Yamaha SVC-210 Cello - Review / Quick presentation

I was excited to try out this instrument, as I intended to use it in my upcoming concerts. However, upon trying it, I found the sound to be a little bit poor. I had expected a nicer, richer sound. Nevertheless, I do appreciate the solid design, size, and carry bag. I genuinely believe that with an improved pickup mechanism, this cello could become an awesome instrument. Microphone: AudioTechnica 4050LE | Acoustic cello pickup Shadow SH955

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Pickups seem to be ideal for stages. The SV -210 looks like a prey mantis which is what makes it cool. It sounds different from an Acoustic-Electric Cello because of the Semi-Hollow body. It's great for practicing as well.

[@lopaka79]

I was about to buy the 210SK until I watched your video. Thank you

[@feliciankalmus]

lopaka79 I was quite dissapointed

[@shfla7293]

110SK is better than 210!

[@Kenji1685]

​@@shfla7293 How so? Do they have different pick ups or pre-amp or what ever it is? I don:t really care about the folding parts either.

[@tumbleweed-life]

@@feliciankalmus Don’t just go by this video the sound quality is not that great on this particular video you watch a few more they do sound a lot better than that!

[@feliciankalmus]

@@tumbleweed-life I didn’t get it, could you explain it?

[@cellomalaysia]

Hey mate, thanks for the review, you can use a DPA microphone even on loud stages and get killer acoustic sound with it if you know how to process the signal, or use in ear monitors, or sit really far away from your monitors...and you can mix it with your piezzo if you wanna pimp your signal a bit or play bass lines...you can set up a line switch too if you wanna go full effects when the drum is blasting and back to crisp beautiful real cello for quieter moments in the song. I too spent years researching into this and this is currently the best option you’ll ever get:) DPA costs a lot less than those, sorry to say, horrible sounding and feeling electrics!

[@feliciankalmus]

You are right! DPA 4099's are just great on stage, using sometimes, but still gets lot's from the environment... I love in-ear monitors too btw ;)

[@feliciankalmus]

I'm sorry, but no experience with it :(

[@TheBrownbuck]

Thank you for taking the time to do this great review. I have changed my mind about buying a electric cello as well and am going to stick to a acoustic cello

[@feliciankalmus]

S D I have to admit, these electric cellos are quite cool ideas for particular purposes/usages, but the sound can not be compared with the richness of an acoustic sound. I’m pretty sure, the reason is the pickup systems development seems to be stucked somewhere.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I can hear the difference in tone between the 2 Cellos but the Shadow SH955 really makes recoding easier. There's the Boss Kantana Air wireless amp system.

[@feliciankalmus]

sure, most pickups still has "plastic" sound compared to our ears even trying different EQ and preamp settings.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

The geared tuners are a big hit cause it's easier to tune plus they point down from the head stock giving you more freedom. You should probably get geared tuners for your Acoustic Cello as well (Yinfente makes them) so that it holds tune better.

[@feliciankalmus]

I already have Wittner pegs on all of my acc cellos, so I could get rid of my finetuners and I really like them :)

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@feliciankalmus Yes & you could do the same thing w/ the SVC-210 by swapping out the tailpiece because it'll allow the instrument to vibrate more freely. The Good thing they tell you about geared tuners is that they're far more superior than friction pegs. Guitarists & Bassists have used them & now Violinists, Violists, & Cellists can do it too.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@feliciankalmus I thought Electric Cellos had a Solid body but the Yamaha ones are Semi-Hollow body to make them sound more like a Real Cello.

[@feliciankalmus8243]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 sure! I guess spending just a tiny bit of development to the pickup system would bring more out of the Yamaha SVC series.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@feliciankalmus8243 Yamaha did a very clever job w/ that Pickup system because the idea of an Electric Instrument that feels & sounds like an Acoustic Instrument would really make more kids wanna jam on them. They have extended range versions coming soon cause I have a 5 String Cello & I want them to make a version w/ 5 strings, maybe even a 6 & more string version as well as a Fretted version etc. The Yinfente Double Bass Style Tuners for Cello are called "Precision Posture tuners" cause they point down from the head stock giving you more room to move. They should have fractional sized versions soon because kids love the Prey Mantis shape.

[@shfla7293]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do a Cecilia Electric cello review as a “Budget Electric Cello Review” EVERYWHERE I go, literally ALL the review sites say the identical thing as if they’re being paid to make a review. I want an 100000000% honest review because I’m kinda tempted to get one!

[@feliciankalmus]

the asian car boi would be happy to do! Unfortunatelly I can’t access to it in Hungary :(

[@ecllode]

Best is to install the Ned Steinberger REALIST Pick up.... this will be some levels better

[@Crandelo95]

What type of instrument stand is that? It looks like a Hercules but I can't find that model with those feet anywhere.

[@feliciankalmus]

Orion Crandall this is the Hercules cello stand, modifyed by a friend by my request, so this is an unique version of it ;)

[@leerise2549]

Have you tried an impulse response pedal? It will blow your mind and change the way you feel about electronic strings as well as micing acoustic cellos

[@feliciankalmus]

As I see, line6 has such a floor pedal fx system, right? I just use IRs’s on computer for some plugins or even complex one... Have you heard about this brand new reverb on the market, this is mindblowing how easy placing my instrument wherever in the space without any compromise: www.inspiredacoustics.com/en/products/inspirata-workstation

[@leerise2549]

Yeah line6 has one and there are many others from cheap to expensive. I just use my amplifirebox, its made for guitar but i can load cello IRs onto it. I bought the IR from 3 Sigma Audio for 10 dollars

[@aneslihovac3016]

Thanks for the review. Highly appreciate it. Unfortunatley I could not quite understand what you called the pickup on the acoustic cello. Is it "shadow" pickup? Would you mind sharing a link for that.

[@feliciankalmus]

Shadow cello pickup SH955NFX

[@aneslihovac3016]

@@feliciankalmus Thank you very much.

[@user-kx5fs9jy1g]

Thanks for this demo, I am looking into getting an electric cello. I saw your music video with the NS CR6 string cello. How did you find the sound compared between this one and that?

[@user-kx5fs9jy1g]

That music video sounded awesome by the way!

[@feliciankalmus]

well, NS has even less "acoustic" feel, I rather using it with fx

[@themoviejunky3918]

Let's have a more in depth feedback about the 210.

[@feliciankalmus]

themoviejunky I sent it back already, because I did’t like it’s sound. All other infos avaiable in the specification, except sound quality. What do you want to know about, maybe I can tell it to you :)

[@shfla7293]

Felician Kalmus May you pls tell me what it came with? If it came with a bow, how was the bow quality?

[@feliciankalmus]

the asian car boi Oh, if I could remember! The only thing I can’t remember is the bow.

[@feliciankalmus]

the asian car boi the bag is cool, there is a headphone for practicing, equipped with strings. Maybe there isn’t bow, anyway buy one carbon fibre, it will least forewer ;)

[@sanchitbalhara]

Hi Felician, thanks for a very informative video. Would you recommend any kind of pickup for my to get acoustic sound out of my NS design silent cello. With the builtin pickup, it has a very muted and synthetic tone. Thanks :)

[@feliciankalmus]

sanchit balhara unfortunatelly there is no standard way to change your NS’s built-in pickup system. I think the syntetic sound is not because the circuit but the electro-mechanical part of it.

[@sanchitbalhara]

Felician Kalmus ah I see, many thanks for replying. Would adding any additional pickup on the body(example a transducer pickup) help in getting a slightly better sound?

[@feliciankalmus]

sanchit balhara you can try, let me know about your experience ;) I think if there were a pickup that can give 100% excellent/natural tone, it would be more then welcome!

[@sanchitbalhara]

Felician Kalmus I am currently using a post processing while Recording from the pick. If you pass it through Altiverb's cello room preset, it sounds very close to coming out of a cello's body. But in general, I prefer to process as less as possible.

[@laravanaccom6641]

Nice video!I'd like to buy a second cello, an electric one. Which one would you recommend? The yamaha svc 110 or svc 210? :)

[@feliciankalmus]

Lara Van Accom Could not try the 110 out. But from portability point of view: SVC 210. I don’t think there is a huge difference in sound / pickup design.

[@laravanaccom6641]

@@feliciankalmus Thank you for your reply!

[@feliciankalmus]

Lara Van Accom sure 😉

[@laravanaccom6641]

Nice video! Which amplifier do you recommend for this yamaha silent cello?

[@feliciankalmus]

Thank you :) there is a Marshall AS100 acoustic amp on my left hand side! That makes pickup sound more realistic in my experience. Sometimes I mic-ed AS100 on stage to the mixer/PA...

[@laravanaccom6641]

@@feliciankalmus Great, thank you!

[@user-xv4he4mt4x]

Does anyone know when did SVC-210 announced or went on sale?

[@feliciankalmus]

I think this is a question that is hard to be answered ;)

[@SG-cg9kw]

What make and model is that stand you put your electric cello on?

[@feliciankalmus]

It’s the Hercules violoncello stand with some custom mod ;)

[@SG-cg9kw]

@@feliciankalmus Thank you

[@thebatmanwholaughs219]

What do you think about the Yamaha SVC-50?

[@feliciankalmus]

I haven't try it. From pictures, the construction looks a bit cheaper, but would be happy able to try it out. For sure the 50 and 110 versions are with fixed frame, therefore not possible put them in a smaller carry bag like the 210.

[@purpleskys6193]

Hello I want to start learn cello Do you recommend it for some one want to learn queitly is it a good quality ?

[@feliciankalmus]

Hi! It depends, hard to advice... will be quiet for sure, but learn how to develop nice sound if the instrument itself cannot produce nice sound...

[@purpleskys6193]

@@feliciankalmus I see thank you for your time and answer ^^ new fan 🌷

[@feliciankalmus]

@@purpleskys6193 but we need to admit there is only narrow selection of silent cellos with traditional sitting shape. I would be the happiest cellist if Yamaha or the other companies could develop the sound just a little more.

[@user-tm6ir7wy5s]

the shity thing about electric instruments is when you play at home - you hear the buzzing of the strings and the amp sound (2 instead of one) - for me its so annoying

[@feliciankalmus]

I understand you, I wonder manufacturers produce much better pickups...

[@kittyplays2324]

What's a cello pickup

[@feliciankalmus]

What you mean?

[@Shao-wen_Wu]

Acoustic and mic still sounds better.

[@feliciankalmus]

Still... I wonder why they not spending more time on the pickup system, the basic concept of this design is just awesome

[@Shao-wen_Wu]

Felician Kalmus I agree. The concept is good, the design is simple and on point. I really like the fact that you can put the cello against your legs and chest like a real cello and it can be retracted when travelling. But the sound can very much be improved.

[@feliciankalmus]

Shao-wen Wu exactly!

[@gaborballa4631]

Hiába a klasszikus cselló hangjától semmi sem lehet szebb, de azért a 210-est sem utasítanám vissza😊

[@feliciankalmus]

Jópofa persze, könnyen utaztatható, ellenálló, ...csak egy picit ha még foglalkoznának a jobb hanggal, egy észbontóan jó termék lehetne

[@My-Pet-Carcass]

Sound quality of the video is very bad. Sound quality is critical is your reviewing instruments. Nice guy though

[@feliciankalmus]

Sound quality is as it is ;) switch to HQ video. Sound is out from the Yamaha via expensive TS cable using an UAD sound card. Mic is AT4050 again with the UAD. I don’t have a clip on my body for speaking, all other “quality issues” are the quality issues of the pickup/instrument systems, the annoying reason I made this video. Sure I’m playing in a living room as most musicians are practicing in their living rooms ;)

[@stevenj9970]

I don’t care for either

[@feliciankalmus]

:D

[@estremp]

I have the same fellow Yamaha instrument. Indeed : awful sound. Why do we call it "cello" ? (Fortunately, i have a real cello...) An accoustic one DO NOT need any "pick up" whatsoever.

[@feliciankalmus]

You know, it depends! In real situation an SVC-210 with an awesome pickup could be lifesaver on a loud stage, while an acoustic cello collects more from the environment. You don't need pickup on Acoustic cello if just playing natural, but nowadays it absolutely normal if a cellist is playing as a member a pop, rock, etc... band. In this case pickup/electric cello/cello mic is needed to get near to the level of the other instruments.

[@estremp]

@@feliciankalmus Sure. Only : i am an accoustic cello fellow. And still wondering (after 12 years) what I am doing with my SVC-210. Actually I came here to check on Amplifiers. Mine blew up ( a 30w ) and a friend of mine is selling his but its only 20 w. Feels like a toy. Not really convincing.)

[@feliciankalmus]

@@estremp I agree, although 20w with saturated TUBEs can be still magical ;)

[@anikatopete7474]

Was this a review for the SVC210 or his acoustic cello? He spent nearly half of the time talking about his acoustic one. Crappy review 0/5

[@feliciankalmus]

Thx for reply. Most videos are just playing on the 210 itself, with or without reverbs. I wanted to have/use this instrument, therefore bought it first. Wanted to show what I couldn’t get from other videos (SVC, ac+pickup, mic). None of the reviews gave me such an overview, so I created it for you and for myself too. I really like the basic concept and think the 210 could be an awesome SVC if Yamaha would spend a little more time on its pickup system, that would help us - cellist - form more dynamic and detailed sound. Speaking about an instrument without inspecting/comparing the sound... you know, this isn’t a furniture. ... back in time CGI wasn’t as realistic as nowadays, but in 2020 your eyes can be confused 100%. I would be one of the happiest cellists who walks to the store again for an updated 210 if there will be such... Does it make sense to you?

[@anikatopete7474]

Ewww just mind your own business 👩🏼‍💼