The electric cello is a bowed stringed instrument, member of the violin family. To produce its sound it depends on electronic amplification instead of relying on acoustic resonance and that’s the reason why many of them have little or no body shape.

The advantage of the electric cello is that it can produce a wider range of sounds and effects, like an electric guitar, but this is also the disadvantage since the sound is less organic and rich than a traditional violoncello.

You can make your own electric cello.

Check out this Argentine Indie Rock band, Contramano, lead by Pablo Cubarle who uses an electric cello.