As soon as I find an instructor near my home, I would like to purchase a decent used cello. I am a complete beginner.
Any tips on what to look for? What to avoid?
Size suggestion (I`m about 5 feet 3 inches tall)?
I`ll probably look for something on EBay. I have no friends or acquaintances who plays cello, so any tips would be helpful. Thanks!

I would say you should get a 3/4 or full-size cello and get one made of a good wood. Ones that have a really really shiney coat tend to be of lower quality.

what price range would a decent cello be for a beginner i ve never played before but ive fallen in love withthe sound they produce and am looking for lessons and a cello im a college student so i have limited funds and im 5 foot 7 do you have any suggestions any help would be much appreciated

Cello prices can be very random for a good one. Buying cellos on the internet can be very tricky because you can`t play them. I had a friend that bought a new cello and a few months later it was already breaking apart. The only gaurantee that you`ll be getting a good cello is if you either get a old 20ish+years used one or if you hear people praise a cello that they bought that`s being sold on the internet.

What Jack was trying to say was cellos with a very shiny coat (LAMINATED COAT:O) tend to be of lower quality. Don`t get a laminated cello! Get a cello that is Varnished!

I bought my Full size 4/4 cello from a lady that was about 5ft 1/2 tall and I am 5 ft 10inch. A good NEW cello can be atleast $1,500 dollars and up. I played a great sounding cello for $10,000. I bought my used 150year old cello for $450 (It sounded as good as the $10,000 one lol!), plus about $200 for fixing it myself.