Jordan Ariel 6-String Electric Cello, Quilted Maple with RMC Electronics

Possibly the finest handcrafted and most versatile electric cello ever produced, this Jordan Ariel 6-string features added top and bottom range, plus a highly advanced RMC pickup bridge and preamp system, with analog and 13-Pin MIDI output.

First things first, the cello itself. John Jordan is regarded as the electric violin world's preeminent master luthier. His electric violins have been highly sought after for decades. While he has made far fewer cellos, his cello design is every bit as thoughtful and well-conceived as his violin that brought him accolades.

The cello features a frame that has all of the important physical references, and nothing more. The neck has a traditional heel and there is an upper bout, fuller on the right side for leaning into with your body and abbreviated on the left side, with just enough for your hand to glide over top of into thumb positions. The swooping shape outlined by the upper bouts continues on the other side of the cello, making a C-bout outrigger that's in the perfect place for your left knee, while a separate, complimentary outrigger on the other side fits your right knee. The cello uses a traditional retractable endpin, allowing you to set the height to your playing preference, and to turn and rock the cello freely while playing.

The sum of the design is far greater than its parts. Seen head-on, it just looks musical on its own, resembling a treble clef, or perhaps a quarter rest. From the side, the engineering behind the Ariel cello design becomes apparent, as it takes on the appearance of the frame of a wooden ship's hull. While the design is minimalist, there is still plenty of real estate to showcase the wonderfully figured quilted maple which adorns the front-facing portions of the cello's top and frame.

Pickup & Electronics

As beautiful as the Ariel cello looks, its technology is where the rubber meets the road. It features RMC electronics, designed by another visionary of the electric bowed strings world, Richard McClish. McClish was a co-founder of the original ZETA Music Systems, and was responsible for bringing smooth tone and MIDI output to electric violins for the first time, amidst the backdrop of the synth music revolution of the late 70's and early 80's. He later founded RMC Pickups, bringing his concepts to the guitar world, while still creating for bowed strings.

This Jordan Ariel sports an RMC Pizz/Arco cello pickup. The RMC pickup has per-string piezo sensors, which are both split for polyphonic output via the 13-pin MIDI output, or summed for analog signal via the 1/4" output. As the name suggests, it is optimized for great tone and output whether plucking or bowing.

The RMC pickup runs through an onboard RMC Poly-Drive IV active preamp. The Poly-Drive IV is a 6 channel polyphonic preamp with 3-band equalizer and cello/synth controls.

The Polyphonic section of the preamp buffers the separate string signals and routes them separately to the POLY OUT jack. The separate string signals are also combined in the 'DMX' feedback elimination circuit which produces a mono instrument signal. The mono signal is then equalized, passed through the INSTR. VOLUME control, buffered with a low output impedance Line Driver and fed to both the MONO OUT and the POLY OUT jacks.

• External to instrument for best acoustic performance
• Sturdy metal case for reliability on stage and in the studio
• 3-Band EQ with Mid-Frequency Select switch
• 'DMX' Acoustic Feedback elimination circuitry
• Synth Volume and SW1 & SW2 Synth Mode Selectors
• Excellent synth tracking and dynamic response
• Compatible with all current Guitar to MIDI converters (e.g. Roland GR-55, BOSS GM-800)
• Two output jacks: 13-pin DIN and 1/4" phone
• Works on single internal 9V battery or phantom power
• Studio Quality performance 90 dB S/N typical

Features

• Quilted Maple with Light Brown tinted gloss finish
• Gold hardware
• Ebony bridge
• Custom made 'whale tail' tailpiece with 6 fine tuners
• Custom split 3x3 string tailpiece design
• Strings: Super-Sensitive Sensicore F/C/G, Jargar Classic D/A, Red Label E
• Roland 13-pin MIDI cable included
• Black fiberglass cello case included
• Ships in a custom-built plywood crate

Due to the size and weight of the shipping crate, this item does not qualify for free shipping.

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We want you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase. Items can be returned or exchanged within 30 days of delivery.