Trade Secrets: Notes on cello endpin fitting

One of the most important considerations for any cellist is the security of a good, solidly fit endpin that connects firmly with the floor. My appreciation for this fact began as I grew up playing the cello, and later when I started working with cellists as a violin maker. 

Once an endpin is selected, it must be precisely fitted to the cello. The socket should fit properly and also be aligned accurately with the instrument. It is very normal for me, both as a maker and also in the repair world, to come across endpins that no longer fit well or have been fitted at the wrong angle. Another common problem is to find that the endpin socket is simply too small for the existing hole in the cello. In this article I will explain a simple and fairly quick method for making the necessary adjustments to ensure that the endpin fits correctly, and also describe a handy tool to aid in the process…