale8086 it's okay I ended up getting a really beautiful Cello for around $5000
@@thiccnicc7530 which one did you get?
im advanced but i never had my own and im dropping that much on a cello because honestly the more advanced you can get you can fool people because what if you had a strad cello but you sound mediocre compared to if you typically sound amazing on any cello you get me anyways congrats
Was the airline Delta? They destroyed my cello, the first and only I owned, after my parents saved up to buy me one as a graduation present. They offered me 2 $50 coupons as compensation! They were contacted before flight and said the instrument would be accommodated. That wasn't true. They couldn't care less that my young heart was broken.
I have played some examples like cecillio 500 and some Primaveras that rivaled many Cellos that cost 4 times as much. It all boils down to solid woods instead of laminate, and quality of the construction from the luthier. Set of the neck, graduation of the carved sound board ect.... The Chinese have come quite a long way.
Heh, forgot I had turned on 1.5x until he started playing the Swan xD
12:30-13:00_Completely agree in that if trust is there you'll win! I was/am skeptical & cautious which cost me $, but after wasting many $ I eventually realized everything the store owner initially told me (was true), what a relief! I'm speaking of an hobby other than cello, but the essence still stands. Just think, if you were the store owner, how long would you remain in business if you scammed customers, word spreads and you know the rest.
Yes, of course the bridge is an important determinant of tone quality, but it's not the only one. Surely the setting of the sound post, which is not mentioned at all in this video, is equally important. And how about the way the instrument is strung? It's a complex, multi-faceted business.
i really want to play cello, but how in the hell i can afford one :( maybe i have to rob a bank
I did a rent to own for a couple of years, but I got a cheaper European one and put the best strings I could afford on it. Strings make a huge difference
They do
Find a shop, make payments. Or a lot of online sites use Affirm, it lets you make payments based on a credit check.
I turned to prostitution...
U could get a good beginner cello for $1000.
I’m renting a Jay Haide L’Ancienne. I didn’t realize it was a factory made instrument. It’s a $5500 instrument. 🎻
Wow. I just upgraded my cello about a year ago. I watched this video with a little fear, worried that I’d missed some important detail along the way. I love my cello, so I figured even if I messed up, it wasn’t tragic. This is FABULOUS guidance and I would have felt more confident had I seen it before shopping. I have my “lifetime” cello and don’t expect to be shopping again however everyone who is in the market…just watch this great video. PS. I did actually go from rental…to purchase (Jay Haide)…to upgrade (new workshop cello) at Carriage House and agree that they are wonderful.
Also, the price must depend on the region (at least the used ones). People in the US earn at least 3 times more money than people in Hungary for example.
I also play a Jay Haide, the l'ancienne Ruggieri model. Other cellists and cello teachers tell me that it really plays and sounds like an instrument in the $12,000 - $20,000 price range. I love it!
Very good info here. You mentioned that your earlier cello was acquired from Wayne Burak’s Arlington TX shop... did you hear that he just passed away? Apparently his son Nick will continue the work there. Sad though. He was the go-to guy for the region.
I'm getting a Yinfente 5 String Electric Cello & it has a High E String just like the Violin which might allow me to play Violin pieces down an Octave.
It's interesting that there was no mention of the quality of the cello bow when trying out new cellos. I would think that a poor quality bow could make a good cello sound bad.
I agree with him on the price for a beginner's cello because I think the definition of a beginner is not necessarily the time you have played the cello but the level of skills you have. I just started to play the cello a month ago and would see myself being at beginner level for years, so a 5000 USD cello for a few years wont be too bad (though I am on a rental, better ;P)
does he only have 3 pegs?
The 4th peg is a really special one that prevents the head from bumping into the tuning pegs.
Some shops will let you rent and possibly rent to own.
Your cello sounds really good for the price wow
probably has to do with a good amount of his abilities?
I'm a Jazz tenor saxophonist of 5 decades. My Selmer Mark VI (best sax there is) is worth $9,000 (I paid $500 new in 1973). Similar Mark VI altos go for $6,000. A perfectly playable instrument can be had for $2000 and $600, respectively I did just that with nearly 100 year old Conn New Wonders. I'm looking for my first cello (same range, more or less!) after playing some guitar and bass since March 2021. I'm considering an electric cello, so $1500 to $2,000 buys an NS Wav. I see "student" and "intermediate" cellos for $1000 to $1500, yet you say $2,000 to $6,000 is needed. And into the stratosphere for "pro" instruments. Is this diminishing marginal returns? And if I need to spend $6,000 for a decent cello, are not I better off with the electric? Thanks!
Cellos and bowed strings in general are basically playable sculptures, with a ridiculous amount of labor going into each one. The stratospherically priced cellos are usually ones made by famous instrument makers that are no longer alive, so like in fine art, the price skyrockets posthumously.
@@kadthejedi I bought a Strauss electric cello; works great for me and also takes pedals really well for electronic stuff. Sounds a lot more like a real cello than some other, more famous brands do, which to me sound more like an electric guitar. It has pegs and a real cello bridge, and came with $400 strings (Reverb purchase).
my car is about 5000 USD
A 5000 usd cello lasts 400 years if well kept, a car dies after 10 if you're lucky
A wealth of wisdom! Thanks!!!
mike block seems like a really great teacher!
Musical elitism is always upstaged by working class creativity . Beatles to Joy Division. ETc Nymans first record was on an indie label.
He was/is a rich kid :( I'm almost 51 and never been able to pay more than $1000 on an intrument. (And I played for a living off and on since I was 20.) Still trying to find the best "affordable" cello :(
I’m going to start making cellos!!$$$$$$$$$
Mood 😂😂😂
Yeah... it only takes an experienced luthier 160 hours to make a cello...... So youll be making millions......
You make the cello look so easy!!
11:28 what's the name of your composition? I wanna listen to it..
Thats so cool and I really liked it!
Here's a "stupid" question from a guitarist interested in the cello as a new instrument.
Is price really that much of a factor? Or is it more of a bloviated niche of elitism? Is that $50,000 cello REALLY that much better than a 10k one?
After some very well spent time with luthiers, I have a hard time believing the difference is that great. I wouldn't consider a $5000 guitar 50 times better than an 100 buck one. It is obviously better but by that much?
A cheap $500 cello is fifty times worse than a $25k one? I don't know, and that's why I'm asking.
It still just comes down some wood and strings.
Thanks for the information and any response.
Tempest Fury honestly feel like over 10k it’ll be hard to notice a difference it just comes down to preference. But the difference between a 2k cello and a 5k one is pretty noticeable usually. Also a really expensive cello will only gain more worth with time so you can actually make a profit off of it.
Think of it as a long term investment as well
The expense comes mostly from the maker and the year of the cello just as it would be with the guitar. Yes the sound quality is affected but it is not on a "poor, fair, good, great" scale. When you get into the higher price ranges. It's more of a tone, feel, and look difference. It all boils down to the musician's personal preference. If a $500 cello puts out the quality of sound that you like or with a change of strings you can love than I think you got a heck of a deal. If you want to spend more than that... well more power to you. I hope that this helps. Remember that you are never to old to learn and to use the knowledge that you have already acquired with your guitar to help you choose the sound you want in a cello.
It depends upon your ears. If you have 500 dollar ears, a 500 dollar instrument may be all you need. If you have 50000 dollar ears, a 500 dollar instrument will annoy the hell out of you, while a 50000 dollar instrument will sound awesome to you. And how do you get 50000 dollar ears?, practice, practice, practice...
It’s very slight but the sound is more colored
Lol $200-399 budget. Used. Facebook marketplace has GOT to be talked about for beginners
what I have learned is I'm not ready to buy a new cello 😂
30 000€ to 80 000€ to get a professional lv cello ? 😆😂
So what about my cello teacher, who's also cellist in National Orchestra. She only has a "10 000€" cello.
You sound good on the technical passages. I hope you don't use that slow wobbly vibrato in lyrical passages when performing.
Oh gosh, no! Please name the airline!
I seen some Cello's on eBay for 300$ so i guess the one i saw was really a knock off!!
Hey guys, question. How am I supposed to buy a cello if I have never plaid and don’t know a thing about it?
Open strings
Ok google, what's the definition of cork sniffing?
Can i have 1 cello that can be used for beginner to expert 😬
I’ll bet it was United.
Very informative
What song do you play at 11:28?
Edit: lol just noticed I'm the 100th comment
40
"intermediate cello for $15000" headass?
I can't test something I've never played ugh help lol
You can play open strings and you can have them play the cello for you while you move around. The sound is different in front of the cello and behind it as if playing, so make sure to listen from behind as well.
@@MichaelTomlinson00 wow thank you so very much
What if I have never played a cello before? Obviously you can't test the cellos then.
Then you best start renting a Cello. Mine costs about 30€/month, that's probably about 25USD. I could buy it and would pay 2600€ minus 6 months worth of rent.
What is the intro song? I know Im late but It sounds quite nice! I would love to know. Thank you!
I dont call 5000 an affordable cello, most people could not afford that amount of money. This video is almost saying if you cant afford 5k then don’t bother, take up another hobby. It being elitist. Sorry but my reply is get real.
Most rental shops have an option where you can rent for years and then use it as credit to purchase an instrument. That's what I'm doing. I have very little money, but I'm renting my cello at $50 a month and have for the past three years. I can then use that as a down payment and finance my cello that way or just buy one straight out. And I can rent for as long as I'd like. The cello that I'm looking at is 4500. But I'll never be able to walk into a shop and pay in cash. And most students are probably doing the same thing.
5k for a good cello is actually “affordable” he’s just comparing it to the price of professional cellos which are usually a lot more than that.
I started on a 1700 dollar plywood cello that I rented, now I play a 25k cello made in 1935 by a known maker and it took me 10 years to pay off the loan. My current instrument is an investment, and has far more capabilities in sound production than my ears can detect, but hopefully I can elevate my musicality to be worthy of playing this instrument.
Why am I looking at this? I am too poor to get a better one.
How much were you paid to sell cellos from China ???
I guess the answer to the question "Which cello should you buy?" is none at those prices! I have a 14yo that started learning to play at her school. I came here for advice on a usable learner model. I am leaving here with nothing. This guy is on crack. $5k for a beginner. Sheesh. I see new ones for about $1k and many for less still than that. Go smoke another one buddy!
Go to fiddlershop.com they have cellos from 500-1600 that would be excellent and they have a 45 day trail and a lifetime warranty on the fiddlerman branded cellos.
Save money buy a Rickenbacker!
The shop MAY be willing to set up the instrument for you for $15,000
Seeing this 9 months later and remembering you say $2000 - 5000 for a BEGINNER CELLO , i think your industry is completely insane and needs a reboot OR extinction , what normal lower middle class family could afford that. 😮
elcectic cellos
Was is delta airlines 😆
Such an inflated market for no good reason; it's a shaped piece of wood with metal bits. Luthiers are clearly milking the build, It'll be cheaper to invest in machine learning and get a robot to build me one.
You obviously don’t know how difficult it is to make a cello right? The Luthier selects top quality wood and puts it together without any screws! (The glue is made of animal materials) and this can take months or years depending on the quality and then they have to hand varnish it and oil rub it over a few weeks! Next they have to make the bow where they select white Mongolian horse hair for the bows and use a special wood (pernambuco/brazilwood) and they also use mother of pearl on the bow. Not to mention the cello is made of Spruce, Ebony and Maple, this takes a lot of man hours and hard work and the sound you can hear it’s workmanship, while factory crafted cellos are a thing, they usually have no color to the sound! You obviously don’t know what your talking about.
yeah, the violin family industry is absolutely king on cork sniffing. you've already caught one response below (color to the sound; give me a fucking break). Look up any double blind study taking experts listening to cheap violins, expensive ones, and the cork sniffer's favorite, the vintage. The result is the same every time, where nobody can hear the fucking difference unless they're told which is more expensive. Ebay has a guy called Song chung, his stuff is priced reasonably and gets great reviews, under 500ish for cellos. Even cheaper for the small ones but not so cheap as to be garbage. There are plenty of other avenues for good playable instruments at a price that isn't ball busting, but luthiers try to convince everyone that the "wood has to breathe" and "their handmade pieces bring out the individual resonance of the" etc etc.