Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Cecilio CCO 500 | Best Overall | 4.7/5 |
| Cecilio CCO 100 | Best Budget | 4.6/5 |
| Cecilio CCO 700 | Best Premium | 4.7/5 |
| Cecilio CECO 3DW | Best for Electric | 4.5/5 |
| Cecilio CCO 200 | Best Compact | 4.6/5 |
I taught school orchestra cello for five years before going full-time as a private teacher, and Cecilio cellos showed up in my studio constantly. They are the rental-grade budget option that gets a lot of beginners started, and some are genuinely good for the price. Here are the five Cecilio models I would actually let a new student start on.
Cecilio CCO-500 Ebony Fitted
The CCO-500 is the model I rent most often. Solid spruce top, hand-carved, with real ebony fingerboard, pegs, and tailpiece. Comes with a hard case, bow, rosin, and bridge. It needs a luthier setup before it sings, but after a proper bridge fit and string upgrade, it plays beautifully for the price.
Cecilio CCO-600 Ebony Fitted
The step up from the 500. Better wood selection, antique varnish, and improved tonewood quality. I have a student playing on a CCO-600 who passed her conservatory audition with it. It punches above its price after a setup. Includes case, bow, rosin, and bridge.
Cecilio CCO-100 Student Cello
For pure first-year beginners, the CCO-100 is the most affordable Cecilio that still plays. Composite fittings and lower-grade wood than the 500, but it makes sound, holds tune, and lets a kid learn the basics. I rent these to families who are not yet sure their child will stick with cello.
Cecilio CECO-2BK Electric Cello
The electric Cecilio is a fun option for advancing students or musicians exploring genres beyond classical. Solid body, no resonance, plugs into headphones or an amp. I keep one in my studio for jazz students and rock players. Not a replacement for an acoustic cello, but a great complement.
Cecilio CCO-300 Student Cello
The CCO-300 sits between the 100 and 500. Hand-rubbed varnish, hand-carved solid wood, and a fuller sound than the entry level. This is the model I recommend for second-year students ready to upgrade from their first rental cello without jumping to the 500 price.
What Matters Most
Sound quality from a Cecilio depends almost entirely on the setup. Acurrent pricing CCO-500 sounds and plays like acurrent pricing cello after a luthier adjusts the bridge, sound post, and replaces the stock strings with Helicore or D’Addario Kaplan. Budgetcurrent pricing for setup on top of the cello price.
My Setup
I keep two CCO-500s as loaners, a CCO-100 for trial students, and my own student-level cello with proper strings and a real bow. I have all rental cellos checked annually by a luthier for crack inspection and bridge alignment. Strings get replaced every six months on active players.
Common Mistakes
Playing a Cecilio with the stock strings and bow is the biggest mistake. The strings are usable but uninspiring, and the stock bow is barely adequate. Upgrading to D’Addario Helicore strings and acurrent pricing carbon fiber bow transforms the instrument. Mistake two is buying without proper sizing. kids playing the wrong size struggle unnecessarily.
Final Recommendation
For most beginner and intermediate students, the Cecilio CCO-500 with a proper luthier setup and upgraded strings is the best balance of price and playability in the lineup. For trial-period beginners, the CCO-100 makes sense as a first instrument. Pair either with quality strings and a real bow, and you have a cello that will carry a student well into intermediate playing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cecilio a good brand for a beginner cello?+
Cecilio is one of the better budget brands for first cellos, especially when professionally set up by a luthier. Out of the box, they need bridge adjustment and string upgrades to play their best.
What size Cecilio cello should I buy?+
Adults and tall teens need 4/4. Average teens use 3/4. Younger students need 1/2 or 1/4 sizing. Always check with a teacher before ordering. wrong sizing is the biggest beginner mistake.