Now THIS is different!

[raspritz]

There is much to comment on here, but I'll just post it without comment. Let your imagination run wild!

" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...420110&rd=1[/url]

[pahdah_hound]

poor cello.....

[Singingmaple]

LoL...A cutaway Cello

[bean_fidhleir]

I wonder what the point of that was--made for a left-handed player, perhaps?

(I also liked the 'antique ... 2003' part )

[GlennYorkPA]

It's not really a joke.

This is the cello equivalent of Otto Erdesz's viola which drew criticism for it's unusual appearance but proved to be ergonomically very convenient for the player and indistinguishable to the listener.

The advantage to a violist when playing in high positions is obvious but I would have thought the cutaway would provide less advantage to a cellist, but they must speak for themselves.

[Woodland]

The same purpose as a cutaway body guitar, to enable the player to reach up into the higher postions easier on the high string.

Either that or someone let the air out of the thing...

[raspritz]

I suppose thumb positions might be easier to reach. Maybe Salvador Dali built it for a cellist with a left rotator cuff injury?

[EternalStudent]

Rivka Golani-Erdesz plays a huge viola with a similar cutout..

[jackc]

I think the idea is fine. But it's unsuccessful visually. The kind of cutaway done for guitars just looks better, and would work for a cello or viola.

[Soundboot]

Why not just accept things like this as alternatives for those that may want them? Unlike the guitar world for instance, the violin (cello in this instance) world has a reputation for looking down its nose at anything different. Just because it exists does not mean that it threatens the future construction of string instruments!