THE PREMIER COLLECTION
at Paul Perley Cellos

It has often been mentioned on this site that a cello with price and pedigree may have great sound, but just as often doesn’t. Stradivari and other famous makers built some fabulous-playing cellos but they also built many that were not, and there are some no-name instruments that can successfully compete with the best.

With that in mind, Melissa & I decided to launch a wide search for exceptional concert instruments. Some might have important pedigrees, some might have untraceable ancestry except for place and period. Our main criteria are

1. They must have outstanding, concert-quality sound and projection.

2. They must be in excellent playing condition, and

3. They must have good investment value.

For every cello in this collection many others that looked like excellent possibilities have been rejected.

If you are looking for a truly special cello, you may want to try one of the instruments from our Premier Collection.

Under $20,000:

Juzek (Wilfer) Bass Master Art ca. 1969 $19,000
Juzek (Wilfer) Bass Master Art , ca. 1969 We are extremely fortunate to be associated with the Juzek Family and to offer this never-been-played bass that has been unearthed by Rob & Adam Juzek. The Emmanuel Wilfer company which has made all the fine Juzek basses for many years has long been considered one of the best bass-making shops in the world. This one is simply gorgeous with a lovely amber varnish, amazing European wood the quality of which is simply unavailable today, and great workmanship down to the inlaid Wilfer logo on the back. A terrific player right now, it will only get better with use. Even the bridge blank is nearly 50 years old. Certainly a one-of-a-kind bass.

Over $20.000:

Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor One of America’s premier makers, Zachary Taylor has completed more than 60 instruments, many of which have sold through major shops in various parts of the United States: and his cellos have been personally endorsed by both Sharon Robinson and Janos Starker. As Zachary has put an increasing focus on cellos, we’re proud to announce our association with him and include his cellos in our Premier Collection. Both physically and tonally exquisite, his cellos are truly concert-quality.

Honore Derazey ca 1860 $45,000
The Kenneth Warren and Sons certificate for this truly lovely cello states “we regard this violoncello as the finest example of Derazey known to us”. This powerful, dark-sounding cello is clearly a concert instrument. In addition it is beautifully made: gorgeous model, f-holes and varnish and is in excellent condition. Priced far below market value at $45,000

Over $50,000

Made by Tho. Smith at the Harp & Hautboy in Picadilly, London 1780 $55,000
We’re very fortunate to have this amazingly well-preserved English cello with certification from Frederick Oster of Philadelphia. With very few repairs this lovely instrument has all the hallmarks of the great English cel los: rich, dark, robust, focused sound with excellent projection. Italian characteristics without an Italian cost.

SOLD INSTRUMENTS:

Italian. Early 1800’s: label “Johannes Gagliano….”
Italian. Early 1800’s: label “Johannes Gagliano….” A truly beautiful cello, possibly made by a member of the Gagliano family, in excellent condition with classic, deep Italian varnish and a large, dark, focused sound suitable for concerto performance. A deceptively smallish instrument, it is one of the more powerful we’ve ever had in the shop: as rich & penetrating on the C as it is on the A. Easy, effortless response. Truly a solo performance instrument.

Thurmond Knight Glover, VT 2000 (Premier Collection Item)
Thurmond Knight, Glover, VT, 2000 Thurmond is a highly respected maker whom other makers seek out to study with in order to improve their skills. In 2000 he made this one-time model after a Swiss cello that was a particularly good concert instrument. The result is amazing. The back and ribs are made from a truly striking piece of maple and it is varnished in a lovely golden amber. Its C string redefines the word “chocolate” and it is a solo instrument clear through the length of the fingerboard on the A string. Well played-in (it was performed on by a fine soloist for 5 years), it is truly a professional-quality instrument.

English. Late 1700’s, label “Thomas Dodd…”
English. Late 1700’s, label “Thomas Dodd…” There’s a saying, (we have no idea where it originated), that “if you want Italian sound but don’t have in Italian budget, look for English”. While our personal experience is that the “Italian” sound is somewhat of a myth in that it is not limited to, or even common in Italian instruments, there is a rich, dark, focused tone that string players look for that is often described as Italian. This cello has exactly that: warm, rich, deep, but with an edge that allows it to be heard even against unfairly loud grand pianos and other difficult situations. Lovely dark varnish of wonderful depth, ribs and back made of birds-eye maple, and over 200 years of patina characterize this excellent instrument. An amazingly wonderful cello at an affordable price.

“Caitlin Pugh…Oregon, 2006”
“Caitlin Pugh…Oregon, 2006” (41,42,43) A number of years back Caitlin was a luthier in our shop: now life’s processes have taken her to the West Coast. Caitlin is a great luthier, with amazing patience, attention to detail, and obsession with sound. She learned to play the cello during her time in Vermont which helped guide her in experimenting with cello tone, and in 2006 entered this cello as part of a quartet of instruments in the Violin Society of America competition. The instrument won two tone awards and it is absolutely clear why. This is professional quality cello in all respects, and one of the very few new cellos that Melissa or I ever played that really doesn’t sound new at all. Huge rich focused, smooth sound. Beautiful wood and varnish. There simply isn’t a level of player too high to benefit from this instrument.