Electric cello

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Electric cello
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The electric cello is a type of cello that relies on electronic amplification (rather than acoustic resonance) to produce sound. An acoustic cello can be fitted with a bridge or body mounted contact pickup providing an electric signal, or a built-in pickup can be installed. A few pickups work by other principles like magnetic coil guitar type needing steel strings to work, or by an unusual pickup system [1] employing the string itself as a linear pickup element, thus avoiding any modification of tone-producing parts on an acoustic cello.

Many electric cellos have bodies modeled after acoustic cellos, [2] while others abandon the design completely, opting for a totally new body shape, or having little or no body at all. [3] Most electric cellos feature a traditional endpin and knee supports, but some are supported in other ways, such as by an elongated pin for playing in the standing position, a tripod stand, strap, [4] or strap system [5] that allows mobility while playing the instrument. The major differentiating factor between electric cellos and acoustic cellos is that while the latter rely on an acoustically resonant soundbox, the former are amplified electronically and often have no resonant chamber at all. [6]

Most electric cellos are driven by a piezo pickup system mounted in the bridge. Many also contain an on-board preamp, which allows the musician localized control over the sound. The number of piezo elements in use range from one to eight. The electric cello has several advantages over acoustic cellos. One of these advantages is its capacity for sound effects, such as distortion, wah, and chorus, which allows for the creation of a huge variety of sounds and possibilities matching that of the electric guitar, electric bass and electric violin. Also, five-string and six-string models (not generally available in acoustic cellos) allow for an extended range. An electric cello with no body can be played in the high positions more easily than an acoustic. Lastly, electric cellos without a resonant body have less of a tendency for feedback than amplified acoustic cellos.

The electric cello has not yet achieved the status of the ubiquitous electric guitar, or even the widespread success of the electric violin.

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashbory bass</span>

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A solid-body musical instrument is a string instrument such as a guitar, bass or violin built without its normal sound box and relying on an electromagnetic pickup system to directly detect the vibrations of the strings; these instruments are usually plugged into an instrument amplifier and loudspeaker to be heard. Solid-body instruments are preferred in situations where acoustic feedback may otherwise be a problem and are inherently both less expensive to build and more rugged than acoustic electric instruments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acoustic-electric guitar</span> String instrument

An acoustic-electric guitar is an acoustic guitar fitted with a microphone or a magnetic or piezoelectric pickup. They are used in a variety of music genres where the sound of an acoustic guitar is desired but more volume is required, especially during live performances. The design is distinct from a semi-acoustic guitar, which is an electric guitar with the addition of sound chambers within the guitar body.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamaha CP-70</span>

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References

  1. "MusikLab Denmark – High end audio electronics". Stringamp.com. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  2. "Best Electric Cello Brands & Models 2021". Cellocentral.com. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  3. "Cellos". Jordan Violins. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  4. "NTO Cellos". Archived from the original on 2009-09-19. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
  5. "Cobra Cello". Archived from the original on 2010-09-10. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  6. "NS Design | Innovative Electric Instruments by Ned Steinberger". NS Design. Retrieved 18 April 2021.