10 Best Electric Violins

Violins are considered to be a stoic and formal instrument used for classical and elaborately formal compositions, but the electric violin challenges this viewpoint with its use in modern music such as pop, rock, hip hop, punk and more. Surprisingly the first electric violin was created nearly ninety years ago in the 1930s by a company called  Electro Stringed Instrument Corporation and its founder George Beauchamp. Do not think however that because it is an electric violin that it cannot play classical music as well as modern genres. The electric violin can be played with almost every genre imaginable. A few examples of songs with electric violin in them are "Running Dry" by Neil Young; "Baba O’Riley" by The Who; "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas and "Losing It" by Rush.

We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting an electric violin. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of electric violin,

• See useful tips about what type of electric violin,

• Select the right brand of electric violin,

• Find accessories you may need for your electric violin.

Types of Electric Violin:

• Headphone Practice Violin:

  • Headphone practice violins are any violin that has a headphone jack input that allows you to connect your headphones to it.

  • You do not necessarily need a headphone practice violin to connect your headphones to your violin but if you want to connect to a violin that is not a headphone practice you would need an amplifier or a pedal machine with a headphone jack input.

• Performance Violins:

  • Performance violins are any violins that can be used for performance or recording purposes.

  • The higher the level of quality needed for the performance or recording, means the higher quality of sound needed and professionals suggest that you should consider purchasing electric violins with a metal body if you wish to only create sound when plugged in and wood bodies if you wish to play audibly when not plugged in.

• Acoustic-Electric Violins:

  • Acoustic-electric violins are good for any acoustic genres that an electric violin is needed for.

  • It is suggested however that if you are performing with a full band and need amplifying, that you purchase a full body violin as acoustic-electric violins have feedback problems in those kinds of settings.

• Fretted Violins:

  • A fretted violin simply refers to an electric violin that has frets for easy guidance when playing chords or notes.

• MIDI & Notation Violins:

  • This is an electric violin that has a MIDI input for pedals or other sound altering equipment to change and improve your music, or to even transcribe your music depending on what device you use.

Items that Can be Used with Your Product (100):

• Electric Violin Case:

  • This is a specially designed case to store your violin in and transport it and any accessories safely.

• Electric Violin Bag:

  • This is a specially designed bag to store your violin in and transport it that is not as heavy as a violin case but it is softer and can’t prevent damage from rough handling.

• Electric Violin Bow:

  • A violin bow is used to play melodies on the violin by dragging it across the strings whilst pressing down on certain notes.

• Chin Rests:

  • The chin rest is where the violinists rest their chin when playing the violin and holding it in the proper position.

• Pedals:

  • Pedals are machines that one can plug into an amplifier that the violin is plugged into to add certain effects such as reverb, distortion and many others.

• Rosin:

  • Rosin comes is blocks and can be rubbed on the strings of the violin or on the bow to increase grip and by doing so increasing vibration and providing a better tone.

• Shoulder Rests:

  • Shoulder rests are attached to the back of the lower bout and are used to make playing more comfortable as it allows you to rest the violin on your shoulder.

• Electric Violin Stand:

  • This is a specially designed stand for you to place your violin on when you are not playing or when you don't need to place it in a case.

• Electric Violin Strings:

  • After a lot of playing, strings tend to break and it is therefore wise to purchase and keep spare strings handy for any emergencies.

• Electric Violin Tailpieces:

  • Different tailpieces can be purchased for different decorative properties.

• Electric Violin Tuning Pegs:

  • Violin tuning pegs can be purchased for a different aesthetic or in case one peg breaks.

• Electric Violin Bridge:

  • Different violin bridges can be bought for different tones and sounds.

• Violin Polish:

  • This is a special polish for the wood of the violin that strengthens the wood as well as keep is clean and shiny for performances.

• Polishing Cloth:

  • This is a cloth that you use to keep your violin clean and pristine with no smudges or dust on it.

• Violin Tuner:

  • This is a small device that you clip to your violin and use to help you tune your strings to the appropriate pitch

• Violin Mute:

  • The purpose of a violin mute is to dampen the sound of the violin and can be attached to the bridge of the violin.

• Instrument Cables:

  • This is a cable that you use to connect your violin to your amplifier and get more volume.

• Amplifier:

  • This is a type of speaker that you plug instruments into amplifying their volume and in some cases change the treble and bass elements of the instrument.

Tips for Consumers:

• Tonewoods & Materials:

  • It is important to test out different materials to see which sound you like the best.

  • Maple:

• • Spruce:

• • Acrylic:

• • Carbon Fibre:

• • Kevlar:

• • Glass:

• Type of Pickup:

  • Magnetic Pickups:

    • Magnetic pickups require the violin to have strings that contain iron or steel in order to pick up the vibration.

    • Few violins use this type of pickup.

• • Piezoelectric Pickups:

    • Piezoelectric pickups are more commonly used in electric violins and come in the shapes of ceramic disks, cylinders or a plastic film.

    • Electric violins can have up to 4 pickups, one under each string.

• • Electrodynamic Pickups:

    • Electrodynamic pickups can only be plugged into a high impedance amplifier setting or into a powered preamp, or else it reacts to the microphones own signals or has a low output.

Different Brands of Electric Violin:

• Cecilio:

  • Cecilio is a manufacturer of a wide array of instruments including the electric violin. Cecilio aims to inspire musical talent through quality and talent. They are currently located in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

• NS Design:

  • NS Design was founded in 1990 by famed instrument designer Ned Steinberger. NS Design instruments are designed with a different sound than their acoustic counterparts in mind. NS Design headquarters are currently located in Nobleboro, Maine.

• Stagg:

  • Developed in 1995 in Belgium produces a wide array of instruments from guitars to tubas to drums. They aim to provide people with inspiration for a lifelong journey of music. They currently have headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

• Cremona:

  • Cremona violins are made by a company known as GCV Violins that was founded in 1989 and is internationally recognized as a respected manufacturer of violins of superior quality. They currently offer a wide range of violins from beginner to professional as well as a variety of bows. GCV Violins headquarters can be found in  Guangzhou, China.