The
electric cello is a type of cello which 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
end-pin and knee supports, but some are supported in other ways,
such as a tripod stand or, in the case of Ned Steinberger's electric
cello, by a strap system, which allows mobility while playing the
instrument.
Most electric cellos are driven by a piezo pickup system mounted in the bridge. Many also contain an on-board preamp which allows the player localized control over his or her sound. The number of piezo elements in use range from one to eight. The electric cello has not yet achieved the status of the ubiquitous Electric Guitar, or even the somewhat-widespread success of the electric violin. The main reason for this is that 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 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 prefered method of amplification for acoustic cello, several removable and permanent transducer options are available. While many of these pickup systems have their downfalls, such as high-impedance output and relatively poor sound quality, several newer pickup systems have been introduced which allow for better sound quality. For most musicians only wishing 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, either 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 electric cello. Another reason electric cello is not as widely accepted as other electric instruments is its cost. Even the most inexpensive electric cellos are cost-prohibitive. A beginner guitarist can spend less than $100 for an electric guitar, as can an electric bassist. Even the most meager offerings in the electric cello world sell for over $400. For a decent electric cello, one may expect to pay well over $1000. There are many reasons for this, and the cost of electric cellos is not likely to decrease drastically in the future. One distinct advantage of the electric cello is its capacity
for using effects, such as distortion, wah, and chorus. This allows
a huge variety of sounds for the electric cello. |
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