As a cellist of many years’ standing and a repairer and adjuster of rather fewer years, I feel that I am well qualified to answer the question posed in the last newsletter on how to get the best out of your cello. For me the answer comes in two parts: first, ensuring your cello is set up as well as it can be; and second, making sure it has the best strings suited to it.

To begin, check where the bass bar is in relation to the bridge. Cut a piece of card about 12 cm by 5 cm and make a slit in it. Push half the card through the f hole on the C string side and note where the bass bar is. You can mark this on the outside with a Chinagraph pencil. The foot of the bridge should overhang the outside edge of the bar by about 3 mm. If not, it is advisable to change your bridge. You could buy a bridge with different leg spacing, or you may prefer to find a good repairer who can cut you a new bridge from scratch. If you decide to replace your bridge, make sure you get a good quality one; quality does make a difference (I use Aubert Deluxe bridges although these are in short supply). It’s a good tip to ask for your new bridge to be left slightly thicker than normal. Then after you have played it for a couple of days, ask for it to be thinned down a bit. Continue this process until you feel that the bridge is at its best and producing the optimum sound. Don’t go too far!

Next make sure that the fingerboard is at the correct height. Place a ruler on the centre of the fingerboard and extend it to the bridge position. The height here should be about 8.2 cm. A low fingerboard can be raised with a wedge placed under it. A high fingerboard is more of a problem, but if the cello doesn’t warrant a new neck there are one or two ways that it can be done- although I won’t go into that now!

Make sure that you have a well-fitting sound post, positioned below the bridge foot with a gap of about 6mm between it and the bridge. A cello’s sound can be modified by moving the post nearer to the bridge to increase brightness, and to either side for more bass or treble. If you think that your cello’s sound post needs moving, find someone with experience to do it. Otherwise you could inflict serious damage.