The electric cello is a type of cello that uses electronic amplification instead of natural sound from its body to produce music. An acoustic cello can have a bridge or body-mounted contact pickup that sends an electric signal, or a built-in pickup can be added. Some pickups use different methods, such as magnetic coils that require steel strings, or systems that use the string itself as a sensor, avoiding changes to the cello’s sound-producing parts.

Many electric cellos have bodies shaped like acoustic cellos, but others have completely different designs or no body at all. Most electric cellos have a traditional endpin and knee supports, but some use other methods, like an extended pin for standing, a tripod stand, or a strap that allows the musician to move freely. The main difference between electric and acoustic cellos is that acoustic cellos rely on a hollow body to create sound, while electric cellos use electronic amplification and often have no hollow body.

Most electric cellos use a piezo pickup system placed in the bridge to capture sound. Many also have a built-in preamp that lets the musician adjust the sound. The number of piezo elements used can vary from one to eight. Electric cellos have several advantages over acoustic cellos. They can create special sound effects like distortion, wah, and chorus, similar to electric guitars, basses, and violins. They also come in five-string and six-string models, which are not usually available on acoustic cellos. Electric cellos without a body are easier to play in high positions, and they are less likely to produce feedback when amplified compared to acoustic cellos.

The electric cello has not yet become as common as the electric guitar or the electric violin.