How good can a $250 cello even be? (Glarry Review)

[@BethanyNash]

This review came in clutch for me! My husband played cello in high school and I’ve been begging him to pick it back up as I am a lifetime pianist and the idea of being able to do piano/cello pieces with my husband makes me so excited. Apparently, none of the music stores in our area will rent unless you are still a minor in school. (This is how dreams die for adults, I swear.) I found Glarry through a basic google search and almost all of their products have 5 stars so I was worried it might be a scam where they delete reviews. Your video helped me make my decision! Thank you!!

[@justinlepard]

That’s awesome to hear!! Crazy that stores near you have that policy. Remember to also get better rosin (immediately) and strings (as soon as you can also afford them) and you should be in business :)

[@BethanyNash]

@@justinlepard we will definitely take your advice on that. Thank you!!

[@justinlepard]

@@BethanyNash I have some cello lessons on the channels Consordini and Higher HZ to help you get started. Feel free to comment back with any questions too. Wish you all the best!

[@DogsDogsAndMoreDogs]

@@justinlepard I tried for 3 days to get the rosin that came with mine to work and it never did. As soon as I got the new rosin, I was in business. I'm getting a new string a month until I have the set. I only have the A string now but what difference that makes. After the strings is a new tailpiece (the C string fine tuner never worked) then bow. My cello was a gift so I don't mind spending money on it and it's bringing me so much happiness. I will eventually buy a better cello but I wouldn't have gotten back into playing if it weren't for this wonder gift.

[@justinlepard]

@@DogsDogsAndMoreDogs yep, glad you were able to get the info on how to upgrade it! It’s quite usable with a few adjustments. Happy practicing!!

[@DogsDogsAndMoreDogs]

I know serious musicians hate these types of instruments but it's wonderful that the common person who isn't going pro, who won't be recording, who doesn't want to be the best can still make music. Most of us can't tell the difference in the sound of various priced cellos and it doesn't matter. There is something magical in the physical act of playing an instrument that even those of us with mediocre ears can now enjoy.

[@justinlepard]

So much truth here

[@sergioaguirre4967]

Thank you very much! This are the kind of things I wanted to know, and most reviewers seem to be so snobby and obnoxious, I've been playing guitar since high school and actually played double bass as my first college career but sadly I couldn't handle the pressure, I've never quit music but in my 40s I recovered a lot of passion for playing and learning music, so I really want to feel what it's like to learn a classical instrument without the pressure of doing counterpoint exercises and with a more solid understanding of how music works, cheap Chinese instruments have really raised their quality in the last 15 years and for the price I had the idea that the actual value you get from an instrument like this really makes it worth it. Thank you very much!

[@justinlepard]

That’s great to hear, good luck!!

[@jessewilliams102]

My cello cost $150 from eBay so I changed the strings and pegs and put a piezo pick up on it so when I plug it in it sounds good. It took a Lot of altering and after gluing a ton of nature artifacts on it and painting it several times it sounds way better than it did but it still has a “farty” sound sometimes. It’s good to me though.

[@justinlepard]

That’s awesome at least to get you playing for a while 👏

[@ACoustaDC]

I have not seen you before, but was searching up cheap cello reviews. You play so beautifully! You have such wonderful musicality. And you do NOT look like a cello player... well done.

[@justinlepard]

Haha thanks so much 🔥

[@ShrekTickler]

That’s actually very surprising how well that sounded 3 years of my cello journey I used a school instrument which i dont know how much they cost but they are probably not much saying they let 6th graders play them and have 30 of the same one and by the time I was moving on to highschool I was accepted to a academy for orchestra and my parents bought me a Maddison cello and when I played that I realized the insane difference between a cheap cello and a higher end cello and it’s just so much better that I could never go back but seeing you play that one doesn’t seem to bad for someone with lots of experience i could see it not being a very fun time but it’s pretty doable

[@justinlepard]

Yeah definitely. I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of playing, and hopeful that with new strings it would sound more decent. But yeah, a bad cello will put you off learning cello since it just isn’t that fun. Hopefully this video just shows things how they are and people can make informed decisions

Thank you for this video. I just bought this cello and don’t get me wrong - I really WANT to invest in a good one. BUT at the same time I’m just starting with the cello. For people like me that are truly beginners and can’t afford a $4k good cello, $200 is a good way of starting, especially to see if that’s what I really want to invest me time on this instrument. If (IF) I really feel in love with it with a cheap instrument, I’m sure I will be eager to invest in a good one. But you have to start somehow with what you have, and $200 is what I have for now 😂 Thank you for your honest opinion and for this video!

[@justinlepard]

That’s awesome!! Congrats on starting your cello journey. Let me know how it goes as time passes!

[@DavidWilson-dt5wc]

Can you please tell us what you think of it so far? Looking to get one also

[@flyawaysoul9152]

I love a good, honest review. This was actually a massive help for me. I've wanted to learn to play the cello since the first time I heard one as a kid, but my family never encouraged it because the space a cello would take up (been playing saxophones for nearly a decade now, though). My fiance and I were talking about it earlier this week and he asked why I didn't just get my hands on a student quality cello and hire a teacher, because both aren't terribly expensive in our area, all things considered, and I couldn't think of a reason not to. This brand caught my eye because the reviews were good and the price was obscenely low. I know enough about musical instruments and online buying to know that's a red flag, but this helped a lot.

[@justinlepard]

That’s awesome to hear! I hope it’s able to work out for you. Yeah, many of the components are cheap, but with better rosin and strings it should be a great start at least. Wish you the best, feel free to ask any questions if you need help.

[@flyawaysoul9152]

@@justinlepard I'm not decided yet, but I haven't written this brand off, either. There aren't many places that rent instruments here, as most are loaned through schools, or I'd go that route. I do have a question, though. For a starter, "I'm not sure if I'll even be good at this" adult cello, I don't want to spend more than $800 or so starting out if I can. I know that more expensive instruments typically sound better, but in your opinion would it be better value in the

[@justinlepard]

@@flyawaysoul9152 yeah the other comment here said it was the same in their area, which really sucks for adults who want to get into it. I would say in general the nicest cello will be one that a shop set up properly, and where you can go to get help if something goes awry. But as far as the smartest use of money, there’s a maxim to buy cheap at first, and if you break it and still need it that means it’s worth getting the more expensive one. So I think that applies here. The only other thing you need to buy right away with the glarry cello is rosin because theirs will not get you going very easily haha, and yeah strings, pegs/bridge/fine tuners are all replaceable. Also for what it’s worth a lot of people in the blind 3 tiers of cello video I did actually prefer the glarry sound (for the record I don’t agree haha, but I means that it’s not so terrible). So yeah choosing that route is up to you, like you say you’ll probably have to spend the same amount of money ultimately either way to be at an equal quality of playing. If there is a shop you can go to to talk to the shop owner and try a couple cellos that might still at least help you feel more informed.

[@californiacoast7021]

What bow do you recommend?

[@justinlepard]

One that sounds good with your cello. Go to a shop that has a lot of options, and play all the bows in your price range. Some will have strong articulation, but be pretty harsh, others very beautiful but not loud. So bring a trusted set of ears with you and see if there’s one that all around sounds and feels good to play. And it’s okay to be picky, they might not have the right bow for you. The bow influences the cello so much and vice versa that it’s really specific to what you’ve already got. Hope that helps.

[@Theoriginalbubbafett]

A very fair review. Impressive.

[@justinlepard]

Thanks 🙏

[@Omgitsme323]

I think getting rosin on the strings helped a bit

[@justinlepard]

@@Omgitsme323 definitely

[@bigchungusamongus]

I have 3 2k plus cellos, and I want this one for that nasty dirty crunch. Let's use a good bow and just throw away the stock strings. That grungy dirt will sound amazing as a back up instrumental.

[@justinlepard]

Honestly probably the best way to get a starter cello fr

[@juana1483]

"I don't like that?" What don't you like?

[@justinlepard]

The A string slipping, it’s a teaser I get to later

[@joeyjoeyze]

clickbait title for next video: 250 dollar cello vs 2500 dollar cello. 🤣

[@justinlepard]

LOL that video is coming 😂

[@dgls4202]

He talked shit and then hyped it up when he saw the commission

[@justinlepard]

Well the commission was just the cello itself, hardly worth selling my soul for. Look, you can try say you have to start at a $2000 cello from a shop to avoid expensive problems. But people do get annoyed - and probably rightly - at what feels like classist gate keeping. I make pretty clear here that the instrument is unplayable without upgrades… but the bare necessity upgrades will still put you ahead of other, normal priced cellos. That’s really the only praise I give it. It is shaped correctly - which is a lot more than can be said for student cellos my old high school had, I mean sheesh it gets pretty dang bad. Anyway, I know you probably mostly just thought it was a funny comment to make, but there’s the real answer for ya haha

[@dgls4202]

@@justinlepard I didnt mean any disrespect I was just trying to be goofy... But so should I buy it or no? I've always wanted to learn the cello, I can't really afford to buy a 2000. Cello And I'm anxious about trying to rent one from my local music shop Ive played the trumpet for almost 10 years and I steer clear of them because of their snooty attitude because of last experiences I've had going in looking into buying an instrument. What do you think? Is it worth me spending the couple hundred bucks plus the upgrades you recommended, and see if in a few months I want to continue to learn or drop it.

[@justinlepard]

@@dgls4202 haha yeah it’s all good man, I have the same healthy skepticism of products. And yeah, like I said all the parts are there really, so with new strings (D’addario has a lower cost student version), rosin, and ideally bow (look for $100-200 carbon fibre) then you’ll spend less than $600 for what otherwise is double that for what it’s giving you. Definitely just a starter though!! Wish you the best with your cello journey if you embark on it.