Electric Cello – Beyond Everyone’s Imagination, a Distinct Instrument from the Wooden Cello

Today, let’s talk about a very interesting instrument — the electric cello !!

Many people who aren’t familiar with it might think, “Isn’t the electric cello just an electronic version of the regular cello?”

Actually, it’s much more than that. The electric cello is an instrument that emerged in the 20th century, bringing with it innovation and endless possibilities.

Because it’s built differently from the traditional cello, it also produces a distinct sound. Today, I’ll give you a brief introduction to this fascinating instrument.

What is an Electric Cello?

Its appearance is quite similar to that of a traditional cello — it still has four strings and a long neck — but its structure and materials are quite different.

While a traditional cello is usually made of wood and relies on a wooden soundbox to produce resonance, the electric cello is built using carbon fiber, plastic, or other synthetic materials. This makes it lighter and more durable than its acoustic counterpart.

Because it lacks a natural wooden resonating chamber, the electric cello is equipped with an electronic pickup that converts string vibrations into electrical signals. These signals are then amplified through a loudspeaker, allowing for greater volume and tonal versatility, often adjustable via an EQ.

Thanks to this design, the electric cello’s tone can be shaped in subtle or dramatic ways — far beyond what’s possible with a traditional cello. Depending on the piece, players can add a variety of effects or even simulate the sounds of other instruments (or entirely electronic tones).

The Structure and Design of the Electric Cello

Materials

The body of an electric cello is usually made of carbon fiber or other synthetic materials, which are lighter than wood and less affected by humidity and temperature changes. This makes them an excellent choice for musicians who frequently tour or perform in different environments.

Pickups & Sound Control

One of the most important components of an electric cello is its electronic pickup.

The pickup converts the vibration of the strings into an electrical signal and sends it to an audio system.

This allows the performer to adjust the volume, tone, and even add various sound effects as needed. Some electric cellos even come with built-in effects, making it easy to shape the sound and create different atmospheres.

For example:

• YAMAHA electric cellos feature built-in reverb effects.

• NS Design CR Series offers multiple EQ adjustment options.

• Gewa Novita 3.0 comes with an integrated pickup that can be directly connected to an amplifier.

Tuning and Volume Control

The volume of an electric cello is no longer dependent on the size of a wooden resonating body; instead, it can be controlled through an amplifier. Additionally, using the volume control features of electronic equipment, performers can adjust the sound level to suit different environments, achieving the desired effect for each performance.

This introduction video provides a comprehensive overview of the basic structure of the electric cello, presented in a very thoughtful and guided manner. It also highlights the unique beauty of the electric cello — the German brand Gewa has clearly put a lot of care into it!

Foreign musicians are seriously testing this instrument, and the YAMAHA electric cello already does an impressive job of simulating the tone of a traditional cello.

This performance further showcases the possibilities and effects of the electric cello. Isn’t it remarkable how different it sounds compared to a traditional cello?

Advantages of the Electric Cello / Electric Cello

• Versatile and Creative Tone

One of the biggest features of the electric cello is its versatile tone. For example, performers can add reverb to make the sound richer and more resonant, or apply echo/delay effects to create a greater sense of space in the performance.

• Silent Practice Anywhere, Anytime

One of the greatest advantages of the electric cello is that you can plug in headphones for silent practice. This allows you to perform or livestream at home late at night without disturbing neighbors. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as a silent cello.

Hauser performs the theme from Titanic solo on an electric cello, demonstrating that he has masterfully set up the instrument and pays close attention to detail. The tone he achieves is already very close to that of a traditional cello.

2CELLOS and the Crossover Charm of the Electric Cello

When talking about the electric cello, how could we not mention the famous music duo 2CELLOS?

2CELLOS, consisting of cellists Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser, have brought the cello into the realms of pop and rock music, using the electric cello to create unprecedented performance effects.

Their playing style blends the essence of classical music with the energy of modern genres, showcasing technical challenges while delivering a visually and sonically captivating experience.

Thanks to their influence, the electric cello has gained greater visibility and popularity, helping to drive its development. As more musicians adopt the instrument, its technology and design continue to be refined and improved.

2CELLOS’ Luka Šulić and Hauser performed Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House. The performance officially begins at 2:21. This is a very rock-oriented piece, making it perfect for the electric cello. They used the YAMAHA SVC-110 for this performance.

With advances in technology, the electric cello has increasingly come closer to the sound of a traditional wooden cello. However, due to structural and manufacturing limitations, it can’t completely replicate it—sometimes it still sounds a bit “electric” or lacks the warmth characteristic of a wooden cello.

Nevertheless, it can be seen as a unique instrument in its own right, capable of producing distinctive works and showcasing a singular performance style and charm.

In the future, would everyone like to see YoYo create innovative works or perform using the electric cello? 😂

Feel free to leave a comment for YoYo~~

After all, YoYo is a cellist who loves technology and isn’t afraid to experiment with new techniques. Hopefully, there will be more opportunities in the future to try out this “new instrument”! (Any interested brands or musicians are welcome to reach out for collaboration.)

—Written by Nana: The electric cello is just so cool! You can really see the care and craftsmanship from each manufacturer, and it truly allows for a more modern and rock-oriented sound.

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Further Reading: The Evolution of the Electric Cello | A Reflection of Electronic Music and Technology