Your cart is empty.
Your cart is empty.A combination of tremendous sound coupled with amazing response. This pickup is truly one of a kind. The new C-12 Std. model cello pickup is now available. It offers the same brilliance and clarity of sound as the original Schatten C-10 unit but requires absolutely no modification to your instrument. The piezo sensing unit is quite small and light in weight. It measures just about 1/2" x 5/8" x 1/8" thick. It goes on to your cello bridge with a little bit of the special putty that comes supplied with the pickup. The pickup system can be installed on your cello in about 3 minutes and was designed to allow you to install and remove it quickly and easily. There is no acoustic degradation or loss of normal acoustic tone or volume. The pickup has excellent volume, and is strong and sweet throughout its' full dynamic range. The C-12 comes ready to go and is pre-wired to the new rosewood faced jack assembly that clamps quickly and securely between the center strings just above the tail piece. This pickup has been designed to operate properly and sound terrific without the use of a preamp when plugged into any 'normal' amp (guitar amp, bass amp, etc.). If you require the added ability to be able to plug directly into a P.A. or mixer then you may wish to add one of the Schatten Preamp/DI units to your pickup system. Each pickup is hand built and tested in the Schatten workshop to ensure good sound. As well, each pickup is warranted for a period of two years from date of purchase.
Jonathan Gardner
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2022
I have owned this cello pickup for 6 years, and used it for recording and live performance. At the time, I considered buying the Realist, but my cello teacher advised me against a pickup that goes under the bridge, altering the cello's physiology and sound. That led me to the Schatten C-12.As advertised, installation is a breeze: the Schatten adheres to the bridge with some putty, and the 1/4" jack screws onto the end of the strings -- you can even use the screwdriver bit on your multi-tool. One tip: make sure the wire between the pickup and the jack isn't touching the body of the cello, which can cause buzzing. You can fold it out of the way or bunch it up with a hairband or rubber band.The pickup has reliably served me with gigging in bands, jamming rock and jazz music, and recording. It runs into guitar amps and bass amps, and records fine into Hi-Z inputs on audio interfaces. I'd recommend a bass amp that has a good mid and hi frequency response – one that's not too "dark" sounding. A keyboard amp works fine, too. The Schatten's signal level is usable, and has low noise.My main gripe with the Schatten is lackluster frequency response – there is little low or hi-end information. With all cello pickups, it's hard to expect it "sound like" a cello in a room – it's not a microphone. And lack of high frequencies is to be expected – even the Realist, a very popular cello pickup, is said to lack hi-end.But the non-present lows are my biggest issue. There's precious little information below 120hz. I use my cello as a bass for recording and playing, so the bottom end is my bread and butter. In fact, the low frequency response is so little that boosting the sound with EQ or amp simulators comes out unnatural and boomy in the wrong way.On the plus side, the direct recorded sound has an interesting, cartoonish, flattened character that I have found creatively generative at times. As a cello improviser and music producer, I've recorded good music with it – albeit, music that doesn't always sound like it came from a cello.After some fine years with the Schatten, I'm off to try a new pickup.
Hobby Works (R)
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2019
Work extensively with a cellist touring with pop/rock act. This pickup has been trouble free for years, including one complete makeover by a luthier. Placement per the instructions is very important. But have been pleased with the results. Much less sensitive to feedback than other types of cello pickups. For the person complaining about the "nasal" sound: use a preamp. Even those pickups claiming not to need a pre-amp can benefit from one. The basic Fishman Pro EQ works well to boost signal, allows you to shape the signal if needed, and is inexpensive.
Pete
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2016
Zero intrusive. Trully respects your cello. Much better than the costly Realist Pickup press who finally acts as a mute. And much better than other expensive pickups that forces you to move the bridge's feet in order to install the transductor below it, and so on, altering the delicate balanceyou fight to achieve in your cello. This will never happen with the Schatten Pickup. The putty that adheres tight and secure the transductor to the bridge leg does not leave any trace or remnant at all. And the sound is heavenly clear,full bodied and rich. If you are mainly the acoustic serious classical type of cellist, that occasionally needs to work with a pickup, but does not wishes to alter your cello in any way in order to install a pickup (just two minutes installation) this is your pickup. End of search!
Kiersten Fage
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2014
The pick up works really well by itself and even better with a pre-amp! This pickup stands up really well against other amplified instruments and is easily EQ-ed to whatever pleases the player! It does lose some of the acoustic quality of the instrument, sounding more like an electric cello than an acoustic, however with some good technique it gains its own timbrel quality that is just as pleasing. As both a classical and contemporary Cellist I need to be able to easily install and remove the pick up, the easily adjustable screws on the jack and the stick on pickup make this incredibly easy and it can be done in a matter of minutes. I would reccomend this pickup to anyone trying to amplify their cello in a cheap and effective way!
Simone
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2014
The sound is very realistic, excellent product quality, very easy to install on the instrument without having to disassemble anything. Great value for money.
Daniel Tsukamoto
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2011
I totally give credit to whoever had this pickup in product and sent me sooner than the projected date. I am very happy with that business. I had to experiment in several creative ways to plug my full-size cello into my church's PA system and still get the nice and crisp sound. Luckily my church has some choir microphones, which can easily pickup my cello from my small hotbox. The instruction was pretty easy to follow. I wish the package came with a cord as an option. Otherwise, I am happy with the connection between my cello and my church's PA system.
Debbie B
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2011
My son wanted an electric cello well he already has a cello and bass, so the answer was no, So he found this on the internet and asked for it for Christmas. He loves it, sounds great, well worth the money.
Recommended Products
