Hollowbody Electric Cello

When the metaphorical lightbulb turn on in my head for an instrument, I like to sketc the idea on Microsoft paint. This drawing is for a piezoelectric two string hollowbody box cello. My plan is to use one of those pre-amp pickup units you can find on C.B. Gitty to amplify the cello. I've used eyebolt tuners in similar projects but I'll upgrade to better tuners. I hope to use real cello strings but they tend to be on the expensive side, much more. I'll probably have to use lighter weedwacker line. A long dowel will serve as an end pin with a ball on the end (or better yet, some type of rubber cap to prevent slipping).

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  • Update: I ordered the box, the bridges (flying bridge meant for stick-on-top builds, but works for what I'm doing), the pickup (pre-amp) and the tuners from CB Gitty. I then ordered a set a D'addario Prelude cello strings on Amazon ($64 dollars for them! I've seen cheaper Chinese-made strings, but a common phrase is "you get what you pay for"). Maybe I'll try out a cord strap to hold it up while standing.

     

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  • I had the neck angle flat like that on previous similar instruments and It plays well-enough for me. To get the string height, I build the neck in two pieces. First is the brace piece that goes through the box. The second is the neck/fingerboard/head proper (see diaghram above). I haven't tried zither pins on an instrument yet, but I'll just use some typical machine head tuners.

  • Yea, if you're gonna use real cello strings, then use real tuners. Have you tried zither pins yet? One piece, one hole, simple but you'll need a peg reamer to taper the holes? Which you can get from harbor freight for less than $10? Easy peasy cool  Also, you may want to put some back angle on the neck, it will play a lot nicer & resemble a cello more? Keep us posted on your progress 👍🏼

  • To make the picture larger: right click and select the "open image in new tab" option. I'm sorry I can't make my drawing larger itself.

     

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