5 String Studio Cello – Hybrid Baroque & Modern – Spruce/Maple – Larsen Strings – C-G-D-A-E Tuning

Overview

Presenting a remarkable 2025 instrument from the workshop of Ilja Grawert, violin maker: a 5-string studio cello designed to bridge two worlds. Whether you perform historical baroque repertoire with gut strings or demand a modern concert setup, this cello delivers exceptional versatility without compromise.

Materials & Craftsmanship

• Top: Northern hemisphere spruce, fine grain

• Back & ribs: Northern hemisphere maple, fine grain, featuring a beautiful baroque-style drawing

• Varnish: Elegant antiqued finish – aged appearance, fully protective

• Fingerboard: Wider than standard to comfortably accommodate the fifth string

Tuning & Stringing (Current Setup)

• Tuning: C – G – D – A – E (traditional cello range plus a high E string)

• Strings installed: Larsen strings, including the Larsen cello E string – brilliant, responsive, and stable

• Alternate tunings possible:

  • F – C – G – D – A (extended lower range)

  • Tuning in fourths (custom order)

Sound & Playability

• Tonal character: Great power and carrying capacity, yet warm and vocal – not harsh or brittle

• Versatility:

  • With gut strings → authentic baroque cello piccolo or five-string violoncello

  • With current Larsen strings → modern soloist and chamber music instrument

• Response: Even across all five strings, no weak spots due to the wider fingerboard design

Who Is This For?

• Baroque cellists seeking a period-authentic 5-string instrument

• Modern cellists exploring extended range (E string for melodic top lines)

• Improvisers, folk, or jazz cellists wanting flexible tuning options

• Collectors of contemporary maker instruments (Ilja Grawert, 2025)

Condition

2025 build. Fully set up and play-tested.

What’s Included

• 5-string cello by Ilja Grawert (2025)

• Larsen strings (including Larsen E) – currently installed

• (Optional: add baroque gut string set at extra cost)