Electric Violin versus Traditional Wood

Trad Strings
1

I own a 3/4 size violin(? it is one step down from an adult size), but I am 28-years-old, and for obvious reasons, I would like a full sized! However, I am very budget tight, like all of us, I’m sure! But I would like to pick up my fiddle again, and practice. Space issues, a room-mate, rude neighbors, and noise are a very big problem for me. In a few words: NOISE control is something I am looking for. Despite mutes, I’ve drawn complaints from renewing practice.

I want to play again, and I would like to know if anyone owns an electric violin, and could perhaps tell me the pros and cons of playing on one, versus a traditional wooden one. In this particular scenario, if I were to purchase one, it would be to plug into an amplifier to use headphones for privacy. The music shops are running Electric Violins in the $400+ price range, and that is way out of my budget. So I have turned to the internet, particularly amazon.com. I am aware that buying any instrument off the internet is a terrible idea, you do not know where it came from, or what condition it will arrive in, or if it will need work done to make it playable, however, I am interested in getting an Electric for the reasons stated above.

Please tell me your personal experiences, or those you have known, who play Electric Violin. Is it suitable for headphone use? Is this simply an impractical solution? Thanks in advance for any opinions you have on the matter!

2

Hi and welcome to the forum!

I have played three electrics and seen a fourth.

The first I one I owned for a couple of years. It was a Silver Creek electric. It was basically a moderately good fiddle with a Barcus Barry piezo bridge and a built in volume control. It sounds like a proper fiddle acoustically and electrically. I sold mine last year to a fellow in another local Irish band. He still plays it. It sells for under $400. Downside, for you, it is an acoustic violin, so there’s no silent practice mode. But it sounds like a fiddle because it is one.

My partner bought an Austin Bazaar electric. It sounds nothing like a traditional fiddle plugged in, but is nearly silent for practicing. You can plug it into a headphone amp, close the bedroom door, and no one will complain. It’s only about $80 or $90, and isn’t the best built thing I’ve ever seen, but for the money it gets the job done if you want to practice. Neither of us would allow the thing on stage because the amplified sound is just not it. That’s just our oppinion though. Others like the sound, and that’s cool too.

A friend in another group plays a Fender FV-1. It is more of a semi-hollow body violin. It makes a bit more sound unplugged, but sounds very nice plugged in. I think they go for around $500, but they are a really nice compromise, IMO. Not too loud for practice (you don’t need headphones), but have a superior amplified tone.

If you’re really after a silent violin, you might check out the Bellafina SSE soid body. I haven’t played one, but they look really good. It’s very similar to the Austin Bazaar but much better quality. I think they go for around $300 - $400. I’m interested in them because they look like a better version of the Austin.

Of course, there are electric violins out there that are top of the line stuff, like the Yamaha Silent Violins, but they are a lot more money.

If you’re ultra strapped for cash, the Austin would probably be OK. My partner has had his for a couple of years and it hasn’t fallen apart yet, but it stays at home for practice only.

But remember that if you practice on a 4/4 and play on a 3/4, you might have problems. The Fender is at least something you could practice with and perform on as well. The Bellafina might be good for that too.

3

Sorry for not getting back sooner!

I got the opportunity at a music store to try out an electric 4/4. Not entirely silent, not LOUD at all though, I loved it, and it was about 1,000 dollars, haha. Trying a violin one step up in size was a bit of a difference, I knew the pitch placement would change, but did not realize that the f-holes are also further away from my face while playing on a full size. That could be the violin itself though.

I’ve decided to be content with what I have, and save up for something worthwhile.

4

There’s a lot you can do to soup up a mute. Adding mass (a heavier mute, ie, metal instead of rubber) will make your fiddle quieter, as will folding something like a tea-towel to the width of the space 'twixt bridge and fingerboard, tucking it through under the strings and letting the ends hang down. If what you want the equivalent of a stick with strings (ie, no soundboard or body to amplify the sound) you could probably find the right piece of cloth to get you there without harming your violin.

5

I use a heavy mute (aka a “practice mute”) and keep the room door closed. Someone is in a room down the hall sleeping and I’ve never woken them up with this setup.

I suggest getting a standard size, regular fiddle that you can play without an amp, and use the heavy mute. Or at least try a heavy mute for your size of instrument. A lot of fun is lost when you have to carry an amp around and rely on electricity.

6

Well, one advantage of the solid body or even bodiless violin is that they are what they are from the start. If you have $1000 you can sort through a bunch of acoustic fiddles and hope to find one you really like. But with an electric you just have to pick a make and model, since they’re all nearly identical when they come off the assembly line. They’re really all about the electronics. You just find one you like and then order it through the Internet. You can still mess around with strings and bows and amplifiers to modify the tone and playability, but as long as it’s not defective it will will be whatever it is. Getting an electric violin is more like buying a new TV than shopping for a musical instrument.

A doubious advantage to be sure, but an advantage of sorts.

7

If you’re seriously looking at an electric, I’d mosey over to fiddleforum.com and check out their electric violin forum. They also have some reviews of various electrics. I have a Zeta Educator (modern body) series that’s about 9 years old. I really like it for practicing quietly in the dorm, but it’s certainly no replacement for my acoustic (which is not a terribly great one). Electronics make one of the largest differences in electric violins, but don’t discount the shape of the body. Mine feels more like an acoustic when I’m holding it whereas some of the ones out there are quite a different beast. Spend some time looking around to see what your options are. there’s some pretty good ones out there for less than $500. Oh, and using different effects pedals with an electric is a massive amount of fun!!