Callier-Scollard Violins
Craig Scollard

50 E. Green St. Suite 142
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 795-2870

Mon, Tue, Wed 10:00-1:00.
Thu, Fri, Sat 2:00 to 5:00

Intercom Access Code, Press:
142 and then the CALL button:

Cello Neck Repair: Fixes and Techniques

Although this is a super cheap cello I still wanted to repair it for them. It was broken before, which is always a little challange.

IMG 20230711 170719 256 IMG 20230711 170719 256
IMG 20230711 170730 123 IMG 20230711 170730 123
IMG 20230711 170913 175 IMG 20230711 170913 175
IMG 20230711 171457 720 IMG 20230711 171457 720
IMG 20230711 172020 349 IMG 20230711 172020 349
IMG 20230711 173052 012 IMG 20230711 173052 012
IMG 20230711 175755 952 IMG 20230711 175755 952
IMG 20230712 130527 027 IMG 20230712 130527 027
IMG 20230716 152443 172 IMG 20230716 152443 172
IMG 20230716 161839 480 IMG 20230716 161839 480
IMG 20230717 095624 230 IMG 20230717 095624 230
IMG 20230717 155159 718 IMG 20230717 155159 718
IMG 20230717 162609 358 IMG 20230717 162609 358
IMG 20230717 162620 617 IMG 20230717 162620 617
IMG 20230718 094352 988 IMG 20230718 094352 988
IMG 20230718 100131 947 IMG 20230718 100131 947
IMG 20230718 155117 683 IMG 20230718 155117 683
IMG 20230721 114401 758 IMG 20230721 114401 758
IMG 20230721 162739 702 IMG 20230721 162739 702
IMG 20230722 125825 540 IMG 20230722 125825 540
IMG 20230722 125940 427 IMG 20230722 125940 427

 

Broken cello neck, oops no before photo but the heal was broken off about 2 inches from the fingerboard.

IMG 20230927 175234 856 IMG 20230927 175234 856
IMG 20230927 175249 162 IMG 20230927 175249 162
IMG 20231004 160355 232 IMG 20231004 160355 232
 
IMG 20231004 160346 590 IMG 20231004 160346 590
 

 

 

A typical cello neck with a broken button. After it was lined up and glued, I pinned it from the inside. It also had a saddle crack that I glued from the outside.

IMG 20230221 172200 933 IMG 20230221 172200 933
IMG 20230221 175427 443 IMG 20230221 175427 443
IMG 20230221 175457 596 IMG 20230221 175457 596
IMG 20230222 163300 440 IMG 20230222 163300 440
IMG 20230222 170603 953 IMG 20230222 170603 953
IMG 20230222 170608 967 IMG 20230222 170608 967

 

Another broken cello neck. At this time, I had about 4 or 5 cellos with various types of broken necks.

IMG 20230322 173411 009 IMG 20230322 173411 009
IMG 20230322 173425 151 IMG 20230322 173425 151
 
IMG 20230328 162118 100 IMG 20230328 162118 100
IMG 20230328 162203 775 IMG 20230328 162203 775
 

 

Here is a cello where it was previously glued in at the wrong angle, not centered, wrong projection and the neck wasn't even glued to the button. Since I work by myself, I needed some way to hold it steady while I unglued the neck. These inexpensive cellos do not have their necks fitted properly in the first place and they are not worth removing the neck and fitting pieces of maple or spruce, so I just flushed out the old glue, added new glue, aligned the neck and eventualy put a pin from the inside to help hold the neck in place.

IMG 20230305 104413 613 IMG 20230305 104413 613
IMG 20230305 104434 004 IMG 20230305 104434 004
IMG 20230305 111604 211 IMG 20230305 111604 211
IMG 20230305 111611 163 IMG 20230305 111611 163
IMG 20230305 111653 230 IMG 20230305 111653 230
IMG 20230305 112741 729 IMG 20230305 112741 729

 

Another cello with a broken neck. Glued and pinned.

IMG 20230315 163525 936 IMG 20230315 163525 936
IMG 20230316 140237 090 IMG 20230316 140237 090
IMG 20230316 140245 080 IMG 20230316 140245 080
IMG 20230318 131139 085 IMG 20230318 131139 085
IMG 20230319 115439 493 IMG 20230319 115439 493
IMG 20230324 184121 062 IMG 20230324 184121 062

 

Here is a cello neck that was sheared off. Since it was an inexpensive cello with centimental value, I repaired it without doing a neck graft. Here are some work in progress pictures.

DSC00101 DSC00101
DSC00102 DSC00102
DSC00103 DSC00103
 
DSC00106 DSC00106
DSC00108 DSC00108
DSC00109 DSC00109
 

 

I fix a lot of cello necks but usually don't take any photos because it's fairly straight forward. Here is on where it was broken at quite an angle.

IMG 20171101 135603 IMG 20171101 135603
IMG 20171111 145736 IMG 20171111 145736
 

 

Tip for measuring a neck to make sure it's in the center.

IMG 20220512 121804 836 IMG 20220512 121804 836
IMG 20220512 121832 223 IMG 20220512 121832 223
IMG 20220512 121850 142 IMG 20220512 121850 142

 

Here is a another cello with a broken next.  I have fixed hundreds of these. Three screwed pins at the correct angle and lenght works the best. Also clamping so that you are not fighting gravity makes things a lot easier. Once the end grain has been flattened to match the fingerboard, it's dyed black and sealed.

IMG 20220108 172605 618 IMG 20220108 172605 618
IMG 20220108 174217 545 IMG 20220108 174217 545
IMG 20220108 174349 280 IMG 20220108 174349 280
IMG 20220109 150100 871 IMG 20220109 150100 871
IMG 20220109 151643 054 IMG 20220109 151643 054
IMG 20220109 153244 653 IMG 20220109 153244 653
IMG 20220110 112109 737 IMG 20220110 112109 737
IMG 20220114 125918 128 IMG 20220114 125918 128
IMG 20220114 130018 860 IMG 20220114 130018 860

Comments (3)
Broken cello neck
# -37
Wednesday, 10/28/2020
Zanyah
My cello bag strap snapped and had a hard fall. The neck is completely broken off and of course, the strings and bridge are off. I am wondering about the approximate cost. I need it fixed asap I have a recording coming up.
Repairing a broken Cello neck.
Thursday, 11/05/2020
Craig Scollard
Zanyah, Cello necks can be securly repaired. Usually the cost is between $75 - $100 if the fingerboard does not need to be removed.
Cello repair
# -38
Wednesday, 04/29/2020
Wendy Jacobs
Hi I have a beautiful sentimental cello that had a little d fall and now has a small crack just under the base of the head. I was wondering if it is possible to fix and approximate price?

Thanks
Cello Scroll Repair
Friday, 05/29/2020
Craig Scollard
Wendy,

From your description it seems like it's a fairly minor repair. Without seeing the cello it's diffucult to give an estimate. If it's a very small crack just gluing it might be sufficient, my guess would be $35. If it's a large crack it might need to be glued and pinned which would cost about $75.

Craig
cello neck snapping
# -39
Wednesday, 06/19/2019
Lilly
HELP my cello neck is snapping. we figured because of the pressure from the pegbox and strings. My fingerboard needed adjusting. iv only had it for 2 days though. How long will this take to fix because I have a concert coming up.
Repairing Broken Cello Necks
Saturday, 06/22/2019
Craig Scollard
Lilly,

From your description I'm guessing that the heal of the neck is cracked. If there is no visible crack and the fingerboard height has moved then the neck could be pulling out of the body.

Usually a cello neck can support the pressure from the strings unless there is a flaw in the wood, it was dropped or damaged during shipping. The reason the fingerboard needs adjusting is because of the crack, once it's repaired the string height should be correct.

If it's a student cello, the best way to repair the cello neck is to glue and pin it and after that type of repair the neck is very solid and secure. A repair for a student cello is about $75 and because I'm busy it takes a week or two to repair it.

Thanks,
Craig

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