Cello by Colin Cross, 2020

Colin Cross is a British maker and restorer whose instruments are played by professional musicians across the United Kingdom and abroad. His reputation as a restorer is well earned, and players and dealerships send specialist projects to him from hundreds of miles away.

He works principally from Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesu, and makes violins, violas and cellos. The finishes are deep and unshowy, with the detail of the woodwork left visible rather than obscured, and his cellos are often built to slightly smaller dimensions than standard.

Cross instruments are in the hands of high-profile players in the UK and overseas, and his restoration work passes through many of the country's leading workshops.

We have been admirers of Colin's work for years, and what keeps us going back is the value. His Stradivari models give a rich, full sound with real projection and precision, and a resonance through the middle register that is unusual at this level. The Guarneri models sit darker and warmer, well rounded and complex, and suit expressive playing. His cellos are worth singling out: the smaller dimensions make them very comfortable under the hand and quick to respond, with a clear core and weight in the lower strings that never costs the sweetness up top. One of the best quartet cellos we have handled.