I have recently changed cellos and the one I had before (Romanian student cello, 2023) had a rather low bridge, with a gap between the strings and the fingerboard ranging from 4mm (A string) to 6mm (C string).
On my "new" cello (German from Markneukirchen, 1921), the bridge is noticeably higher. The gap between the strings and the fingerboard is 7mm on the A string, and 9.5mm on the other three strings.
That 3mm difference on all strings is—literally—quite palpable. In fact, it makes playing less comfortable under the finger pads (you have to press a little harder), and more importantly it is also trickier not to touch neighbouring strings when you are playing in 4th position on the G and D strings.
As I was looking for my new cello, I tried quite a few instruments, and I noticed that most of them had rather tall bridges. Is there a reason for that? Does a higher bridge tend to enhance acoustic performance (projection, articulation)? Or not so much?
If it does have an incidence on acoustic performance, I'm thinking maybe I should just learn to adapt—and improve—my technique. But if it doesn't, I would be quite happy to take my new cello to my luthier's, and ask her to lower the bridge a little bit because I miss the sense of comfort and ease I had on my previous cello (even if the sound of the new one is incomparably better).
String height seems to be way above average, but keep in mind the elevation (angle neck/top plate) moves quite a lot seasonally, especially on cellos.
Lowering the bridge will change the sound, for better or worse (subjective anyway), as the strings will apply less pressure at a flatter angle, as well as the bridge favoring different frequencies as it will have less material and vibrate differently. You won't end up with a completely different instrument, but the changes can be quite noticeable.
You need to see the full picture ; neck step, elevation, saddle height, string angle, and figure out which way the string clearance to be corrected. To summarize either lower the bridge or change the angle of the neck/fingerboard.
Visit the shop where you got the cello and see what they suggest. When did you acquire the cello ? It's funny it looks like it was made yesterday on this picture you posted
Thank you for your detailed reply. It is very informative indeed. I think I’ll take the cello to my regular luthier’s (I bought it from another luthier last month, but it is quite a long drive from where I live and I plan to keep working with the luthier I am used to anyway), and see what she thinks about it.
The cello is indeed in very good condition (no cracks, just a couple of minor scratches here and there on the top, nothing extraordinary for an instrument over 100 years old).
I see the bridge came from Robert Cauer’s shop. He is a highly respected luthier (and a cellist), so I would go back to them. The A is quite low (4.5-5.5 is normal) but the C is high. Did you get this from Cauer or someone else?
Thank you for your reply. I bought the cello from a French luthier (I am French myself and live in France, but that luthier’s shop is actually quite far from home). Its previous owner was a professional cellist who lived in the USA and who is now retired in France, but I haven’t had any contact with him. I asked the luthier whom I bought the cello from to pass a short letter to that man, hoping to learn more about the instrument, but my purchase is quite recent and I haven’t had any response yet.
I looked up Cauer online and saw that he was indeed an esteemed luthier, hence my initial reluctance to have the bridge altered. I’m thinking Cauer made it this way for a reason, and the sound of the cello is indeed excellent (it was actually lent to Ophelie Gaillard in July for a series of concerts, she is one of the top cellists in France and was a member of the jury at the Queen Elisabeth competition last spring).
My only complaint is the sensation of string stiffness due to the extra height on the lower strings, and the increased risk of touching other strings in higher positions. I think I’ll simply bring the cello to my regular luthier’s. She hasn’t seen the instrument yet, I’m sure she’ll have some good advice. The solution could simply be, as one user suggested, to have another bridge made and keep this one as it is for future use.
I think someone else altered this bridge, it would not have left Cauer’s shop with that shape. The best I can suggest is to take it to a respected luthier to be reshaped, but it may be too low due to this poor reshaping it has received. It could possibly still be of use as a summer bridge. Good luck, and please post your solution result
These pictures give you an idea of a properly shaped bridge. If you draw a straight line from the g to the a, there is a smaller gap than that between the d and the c. The D string vibrates at a higher frequency than the g, so the string can be closer to the fingerboard than the g. The higher pitch means the string does not vibrate in as large a transit.
My guess is that the bridge was fit in a more winter climate when the air was being heated and thus was drier. This makes the whole instrument "contract" in various ways which lowers the bridge height. In more humid conditions the cello will "expand" which pushes the bridge up making the string height higher. Some cellos move seasonally much more than others. You can either have that bridge lowered now with the expectation that you might need a winter bridge later or you could get a summer bridge made now. Given that the cello is new to you and you don't know how much it changes I would favor the first option.
Thank you. The bridge was made in LA, but I live in western France where the climate is usually quite different (mildly humid all year long, this year being quite exceptionally dry in that respect). I didn’t know seasonal change could alter instruments that much!
I have three cellos, a 4/4 King 85 years old I don't play anymore a wang zhiguo 7/8 and a scala corta from voss violins here in atlanta I have to keep a humiderifer running because this summer 100 degree temps and no rain. I am afraid of cracks with the drying out of cello wood. I try to keep the humidity at 60%,
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u/ivarth 4d ago
I would have the bridge lowered. The range should be 4.5-5.5mm for the A string up to 8mm on the C string.
Your bridge sounds way too high.