Electric Cellos, what NOT to buy.

This particular cello was purchased online. It had good specifications but it was not playable due to a lack of proper engineering. The neck was not properly set, leading to an action that was 5 times higher than standard between A string and the end of the fingerboard for using chrome-steel strings. Jared from Animato Strings reset the neck and added additional support for the fingerboard to make the cello usable. such an operation would be considered uneconomical but it was still done in favour of discarding the cello altogether.

[@davidbee8178]

It is really great that you do this as a genuine service to those who are looking for a cello of a decent quality. THIS one is most definitely a piece of junk : D

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Ah but they were able to make it work by adding a wedge to the fingerboard

[@JoeKyser]

I have a close friend that is looking for an electric cello. He is an outstanding player with many accolades over the years. He doesnt have a clue what to get. He asked me to make him one. Maybe but I build guitars. We are going to give it a shot. Thanks for the video and the facts. It helps

[@amandaodell2711]

Thanks so much for your very objective, measured and insightful video. Makes me glad I’ve ordered a Yamaha silent cello - even though I’ll be paying it off for a good couple of years!

[@missunderstood2274]

Worth it!!!

[@JeremyFeldmesser]

thanks for all this great info, I'll look out for a good product!

[@vincentmathe7042]

Thank your for this great information. It is crucial when you choose to buy an electric cello, if you don't want to throw your money by the window

[@olegvorontsov8359]

thanx for overview, you saved somebody's dollars))

[@michaelrg3836]

I have an identical looking instrument but made by "Sonata" and they have fixed the problems you mention: the strings are centered and the correct height off the fingerboard. My only complaint was the wobbly chest-rest, but I fixed that with a small metal bracket! I am very happy with it as a practice instrument - my traditional cello is MUCH louder!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

An amplifier means you could make it even louder

[@scottallencello]

I have a very inexpensive Yinfente 5 string. I found that cheaply build parts such as strings and bows are easy to replace. And to be honest, any cello I've ever owned, I've done bridge work on to hone string height/action. I have just come to expect that if you don't have a lot of money to spend, you are probably going to have to invest some time and energy into customizing a lesser instrument into an acceptable state.

[@hazellk4042]

Thanks for this video, obviously this Cello has major issues.... And you also give us some hints to check on so... again thank you

[@evie6530]

I'm in the process of make mine into an art piece since the pickup never worked and it was very cheap (looked like this cello), and under the paint it is lots of thin pieces of very soft, frail wood, all squished together in a layer

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

4:50 The Heel of the Neck (which meets the body) isn't long enough to handle the tension of the strings.

[@BigSleepyOx]

Damn, it's a shame to use all that high quality material, like the ebony, and then not put it together properly. :(

[@isetta4083]

Ebony is an endangered wood and it is illegal in some places, the listing of this cello uses ebony referring to the colour. Which yes, is deceiving .

[@megiab]

I'm late to the party but a year. Sorry about that...but I was thinking the same thing! (And they did use ebony, as was said in the video, except for the nut)

[@AnimatoStrings]

I am embarrassed to admit that I was tricked into believing that it was ebony. It actually was not ebony, they just knew how to paint the timber convincingly.

[@blueorchidhj]

Thank you for the video :) please review Yamaha's Silant cello!

[@H-DA]

That looks very much like a Classic Cantabile cello to me. Thank's for making this video, so I know what to check out. I have got a Harley Benton which is about the same price range, but mine got the fingerboard right luckily. (Well, nearly. It's about 9 mm on the C string and nearly 6 on the A but I think it will do, it depends on the strings too I guess). It's really nothing special but it does the job. Only I can't get the knees right, they missed to simulate the thickness of a real cello at that point. I fixed it by adding a wooden clementine box to it 🤣 that helps getting the position right and on the long run I will make myself some new brackets, some bented sheet metal should do the job. I really wanted to have a acoustic cello, found a Sentor I B-Stock for 420,- euros only which would have been "perfect" but my flat has got paper thin walls, no way. 😔

[@KarolineMinted]

Thanks for.uplading this.

[@POULPY47]

Yeaaaah ... give it to me , I´ll make some mods for adjust it ! Thanks for your sharing , nice to you .

[@richflu4774]

Thank you for this video.

[@ghlscitel6714]

This was the first point I could recognise at the first glance : the strings are too high above the finger board.

[@tioliak]

Thanks for the review

[@TechMickMIUI]

Hello, sir, what is your opinion on the e-cellos from Cantabile? I'm thinking about getting one for my wife! She's got a very good one luthier regular cello from Germany but she needs an e-cello for some shows. The Cantabile is around 400 euro from a musical instruments specialize shop in Germany.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Animato Strings I got a Yinfente 5 String Electric Cello at a fantastic price. The High E String is an Octave Below a Violin E String allowing me to arrange Violin & Viola repritore for Cello.

[@TimlegoStudios]

How much did the cello cost? I'm also wondering if to buy a cello from AliExpress - your review of it? Thanks!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@TimlegoStudios Oh it's $300 dollars. I'm actually getting something a bit more affordable like this Song Brand 5 String Acoustic-Electric Cello:www.ebay.com/itm/hand-made-electric-cello-4-4-size-great-tone-shape-5-string-electric-cello/133022399445?hash=item1ef8c0bbd5:g:GaQAAOSwCU1YtDVj that's only $235 and it costs the same as my 12 String Strat. The advantage of a 5 String Cello with a High E string is that the higher notes are in a more manageable position, in addition to that because the High E is the same as a Violin (But an Octave lower) you can also use it to play music that was originally not for Cello on the Cello like imagine hearing Brahms Violin Concerto on the Cello.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@TimlegoStudios They're in better shape than they used to be years ago

[@scottallencello]

I've been playing a Yinfente 5 string for nearly 10 years now. I love it.

[@Kenji1685]

I got a similar Chinese garbage cello in the past. The finger board resembled ebony but I'm quite certain it was died rosewood. The pegs were some kind of regular hardwood and were poorly fitted. I also had the same exact action problem as your example.

[@ivylee2943]

Thank you.

[@patconnick2620]

does anyone make a 7/8 electric collapsible cello? I have been looking, but am only able to find 4/4 and 3/4

[@TheSpeenort]

That's a piezo pick-up. I'm currently building a solid body cello with coil pick-ups. I'm awaiting delivery for some parts and other parts will need to be fabricated. I should have it done by mid-August 2019. I'm keeping production notes. The beauty of the solid body is that I'll be running it through a standard guitar pedal-board... distortion, delay, wah, etc

[@geneschmidt8308]

can you give an update on your cello? curious to know how it turned out.

[@TheSpeenort]

@@geneschmidt8308 I got it done 18 months ago and I'm loving it. I had to use cheaper strings to make the humbucker work because standard cello strings are non-magnetic. I put a piezo pick-up on it too and I switch back and forth between humbucker and piezo a lot. The humbucker has a warmer tone to it. Because of the curve of the fingerboard I had to wind my own pickup coils. The real beauty of the solid-body is that I can play it with other loud instruments.

[@keremtimuraykal4521]

I am very happy with Yamaha Svc 50 I own .

[@tutu8482]

But did you check on the string relief on the fingerboard?

[@paulhornsey-pennell1931]

is there a particular make of electric cello that you believe is of real value as well as quality?

[@wadew3623]

Couldn't it be fixed up a little bit? It seems like a few light adjustments could improve playability at least a little. Frankly, I would have kept it and treated it like a weird spare instrument

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

They were able to do that

[@bobbethune]

According to the Walmart listing for this Ammoon cello, the fingerboard is not ebony, it is "ebonized wood". The tailpiece is not carbon fiber, it's ebony. The pictures on the Walmart website show the strings at a proper height above the fingerboard. The fingerboard is pretty nearly centered, but visibly not perfect. The faulty neck design doesn't seem to have changed. So, some improvement over time, but still not a proper design.

[@designart9977]

I'm a guitarist want to learn cello and I'm thinking to buy online so thanks for this video if you have any suggestion on any brand to learn I'm interested too :D

[@MrRowrow22]

Did you get one? Any tips? I’m in the same boat at the moment

[@victorlarock7953]

I'm currently looking on the market as well any help would be great.

[@ravenlyn6]

There are some good Facebook groups for cellists, and this question comes up a lot. It's really best to try renting from a local music store--schools often do that, so it might be worth inquiring at a place that sells stringed instruments. You can rent to own, or for credit toward upgrading. The problem with buying a cheap cello to try out is that you may find it so uncomfortable and unsatisfying that you think you don't like playing cello--when really it's because you are playing firewood. If you really want to buy, Stringworks is reputable, fair, ships instruments carefully, and only sells playable instruments.

[@taipolar333]

thank you

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Generally Electric instruments are easier to mass produce in better shape cause they're not as bulky (e.g. Electric Guitars) but for Electric Cellos it's kinda the opposite of what is really supposed to be correct. Electric Cellos required less bulk than their Acoustic counterparts cause they're thinner. Wood Violins makes good ones but they're priced higher than they're supposed to be.

[@timothypage5482]

I bought one of these used from someone on Craigslist. The one shown here is exactly like the one I bought, except for the color and the label. I think Amoon and Cecilio are the same thing. There may be a bit of BS in this video. After seeing this video, I measured the distance on the fingerboard. It is neither the "recommended" 4 mm, nor the 20 mm that this man "measured." It was just under 10 mm. Perhaps Cecilio has improved that since this video; I don't know. Or is that the difference between Amoon and Cecilio? For a beginner and at its low price, I doubt this would be a problem. If you look at other videos you can see examples of people playing this instrument. It certainly isn't an instrument for the symphony, but it is usable at a basic level. List price of my Cecilio is just under $900, but new ones (both Cecilio and Amoon) generally go for well under $500 (I paid $125 for a used one). So really, can one say this is an unusable cello for a beginner on a budget?

[@topsecret1837]

Timothy Page I think there’ a lack of consistency here. I know Cecilio is an American company, and since this clearly is factory made with cheap materials, one can expect an action a little less or more than 10mm. Amoon and Cecelia would not be the same thing if Amoon is one of those Chinese knockoff companies, and especially since this guy’s reporting a different measured action with another brand’s cello. This is also something to consider if you’re making a 3D printed cello, too!

[@mrector23]

Yes. By having the setup so high you do a couple horrible things to a beginner: 1) You make it so tuning is a problem, like he said in the video when you finger a note it will be sharp. A beginner will spend a lot of time fighting that. 2) The hand should be relaxed without gripping the neck of cello when fingering. By elevating the strings you’ll need more force to finger the notes which will translate to beginners gripping the neck. If you can’t afford a well setup cello you can still learn to play, but you’ll be developing a lot of bad habits which will be a pain to over come. You’re better off renting a cello that’s setup properly.

[@itzkatsawayo]

Thanks.

[@wheneaglesfly466]

Hi, I was wondering if you/any other professional cellist could recommend a very good and affordable electric cello to me. Thanks.

[@bsharporbflat8378]

Wheneagles Fly Yamaha Silent Cello, if you've got the budget. Otherwise go accoustic and fit it with a good Piezzo.

[@Awesomekid2283]

One of the things that this is literally the only cheap (relatively speaking) electric cello that I've been able to find (it's the same instrument whether or not your getting it through Cecilio or Amoon)! I have absolutely no idea why every electric cello that I've seen is over $1500! Are the pickups really that good?

[@monsiuersmartypants3391]

The yamahas are made of real wood.

[@keithmooore]

@@monsiuersmartypants3391 wood is not expensive.

[@zacglasgow]

@@keithmooore Ebony is endangered

[@keithmooore]

@@zacglasgow well it doesen't have to be ebony nor rosewood. There's plenty of other woods dense enough to be used for fingerboards. Woods can also be strenghtend with epoxy.

[@StDaniel93]

@@keithmooore the Yamaha BRAND is expensive but beautiful too xD

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Yeah it's an Ammoon & the good materials meant it could be salvaged.

[@nataanda2486]

great tipps thank u, this is funnyyy

[@adrianhatesbruno3687]

Okay. But how it sounds?

[@AatamiFin]

What electric cello would you recommend?

[@monsiuersmartypants3391]

yamaha.

[@newsigmundfreud3023]

*Yamaha SVC 210 or NS Design line up..*

[@xiaox3293]

Yamaha SVC50 is good as well if SVC210 is too pricey. I have one and I love it

[@yk1393]

For an adult beginner will you recommend me an electric/silent cello or acoustic one? I’ve been wondering if I should get the silent one since I don’t want to bother people in my house with any weird sounds 😂

[@mrector23]

Get an acoustic cello.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@mrector23 But if you want to practice a Yamaha Silent cello will do. It's about half the size of an Acoustic Cello so it's easier to carry

[@mrector23]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 Yes, but it’s a poor choice for a first cello.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@mrector23 Yamaha Electric Cellos are in better shape than they used to be years ago

[@mrector23]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 I don’t disagree, they are still a poor choice for a first cello.

[@Stallagmite]

Great review. The head scratching thing is that those changes of position should not cost the company more money.

[@skyler7017]

I think it’s more of an issue of lack of knowledge as opposed to malicious intent

[@tapasyatyaga4041]

Find the note

[@studentoftheword6115]

So please tell me the Mfg name and brand model number of this cello?

[@AnimatoStrings]

It is enough to watch out for these things. I do not want to point the finger at one particular brand as this issue is not limited to this particular brand. By the way, I later realized that the fingerboard was not made of ebony. It was painted. The ebony 'imitation' was quite well done.

[@studentoftheword6115]

Wow ... So they called it Ebony and it was an imitation... They must of put in the specifications that it was IMITATION EBONY. Otherwise they'd be in the wrong.

[@timothypage5482]

It looks exactly like my Cecilio silent cello, but you can see the Amoon label in the video. The only difference is that mine is black; it comes in several colors. One other difference: the fingerboard measurement seems to be totally wrong. I measured mine at just under 10 mm.

[@derBartzer]

Can u recommend any affordable e-cello? I am looking for one, beginning again after over 10 years not playing. I dont need the best sound quality. Just a decent e-cello.

[@timothypage5482]

I bought my Cecilio second hand at a great price, about a third of what it goes for online. It wasn't in perfect condition, but quite fine. MSRP, I think it around $800, but I see it online in the $300+ range. That seems affordable. I am not an expert on what is a fair, decent, or great sound. I am about to move out of the beginner range. It doesn't come with speaker or amp, but you can play it as is (not truly silent) or with earphones. Others are saying that the Amoon shown in the video is a poor Chinese knock-off of the Cecilio that I have.

[@TooSlowTube]

It's not ebony. Ebony is endangered, protected, and any you can still buy legally is extremely expensive. It's "ebony coloured wood", i.e. close to black. Even so, if they'd made it properly, I'd be quite happy to buy something like that. The problem is the quality control - there's no one making sure each one made is actually playable. The same work and resources could be going into making something good.

[@criptocoinpools5967]

It can be fixed reducing the bridge buddy ^u^b . Is really easy . Actually you can fix it changing the pre-amp and bridge . For sure it gonna fix it ^u^ok

[@Cabrona191]

Would be amazing if you made some sort of repair guide or "how to". 😀😀

[@jemts5586]

Yeah, but wouldn't you rather buy something that was already made properly? If the cello is cheap and the repairs don't cost too much, them maybe it's ok, but all the extra cost... Might as well buy something else. 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@jamspandex4973]

Why the hell didn't they just make it properly ? presumably it would not have cost anything extra more to just make it properly ? put the fret board on straight and with a higher angle, or just a lower bridge. I mean seriously ?

[@logan8921]

it is not ebony, if you look it up its some other material also ebony exports are banned as it is highly endangered. Edit: it is just ebony colored

[@martinjacobsen5974]

Kavvy right you are. Common use of ebony is stictly prohibited. Although there are exceptions made for as crucifixes, and musical instrument parts, including black piano and harpsichord keys, violin, viola, mandolin, guitar, double bass, and cello fingerboards, tailpieces, pegs, chinrests, and bow frogs. It is however very much frowned upon and because it is very endangered there are a lot of countris that won't allow anny cutting. Espesially in Africa

[@mrector23]

Ebony is a CITES appendix II wood which is exportable/importable with a permit as long as it was harvested sustainably.

[@GHolyspotweld]

Wish I watched this before....

[@HighlandViolinist]

So what brand is it so people know to stay away from it?

[@AnimatoStrings]

A cheap brand, well set up by a specialist shop, preferably in your own country, is usable. If it is not set up by a specialist shop, then it is risky, even if the specifications are impressive and the claims state that it has been properly set up.

[@timothypage5482]

It looks exactly like my Cecilio.

[@Awesomekid2283]

Timothy Page Because it is.

[@Awesomekid2283]

Timothy Page I think the Cecilio version is actually made a bit better. Obviously there is a difference in the production process for the Amoon and the Cecilio because of the fact that the Amoon has their logo on it, and the Cecilio doesn't. The problem is the Cecilio is the only inexpensive electric cello, so, if I want an electric cello, I have to get one of these and hope they have upped their production quality

[@Henrik.Yngvesson]

It's absolute crap! Looks just like mine and it had the same string height which I lowered a lot but realized I had a lot more to go. The backside of the lower fretboard is so crud I could've made it smoother with a chopping axe. The support on the backside sit's on a kitchen cabinet hinge and looks absolutely stupid. The paint has cracked in every joint around the body. The build quality is what you could expect from a 10-12 yo kid with no particular experience.

[@kaybhee6]

not for music,,,only talk

[@jaredkaye3669]

I am not a luthier but I reshaped the bridge for easy action. A bridge is 5 bux. I also bypass the electrinics and use a 15 dollar gutar pedal. You end up with a cello that you can play in conditions that you would not want to bring a more delicate accoustic. I don't know why everyone is so critical. Forgive me for disagreeing. I like German cellos and play Bach. You guys are being racist and promote excluding Chinese products. My friends say, "Everything from China is 5hit!" and they don't see how that is racist. Racism comes from the 10,000 years of pain when Eve enslaved the animal. Bach wrote the Passion of the Christ in German vernacular so poor Germans can understand capital isn't everything.

[@mrsmd4616]

Electric Cello, Violin = Why do they all look disgusting?

[@kdakan]

I would just cut out a new bridge from wood, its not rocket science.

[@StarZendonna1687]

Cecilo makes the best Cellos on the planet You're a FOOL to insult them

[@robertw.5993]

I've owned 2 Cecilio CCO 500 cello's and currently play a CCO 600 cello and a Cecilio CVN 600 violin and they are very decent, serviceable instruments plus arrived in good condition, well packaged and both came with very nice appointments. First things, toss the rosin and cheap strings (unless it comes with the string upgrade to D'Addario). The CCO 600 had a minor finish issue and I was offered to return it at no charge or offered a rebate to keep it and kept it. String action is a LITTLE high and I am going to work on it, but have had it for 6 months without touching it. Very serviceable.

[@johnarndt2540]

Obviously this particular one is not good. 😂 (If it’s a cecilo)

[@scottallencello]

The magic in these cheap cellos is what you do AFTER you buy it. Better strings, rosin, bow, refining the bridge height/position, etc. These small changes make nearly unplayable instruments into something potentially quite special @@robertw.5993