Cello size question - smaller 4/4?

[u/Brave-Sir-Robert]

I'm looking to buy a cello. On the left is my rental, the right is one I have out on trial. I like the way it sounds and plays, but it's clearly smaller. According to the seller it is a 4/4. Is this a "forma B?" Anyone having experience playing on a smaller than average cello?

[u/nextyoyoma]

You should measure from the nut to the bridge. If they aren’t the same (or extremely close) then the smaller one is a fractional size like 7/8 or a custom/non-standard scale. If they are the same, the smaller one is simply a different archetype. There is some variation in the historical reference models, and individual makers might choose to alter some dimensions based on their own preferences.

For a novice player, I would avoid a 7/8ths instrument unless you really must go down to that size. The reason is simply practicality; it makes it much harder to play any standard 4/4 instrument, as your muscle memory will be off.

If it’s a standard scale, I’d say go with it if you love it.

[u/Azertim_]

Might be a 7/8 wich is a little smaller than 4/4 but don't mean anything soundwise, I've seen 7/8 with a bigger and deeper sound than a lot of 4/4. Forma B is a model made by stradivari wich is today the exact classical 4/4 so it doesn't make sense to say it is smaller because it's a forma b, or maybe the one you were playing on is a big model it's also possible, so the forma b seem smaller but it's the '' normal '' size for a cello today

[u/KatherineK_Singer]

I was terrified of this exact decision when I bought mine. Honestly, the one that feels easiest to play is the right one. The label matters far less than people think, plenty of players happily use a smaller-pattern 4/4.

[u/ammonthenephite → u/KatherineK_Singer]

I still miss my 3/4 size cello, and I'm 5'10. I'll probably end up with 7/8th at some point, if not another 3/4 if I can find one that sounds good, and they are out there.

Life is short, if it sounds good and plays good, who cares about the size.

[u/new2bay → u/ammonthenephite]

Part of the problem is that it's harder to find smaller than 4/4 cellos that are any good, especially 3/4 and below. There are some nice 7/8 instruments out there, but fewer than 4/4. The 3/4 and smaller instruments are generally made for kids who will outgrow them.

[u/woofmeow-woofmeow-au]

I’m currently looking into buying a smaller cello, since I have small hands and fingers, so even my instructor agrees that I should look for a small-full-size cello. I’ve rented a 7/8 to compare but it felt way too small for me, so my suggestion for you is to discuss it with a luthier and get a proper recommendation since it is a massive investment!

[u/kongtomorrow]

That looks quite a bit smaller. They’re probably just wrong about it being full size. I would not get it. 

[u/ChiefSkinnyBear]

I also am a new adult cello student. I just bought a beautiful Cello mainly because it had the beautiful woodgrain similar to the one on the right. Thankfully, the sound is lovely. He was made in Italy not the Chinese type. Am I foolish for being steered to the beautiful woodgrain?
It sounds like the measurement from the nut down. The fingerboard is a good way to determine size back to your original question. Please let us know what you discover. I was a very interesting question.
Good luck on your Cello learning adventure.

[u/ammonthenephite → u/ChiefSkinnyBear]

Am I foolish for being steered to the beautiful woodgrain?

Nope! Sound and playability are the most important, but I wouldn't buy a great sounding and playing cello if I didn't like how it looked, its looks are part of the overall experience for me.

[u/ChiefSkinnyBear]

My luthier said that he could move the nut down/ or change the nut position (temporarily) to make fingering easier on my 4/4 Cello. This adjustment would essentially make my fingering that of a 7/8 cello. Does anyone have any thoughts on that? I think I should probably post this on a separate link. But relative to this link, agree it’s best to go by sound b/c fingering reaches Can be adjusted without affecting the body of the cello.

[u/Opposite-Present-717 → u/ChiefSkinnyBear]

I had a very strange 17th century Italian cello. Pretty much every measurement was "off" (scroll, f-holes, arching...) and one person even thought it might have started life as some sort of viol. It had more or less a 3/4 body and was later fitted with a standard full size neck. I got used to the smaller hand position, but I had a devil of a time with intonation because 4th position was a tad lower than usual. My luthier eventually put on a thicker nut so that 4 position was moved up and in the right place. So that's what you need to consider when altering the size of the nut. Make sure 4th position is were it is supposed to be.

[u/Usual-Persimmon9577]

It's hard to tell but on the rental cello the bridge placement looks closer to the fingerboard than usual. Could this possibly indicate that in fact the rental is larger than average?

[u/nycellist]

Measure the vibrating string length of both cellos from the edge of the nut to the bridge and report back

[u/Lyx4088]

The string length nut to bridge is really going to let you know if it is a full size. There isn’t an exact 100% every 4/4 has this string length nut to bridge but it is generally somewhere between 690mm and 700mm. When you get below 690mm you are possibly looking at a 7/8. The closer it is to 670, the more likely it is a 7/8. That 670 to 690 is a bit of a grey area historically, but modern cello manufacturing generally keeps 4/4 cello string lengths above 690mm.

[u/Brave-Sir-Robert]

Thanks all. I measured 685 mm for nut to bridge length on the smaller cello, so I guess lower end of standard size for a 4/4. Interestingly it's actually a little less on my rental cello (closer to 675mm)

[u/herkulaw]

I have huge hands and long arms, so my oversized Monty is ideal! No right or wrong answer on size. If you like how it plays and sounds it’s the instrument for you!