Thomann Student Cello Set 4/4

CONTEXT:
To be 100% transparent, the first one I received via UPS was broken: the neck was detached from the body. So I ordered a second one. Great customer service by Thomann, as always.

The second one, now: good news, the neck was attached to the body. The setting was pretty good; playable from the get-go without a professional setting by a luthier.

PERSONAL USE:
Beginner cellist, experienced musician.

SOUND : the strings are terrible. Which is understandable for a 400€ cello (a good set of strings being worth 150€ at least). After I changed the strings, it sounds better. Almost good. My cello teacher said "it would do". The sound is weak; it clearly doesn't project like a good cello does.
After comparison with a much better cello I play with now, it is a strange conundrum ; because this cello is relatively quiet and not so responsive, you can get away with technical imperfections et little errors that would sound horrific on a better instrument. Your intonation is what it is, no miracle here, but you can get by with sloppy bowing, because those squeaks and squeals are much softer. It's a more forgiving instrument for beginners. You can't sound really good with it, but you also don't sound terrible. Which can be a plus.
So pros and cons here. Really lacks power, but it is steady in its sound.
On that level, great value for the price.

LOOK :
It looks beautiful. Honestly, the finish is, if simple, elegant.

BUILD :
It is made of plywood, Which is not ideal... But, surprisingly, it holds tuning really well, and the set-up hasn't moved since I got it. And I move it around all the time.

CONCLUSION:
A good beginners' instrument. You will definitively need a upgrade after some time, but it is a okay starting point.
I personnally use it as a "travel cello" ; I am not afraid of it being dommaged or stolen or lost. But I would never play it for any formal occasion (concert or recital or audition or whatever).

Débutante complète au violoncelle, j'ai choisi le premier prix par modestie mais je ne regrette pas ce choix. Le professeur et le luthier m'ont dit toutes les deux que c'était un très bon son. L'aspect satiné est très beau.
En revanche les cordes sont à changer très vite car elles ont un son vraiment trop métallique et désagréable. La technique de montage était également très sommaire, surtout pour une débutante complète.
L'instrument est arrivé très bien emballé. Les problèmes de livraison tenaient des erreurs du livreur. Je regrette toutefois que Thomann n'ait pas répondu à mon mail signalant ces problèmes de livraison