Cremona SC-100 Premier Novice Cello Outfit - 1/2 Size

The media could not be loaded.  I purchased this as used from one of the seller, but when we received it, I was pleasantly shocked how beautiful this cello is in person. The color of the body is a bit darker in person, and the bow that came with it was beautiful dark burgundy color with goldish tone accent. It came with very well-padded soft carrying case with backpack straps with lots of pockets for rosin, music sheets or whatever. HOWEVER, the sound is another story. It's a great novice cello for your very beginner kids who just started, but just that as the sound quality may interfere the skill development. I uploaded a clip here for you to hear the sound. Previously I left a fab feedback, but I replaced with this review after I realized the sound quality of this cello is sub-standard compared to some instruments such as cello at public schools.

Bought this Cello for my daughter, she used it in school for one year (and then unfortunately got bored of the cello). Worked well, stayed in tune, sounded good (from my unprofessional ear). No complaints.

Item came shattered throughout the neck of the cello, no bag, no bow, no rosin, no bridge. Waited over 2 weeks for it to get here for it to be a complete waist of time. Obviously was returned. Csr Rajesh was "see what he could do" instead of return it.

Kid loves it

I would have done a video review but that would be much more time consuming and hopefully you will just take my word for it. The instrument itself is beautiful. The bridge is very lopsided. I have seen some funky shaped bridges on stringed instruments but mine really has no curve to it. Just kind of a straight 45 degree angle. Because of the oddly shaped bridge, tuning is quite an affair. Once you have one string in tune, the bridge is pulled because of its shape making the other three out of tune. When you compensate, the original string you tuned is now octaves off. Takes a good 15 minutes to get the thing in tune. Then, I'm not sure if mine is a special case or if they're all like mine but obviously nobody did a sound test on it. The A string is so close to the neck that as you bow it, it vibrates against the neck creating a metalic buzzzzz, a very loud one. The vibration sets off the other four strings so it's quite a mess. The bridge comes into play again as (this is my 6th cello in my lifetime) the two middle strings since they aren't on a curve, are completely level with one another. So it is physically impossible to bow just one string without the other being bowed as well. The bow it comes with is horrible quality too. It is like rubbing vinyl hairs on the strings. No matter how much rosin I use, I can't get any friction on the bow so it creates a weak plasticy note which is almost like fingernails on a chalkboard. When I play pizzacato, that darned A string buzzes against the neck with a twang twang twang and actually, that twang comes when you're playing any string. Finally, there is a metal flappy sound coming from the tuning peg area as well. I don't know what it is, there are no string ends hanging loose. I'm not one to be hard on instruments. I have really been happy with any piano, cello, guitar, or harp in my 24 years of playing and honestly, with 24 years talent it's easy to make beautiful music with any instrument whether it costs 100 dollars or $30,000.00 like my grand piano. This is the first time I would have to rate an instrument I've touched as nothing more than a decoration. It has no playability. I am at fault for going too cheap I guess when selecting but like I said sound quality isn't anything I'm really big on, I'm happy with anything that makes music. But this instrument just really can't be used to produce music. Not even for a novice learning baa baa black sheep since all he'll get is twangs, rattles, and buzzes. I hate saying it or being harsh but really, shame on Cremona for putting something out like this. Like I said my instrument may be a fluke but if they don't do a ten second sound test of each cello, you're possibly going to get a rotten deal too and be out the money it takes to ship back and forth. I am not able to return mine so it is sad that it will be money down the drain. I have thought about selling it but honestly, how can I sell this to some poor kid learning cello when he/she can't get anywhere with it. That's not cool. It's ornamental. Period. So like I said, you may have a totally different experience than I did but when one pluck of a string would have told the manufacturer this cello didn't work, they obviously don't have much of a quality control thing going on and it will be a gamble you take. Will you get an instrument or a piece of pretty furniture with four strings? Wish the guy above me had finished that sound test. I'd like to know if his turned out the same.

This is a basic cello that works well for my needs. I was looking for an entry level price that plays comfortably well. It is set-up properly and easy on the fingers.

I have bought this Cremona cello for my then 5 year old son. I did not expect much from it, therefore I was pleasantly surprised when I heard it. It has a very nice sound, which is, of course, the most important thing for the instrument, it truly sealed my son's love for cello. Besides sounding great it is well built, fine tuners are invaluable and it is wonderful that this cello actually has them. (Some small cellos do not have fine tuners at all). The end pin has a safe point and it slides in and out easily and can be easily adjusted in height. The bow is decent and the nylon case is durable, can be washed, has handy pockets and obvioulsly is very light, another positive aspect when one keeps in mind who is going to carry the instrument on his/her back.