...Luthiers...
...These are the Men and Women who make, service, and restore string instruments. I have dealt with several during my career as a cellist, starting in H.S.
Always, I was very inquisitive, (and 'Charming') when I brought one of my cellos in for servicing. Usually, it was just new strings, and an 'adjustment', and my two 'performance' bows to be re-haired. There was a very fine Luthier I used a lot, His shop was in the Central Valley. He would let me visit with Him, and would show me cellos that He was working on, and I would watch for a while as He labored on making one.
...One year, I was going to perform a Concerto with a Community Orchestra, and my cello just didn't seem to be responding well. I took it to the Central Valley Luthier, and he found that the upper front was coming loose. He glued it back together, but 'Pavane' still didn't sound right. I called Him, and he said that he was ill, and couldn't work. He gave me a phone number to Robert C, a Luthier in L.A. I called the number,,,a Man answered...I told Him who I was, and what I wanted, and He told me to 'forget' this number. I hung up, and looked up His business number, and called again. The same voice answered, and He laughed when I said who I was, and said..."I didn't mean for you to hang up, but that was my 'private number', and I don't use it for business." I said, "I understand, I have a cello that needs some work." He said, "Bring it down."
...I had a case working in L.A., so I brought my cello along, and drove to Cs' shop during a break. He was very open, and friendly. He was a very enthusiastic Man.
He was also very familiar with cellos. He took Pavane from me, and sat and played, exploring ALL of the registers. He said, "The repair looks OK, but you have the wrong strings, and the soundpost isn't in the right place, I will need to make a new one." I just nodded, and said, "OK, and can you give it a good polishing?" He shook His head, and said, "Your cello looks fine." I said, "I think it will look better after a polishing." He just smiled, and wrote up the work order, and I left.
...A few weeks later, I got a call from Him, saying that my cello was ready. I was really excited as I took the long drive to L.A., and entered His shop. He brought out Pavane, and the cello looked wonderful!!! He then said, "I am going to show you something. It has the strings that you had on it when you brought it in. Play it." I sat, and played the opening to Brahms 1st Sonata, and it sounded better than before. He then said, "You need these strings on the C and G." He replaced those strings, tuned Pavane, and said..."Now try it."
...I could REALLY hear the difference...the new strings had overtones and volume that the ones he replaced didn't have...they woke up the A and D strings, and Pavane sang much better.
I thanked Him, paid my bill, and left. Pavane really sounded great. Musicians were asking me if I had bought another cello, and said that it sounded better than my other one. I just told them, "Take your instrument to Robert C, you will be pleased."
...So, thanks to a really artistic Luthier.
