I have a cello in fairly good condition except for a huge crack in the front. I don't know what to do with it because I have been told that repairing the damage is not worth is since the repair cost would be a $1000 since it is a front crack affecting the tone and the weight of the strings, the bridge, and other parts that depend on the strength of the front of the cello is compromised and the cello originally cost $1300. Could I have some suggestions of what I could do with it please. Thank you.

where exacty is the crack and how long in inches. has the crack seperated much or still close together?? does it still sound ok or can u play it at all??

Thank you for responding to my post. The crack to me is one long crack from the front top of the cello through the right F hole continuing to the bottom. I was advised to measure it in two parts. The first is from the front top right to the top of the right F hole. That crack is 12 inches long and starts out close together and gets slightly apart at the top of the right F hole. The other starts from the bottom of the right F hole to the front bottom right of the cello. The crack stars out slightly apart and gets close together at the bottom. There are 2 other minor cracks that don't go all the way through the wood. Those are barely visible. One is on the left above the left F hole (6 inches) and the other is at the bottom front near the end pin (2 inches). I am not sure how the cello sounds at this point. It has been a year since it broke and I haven't played it all that time. I took the string and the bridge off the cello the day it broke.

Other information you may need
Maker - Cecilia
Model - CCO-500
S/N - 200050279
Its dark Mahogany painted
A 4/4 size cello
and a few paint chips that got there from when I played and had to carry it around.

If you are convinced that the crack is not worth repairing professionally i.e. the instrument is a write off, then if it were mine, I would have a go at repairing it myself. On the grounds that there is nothing to lose. Frankly, I think £1000 sound very steep and perhaps you should try taking it somewhere else.

I agree get a few quotes before you write it off completely but usually cracks that large really will affect the tone and quality of sound from the instrument. If you are going to have to pay that much then it might be worth looking into upgrading the instrument and handing that one in as a trade? It may not be as much money as you would want for the instrument as the damage is extensive but you could buy another one if you wanted. Or another alternative is you could see how much the shops would buy the instrument off you for? They will do that but don't expect anything like the amount you paid for it because that crack really devalues the instrument i'm afraid.

Hope that helps