
Crossbow Electric Cello
Product design / Luthierie

The Crossbow Electric Cello is a design exercise created
for an intermediate design degree thesis project. The purpose
was to create an object that could be easily produced by a simple
industrial process.

The entire structure of the cello is constructed from a single thickness of wood. By cutting
standard 12" x 3/4" cedar planks on a CNC router, and then gluing them together, the body
can then be carved to its final shape. This greatly increases the production yield. A rear pocket
was routed for a piezo-electric pickup system, powered by a small pre-amplifier.


The playing position replicates that of an acoustic cello. All the contact points
with the body (knees, chest) have been carefully measured and imitated.
This makes the adaptation from an acoustic instrument seamless for classically
trained musicians, still increasing the portability.

Instead of common magnetic amplification techniques, the Crossbow
utilizes a carefully crafted piezo-electric pickup. This pickup is located
under the bridge for maximum vibration transfer, and gives the cello a very
natural, acoustic sound, perfect for classical music.
