esvendsen Report post Posted December 13, 2017 A local luthier is closing down, and has offered me an instrument with a very decent discount. It is a brand new cello built by the Hungarian master builder Péteri Károly in 2014. The instrument sounds really nice, but it has this "artifact" on the top: https://i.imgur.com/OgdMddD.jpg On the instrument, it is located here: https://i.imgur.com/Qj94RsY.jpg?1 Does anyone have an opinion on wether or not this is, or can become, a problem? Thank you in advance for your opinion in this matter! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Brown Report post Posted December 13, 2017 It looks like a very small pitch pocket. I will go out on a limb and say it is a non-issue. The Messiah Stradivari has one next to the fingerboard on the treble side that is much worse than this. Stradivari had to patch it. DLB (I will now probably get my ears pinned back) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Don Noon Report post Posted December 13, 2017 I agree... it's a pitch pocket, and the only problem (if any) is the appearance. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
James M. Jones Report post Posted December 13, 2017 The Messia has one in the upper treble bout. 3 hours ago, Dwight Brown said: It looks like a very small pitch pocket. I will go out on a limb and say it is a non-issue. The Messiah Stradivari has one next to the fingerboard on the treble side that is much worse than this. Stradivari had to patch it. DLB (I will now probably get my ears pinned back) Yup, not a problem, in fact .....helps give a little uniqueness to it I dare say. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esvendsen Report post Posted December 14, 2017 Thank you all for your replies! I really appreciate it, and it helps me decide wether or not I should purchase the instrument :-) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edi malinaric Report post Posted December 15, 2017 Hi - interesting bit of "scoliosis" in the upper bout. I'd like to play it and see if it makes any difference when fiddling in the upper registers. On pitch pockets... I've watched a maker's reaction as a pitch pocket emerged under his chisel. First the disbelief - "the wood was rated AAA - this can't be possible", then the hope - "maybe it'll chisel away" and finally the resignation, the search for the offcuts from the plate, wielding of a V-shaped chisel - once through the pitch pocket and many, many times in the offcuts - fighting off the steadily rising desperation of ever getting a perfect match - until TARA - Taraaah - an invisible repair. Then finally the utter disappointment and eternal frustration of never being able to point it out to anyone. Perfection extracts an excessively high price at times. cheers edi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jacobsaunders Report post Posted December 15, 2017 If you were haggling with the Hungarian or Rumanian maker of the Cello directly, you would be able to successfully demand a discount. Otherwise it doesn't make much difference Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edi malinaric Report post Posted December 15, 2017 21 minutes ago, jacobsaunders said: If you were haggling with the Hungarian or Rumanian maker of the Cello directly, you would be able to successfully demand a discount. Otherwise it doesn't make much difference Mmm - In that part of the world I would place money on being persuaded that you should happy not to have been asked to pay more for that special feature. ;-) cheers edi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites