Quintus Carbon Fiber Cello
Michael Alvarez
instrument, but it's made from carbon fiber instead of wood. The only
wooden parts are the bridge and the sound post. This thing is supposed to
be impervious to temperature and humidity changes, so it may just become my
main gigging axe!
I have to say that I'm pretty impressed! It has a good, robust and warm
sound (which I'm going to amplify with a Fishman pickup), and it seems to be
very durable. The ultimate test will be recording it side by side with my
wooden one. Then I can listen back and see how true the tone is. So far,
sounds good to me!
It may be the humidity, but the finish feels a little sticky. Not
excessively so, but a little bit more than I'm used to with varnish-on-wood.
I'm betting that it's mostly because of the weather.
Speaking of the finish, you've gotta see this thing! The neck and sides are
bright red, but the front and back are a kind of textured deep purple. Not
quite black. It's a demo model, so there are a few minor blemishes--nothing
I wouldn't have done given a few months of gigging. But because of it, I
got such a KILLER DEAL! They should have a few more. I recommend you surf
over to www.qstrings.com and contact them to see what other instruments are
available. They're having a summer sale! The customer service rep is named
Michele and she'll treat you right.
Well, I'm going to give this instrument a good test drive. Stand by for
more impressions!
Mike
East Mountains Music
company that makes these instruments? And I wonder why they don't post
their prices straight away on the page?
connie
"Michael Alvarez" <mik...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:bgpg0e$vn2$1...@slb9.atl.mindspring.net...
Michael Alvarez
"East Mountains Music" <cmsu...@Zianet.com> wrote in message
news:3f30...@news.zianet.com...
> That's interesting they're in Flagstaff, of all places. Are they the only
> company that makes these instruments? And I wonder why they don't post
> their prices straight away on the page?
>
> connie
>
>
> "Michael Alvarez" <mik...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:bgpg0e$vn2$1...@slb9.atl.mindspring.net...
> > I just picked up my Quintus cello from FedEx today. It's an acoustic
> > instrument, but it's made from carbon fiber instead of wood.
Hey Connie,
Actually, they're in Camp Verde AZ. I found that out when I ordered mine.
The Flagstaff address is where the business owner is located. I assume the
facility moved, and they have yet to update the web page.
The moderator of a cello mailing list I'm on (Cellos Rule) reminded me about
Luis and Clark carbon fiber cellos. They look really good, but cost a bit
more. Their site is www.luisandclark.com .
As for Quintus not posting the prices? Beats me! If you contact them,
they're pretty forthcoming about the cost of individual instruments.
Mike
PeteSchug
cmsu...@Zianet.com wrote on 8/6/03 8:40 AM:
> That's interesting they're in Flagstaff, of all places. Are they the only
> company that makes these instruments? And I wonder why they don't post
> their prices straight away on the page?
>
> connie
No, Luis and Clarke in the Boston area also make a well regarded carbon
fiber cello. I think more than one of their celli are currently used in the
BSO.
I've been wanting a carbon fiber fiddle for camping trips (which I no longer
seem to go on) and Quintus has been making one for several years. I have
heard very mixed reviews. Some people seem to love them and some people
think they are awful. I have got to hear with my own ears.
I wonder what Roland Hutchinson would think of a carbon fiber viola da
gamba? The idea is tempting, but I live in a studio apt and fiddle making
taxes the hell out of my living space. I need a bigger apt for the drying
oven!
Pete
Michael Alvarez
"PeteSchug" <Pete...@att.net> wrote in message
> I've been wanting a carbon fiber fiddle for camping trips (which I no
longer
> seem to go on) and Quintus has been making one for several years. I have
> heard very mixed reviews. Some people seem to love them and some people
> think they are awful. I have got to hear with my own ears.
Well, I want to go on record as saying that I like mine quite a bit! I used
a condenser mic into a digital recorder and did a side-by-side comparison
with my wooden instrument. The acoustic tone of the carbon fiber body is
very good.
Mike
PeteSchug
mik...@mindspring.com wrote on 8/7/03 12:33 AM:
Yes Mike, but that's their cello which they advertise. I haven't seen an add
for the fiddle for a few years. I have to assume that they themselves
consider the cello (and I think they make a bass also) their better
instrument.
So far no more word on the experiments of Joseph Curtin who is also trying
to make high quality tops for violas using carbon fiber and foam.
I guess I am a bit of a technogeek.
Pete
Michael Alvarez
> Yes Mike, but that's their cello which they advertise. I haven't seen an
add
> for the fiddle for a few years. I have to assume that they themselves
> consider the cello (and I think they make a bass also) their better
> instrument.
>
> So far no more word on the experiments of Joseph Curtin who is also trying
> to make high quality tops for violas using carbon fiber and foam.
>
> I guess I am a bit of a technogeek.
>
> Pete
>
Not sure I'm followin' ya there Pete. I've only been talking about the
cello thus far, which I think is pretty decent. Thus far, they only seem to
be producing cellos and basses.
The "Violin Update" and "Viola Update" pages say they should start making
those instruments some time in 02, so I guess the site needs to be updated.
If you e-mail them, Michele might be able to give you some answers.
I don't think they're producing or selling them at the present time.
PeteSchug
mik...@mindspring.com wrote on 8/7/03 5:38 PM:
Ah... I understand! They used to make fiddles several years ago. They got
mixed reviews, as I said before. Apparently they stopped making the fiddles
and are re-tooling to make better ones.
They are subcontractors who make carbon fiber things for aerospace and
industries like that. I think the string instruments are a personal interest
that they are expanding into a business.
Just a guess, but they probably saw the potential, and maybe even got some
stimulus from the Luis and Clark success and want to try to make a
commercially viable instrument.
I first read about Quintus in a bluegrass mag. There were a couple of guys
(father and son?) who played fiddle on horseback at rodeos and they wanted
something they could use on drizzly nights. They raved about the old CF
fiddles from Quintus. That was probably four years ago. I read some other
comments on the internet. Some positive and some negative. There was also an
article in The Strad about Joseph Curtin, and I found the same article on
the internet looking for more info, but there was nothing new.
I am interested in experimenting at least with tops, but I really don't have
the resources, though I have a few ideas. Carbon Fiber prepreg is expensive
and hard to store and I am not sure I want to fool with it while I have a
full time job that interferes with my hobbies.
Pete
--
Check out my fiddle making site
http://home.att.net/~PeteSchug/
Roland Hutchinson
> I wonder what Roland Hutchinson would think of a carbon fiber viola da
> gamba?
It would be hard to make in a one-person shop, is what I would think!
> The idea is tempting, but I live in a studio apt and fiddle
> making taxes the hell out of my living space. I need a bigger apt for
> the drying oven!
--
Roland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food.
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