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.jpgBut with a hefty dose of this:
http://www.kenparkerarchtops.com/Bubbles/BubblesFull1000.jpgAll informed by this (which just arrived):
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41DWS1N29SL.jpgBound to be some hilarious cock-ups along the way!
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It needs a Bigsby
or
a set of EMGs
You must be prepared for suggestions like that.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
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...
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
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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.
How interesting and very cool
Even just planning something like this is impressive....
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Don't forget to add a synth pickup
It probably wouldn't be tricky to add a piezo pickup and capsule mic.