Reading the comments, I see most people thought the wooden cello had the richer, deeper sound. Running a 5.1 surround sound system when I listened to this video, I had the exact opposite experience. The CF cello let the lower register vibrate longer, which gave it a much warmer sound. The wooden cello seemed to better with the higher frequencies. I suspect the longer decay of vibrations in the CF cello was responsible for giving it a somewhat muddy sound on the higher notes, bathing those high frequencies with the longer lasting mid and lower frequencies in comparison to the wooden one. Materials play a huge part in the tonal characteristics of an instrument, and it was interesting to see that demonstrated here.
In the 1st comparison, cello #2 (carbon fiber) just blew away cello #1. It wasn't even close. I was surprised to see that it was not wood. Agreed in the 2nd test, the lack of clarity was reversed and the wooden cello faired quite a bit better.
I'm really surprised that I was able to hear the difference. The CF cello seemed very smooth and rich, and the wooden one has a kind of bright sheen to the sound.
Great playing by the way! I could completely tell the difference between the two. The Carbonfiber has a deeper bass resonance that sounds unatural and makes the mid bass sound hollow. The highs are shrill and hollow compared to the wood cello. This was my biggest fears on purchasing a carbon fiber cello, wood to me just sounds so much better. The pizzicato was much harder to tell though.
On the lower register the carbon fiber is much stronger and it sounds like it would project much further than the wooden cello. The A and D though sound a bit thin and harsh but that could be easily fixed with a set up change or just different strings. Are they both in the same price range?
I could hear all 3. The wood is much richer. Deeper and the carbon fiber was much more rigid and tight if thats the right term. The tone didn't reverberate because of the rigidity of the carbon. Still sounded good the tone just doesn't carry the way wood does.
First of all, you are a very talented cellist and I'm so jealous of your skills! With each test I could hear the years of training and experience coming through, especially to have such a full, deep and controlled tone with two different types of cellos is utterly amazing. I was pleasantly surprised about the richness a carbon fibre cello can bring to the table. It's oddly silky smooth and has a dark resonance to it which I love. However, when you played the wooden cello, you can hear more personality coming through which I personally think adds another layer to the pieces you performed. So, I can definitely agree with you about choosing which cello suits which piece to bring out all the colours the best! Best of luck and thank you for this video.
I also love the dark resonance of the carbon fiber cello, and agree with your observation about hearing the personality from the wooden instrument.Thank you so much for your kind words and observations, I am very grateful you enjoyed this video! Take care! 🙂
Thanks for this! I found I preferred carbon fibre on the low end, wood on the high end. For the pizz, I noticed the carbon fibre sound lasted longer - but that can be both good and bad, so I'm not sure which I prefer!
The Carbon Fiber made by Lewis and Clark (Mezzo-Forte also makes Carbon Fiber instruments, and Glasser makes Carbon Composite instruments too) is a bit louder than an average wooden cello. Carbon Composite/Carbon Fiber is way more beginner friendly cause its smoother construction facilitates good technique.
This was so helpful! My 9-1/2 year old son, who's been playing for two years, wanted to hear the difference between the carbon fiber & wood cello and this really helped! Thanks so much!!! He liked the sound of the carbon fiber.
Yes, I’d agree the CF cello seems thinner and more focused in its attacks. I’m not a cellist but have a CF violin which I like for its stability in varying temps and humidities, and is good for playing alongside loud guitars and banjos and for amplification due to its better focus, but lacks the tonal color of wood.
Clear classification, precise performance and quality recording, it's no doubt the best comparison on UA-cam. And I highly recommend you changing the original string set to Thomastik Versum. You can get smoother high notes on A string without losing the powerful projection of carbon fiber cello.
I prefered the carbon fiber cello for the Brahms for it sounded stronger as well as for the Bach for the wooden cello on the D and A strings sounded a little thin. I would like to know what both cellos are, as well as the bow used (modern bow, Pernambuco wood etc...). Thank you for giving the time in making this very well made, and we'll thought of video.
I have the same carbon fiber cello and you can tell the difference from the sound of when you press on the fingerboard ebony sounds different from epoxy carbon fiber. Also, the carbon fiber cello is incredibly loud especially on the lower notes so you stick out like a sore thumb in an orchestra without even mentioning that it's black. I think it is great for solo performances and anything outside. Everything but the bridge is indestructible.
I could tell in each excerpt which was which, and I really prefer the sound of the wooden one. It has quite a bit more reverb in the room and even if it may have slightly less projection at times compared to the carbon fibre, you can hear the notes ring longer in a beautiful way. Also, each note had a less aggressive quality, I don't know how to explain hearing wood, but I can hear it vibrating with each stroke and pluck. The carbon really stops those vibrations, or vibrates a lot less. And in the jazzy excerpt, the taping on the wood gave it away right away. That's a lovely wood tapping sound that isn't as prominent on the carbon.
I have that cello and I have only tuned it when I replace strings and stretch them in. Otherwise that thing stays in tune even if you use the endpin as a bayonet.
I've listened to a couple of different blind comparisons. What I hear when the instrument is bowed is that the CF seems to have a slightly greater lower midrange frequency emphasis. It's not bad, but just different. Whether this might also be the case between various wooden cellos might also be true (I would be surprised if all pairs of quality cellos sounded identical). That's what I think I'm hearing anyway.
Both are within the window of appropriate cello sounds. I ended up preferring the CF for all three tests. My reason was that the wood cello seemed to have more of a problem with producing a uniform sound from note to note. In the arpeggios in the Bach there was a note that always sounded like it didn't belong with the others. A sore thumb. Some people will call that "character" or "an idiosyncrasy" but we wouldn't favor that in other instruments.
Thanks for the blind test. I correctly identified the carbon cello 3/3 times on an iPhone’s loudspeakers, so I guess for me it settles the question whether it sounds like a wooden instrument.
Interesting. In the first comparison I thought instrument 2 (carbon) had much clearer articulation but both were close. I was very surprised by the second comparison where I strongly preferred the voicing of carbon instrument. Instrument 2 in this comparison had a lack of midrange body that made me suspect it was the carbon instrument but I was wrong! For pizzicato i preferred the articulation and sustain of the wooden instrument. Both very fine sounding cellos.
Thanks Anna! I think the carbon fiber has a real nice clarity and adaptability for playing outdoors, and there’s a lot of cool percussive sounds you can get for playing alternative styles. I usually use my wooden instrument if I’m playing mostly in the upper register or classical chamber music!
I’m not sure. When I closed my eyes and listened, I thought the Carbon fiber had a much better sound in the bass register, not so much difference in the upper but maybe some much higher pitched overtones. I assume humidity is not a big deal for the CF one?
There differences between the ebony figerboard and carbon fiber fingerboard is notoceable. I am not certain which instrument actually sounds "better" especially with the crappy speaker in the cellphone. My Cello is 200+ years old and doesn't get abused not that I think these do but I have encountered situations where the humin
The CF amplifies the base frequency, or the primary harmonic, which causes the upper range to sound a bit muffled. I think, this can make CF very good as a part of an ensemble where the bass does not need to sound so human. The wood has a weaker primary harmonic, but more third harmonic which makes it to sound fuller. I think thi can make it a good for solo and in recordings. The CF rings a lot, it will be very good in places where there are no walls to provide a strong reverb. The wood just speaks, it will be good in venues where it literally echoes. It would be good also for pieces with long legato phrases which it can literally sing like a human. I listened to this video through my phone speaker, through earphones, and through a big sound system. Phone speaker does not do justice for the CF sound since it it strong in the base frequency. It does not sound well. Earphones amplify a lot of bass which makes the sound so low and so loud for cf. But the sound system (connected to our smart TV) does a lot of justice to make it sound full. I already played some recorded practice recordings on this tv and speakers and they sound closer to what my instruments sound. This makes me believe that the sound of your recording as played on these speakers connected to my TV is closer to the actual. CF sounds generally better than the wooden one.
Yup. You can tell the difference almost the instant the second clip is played, however I have some doubt you could reliably pick the actual instrument without a comparison. The wooden instrument sounds like you're listening to it with cotton wool in your ears. I don't see how people think it's got more character/tone/warmth/WHY.
I’m just an amateur guitar player, but I had all three right. The carbon instrument sounds ‘crisp’ or ‘precise’, probably because of the uniformity of the material, but only when you use the bow. In the jazz piece, the wooden instrument was actually the technical winner. In all three, the wooden instrument adds a bit of personality.
I was correct for test 1 and 3. I was wrong on test 2 because my presumption of CF would sound inferior. Between these 2 cellos, I would choose CF to keep. Test 1 was so close. Test 2 CF sounds more pleasant to my ears. Test 3, CF has better boom sound.
Great video. Carbon fiber is definitely more harsh under the ear and up close. However, as you get further away from the insturment, as in a concert or ensemble venue, the differences between wood and CF fade away. For the money--and for the uninitiated, $7K USD (for the L& C) is NOT an expensive cello relatively speaking--you cannot beat the CF value for its performance. The CF is world-class in its price range. As well, very robust for outdoor settings and rapid changes in temp. Mine also doubles as a wake board and fishing platform in the summer months. ;-)
I guessed all correctly. The cf cello is much more resonant and also has many more overtones. The wood cello is more compressed but also more controlled. At least that’s how I heard them. Thanks for doing this comparison!
I'm not a musician, although I played the saxophone when I was in school. I could tell the difference on all three sections. The wooden cello is warmer and has a fuller tone. That said, the cf was still very good. Not sure if I agree with other commenters here that the cf sounded better on the low end. Difference of opinoon os what makes a horse race.
For myself, having listened to both instuments, the characteristics are distinct, and depend on the context, each instrument would have its place. As a soloist, the wooden instrument would in the higher registers offer more sweetness and clarity. It does not fare so well in the lower registers, where it was distinctly muddy. So in pieces where such expressiveness in the mid and upper range is key, the wooden cello would be excellent. However, the carbon fibre cello is more an ensemble instrument, because of its cleaness and attack. There was no muddiness down in lower registers, but the cleanness extends throughout its range, which probably accounts for the accusations of tinnyness. Its greater rigidity limits the sound textures it can produce, so whilst its character is distinct, it seems aurally less rich and complex. That is probably a matter of the physics involved with the composite its made from and its construction. It's early days, and more research into modifying the CF composite and/or the physical characteristics inside the instrument may produce a sound warmer and richer tone. Some manufacturers address this by adding wooden soundposts in their violins (mezzo forte orchestra grade) and it does provide more warmth compared to a completely CF violin. More research is required I think.
I'm a violinist, so I'm very familiar with orchestral string sounds. I got all three correct. To me, the carbon fiber instrument sounds tubby. This is very subjective language, but to me it sounds a little like a bucket. However, I was just listening to Mezzo Forte violins. They sound very lovely. I don't know who made your carbon fiber instruments, but I definitely feel that the Mezzo Forte carbon fiber violins sound better than Luis and Clark's. MF's sound very smooth, rich, and even throughout their range.
The wood one contains the thick, rough and elastic( or sooth?) sound belongs to the wood box. The carbon one's sound isvery direct, cold. Like the fidderence of Hifi SYSTEM between tube and crystal.
Very interesting comparison. I didn't think even the carbon cello endorsed those performances. In my opinion there is the same difference in sound between a CD and a vinyl record. Thanks for the very interesting video
I guessed which cello was which correctly both for Brahms and Bach. I prefer the carbon fiber cello for the lower register and the wood for the higher register.
the wood one sounds richer and more smooth like the notes flow into each other with a warming sound. I can tell even with my Mac speakers. The carbon fiber one sounds crisp and extremely clear almost robotic (describing the best I can) but still good
I am not a musician, but even I was able to tell the difference correctly on every single one of the tests. The CF Cello is for me the undisputed winner. The only area where the wooden instrument was marginally better was in having smoother high notes but I doubt this would be noticeable in an ensemble.
Definitely I distinguished the sound of the wooden cello, it has a more complex, wider, warmer sound and it vibrates much more. For pizzicato perhaps sounds better the carbon one?
Awesome observations, thanks for sharing! I find playing pizzicato on the carbon one creates some nice timbres, the left hand also seems more percussive on that cello
I got first if 2 right , that the wooden sounded the best . The deepest , the most natural . Granted for a chemical instrument , the resonance is good , but the natural decay , the deepness , you can still hear it ( and that was hearing it through an iPad !
Very interesting. The carbon fibre seemed to have a real, almost fluid depth when playing the lower register in both the Brahms and the jazz pizzicato, which I liked better. But the wooden one came out a lot more harmonious in the Bach prelude- something sounded off about the carbon fibre part in that one. Maybe to do with the sort-of uniform solidity of the carbon fibre one as helping to give shape to those lower tones, versus the flexibility of a wooden instrument for the higher tones? Or maybe the structure of the instrument affects the string tension? How long had you been playing the carbon fibre one prior to making this video? I've heard that carbon fibre instruments can take a couple of weeks to play in.
Strangely, his intonation was better in the wooden cello Bach prelude. I think you might be referring to the last chord? The carbon fibre one was a little out of tune (the major third was too high).
my approach was less about "which one was which" but rather "which one do I LIKE?" Result: I think i liked the richness of the lower range on the carbon fiber cello, but preferred the wooden one in the upper range. just my subjective opinion.
I don’t play cello but I could tell the difference… the would one sounded more organic, like it had a soul. The CF was very clean sounding, kind of too clean.
contrary to what people think, its actually hard to tell the difference between the two. While im at it for you cello players out there, try kalimba by mark summers, its a really cool all piz song :D
I got it right the first 2 blind as for jazz im not sure what I'll hear. But as far as sound qulity the low notes sound better on the carbon fiber. But on the wood instrument thd upper register sounds more real wile the carbon fiber has some mechanical noise. If anyone finds a way to get both togather then it would be more like a million dollar wood instrument thats highly prized for its tonal qulity. Im going to bet the jazz sound better on the carbon fiber instrument now ill go listen and see if I'm right. Yep got number 3 right, the carbon fiber just has a tone thats slightly off. Picking the strings show its weaknesses. Some day somone will figure out the secret.
I really loved my cello. It was a spectacular instrument lovingly crafted by an artisan luthier but it was incredibly sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. My Luis and Clqrk Carbon Fiber acello has spectacular tone. Easily as good as the very best classic cello.
I got 1 out of 3 correct, WTG carbon fiber. What pickup would you recommend for a carbon fiber cello? I tried Fishman's piezo on a loaner carbon cello, and it sounded terrible.
I am, by no means, a fan of the carbon fiber... Only because it can be mass produced and i feel a little soul and individuality is lost. Honestly though... I was wrong on the sound all three times. For certain i thought the carbon fiber was going to sound more robust and full, but it was actually the opposite. To note: you are a fantastic cellist.
Yeah wood instruments can and are also being mass produced. Though I think what you refer to are instruments that are professionally handmade by a luthier vs. those that aren't. (The latter often giving worse results)
I guessed them all right! But I kind of cheated. I've played on the Luis and Clark violin for years as my main instrument. I've also listened to the instruments creator Luis Leguía play it for hours because he made a great album of Latin American folk music for cello and piano using only the carbon fiber instrument. The instruments do have a pretty bright tone overall. It cuts through timbre wise. So, definitely great if you like something more right. The violin Plays great and I've gotten only compliments overall. The only thing that would annoy me a bit is that the strings especially on cello will slap kind of loud against the fingerboard compared to a wood fingerboard.
Carbon fiber is pretty stiff as i recall, the sound should be brighter... Greetings from Mexico Caleb I can also note the composite cello is louder than the wooden instrument, i knew that from the classical guitar world in which you can get a guitar with carbon and balsa and the instrument is super loud
I prefer the lows on the carbon fiber, and given its versatiliy, I like it all around, the highs are different, not what one expects from a cello, but I wouldn't say they're bad at all, just a different instrument
THEY SOUND EXACTLY THE SAME IN MY SHITTY PHONE SPEAKER. IN ANY CASE I'D GO WITH THE CARBON FIBER, SO I DON'T HAVE TO CARRY IT AROUND LIKE IT WAS A NEW BORN.
Its round cello 2 much richer and deeper. 2nd round cello 2, was much. Smoother sounding and much less muted compared # 1. Last round not much difference. Very interesting THANK you for sharing this.
For me, always the Carbon Cello definitely sounded better (in the upper and deeper register), although it was always changing the numbers :o)! May I ask, is it from Mezzoforte or Louis and Clark? Which luthier made your wooden cello and from which country is it? Thanks for answering my questions and best wishes, Marta
This is the Luis & Clark, it's really an amazing instrument. My wooden cello is French, and although the luthier is unknown it was made in the late 1900's. Thanks so much for your insight and questions, take care :)
somehow the wood feels both bigger and warmer than the carbon down below: I find the wooden one less tight at the lower end, and tighter at the higher end.
Many factors must be considered... Really, we are not talking about "big" instruments, both instruments lack brightness and color, perhaps the wooden cello sounpost is a little loose, as well as its location in relation to the harmonic bar and the foot of the bridge. The bridge could perhaps have a little more wood. I apologize for the honesty, I wouldn't use a fiber cello for serious music...
Even holding my phone while each cello played you could feel the difference. The carbon fibre didn't resonate the body of the phone by a fifth the amount as the traditional cello. Wood sounded better, though I suspect the sound is truer with the carbon fibre.
The carbon's lower register deninitly seems fuller and the upper sounds snappier? The wood has the earthy smooth sound. :) Or maybe that's just me? Both are great, it's like choosing between your kids. You just can't. :D Thanks for this! :)
Cellist / part time luthier here. I've played a quite a few composite cellos; it sounds like 1 or 2 millimeters sound post adjustment on the carbon fiber cello is needed to balance the lowers and uppers. Maybe bridge too. :)
Huge difference! I much prefer the wooden cello and after the first comparison was revealed I could easily spot the cf and wood in the next two. I do think cf could be better in some situations though, such as when part of an arrangement that called for a less warm and rich sound for fear of dominating the mix.
You play beautifully. Thank you for presenting this interesting example. I was able to tell the difference the first time in the lower registers. The wood one seemed more interesting and alive sounding. However, my ear or computer ability isn't fine tuned enough to tell the difference on the higher strings or when you do pizzicato.
One thing must be taken into consideration when recording the Luis & Clark cello: this cello projects it sound at a 60° angle (according to Luis Leguia himself)…THEREFORE…you should use a different mic setup. That’s why most recordings made with Luis & Clark cellos sound like they were made with a low quality cello.
Excellent video. Got all 3 correct (phew, I’m a professional so hope my ears are up to it). The carbon fibre is fine, but just sounds a bit synthetic somehow. Wood just sounds so much better, resonant and real.
The carbon fiber cello is lacking in overtones. The difference in sound is palpable. Music can be made out of anything, but the wood definitely has more character.
You are a superb cellist who is at the beginning of a technical transition/revolution which is now targeting and challenging a long standing tradition of the masters. I loved both instruments. For me, the artistic content of the piece is more important than the sound cosmetics. The world is changing ... the subjectivity of all our senses is changing right along with it. It is your generation that is in the process of setting the yardsticks for sound quality. How much demand is there today for the authentic sound of the Cretan Lyra? I foresee that piano concerts will be played on digital pianos and all other orchestral instruments being made of the most modern materials. Kawai already has an all digital "Grand Piano" that uses the actual grand piano action where the hammers trigger switches instead of hitting strings. Kawai has already incorporated many wooden components of the action with carbon fiber. I think that future orchestras will be smaller because four 4-5 violinists can be electronically massaged by the computer to sound like a full string section ... minute pitch variations included. Etc. etc. Please don't shoot the messenger. 😄
Reading the comments, I see most people thought the wooden cello had the richer, deeper sound. Running a 5.1 surround sound system when I listened to this video, I had the exact opposite experience. The CF cello let the lower register vibrate longer, which gave it a much warmer sound. The wooden cello seemed to better with the higher frequencies. I suspect the longer decay of vibrations in the CF cello was responsible for giving it a somewhat muddy sound on the higher notes, bathing those high frequencies with the longer lasting mid and lower frequencies in comparison to the wooden one. Materials play a huge part in the tonal characteristics of an instrument, and it was interesting to see that demonstrated here.
Awesome hearing your thoughts and expertise on this comparison, glad you found the video interesting!
I agree with this assessment.
In the 1st comparison, cello #2 (carbon fiber) just blew away cello #1. It wasn't even close. I was surprised to see that it was not wood. Agreed in the 2nd test, the lack of clarity was reversed and the wooden cello faired quite a bit better.
Agreed, I thought the carbon fiber cello was actually the wood cello since it seemed to be so rich and vibrate so well.
I'm really surprised that I was able to hear the difference. The CF cello seemed very smooth and rich, and the wooden one has a kind of bright sheen to the sound.
Great playing by the way! I could completely tell the difference between the two. The Carbonfiber has a deeper bass resonance that sounds unatural and makes the mid bass sound hollow. The highs are shrill and hollow compared to the wood cello. This was my biggest fears on purchasing a carbon fiber cello, wood to me just sounds so much better. The pizzicato was much harder to tell though.
Perfectly described...somehow it sounds naked...
On the lower register the carbon fiber is much stronger and it sounds like it would project much further than the wooden cello. The A and D though sound a bit thin and harsh but that could be easily fixed with a set up change or just different strings. Are they both in the same price range?
I could hear all 3. The wood is much richer. Deeper and the carbon fiber was much more rigid and tight if thats the right term. The tone didn't reverberate because of the rigidity of the carbon. Still sounded good the tone just doesn't carry the way wood does.
First of all, you are a very talented cellist and I'm so jealous of your skills! With each test I could hear the years of training and experience coming through, especially to have such a full, deep and controlled tone with two different types of cellos is utterly amazing.
I was pleasantly surprised about the richness a carbon fibre cello can bring to the table. It's oddly silky smooth and has a dark resonance to it which I love. However, when you played the wooden cello, you can hear more personality coming through which I personally think adds another layer to the pieces you performed. So, I can definitely agree with you about choosing which cello suits which piece to bring out all the colours the best!
Best of luck and thank you for this video.
I also love the dark resonance of the carbon fiber cello, and agree with your observation about hearing the personality from the wooden instrument.Thank you so much for your kind words and observations, I am very grateful you enjoyed this video! Take care! 🙂
Thanks for this!
I found I preferred carbon fibre on the low end, wood on the high end. For the pizz, I noticed the carbon fibre sound lasted longer - but that can be both good and bad, so I'm not sure which I prefer!
Thanks for the comparision. I had no dificulty hearing a big difference. The Carbon Cello looks really beautiful .
Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed the comparison! Take care :)
The Carbon Fiber made by Lewis and Clark (Mezzo-Forte also makes Carbon Fiber instruments, and Glasser makes Carbon Composite instruments too) is a bit louder than an average wooden cello. Carbon Composite/Carbon Fiber is way more beginner friendly cause its smoother construction facilitates good technique.
This was so helpful! My 9-1/2 year old son, who's been playing for two years, wanted to hear the difference between the carbon fiber & wood cello and this really helped! Thanks so much!!! He liked the sound of the carbon fiber.
So glad to hear it was helpful! That is awesome wish him the best!
The first and second samples I prefer the carbon. While I liked the wooden on the third sample.
Yes, I’d agree the CF cello seems thinner and more focused in its attacks. I’m not a cellist but have a CF violin which I like for its stability in varying temps and humidities, and is good for playing alongside loud guitars and banjos and for amplification due to its better focus, but lacks the tonal color of wood.
Clear classification, precise performance and quality recording, it's no doubt the best comparison on UA-cam. And I highly recommend you changing the original string set to Thomastik Versum. You can get smoother high notes on A string without losing the powerful projection of carbon fiber cello.
Thanks so much, and for the tips! I will definitely try that out!
I prefered the carbon fiber cello for the Brahms for it sounded stronger as well as for the Bach for the wooden cello on the D and A strings sounded a little thin.
I would like to know what both cellos are, as well as the bow used (modern bow, Pernambuco wood etc...).
Thank you for giving the time in making this very well made, and we'll thought of video.
I have the same carbon fiber cello and you can tell the difference from the sound of when you press on the fingerboard ebony sounds different from epoxy carbon fiber. Also, the carbon fiber cello is incredibly loud especially on the lower notes so you stick out like a sore thumb in an orchestra without even mentioning that it's black. I think it is great for solo performances and anything outside. Everything but the bridge is indestructible.
I could tell in each excerpt which was which, and I really prefer the sound of the wooden one. It has quite a bit more reverb in the room and even if it may have slightly less projection at times compared to the carbon fibre, you can hear the notes ring longer in a beautiful way. Also, each note had a less aggressive quality, I don't know how to explain hearing wood, but I can hear it vibrating with each stroke and pluck. The carbon really stops those vibrations, or vibrates a lot less. And in the jazzy excerpt, the taping on the wood gave it away right away. That's a lovely wood tapping sound that isn't as prominent on the carbon.
Carbon Fiber Cellos actually have geared tuners which makes tuning alot easier especially for beginners.
^yes love the tuners on mine!
@@CalebYangMusic You can also put Geared Tuners on your Wooden Cello so that it's easier to keep in tune too.
I have that cello and I have only tuned it when I replace strings and stretch them in. Otherwise that thing stays in tune even if you use the endpin as a bayonet.
I've listened to a couple of different blind comparisons. What I hear when the instrument is bowed is that the CF seems to have a slightly greater lower midrange frequency emphasis. It's not bad, but just different. Whether this might also be the case between various wooden cellos might also be true (I would be surprised if all pairs of quality cellos sounded identical). That's what I think I'm hearing anyway.
Both are within the window of appropriate cello sounds. I ended up preferring the CF for all three tests. My reason was that the wood cello seemed to have more of a problem with producing a uniform sound from note to note. In the arpeggios in the Bach there was a note that always sounded like it didn't belong with the others. A sore thumb.
Some people will call that "character" or "an idiosyncrasy" but we wouldn't favor that in other instruments.
Thanks for the blind test. I correctly identified the carbon cello 3/3 times on an iPhone’s loudspeakers, so I guess for me it settles the question whether it sounds like a wooden instrument.
Interesting. In the first comparison I thought instrument 2 (carbon) had much clearer articulation but both were close. I was very surprised by the second comparison where I strongly preferred the voicing of carbon instrument. Instrument 2 in this comparison had a lack of midrange body that made me suspect it was the carbon instrument but I was wrong! For pizzicato i preferred the articulation and sustain of the wooden instrument. Both very fine sounding cellos.
Thanks for that insightful experiment. I liked the wood cello better in the first two excerpts, but the carbon fiber better in the jazz.
This was super interesting! The only one I got right was the upper register part. I'm curious in which gigs you use each cello.
Thanks Anna! I think the carbon fiber has a real nice clarity and adaptability for playing outdoors, and there’s a lot of cool percussive sounds you can get for playing alternative styles. I usually use my wooden instrument if I’m playing mostly in the upper register or classical chamber music!
That was really interesting. I was surprised that I could tell the difference between them. To me the wood cello had a much richer and fuller sound.
That’s awesome! Thanks for watching :)
I’m not sure. When I closed my eyes and listened, I thought the Carbon fiber had a much better sound in the bass register, not so much difference in the upper but maybe some much higher pitched overtones. I assume humidity is not a big deal for the CF one?
Same.
i think so
There differences between the ebony figerboard and carbon fiber fingerboard is notoceable. I am not certain which instrument actually sounds "better" especially with the crappy speaker in the cellphone. My Cello is 200+ years old and doesn't get abused not that I think these do but I have encountered situations where the humin
The CF amplifies the base frequency, or the primary harmonic, which causes the upper range to sound a bit muffled. I think, this can make CF very good as a part of an ensemble where the bass does not need to sound so human.
The wood has a weaker primary harmonic, but more third harmonic which makes it to sound fuller. I think thi can make it a good for solo and in recordings.
The CF rings a lot, it will be very good in places where there are no walls to provide a strong reverb.
The wood just speaks, it will be good in venues where it literally echoes. It would be good also for pieces with long legato phrases which it can literally sing like a human.
I listened to this video through my phone speaker, through earphones, and through a big sound system. Phone speaker does not do justice for the CF sound since it it strong in the base frequency. It does not sound well. Earphones amplify a lot of bass which makes the sound so low and so loud for cf. But the sound system (connected to our smart TV) does a lot of justice to make it sound full.
I already played some recorded practice recordings on this tv and speakers and they sound closer to what my instruments sound. This makes me believe that the sound of your recording as played on these speakers connected to my TV is closer to the actual. CF sounds generally better than the wooden one.
What’s the model you have for the carbon fiber cello? Cost?
Yup. You can tell the difference almost the instant the second clip is played, however I have some doubt you could reliably pick the actual instrument without a comparison. The wooden instrument sounds like you're listening to it with cotton wool in your ears. I don't see how people think it's got more character/tone/warmth/WHY.
I’m just an amateur guitar player, but I had all three right. The carbon instrument sounds ‘crisp’ or ‘precise’, probably because of the uniformity of the material, but only when you use the bow. In the jazz piece, the wooden instrument was actually the technical winner. In all three, the wooden instrument adds a bit of personality.
I was correct for test 1 and 3. I was wrong on test 2 because my presumption of CF would sound inferior. Between these 2 cellos, I would choose CF to keep. Test 1 was so close. Test 2 CF sounds more pleasant to my ears. Test 3, CF has better boom sound.
Great video. Carbon fiber is definitely more harsh under the ear and up close. However, as you get further away from the insturment, as in a concert or ensemble venue, the differences between wood and CF fade away. For the money--and for the uninitiated, $7K USD (for the L& C) is NOT an expensive cello relatively speaking--you cannot beat the CF value for its performance. The CF is world-class in its price range. As well, very robust for outdoor settings and rapid changes in temp. Mine also doubles as a wake board and fishing platform in the summer months. ;-)
I guessed all correctly. The cf cello is much more resonant and also has many more overtones. The wood cello is more compressed but also more controlled. At least that’s how I heard them. Thanks for doing this comparison!
Awesome, and thanks for watching!
I'm not a musician, although I played the saxophone when I was in school. I could tell the difference on all three sections. The wooden cello is warmer and has a fuller tone. That said, the cf was still very good. Not sure if I agree with other commenters here that the cf sounded better on the low end. Difference of opinoon os what makes a horse race.
For myself, having listened to both instuments, the characteristics are distinct, and depend on the context, each instrument would have its place. As a soloist, the wooden instrument would in the higher registers offer more sweetness and clarity. It does not fare so well in the lower registers, where it was distinctly muddy. So in pieces where such expressiveness in the mid and upper range is key, the wooden cello would be excellent. However, the carbon fibre cello is more an ensemble instrument, because of its cleaness and attack. There was no muddiness down in lower registers, but the cleanness extends throughout its range, which probably accounts for the accusations of tinnyness. Its greater rigidity limits the sound textures it can produce, so whilst its character is distinct, it seems aurally less rich and complex. That is probably a matter of the physics involved with the composite its made from and its construction.
It's early days, and more research into modifying the CF composite and/or the physical characteristics inside the instrument may produce a sound warmer and richer tone. Some manufacturers address this by adding wooden soundposts in their violins (mezzo forte orchestra grade) and it does provide more warmth compared to a completely CF violin. More research is required I think.
I'm a violinist, so I'm very familiar with orchestral string sounds. I got all three correct. To me, the carbon fiber instrument sounds tubby. This is very subjective language, but to me it sounds a little like a bucket. However, I was just listening to Mezzo Forte violins. They sound very lovely. I don't know who made your carbon fiber instruments, but I definitely feel that the Mezzo Forte carbon fiber violins sound better than Luis and Clark's. MF's sound very smooth, rich, and even throughout their range.
The wood one contains the thick, rough and elastic( or sooth?) sound belongs to the wood box. The carbon one's sound isvery direct, cold.
Like the fidderence of Hifi SYSTEM between tube and crystal.
Very interesting comparison. I didn't think even the carbon cello endorsed those performances. In my opinion there is the same difference in sound between a CD and a vinyl record. Thanks for the very interesting video
Glad you found the video interesting!
I guessed which cello was which correctly both for Brahms and Bach. I prefer the carbon fiber cello for the lower register and the wood for the higher register.
the wood one sounds richer and more smooth like the notes flow into each other with a warming sound. I can tell even with my Mac speakers. The carbon fiber one sounds crisp and extremely clear almost robotic (describing the best I can) but still good
Great way of putting it, thanks for sharing! :)
I was wondering which was louder in the upper thumb positions, especially on the A string. CF?
I am not a musician, but even I was able to tell the difference correctly on every single one of the tests. The CF Cello is for me the undisputed winner. The only area where the wooden instrument was marginally better was in having smoother high notes but I doubt this would be noticeable in an ensemble.
Definitely I distinguished the sound of the wooden cello, it has a more complex, wider, warmer sound and it vibrates much more. For pizzicato perhaps sounds better the carbon one?
Awesome observations, thanks for sharing! I find playing pizzicato on the carbon one creates some nice timbres, the left hand also seems more percussive on that cello
@@CalebYangMusic yes, this too, thats right
I got first if 2 right , that the wooden sounded the best . The deepest , the most natural . Granted for a chemical instrument , the resonance is good , but the natural decay , the deepness , you can still hear it ( and that was hearing it through an iPad !
Thanks for sharing!
you can definitely hear the difference! so beautiful
Thank you ! :)
Clear difference in the quality of tone. 😊
Thank you so much for doing this! It has really helped me to decide which to buy!
Awesome, glad it was helpful! :)
Very interesting. The carbon fibre seemed to have a real, almost fluid depth when playing the lower register in both the Brahms and the jazz pizzicato, which I liked better. But the wooden one came out a lot more harmonious in the Bach prelude- something sounded off about the carbon fibre part in that one. Maybe to do with the sort-of uniform solidity of the carbon fibre one as helping to give shape to those lower tones, versus the flexibility of a wooden instrument for the higher tones? Or maybe the structure of the instrument affects the string tension?
How long had you been playing the carbon fibre one prior to making this video? I've heard that carbon fibre instruments can take a couple of weeks to play in.
That’s interesting thanks for sharing! I’ve been playing the carbon fiber for a little over a year now
Strangely, his intonation was better in the wooden cello Bach prelude. I think you might be referring to the last chord? The carbon fibre one was a little out of tune (the major third was too high).
Overall very interesting, very different sounds from each. I’d like to hear an entire composition on each one.
Thanks for the feedback!
Stopped at 1:52 the first sounded hollow soft and warm. 2 sounded tight & solid. So my guess 1wood...... 2 carbon
I called that sheit
Can someone tell me where 1 gets a carbon fiber cello plz
my approach was less about "which one was which" but rather "which one do I LIKE?" Result: I think i liked the richness of the lower range on the carbon fiber cello, but preferred the wooden one in the upper range. just my subjective opinion.
I personally agree!
재미있고 유익한 영상이네요. 제 귀에는 저음은 나무가 더 풍성하게 들리고, 다른 부분은 카본첼로가 모든면에서 더 좋게들리네요. 연주가 너무 훌륭해요. 두대의 첼로가 같은 가격대인가요? 영상속 카본섬유첼로는 어떤 모델인가요?
감사! 훌륭합니다. 공유해 주셔서 감사합니다. 카본 첼로는 "Luis&Clark" 모델입니다. 목제 첼로는 더 비쌉니다.
@@CalebYangMusic 그렇군요. 다음번에는 같은 가격대로 비교하면 더 공평하고 흥미로울것 같아요^^ 답변감사합니다~
I don’t play cello but I could tell the difference… the would one sounded more organic, like it had a soul. The CF was very clean sounding, kind of too clean.
Identified each correctly. The sound of CF is distinctive.
contrary to what people think, its actually hard to tell the difference between the two. While im at it for you cello players out there, try kalimba by mark summers, its a really cool all piz song :D
Got them all correct. Wood tones are hard to replicate with CF. Still performe technically but lack soul.
I got it right the first 2 blind as for jazz im not sure what I'll hear. But as far as sound qulity the low notes sound better on the carbon fiber. But on the wood instrument thd upper register sounds more real wile the carbon fiber has some mechanical noise.
If anyone finds a way to get both togather then it would be more like a million dollar wood instrument thats highly prized for its tonal qulity.
Im going to bet the jazz sound better on the carbon fiber instrument now ill go listen and see if I'm right.
Yep got number 3 right, the carbon fiber just has a tone thats slightly off.
Picking the strings show its weaknesses.
Some day somone will figure out the secret.
What company made the carbon fiber cello? Owned a Luis & Clark. Now I have a Mezzo Forte, which I prefer.
This is a Luis & Clark
@@CalebYangMusic They are good, but too much for my skills.
Thanks brother that was entertaining! God bless🙏
Dead on!
Wood is richer, brighter and amazing resonance.
So beautiful! I love the cello! Happy to subscribe.
Thank you so much!
Incredible that the carbon sounds as good as it does!
Yup, it's an awesome instrument!
I really loved my cello. It was a spectacular instrument lovingly crafted by an artisan luthier but it was incredibly sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. My Luis and Clqrk Carbon Fiber acello has spectacular tone. Easily as good as the very best classic cello.
I got all three comparisons correct. The carbon fiber has a rounder, richer sound.
Very good comparison!
Thanks!
What brand and kind of strings did you use on each cello?
You sound great on both
Thank you!
I got 1 out of 3 correct, WTG carbon fiber. What pickup would you recommend for a carbon fiber cello? I tried Fishman's piezo on a loaner carbon cello, and it sounded terrible.
I have the realist pickup!
I am, by no means, a fan of the carbon fiber... Only because it can be mass produced and i feel a little soul and individuality is lost. Honestly though... I was wrong on the sound all three times. For certain i thought the carbon fiber was going to sound more robust and full, but it was actually the opposite. To note: you are a fantastic cellist.
Thanks so much for your observations and kind words! Appreciate you being here! :)
Yeah wood instruments can and are also being mass produced. Though I think what you refer to are instruments that are professionally handmade by a luthier vs. those that aren't. (The latter often giving worse results)
Luis and Clark cellos are made one at a time. Go to their website for more information.
I guessed them all right! But I kind of cheated. I've played on the Luis and Clark violin for years as my main instrument. I've also listened to the instruments creator Luis Leguía play it for hours because he made a great album of Latin American folk music for cello and piano using only the carbon fiber instrument. The instruments do have a pretty bright tone overall. It cuts through timbre wise. So, definitely great if you like something more right. The violin Plays great and I've gotten only compliments overall. The only thing that would annoy me a bit is that the strings especially on cello will slap kind of loud against the fingerboard compared to a wood fingerboard.
That is so cool, thanks so much for your perspective!!
I made a few cf cellos and they are beutiful.
Carbon fiber is pretty stiff as i recall, the sound should be brighter... Greetings from Mexico Caleb
I can also note the composite cello is louder than the wooden instrument, i knew that from the classical guitar world in which you can get a guitar with carbon and balsa and the instrument is super loud
Hey Javier! And thats cool thanks for sharing, I’m gonna check that out!
I got all 3 correct! I can definitely hear the difference though I preferred the wood cello!
wow that's awesome! :)
1st excerpt: Prefer cello 1.
2nd excerpt: lean towards cello 2.
3rd excerpt: cello 2.
Hmmm... seems I prefer a wood cello over a carbon fiber cello.
I prefer the lows on the carbon fiber, and given its versatiliy, I like it all around, the highs are different, not what one expects from a cello, but I wouldn't say they're bad at all, just a different instrument
really cool, thanks for sharing! :)
THEY SOUND EXACTLY THE SAME IN MY SHITTY PHONE SPEAKER. IN ANY CASE I'D GO WITH THE CARBON FIBER, SO I DON'T HAVE TO CARRY IT AROUND LIKE IT WAS A NEW BORN.
Its round cello 2 much richer and deeper. 2nd round cello 2, was much. Smoother sounding and much less muted compared # 1. Last round not much difference. Very interesting THANK you for sharing this.
Awesome, glad you found the video interesting!
For me, always the Carbon Cello definitely sounded better (in the upper and deeper register), although it was always changing the numbers :o)! May I ask, is it from Mezzoforte or Louis and Clark? Which luthier made your wooden cello and from which country is it? Thanks for answering my questions and best wishes, Marta
This is the Luis & Clark, it's really an amazing instrument. My wooden cello is French, and although the luthier is unknown it was made in the late 1900's. Thanks so much for your insight and questions, take care :)
somehow the wood feels both bigger and warmer than the carbon down below: I find the wooden one less tight at the lower end, and tighter at the higher end.
This comment section definitely shows how subjective good tone is haha
the pizzicato was 10 to 1 for the wooden one.
Many factors must be considered... Really, we are not talking about "big" instruments, both instruments lack brightness and color, perhaps the wooden cello sounpost is a little loose, as well as its location in relation to the harmonic bar and the foot of the bridge. The bridge could perhaps have a little more wood. I apologize for the honesty, I wouldn't use a fiber cello for serious music...
Even holding my phone while each cello played you could feel the difference. The carbon fibre didn't resonate the body of the phone by a fifth the amount as the traditional cello. Wood sounded better, though I suspect the sound is truer with the carbon fibre.
The carbon's lower register deninitly seems fuller and the upper sounds snappier? The wood has the earthy smooth sound. :) Or maybe that's just me? Both are great, it's like choosing between your kids. You just can't. :D
Thanks for this! :)
Thank you!! Great observations and analogy!
What is the name of that exact cello you're using?(the carbon fiber)
Luis and Clark cello!
@@CalebYangMusic the one for $7k?
카본 첼로 연주와 나무 첼로 연주 다 맞추었습니다 너무 뚜렸하게 카본과 나무 첼로 소리가 구분이 되는군요.
Cellist / part time luthier here. I've played a quite a few composite cellos; it sounds like 1 or 2 millimeters sound post adjustment on the carbon fiber cello is needed to balance the lowers and uppers. Maybe bridge too. :)
Thanks for the help, I’ll look into that!
Huge difference! I much prefer the wooden cello and after the first comparison was revealed I could easily spot the cf and wood in the next two. I do think cf could be better in some situations though, such as when part of an arrangement that called for a less warm and rich sound for fear of dominating the mix.
The carbon fiber cello sounds much more clear especially in the lower notes.
The wooden cello really shined in the jazz piece.
I prefer the sound from cello 1. The sound is more clean and clear like a crystal. Cello 2 sounds more muted.
Fascinating. I don’t think the wooden cello has too much to worry about! Yikes.
You play beautifully. Thank you for presenting this interesting example. I was able to tell the difference the first time in the lower registers. The wood one seemed more interesting and alive sounding. However, my ear or computer ability isn't fine tuned enough to tell the difference on the higher strings or when you do pizzicato.
Thanks so much and for your observations! Glad you found the video interesting!
How Mutch does the carbon fibre one cost you
thank you for video 👍👍👍👍
Thank you for watching! :)
One thing must be taken into consideration when recording the Luis & Clark cello: this cello projects it sound at a 60° angle (according to Luis Leguia himself)…THEREFORE…you should use a different mic setup. That’s why most recordings made with Luis & Clark cellos sound like they were made with a low quality cello.
That’s very interesting information, thank you for sharing that
Test #3 cello #2 punctuates better
I could tell the carbon fiber cello because its tone reminds me of people using PVC pipes as horns.
i preferred the carbon fiber cello on every test
Excellent video. Got all 3 correct (phew, I’m a professional so hope my ears are up to it). The carbon fibre is fine, but just sounds a bit synthetic somehow. Wood just sounds so much better, resonant and real.
Save the planet, or have a little bit better of a sound according to a few people...
Glad to see some people in the comments like the carbon fiber.
The carbon fiber cello is lacking in overtones. The difference in sound is palpable. Music can be made out of anything, but the wood definitely has more character.
You are a superb cellist who is at the beginning of a technical transition/revolution which is now targeting and challenging a long standing tradition of the masters. I loved both instruments. For me, the artistic content of the piece is more important than the sound cosmetics. The world is changing ... the subjectivity of all our senses is changing right along with it. It is your generation that is in the process of setting the yardsticks for sound quality. How much demand is there today for the authentic sound of the Cretan Lyra?
I foresee that piano concerts will be played on digital pianos and all other orchestral instruments being made of the most modern materials. Kawai already has an all digital "Grand Piano" that uses the actual grand piano action where the hammers trigger switches instead of hitting strings. Kawai has already incorporated many wooden components of the action with carbon fiber. I think that future orchestras will be smaller because four 4-5 violinists can be electronically massaged by the computer to sound like a full string section ... minute pitch variations included. Etc. etc. Please don't shoot the messenger. 😄
Lower notes zinlike wood better but high notes I like CF better