Best electric cellos according to redditors

This is the one I bought.

Cecilio 4/4 CECO-4DW Mahogany Metallic Electric Cello with Ebony Fittings in Style 4 (Full Size) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051HNIE2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VSZMybFTCJPF6

Here are the adjustments I made though to get it to playability. Also, they are hit or miss when it comes to quality from what I have seen

1. new bow. Went carbon fiber
   
2. new strings. I used Prelude by D'Addario
   
3. I had to file/round down the top nut. The edge was so sharp, it was breaking the coiling on the strings
   
4. get good rosin. The stuff that comes with it is crap. I am currently using Jade L'Opera rosin
   
   Having had it for a while now, it was totally worth the money. I get compliments on its sound all the time. It holds its tuning quite well for extended periods of time. I HATE the soft case is come with, but have found no alternatives so far.

You could go for something like this:
(http://www.amazon.com/Cecilio-CECO-4BK-Metallic-Electric-Fittings/dp/B0051HNHES)
Per the Questions and Answers on that page, the 'arms' fold in to make it more compact.

Amazon has some cheap electric cellos for around $300-400.
Something like this:
Cecilio Electric
I bought one, replaced the strings (another $80) and it plays fine. Perfect for a starter. If that won't work, maybe have a talk with a elementary/Junior/High school director and try to work something out?

In the under $500 range, you will be unable to purchase a quality electric cello. If it is just for practice and you're planning to perform with a traditional cello, that would be a great choice! But, if you're planning to perform with it, it is important to go with a higher cost, getting a better instrument.

This one looks like a reasonable option for your price range: https://www.amazon.com/Cecilio-CECO-1BK-Metallic-Electric-Fittings/dp/B007ESVCR6/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1503664029&sr=1-2&keywords=electric+cello

I had a Cecilio cello for a short period when I first started. It was really bad but fine for the beginning. I don't know the quality of their electric cellos, though.

Rent. Don't buy. If you need to buy, think if you can consider electric. You can find some cheap electric cellos around. I ended up getting one so I could practice at night without waking my family (particularly the children). I ended up getting this one, and after a few trips to the luthier to fix certain things up (bridge was too tall, and the fingerboard needed to be planed), and getting a new bow and set of strings, it gets a very decent sound and does exactly what I need it to for nighttime practice with headphones. Note that in all, this option did end up costing me about $450 with taxes, shipping and extra work, plus the fact that the bow I'm using is a $300 bow I'd already had for my other cello, and that I'm using a $100 guitar amp I'd already had.

I don't think under $300 is really a point where you can get an acceptable sound (especially with an acoustic cello), but if you're only using it for home practice, and can get by using a school cello while at school events, your options with electric instruments are going to be better at a lower price point than with acoustics. You could probably get by pretty well if you up your expectations from $300 to $500-ish with work and other parts.

I'd recommend still renting if you can get away with it. My school when I was going had a rental program that was $50 for the school year, and a $20 summer rental. That's going to be less than you'd spend on that $300 cello for your entire tenure at high school, and will be likely much better quality. If you get a cheap crappy cello, you'll likely have to get a better cello at around that timeframe anyway. Seriously, rent if you can. You'll spend less money, have a better experience, and you'll have the option to spend a little more for a better rental, rather than having to invest a whole lot more to buy a better cello later. By the time you'd want to buy your own instrument, you'll probably have to buy a better instrument if you buy now regardless. Always rent. Only buy if you absolutely need to or if you've already planned it out seriously and are going to drop a lot of money on an instrument that will last you at least decades.

Sure! Admittedly the equipment I'm using is all cheap quality, but I figure I can replace components over time as I get better at playing cello. Right now I'd just like to know the cause of the hissing or how I can easily filter it out.

I'm using this Chinese brand cello ("kinglos")

I can't find any information on the built-in pre-amp, but this is it

It leads into this Neewer noise gate

Into this Kustom KXB1 6 inch 10-Watt amp

Then my recording is done with this Nady SP-4C Dynamic Neodymium Microphone

Plugged into this IRig 2 interface

Which leads to my Google Pixel XL Android phone

All of it is connected with these cables

the setup looks kind of like this

And here's a quick audio sample (please excuse the horrible playing, I haven't been at this very long)