A recent commission from a professional player with the brief of a slightly smaller Cello size in body and string length.
Initially the customer loved the previous Cello after Stradivari and was very tempted to purchase it, but finally decided to have a custom made instrument to accommodate her slightly smaller hand size.

The photos show some of the stages during the making process.

This page is now completed - latest thumbnail images at bottom - or click straight through to the  Cello picture gallery.

updated May 2011

                                    
   Some initial design drawings of the neck and fingerboard elevation                                  the changed outline from the original
                                                                                                                                                                    Strad B-form to my new  design     

                                   
the wood selection                                                                                                         the jointed back

     
the mould and blocks                                                                               the finished rib structure

  
back arching                                                                                                   ...and fluting

 
the back arch and fluting completed                                                                  outlines compared

                            
                                  the front arching in progress                                                                                     front with ff-hole design

   
ff fluting in low angle light                                                                 the ff hole design and purfling

       
                              the linings smoothed with fine shark skin                                            linen strips reinforce the inside of the ribs

       
                                   the bass bar glued and shaped                                                                           the front with f-holes cut

       
                                             scroll carving                                                                                                      the finished scroll

       
                                         the closed sound box                                                                                             and the back view

       
                                        the finished Cello front view                                                                                 and the back

 For some more details and photos of the finished Cello click here.