New project; Sporkcello 1

Sporky

So... been playing cello for a year and a half on a Yamaha silent cello. The other cellists who've seen, heard and played it have been quite positive about it, but I think an acoustic cello might be useful. Obviously I could save up for a few years and do the proper thing of buying something made in Austria or Germany in the 17th century, but I've never been keen on the obvious.

Therefore my next build will be a modern acoustic cello. All the basic geometry will be as standard, but I fancy addressing some of the limitations of the classical instrument. This will, naturally, upset some people (bonus!).

I'm going to employ a lot of what little I've learnt about building guitars, but there's still going to be a lot of new techniques - I've never done an acoustic. I'm inspired by this:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/72/01/d2/7201d2ede550a50dfcb62e80716c8acf.jpg

But with a hefty dose of this:

http://www.kenparkerarchtops.com/Bubbles/BubblesFull1000.jpg

All informed by this (which just arrived):

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41DWS1N29SL.jpg

Bound to be some hilarious cock-ups along the way!

Rocker

Someone is bound to say:

It needs a Bigsby

or

a set of EMGs

You must be prepared for suggestions like that.

lysander

That is one brave project ! Subscribed

Sporky

I should warn you that this'll take a while, and SP4 took 5 years...

It's going to use traditional cello timbers (though I'm not going to worry about a jet black fingerboard), but a guitar/bass style headstock and Hipshot Ultralite tuners - normal cello tuning pegs and fine tuners are fiddly in use, and all that scroll stuff is a bit ornate for me (to make successfully).

I had a think about doing moulded carbon fibre sides but that's an entire extra skillset I don't have so Im planning on building the body like an archtop guitar - no funny corner bits.

I do like the Bigsby idea...

Rocker

I am full of admiration @Sporky and look forward to your posts....

axisus

Wow, that sounds fascinating. I like the look of the cello you posted, can't wait to see yours develop

DiscoStu

High five the Sporkmeister! 

Roland

Ned Steinberger used inward facing guitar/bass tuners, which was good design, but virtually no body, which I am less keen on. https://thinkns.com/instrument/ns-design-electric-cello/ns-design-electric-cello-cr/. I'm hoping you can improve on his design.

WezV

Yup.  I'm onboard

paulnb57

Subscribed!

Sporky

Roland said: hi

Ned Steinberger used inward facing guitar/bass tuners, which was good design, but virtually no body, which I am less keen on. https://thinkns.com/instrument/ns-design-electric-cello/ns-design-electric-cello-cr/. I'm hoping you can improve on his design.

I did consider the NS Cello when buying mine, but was put off by the lack of body. It missed reference points that are useful when learning to play. I do like the headstock on it, but my plan is a reverse version of the Sporkbasster One headstock. Gets the tuner pegs away from my head while looking suitably unsettling to traditionalists.

Sporkcello 1 will have a full acoustic body and no electrics, but the body won't be quite traditional.

They plan is to start design now, get all the basic dimensions and geometry down and then fit the body into and around that.

Comments and suggestions most welcome as I go along - I've never but an acoustic or a hollow guitar so there'll be a lot to learn, and probably quite a few tools to make.

Rabs

How interesting and very cool 

Even just planning something like this is impressive....

ThePrettyDamned

Subscribed! 

Don't forget to add a synth pickup

Sporky

ThePrettyDamned said:

Subscribed! 

Don't forget to add a synth pickup

I can't even work a looper at the same time as playing cello!

It probably wouldn't be tricky to add a piezo pickup and capsule mic.

Funkfingers

Since you are not averse to "borrowing" unconventional ideas, why not ditch the tailpiece? Anchor your strings through the soundboard in the style of Falbo Guitars.

Sporky

Interesting idea - I'll have a more detailed look into that. Might affec thte geometry a bit too much - the string angle is meant to be the same at the front and back of the bridge (though I don't yet know if that's just tradition or if it matters more than that).

DartmoorHedgehog

Sporky said:

the string angle is meant to be the same at the front and back of the bridge (though I don't yet know if that's just tradition or if it matters more than that).

In my fairly limited violin experience (i.e. restringing daughter's violin a few times and about to start building a solid-bodied one) I'd say the bridge will want to fall over if the angles aren't equal from both sides, unless you use a fixed bridge, guitar style.  You can compensate for a very small difference by leaning the bridge, but not much.

olafgarten

Stick a Floyd on it, divebombing a Cello must sound awesome. 

Sporky

How do you plan on the floyd operating, given that I'll have a bow in my hand?

paulnb57

Sporky said:

How do you plan on the floyd operating, given that I'll have a bow in my hand?

You have feet?

digitalscream

paulnb57 said:

Sporky said:

How do you plan on the floyd operating, given that I'll have a bow in my hand?

You have feet?

Winner.