The Essential Guide to Finding the Best Electric Cellos + Review
When looking for an electric cello there are many things to take into consideration. Fortunately for you, we took the time to analyze what makes a good cello, and after carefully researching what the most sought-after models on the market can offer to you, we found that the Yamaha SVC-110SK cello is one that you should really consider purchasing. What makes it special is that each of the pieces it is made of is handcrafted and created with great care. It has a classic shape that’s well-defined by elegant curves. If you don’t want others to hear you play, or if you can’t afford to disturb others at night, for example, you can connect a pair of headphones to it and enjoy the music alone. In the unfortunate case that you can’t find our first recommendation, you should look for the Cecilio 4/4 CECO-1DW Electric cello which is next on our list.
Comparison Table
Our Top Choice
This cello creates realistic, acoustic sounds. It comes with a soft case to keep your cello safe when traveling. The shape is classic with elegant curves. It is very easy to set up. It is a silent instrument allowing you to connect headphones to it. Each piece is handcrafted to be durable and solid.
Some sounds may be still heard which makes it not that silent.
This model comes with a more realistic string tone sound, giving you an acoustic experience. The quality of the sound comes hand in hand with its elegant design and the durable structure.
2nd Best
The first and most important benefit of this cello is that it’s electric and allows you to practice without disturbing people living in the same house. Its 1/8-inch input jack lets you connect your cello with a guitar amp. You will also get a headphone jack and an in-line input.
The pegs tend to slip, which means that you will have to re-tune the instrument quite often.
This versatile electric cello is ideal for practice, the recording studio, as well as live performance. Even if you are not a seasoned cello player, you will find this instrument to be ideal for your needs.
Also To Consider
Being a solid maple structure, this cello comes with volume and bass controls. Its features also include a stereo mini jack for an MP3 player and output for headphones for silent exercising. It also comes with a gig bag and a bow. The design is compact, easy to carry and creates a rich tone.
This cello doesn't come with a user manual and instructions.
The great design allows you to experiment with an amplified cello. It comes with a solid maple construction for a full, rich tone within a sleek white body which helps you carry it easily.
3 Best Electric Cellos (Reviews) in 2021
1. Yamaha Silent Series SVC-110SK Electric Cello
This cello model comes with a more realistic string tone sound due to the redesigned resonating chamber. Even though it is an electric cello, it is capable of reproducing a complete acoustic sound which replicates the tone of the classic and traditional cello giving you an extraordinary musical experience.
With a 4/4 size, the design is a very elegant one due to its beautiful curves which follow the line of a classic cello. The spruce wood body, maple wood neck, and bridge are handcrafted carefully into a durable construction. The hardwood it’s made of gives it great resonance.
It comes with a soft case for protection during trips, headphones to play it silently at any time of the day, an auxiliary cable, chest support, and AA batteries. You have 3 different choices to play the instrument with the built-in reverb and, while playing, the vibrations are picked up through a Piezo sensor.
Pros
This electric cello manages to deliver a string tone sound that is very realistic thanks to the improved resonating chamber.
It provides you accurate sounds, very similar to the traditional and classic cellos.
The curves replicate the classic cello in an elegant and beautiful way.
This model has a sturdy construction having its body made of durable spruce wood and the neck and bridge both made of maple wood.
The improved resonance is given by the hardwood construction in order to offer you a high-quality product.
To complete the set, the cello comes with headphones to exercise in silence, a case for protection, AA batteries, chest support, and an auxiliary cable.
Cons
The bridge of this product is higher than other models so you need to accommodate your bow arm.
When not used, you can’t simply lean it on the floor so you need to find a safe space to do so.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($2515)
2. Cecilio 4/4 CECO-1DW Electric Cello
Excellent connectivity makes this electric cello stand out from the crowd. Whether you want to practice without having the other people in your house become annoyed with your playing the cello, or wish to use background music, this model provides.
Cecilio created a good quality electric outfit for the price tag, and that shows in the overall construction. Made with hand-carved mahogany wood and a metallic varnish, it is a nice looking instrument that you won’t hesitate to take on stage with you. Functionality melds with style in this particular electric cello.
A broad range of accessories is supplied with your purchase. You will receive a soft case for carrying the cello around so that you can go to gigs and concerts without worrying about damaging it by accident. Also, you will get a bow, rosin for the strings, an aux cable, and a pair of headphones for your everyday training.
Pros
It is a 4/4, full-size cello that can be used successfully for training, practice, and even performing live, as it has all the features of a non-electric model.
Connecting the instrument to a guitar amp or a PA system is possible, and you will even get the aux cable needed for hooking them together.
The 9V battery needed for the instrument to work is included with your package, which is a nice touch seeing how not all manufacturers do that for their customers.
The soft case provided is lightweight but offers good padding for the instrument to remain undamaged during your travels.
Cons
You may notice an annoying issue with the pegs that appear to slip out of the alignment, creating the need to re-tune the cello frequently.
There is a chance that you won’t be satisfied with the quality of the strings included, so be ready to invest in a better set.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($419.99)
3. Stagg ECL 4/4 WH Cello – Electric
This model is great for any cellist looking for an electric instrument that fits into a tight space. This lightweight cello, which weighs 16 pounds, also has a solid structure made of maple wood. It comes with an active preamp, an under saddle pickup, and volume and bass controls for reproducing accurate sounds.
The cello is equipped with a stereo mini jack for a CD/MP3 player, and an output for headphones if you want to practice silently at any hour without being interrupted. Additional features are the amplifiers and the jack used to plug it into PA systems.
It also includes a bow which is great if you are a beginner and you don’t own one and a gig bag for protection. This instrument is visually and audibly striking. The sleek white body gives you and your cello a plus of elegance which comes hand in hand with the full reach tone that it creates.
Pros
The great thing about this cello is its lightweight structure and the compact design that allows you to carry it with you anywhere with ease.
Even though it weighs only 16 pounds, this cello is very sturdy thanks to the maple wood construction.
To enjoy accurate sounds, this model comes with volume and bass controls, an active preamp, and an under-saddle pickup.
You are able to practice anytime and anywhere in silence as it comes with a headphone output.
It comes with a bow included and a protective case to carry it with you anywhere.
Besides the full rich tone this cello creates, it has an elegant design that gives you style on stage.
Cons
You may encounter some issues with the tuning pegs that may fail so it is recommended to have some spares.
It takes some time for the tuning to settle down and the bow to work.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($779.99)
Yearly Guide & Report
Finding the best electric cello for sale can be an intimidating process, and if you are a beginner, you can end up feeling lost, not sure on what features you should focus on and what are the things that you should avoid. To give you a helping hand, we have compiled the following buyer’s guide with your needs in mind. For this, we have analyzed some of the products that have garnered the best electric cello reviews in order to identify what features customers love the most in their products. With the help of this useful information, you will find it easier to select the instrument that matches your needs, and that will not end up disappointing you.
You need to take your time
If you want to make sure that the product you get can give you the performance that is being advertised, the best thing you can do is take it home with you and play it. This is the best way that you can judge the quality of an instrument and the same thing is true for an electric cello. Play it, see how it sounds and if you are comfortable while playing it because you don’t want to make a rushed decision for something that you’ve paid a lot of money.
Ideally, if you are a beginner and you are not yet sure about what a good cello should sound like, the thing that you should do is ask the opinion of a musician, let him play the instrument and see what his judgment is. It is also recommended that you try playing the device in different locations so that you can test the acoustic. This is a good way of making sure that the instrument you have just bought sounds good for every occasion.
Similarly, you should also pay attention to the quality of the body and the materials that the manufacturer has used for their product. You don’t want to settle for anything but the best. If you see a flaw in your product, the worst thing that you can do is lie to yourself that the problem is not as bad as it seems.
That’s a bad way to think, you’re paying money to get the product that has been advertised and getting anything less than that should be unacceptable. If you see a splinter or any other manufacturing error, return the instrument immediately. You might say to yourself that it is simply a small flaw but that small flaw can lead to countless problems down the road. This is a risk that you should not take.
The bottom line is that you need to take your time, this is a serious investment that you just cannot make on a moment’s notice. Test the product in whatever way you might see necessarily. There’s nothing worse than getting a product that you end up hating because of various details that can come out after some proper use.
This is why a proper inspection is a must as this is the only way you can separate the good from the bad. Once you have made a decision, you will be stuck with that instrument for many years, and the last thing you want is to get stuck with a product that does not perform well or that breaks easily.
Sound is important
The one thing that your instrument needs to excel at is providing a sound that’s pleasant, accurate and clean. The best thing about an electronic cello is that you can say goodbye to the problem that has haunted every cello musician: feedback. That dreaded high squealing or low rumbling notes that that explode out of the speakers and make the audience and the musicians cringe in horror.
You can now rest assured that due to the fact that there’s no significant volume from the instrument itself or a hollow chamber that produces a lot of tones, the electric alternative has pretty much cured that problem.
Another good thing when shopping for an electric cello as opposed to a regular cello is the fact that since sound travels through electric wires and amplified, sound quality plays a different role. We don’t mean to say that sound quality is not important, but it certainly does not make as much of a difference as with regular cellos where the difference between a cheap product and an expensive one is tremendous.
This means that finding the best cheap electric cello is achievable without having to sacrifice quality. In fact, due to how manufacturing the electric alternative is much easier and cheaper, we believe that beginners will find it much more accessible to start playing this instrument as opposed to the regular cello where you really need to commit financially if you really want a good product.
Choose a good amplifier
Before you buy your instrument, you need to make sure that you also have some money left since you will also have to choose an amplifier. While you can run an electric cello through the main sound system during a performance when you have to practice at home or for when you have to perform live without a sound system, an amplifier is needed.
You don’t need to worry since finding the best amp for electric cello is not as hard as it may sound. Amplifiers for electric cellos are divided into two main categories. The first one is the “full feature” option which includes a number of features such as onboard effects, like a phaser, a flanger, and chorus as well as some basic amplifier modeling and distortions.
The second type is the high-end, acoustic amplifier. This one has few of those effects and focuses on providing a cleaner tone. This is the best option for people that are looking to get an acoustic tone. Depending on what your needs are, both types of amplifiers can work for you. If you are not sure on which one to get, the best thing you can do is try both and trust your ear.
Choose a design that appeals to you
Electric cellos come in a wide variety of design choices, and this option is, in fact, one of the instruments that have some of the most interesting, ambitious and artistic bodies. Many are modeled after the bodies of acoustic cellos, with a design that maintains the hallowed chamber even if its only purpose is aesthetic.
On the other hand, most options abandon that design completely, choosing to opt for an entirely new body and even discarding the body completely. Most of the modern electric cellos are works of art due to their intricate designs that combine the regular look of a cello with a futuristic and sometimes abstract idea. There is no wonder why musicians boast proudly about the look of their instrument.
At the end of the day, even if you need a product that can perform well you also need something that looks just as good as it sounds. While looks should not be the primary factor to base your decision on, we can’t disagree with the fact that a gorgeous design can enhance your performance. It can make you feel more confident in your own skills as well as help to engross your audience.
Frequently asked questions about electric cellos
Q: How to assemble an electric cello?
Whether you are a beginner or a more experienced player when it comes to assembling your instrument the best thing you can do is ask the help of a professional. Unless you have already assembled a cello in the past, you risk breaking things.
Considering that most options can be quite pricey, the last thing you want is breaking some parts by mistake which can give you a repair bill that’s half the cost of the product. Bridge fitting is especially tricky, and most people even call it a science. Getting the help of a professional is easy, and the fees aren’t that big.
Q: How to use an electric cello?
Using an electric cello is no more different than using a regular cello, in fact, some players might argue that learning to play this alternative is in fact easier. If you intend to have fun and play pop, rock and other tunes this alternative will be easy to use, and it will help you enjoy yourself.
To make sure that you have everything you need for rehearsing and playing at home, you should not forget to buy an amplifier. Without an amplifier, you won’t be able to hear the tunes of your instrument.
Q: How to tune an electric cello?
To tune your instrument, you will need to be familiar with the pieces involved and how they all work together as a unit. Learning to tune is the first step in learning how to master playing your cello. You instrument will often get off-pitch, and so you’ll have to learn how to tune without the help of your instructor.
The easiest way of learning is by asking the help of your instructor, a specialist or a friend musician. If these options are not available, finding a video tutorial online is the easiest way to go about it. Visualizing every step will make it easier for you to learn.
Q: How does an electric cello work?
Unlike the regular acoustic alternative that relies on acoustic resonance to produce sound, the electric option relies on electronic amplification. While you can equip an acoustic cello with a bridge or body mounted contact pickup providing an electric signal, you can encounter feedback distortions that do not occur with an electric cello.
The lack of a resonance chamber means that the electric cello sounds need to be amplified electronically with the help of an amplifier. The amplifier will carry the sounds from your instrument to a speaker so that you can enjoy and listen to your favorite tunes.
Q: Who invented the electric cello?
You might be familiar with Leon Theremin for he is mostly known for having invented the musical instrument that bears his name. Apart from this, he has also developed several other instruments among which the Theremin Cello, too, the first electronic cello.
They were first created to be used in the original version of Ecuatorial by Edgard Varese, created in 1934. Since then the instrument has suffered many chances, and each manufacturer has tried to leave their own mark, but the one thing that never changed is the sound that makes this instrument ideal for pop and rock songs.
Q: How are electric cellos made?
It depends on the materials that the product is made out of. If you’re thinking about a wood cello, the process starts with the wood that needs to be shipped, processed and cut in factories using a variety of bandsaws and handmade chiseling, drilling and scraping until the woods gets into the perfect shape.
Then the electric controls need to be manufactured, and they are usually made using a polyurethane formulation. The in/out jacks, sensors, and tailpiece are generally made out of hard solid plastic. Once all the components are made they are put together by the manufacturer until all that is left is the instrument ready to be put on the market.
Q: Are they any good?
Of course, even if there is a bit of bias against the electric cello especially when it comes to using it in an orchestra, players worldwide agree that this is one amazing instrument. Are you going to enjoy playing the electric cellos?
That’s a tough question and one that only you can answer. If you are unsure if playing this instrument is something that you would want to pursue you can always go to your local music shop and try playing it a bit. To see if you enjoy it, you should experience playing and hearing other people play the instrument live.
Best electric cello brands
With a tradition that dates back to 1990, NS Design was founded by the award-winning instrument designer Ned Steinberg. The brand’s primary goal is to design and produce bowed electric instruments that are advanced and that use only the latest technology.
This is why choosing NS Design means choosing quality both in terms of the sound that their instruments produce as well as the durability and reliability that they can offer. The instruments that NS Design creates manage to combine technology and tradition into a cohesive mix that is able to meet the needs of an ever-evolving musical community.
If you’re looking for a quality product, then going for Yamaha is the safest choice that you can make. Whether you’re an artist or simply a music lover, it is impossible not to be familiar with this household name that is not only popular among amateur artists but also among some of the most talented and acclaimed artists.
The name of the brand comes from Torakusu Yamaha who was the founder of the company and the first to pioneer the production of Western musical instruments in Japan. He was fascinated by western instruments, a fascination that makes Yamaha one of the most acclaimed electronic cellos brand.
Ammoon may be a newer brand, but they are well known for their affordable products that can still retain a good quality, especially when compared to other alternatives in that price range. Because of this, if you are looking for the best electric cello for beginners, going for Ammoon is a good choice.
Due to the low price and the high-quality instruments that this brand produces they are also a prominent choice for parents that want to buy a cello for their kids. The company was started in February 2016 and even if they are still a small brand, judging by the products that they offer there’s no doubt that we’ll soon start hearing more about Ammoon.
If you are looking for a premium instrument then choosing a Bridge electric cello is a good choice. This brand is known for its high-quality products and the great care that they put in constructing each instrument, as well as their top-notch accessories. This makes their products durable and easy to tune.
While they are primarily known for their amazing violins, they have since then also branched off, and they now manufacture a larger variety of instruments. Whether you are a beginner that wants to purchase their first electric cello or a more experienced player, Bridge offers some of the highest-quality alternatives available today on the market.
If you enjoyed reading this article, maybe you’d like to check out some of the others we’ve written in the past:
Unavailable products
Yamaha Silent Series SVC-210SK Electric Cello
This electric cello is ideal for silent practice, also having a minimalist design which makes it easy to carry. It has a well-designed spruce body and a highly resonating chamber for professional performances. This model comes with an auxiliary input as well as line and headphone outputs.
Its 4/4 slim body solves the problems that cellists have with space in different situations, coming with a gig bag that can fit in your car or airplane overhead compartments. Besides being compact, the design helps you avoid feedback issues that usually appear when playing cellos with large acoustic bodies that resonate from loud stage volume.
Having its neck made of maple and its body made of spruce wood it is a durable structure. This cello’s acoustic warmth is enhanced by the design. The cello sounds beautiful when amplified due to the body resonating chamber it has. Thanks to the onboard reverb effects, you’ll send the same sounds you hear to your audience.
Pros
If you are touring or traveling often, this model is what you need since it has a minimalist design.
The professional performances are provided by the high-quality resonating chamber and the solid spruce body.
It comes with a case that fits in airplane compartments.
The feedback issues are avoided during stage performances as it doesn’t have a large acoustic body.
This product is also very durable thanks to its spruce wood body and its maple neck.
The audience will hear the exact same sounds you’re hearing thanks to the onboard reverb effects.
It comes with headphone outputs to play the cello silently and an auxiliary input.
Cons
When playing in the upper octave, the bow position is quite atypical as you have to move it away from the bridge.
You have to get used to the electronics as they may seem to you a little bit noisy in the first place.
Bibliography:
1) Electric Cellos Offer Unique Sound Qualities
4) A Brief History of the Cello
What brand of electric cello is pictured in the first photo of this post?
Hi Jeffrey. It’s actually a prototype; it’s a futuristic cello played by Peter Gregson, the famous cellist.
I recently purchase the NS Design CR6 Cello. As both a bass player and cellist I have found this incredible instrument bridging the gap between both.It takes a little time to get used to the closer string gap from my classic cello, but that has come with practice.. The adjustable bridge switch allows good pizzicato and bowing response. A suggestion to all using the stand provided is to set the stand leaning slightly forward, which stabilizes the cello on the stand with less chance of tipping backwards.
Thank you for the input, Tim, and glad to hear you’re happy with your choice!
I would like to know more about the company called bridge? (who makes draco electoic cello). I don’t see any information online. (such as country, location, history, how their instruments are made)
Hi Tom. You can navigate their website to find out more about them. Here you go: https://www.bridgeviolins.co.uk/