Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello forum!

I'm currently working on my second electric bass build and planing my third build. For a third build I essentially want to make a fret-less electric cello guitar. I plan on making the head stock the way a violin bass (or electric bass) would have it, C-shaped neck profile, Katalox unlined fret-board radius to 7.25", 5 -string, single pickup (closer to the neck), Gibson ES style-"ish" body (semi-hollow), adjustable height bridge, tailpiece, and of course f-holes.

From my research so far I've been able to determine that I want the "high" 5 string tuning C2, G2, D3, A3, and E4. Also, it seems most 4/4 cello's have a 27.5" scale length.

Where I need some help is determining what gauge of strings to use. It seems obvious bass strings are too big for this scale length and 6-string guitar string too thin. This would be considered a baritone instrument right? What would you, as the experts, say would be a good place to start?

Thank you all in advance!

Why not add double strings and call it a mandocello?

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Like most artists/craftsman I actually have a bucket list. I have a 10 string acoustic cittern I'll eventually get too. Also, I want this cello-guitar to able to be played with finger style like a bass.

I would contact Fan Tao at D'Addario. He is director of research, a violin and cello player and gave a wonderful seminar at the 2008 GAL conference about selecting strings for somewhat odd ball instruments. As I recall, he invited luthiers to contact them before starting a project like this. If you search for his name you will find contact information

If you plan on bowing it, you will want to design in a significant curvature to the top and probably have the bridge pretty high as well. Also I think cello fretboard geometry is pretty complex if you're trying to do it the traditional way, the radiused side is quite a bit shallower than 7.25".

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