NTO Electric Cellos

Electric Cello Strings

nogawa — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:44:56 +0000

Electric cellos use the same strings as acoustic cellos. Because they are flat-wound, and not spiral wound like electric guitar strings, they are not ideally suited for frets. The spiral wound strings of an electric guitar create a longer sustain when they are plucked or strummed, while flat-wound strings are suited for bowing. Popular electric cello strings include Jargar, Larsen, Red Label, Dominant, Pirastro, D’addario, and Helicore. NTO Electric Cellos are outfitted with Jargar strings for their particularly nice responsiveness.

Electric Cello Pickup

nogawa — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:06:50 +0000

The Schertler Stat-C transducer pickup is included with every NTO Electric cello. It is fitted into the bridge of each instrument, and produces a wonderfully rich tone. Unlike piezo pickups that can cause a very harsh electrostatic sound in the treble region, the schertler stat-c is faithful to the timbre of the instrument through out its wide range. The electric cello requires pickups that physically sense the vibrations of the strings, unlike electric guitars or basses which sense vibrations in the electromagnetic field. For this reason, the Schertler Stat-C pickup requires a small pre-amp, which is powered by a 9v battery, which is included.

Electric Cello Solid Body

nogawa — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:06:03 +0000

The acoustic cello is hollow for a reason; the sound chamber is what amplifies the strings. For an electric cello, like an electric guitar, a hollow body isn’t necessary because of the pickups. For that matter, an electric cello doesn’t even need to be shaped like an acoustic cello, because there aren’t the same acoustic requirements for the body. A solid body electric cello allows a much greater degree of freedom in the aesthetic design of the instrument. While some cellists are content to play sitting down, for musicians who wish to play a more modern style, the freedom to stand up is a great asset. The solid body design of the NTO electric cello makes this possible. There is no tripod or harness required to wear the NTO cello either, simply a strap, like you’d find on an electric bass or guitar. The NTO is definitely a cello though. It’s equipped with the same ebony fingerboard, bridge, fine tuners, and saddle of an acoustic cello. What it lacks is a big cumbersome body that forces the player to sit down and hold the instrument between his or her knees.

Electric Cello Strap

nogawa — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:05:01 +0000

Many electric cellos require an elaborate harness or tripod for the player to perform comfortably. The NTO electric cello is unique for its signature cutaway and single strap. The cutaway not only gives the body its distinct ‘classic’ look, it also provides the proper weight distribution for the electric cellist to wear a single guitar or bass strap to hold the instrument in the right position. This allows the performer complete mobility, indistinguishable from a guitarist or bassist, except for the unique attribute of playing with a bow. The strap attaches to two buttons on the top and bottom of the instrument, and allows the cellist to wear the strap comfortably over the left shoulder. When transitioning from an acoustic cello there is an initial adjustment period, but this is quickly replaced by a new found joy in the freedom the instrument affords.

Electric Cello Bridge

nogawa — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:45:59 +0000

The NTO Electric cello is fitted with a traditional 4/4 cello bridge. This allows the cello to be bowed in the same manner as a classical acoustic cello. The bridge, like the body is made from maple, which is an excellent wood for resonance and acoustic performance. The schertler pickups in an NTO E3 are fitted under the arm of one bridge via a piece of specially cut cork. There is a small electrostatic transducer inside of the cork. The tone is very warm and faithful to the sound of the body, and doesn’t produce any of the high end harshness of a piezo pickup. The Schertler pre-amp (included) has a variable volume knob that provides a greater level of control before the signal reaches the amplifier. The pickup itself is fitted to the bridge, which runs a small wire to the saddle, where the female end of the cord clamps to the saddle. There is a second schertler cord (included) that plugs into both the female end of the pick up and into the pre-amp. An additional 1/4 inch cable (not included) is required to connect the pre-amp to the amplifier.