Aliyes Handmade Professional Solid Wood Electric Cello 4/4 Full Size Silent Electric Cello-Blue Flowers

Update 8 22 2023Crazy .... this update is coming exactly one year after my prior update.I experienced a dead G string (don't ya hate it when you're G string goes dead?). I changed strings a few times but nothing improved. I figured the on-board pre-amp was no longer working as it should for the G string.I decided to approach it like a hot rod. Take this inexpensive and unassuming instrument and "trick" it up.I bought a Fishman Platinum pre-amp and a simple Fishman bridge pick-up (fits into the bridge itself - no need to dig into the body of the instrument).Then, I took another pre-amp from my electric bass. It is a $70 practice pre-amp that has aux-in and headphones so you can hear it like a true amp but it's all in the headphones.I put it all together and essentially by-passed the entire Aliyes electronic system. I cannot tell you how much fun I've had playing this thing. And, this system is all modular so if one part fails, I can easily just fit in a new part.Of course, you need to have a decent bow and strings.Update 8 22 2022After flying back from Hawai'i, the aux-in of the preamp didn't work. Admittedly, the airline handled the unit roughtly (three nicks in the side).EASY FIX ---- If you have a preamp problem, just purchase a guitar headphone amp that has an aux-in and you can by-pass the entire Aliyes system. In fact, I should have done this as soon as I got this unit because the headphone amp is 50 times better sounding than Aliyes. __________________________________________I was looking for a silent practice cello so I could begin to learn the instrument.I did a LOT of shopping before I bought this Aliyes and I'm glad I chose this electric cello because it is much better than I expected. I've had it for a year and it's enabled me to practice for hours and hours without major annoyances or construction issues.The bow was playable but also warped which was no big deal because I have a bow. I upgraded the strings but I wasn't all that annoyed with the factory strings.After two months, the plastic (black) "bumper" on the right side of the cello would not stay tightened. I discovered that the screw portal in the main unit was turning while I was screwing in the mounting screw which means it would not tighten. I drilled both ports out and replaced them with machine screws and that has held for the past eight months.After 10 months, there was an awful rattle in the G string and sometimes the C string. It took a week to discover that the end pin was vibrating against the mount. I put a piece of tape around that part of the tail piece and it solved the problem.For $500, you can't expect perfection but this is really a nice unit and if I needed to replace it, I would definietely buy another.It's not anything like a quality accoustic, but it is definitely worth the money.