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Yo-Yo Ma calls it "my voice," the 1733 Montagnana cello from Venice, Italy, that's worth $2.5 million. It's the same instrument that made worldwide headlines in 1999 after he left it in a New York cab. Lately, we are beginning to see more new cellos based on or directly copied from famous Montagnana models, not just the more common Stradivari designs.

Domenico Montagnana (1687-1750) was one of the greatest luthiers of his age, and is especially well-known for his cellos.  Most of his instruments have bodies noticibly wider and larger than Strad and Amati models, accounting for their especially strong and colorful low registers and sweet-sounding A strings.

This handmade Y. Chen copy of the Montagnana "Sleeping Beauty" cello (the cello played by Heinrich Schiff, so called because it went unplayed for over 100 years) has been auditioned next to cellos costing twice as much, and has easily held its' own.  The most common remark people make after playing this model is that it doesn't sound "new."  Most contemporary instruments sound stiff and rigid until they are played for years, breaking in and mellowing with age.  The Y. Chen Soloist has the rich, complex tone of a vintage instrument, right from the first bowing.

Y. Chen Soloist Montagnana

"Sleeping Beauty" 4/4 Cello

Retail Price: $5,750.00

Our Price: $4,200.00

• Top: Solid Carved Spruce
• Back & Sides: Solid Highly Figured Maple
• Fingerboard and Pegs: Ebony
• Tailpiece: Innovative design with integrated fine tuners
• Endpin: Carbon Fiber
• Varnish: Antiqued Amber-Brown