The Savart (Box) Cello Project

This project began back around 1990 when I wanted at least one of my daughters to play the cello, and finally fabricated one from what was otherwise an almost worthless full size factory made violin.� I also contemplated making my own cello, and was intrigued by a newspaper_article that documented how a young talented student could not obtain an adequate cello.� While the Savart (Box) Cello would not have been adequate for this person, I am saddened at how music education in the public schools seems to have gone downhill since I was a child.� In an effort to mix my love of physics and music, I initiated a science club in El Paso that I called the BOX_CELLO_CLUB.� That was back in the 90s.� A couple of years ago our �How Things Work� class worked on this project and made a POWERPOINT_JOURNAL.� If your computer cannot properly read that document, then open this PDF_mirror.� ��We also made this video.

In a related vein, I am also interested in learning how children acquire musical skills and made this intonation chart depicting the fingerboard and useful intonation tests.

� Both front and back plates can be easily removed and replaced to permit plate replacement and an entirely rebuilt cello in about an hour!�

� Builders can use a trial-and-error approach to finding the proper wood, plate dimensions, and bass bars, in the effort to get that perfect tone.

� We hope the gap between plate and fingerboard yields livelier plate and a brighter sound.

� (The gap also permits hard contact between plate spacer and rib and we hope no buzz!)

� With just two strings we hope the flat fingerboard and guitar peg tuning will make it very easy to build.