The electric cello is a type of cello that relies on electronic amplification (rather than acoustic resonance) to produce sound. Many electric cellos have bodies modeled after acoustic cellos, while others abandon the design completely, opting for a totally new body shape, or having little or no body at all. Most electric cellos feature a traditional endpin and knee supports, but some are supported in other ways, such as by a tripod stand or a strap system that allows mobility while playing the instrument. This article is about the stringed instrument. ... Acoustic resonance is an important consideration for instrument builders as most acoustic instruments use resonators, such as the strings and body of a violin, the length of tube in a flute, and the shape of a drum membrane. ... The endpin is the component of a cello or double bass that makes contact with the floor. ... Look up tripod in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

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. Also, an electric cello lacks the "wolf tone" characteristic of acoustic cellos. Piezo, derived from the Greek language piezein, which means to squeeze or press, as in: piezoelectricity piezometer, see well and groundwater piezo ignition This is a disambiguation page — a list of articles associated with the same title. ... A bridge is the part of a guitar, bass or other stringed instrument where the strings join the body of the instrument. ... A preamplifier (preamp), as its name suggests, is an amplifier which precedes another amplifier. ... A distortion is the alteration of the original shape (or other characteristic) of an object, image, sound, waveform or other form of information or representation. ... Seventh release by Manchester indie rock group, James. ... The chorus effect is a condition in the way people perceive nearly the same sound coming from more than one source. ... Left: Rosa Hurricane, a heavy metal-style solid body guitar. ... Fender Precision Bass Bass Guitar is a commonly spoken phrase used to refer to the electric bass and horizontal acoustic basses, a stringed instrument similar in design to the electric guitar, but larger in size, commonly fretted and sometimes fretless and with a lower range. ... This electric violin, made by Leo Fender in the late 1950s, has a non-traditional design. ...

The electric cello has not yet achieved the status of the ubiquitous electric guitar, or even the widespread success of the electric violin, although rock groups such as Apocalyptica and Rasputina have helped to popularize the instrument. This is predominantly because the number of cellists who actually require an electric instrument is relatively small. The reason for this small demand is multi-fold. First, most cellists play only classical music, for which an electric cello is generally deemed unacceptable, as its tone is generally quite different from that of an acoustic cello. Second, for those cellists who play non-classical music, or for those who simply require amplification, many amplification options are available for the acoustic cello. While microphones remain the preferred method of amplification for acoustic cello, several removable and permanent transducer options are also available. One unusual acoustic/electric magnetic pickup system uses the string itself as the pickup, avoiding feedback, and has a consistent sound both bowing and plucking.[1] Left: Rosa Hurricane, a heavy metal-style solid body guitar. ... This electric violin, made by Leo Fender in the late 1950s, has a non-traditional design. ... Apocalyptica is a Finnish band consisting of three, formerly four, classically trained cellists and, since 2003, a drummer. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ... A microphone with a cord A microphone, sometimes called a mic (pronounced mike), is a device that converts sound into an electrical signal. ... A transducer is a device, usually electrical or electronic, that converts one type of energy to another. ...

For most musicians who only wish to amplify their sound, an acoustic cello with some form of amplification is a better choice than an electric cello. However, acoustic amplification in general has shortcomings. When performing with a loud ensemble, it is very difficult for a cello to be heard without causing feedback from a pickup or a microphone. For this reason, most cellists who routinely play with very loud ensembles (such as a heavy metal band) tend to prefer the electric cello. A musical ensemble is a group of two or more musicians who gather to perform music. ... Audio feedback (also known as the Larsen effect) is a special kind of feedback which occurs when a loop exists between an audio input (for example, a microphone or guitar pickup) and an audio output (for example, a loudspeaker). ... Heavy metal is a subgenre of rock music that emerged as a defined musical style in the 1970s, having its roots in hard rock bands which, between 1969 and 1974,[1] mixed blues and rock music to create a hybrid with a thick, heavy, guitar-and-drums-centered sound, characterised...

Another reason why the electric cello is not as widely accepted as other electric instruments is its cost. Even the most inexpensive electric cellos are cost-prohibitive; even the most meager offerings in the electric cello world sell for over USD$400. For a decent electric cello, one may expect to pay well over USD$1000 (not including the amplifier).

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cello

• Cello
• Apocalyptica
• Rasputina

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... This article is about the stringed instrument. ... Apocalyptica is a Finnish band consisting of three, formerly four, classically trained cellists and, since 2003, a drummer. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

External links

Makers

• Vector Instruments
• Jensen Electric Bowed Instruments
• Ned Steinberger Electric Stringed Instruments
• StringAmp – acoustic string pickup system
• Yamaha Electric Cellos
• Zeta Electrics Strings
• Mark Wood Electric Stringed Instruments
• Bridge Instruments
• Violectra
• Prakticello