Cello Rib Replacement

By John Orth

This post is a follow up to the last post about the violin rib replacement.  This particular cello was also student model, but a rather high end student model, factory made with excellent wood and nice hand work.  An instrument definitely worth repairing.  Here, as in the last post, I need to make clear that changes like these are permanent, and need to be considered carefully.  But as you will see the finished product returned the cello to basically new condition with no sign of the repair... this is where something like a carfax report for a cello would be handy for any future owner.

This cello came in for a repair very similar to the violin I wrote about here.  The damage is untouched and was photographed as I received it. The owner put his foot through it when it was incorrectly placed on the floor.  This particular instrument, being of rather nice quality, meant I was going to spend more time selecting appropriate wood and finishing options. Hopefully this will give you some ideas as to what can be accomplished when you learn the necessary skills and take your time.  

The rib was completely broken through and cracked to the end block.

The repair began in a similar process of scoring, paring, and cleaving the broken rib from the linings.  Again, it is extremely important in a process like this that you take your time.  Be very careful not to loosen the linings from the plates and make every attempt to avoid undue pressure on the top plate.  The spruce is fragile, especially when working along a long edge like the lower bout of a cello. I mainly used a paring chisel working through the rib. as you'll see in the photos the splinters are small.  Do not attempt to remove the rib in one shot.  Slowly remove the pieces, cutting and slicing as you go.  Prying on the rib to remove any part of it will loosen the linings.  

This cello was very well made and had excellent linings and great hand work, so removal was fairly straightforward.  The linings were cleaned with a scraper.  

The rib was replaced in the same manner as the replacement violin rib, with one major exception you'll notice in the photos.  The grain matches nearly perfectly with the other rib material.  When dealing with high end instruments this is extremely important.  I included multiple photos of the color matched and polished piece. The finished varnish matched nearly perfectly with the original.

 Thank you for reading, John
Orthwest Studios