Cello Sizes
Cellos come in several different sizes and are categorized into two main types: European and Suzuki. The European styles have more subtle changes to allow for a growing child to play comfortably at all stages. In general, if you are over 5 feet tall you should use a standard-sized cello. Consulting a sizing chart will help you to find a cello that fits based on your age and height; however, in the end, there are several factors that go into choosing a cello -- the length of your arms will make a difference, as will the size of your torso.
Carbon Cellos
Carbon cellos cost less than standard wooden cellos, and have many additional benefits; besides their sleek, modern look, carbon instruments do not have the same sensitivity to temperature changes. Made completely out of carbon-based materials -- the same material used on parts of the space shuttle -- they are lighter than wooden cellos and much more resilient to damage; any cellist that has accidentally dropped her instrument knows the devastating amount of damage that such a fall can cause. Carbon cellos come in the standard sizes of traditional wooden cellos.
Electric Cellos
Some electric cellos -- called "called semi-acoustic" -- use a combination of electric and acoustic methods of producing sound, while others are completely electric. A standard (acoustic) cello has a chamber that allows the sound to resonate and, therefore, does not need to be amplified; it can produce plenty of sound on its own. Electric cellos require an amplifier to process the vibrations and make them loud enough to be heard by the audience; semi-acoustic cellos have a small chamber that allows the sound to resonate before being picked up by an electric pickup, which then acts as a converter that takes the vibrations and processes them into audible sounds.
Wooden Cellos
Traditional cellos are made out of wood. The top part of the cello is generally made of a softer wood which helps to mellow the instrument's tone. Spruce is often used for the top of the cello, and a harder wood -- such as maple, willow or even poplar -- to construct the backs and ribs of the cello. The neck of the cello is also usually made of maple.
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