Electric Violins
The violin is perhaps the hardest instrument to amplify. Ideal microphone placement for good acoustic violin tone is about 3 feet above the E string, and towards your audience. Trouble is, put a mic there in concert, and they won't hear you above the background noise! Move the mic close enough to isolate you from the other musicians, and they hear the crunch of the bow, in addition to you not being able to move around as you play. As the amplified volume gets louder, that wonderfully responsive violin body you love so well causes feedback. Solution - electric violins! Here's a whole page to learn more.
SOLID BODY ELECTRIC VIOLINS
Once you let an amplifier handle the task of making your violin sound loud enough, the shape of the electric violin's body is more up to the creativity of the maker. You have many choices, from a traditional violin shape made of natural wood, to electric violins in colorful, sleek modern shapes. You can even get one set up left handed.
Ted Brewer Vivo²
Ted Brewer Electric Violins
Ted Brewer has been on the edge of innovation in electric violin design in the United Kingdom. He has designed wild electric violins crafted of clear acrylics and translucent polymers for years. He's well-known for his custom-built Crossbow electric violins, carved from block acrylic and played by Vanessa Mae, among others.
The radical, cutting-edge shape of the Vivo², with its cool colors and sound-sensitive LEDs, redefines style for electric violins, giving the player an electric violin with built-in stage presence. Now you can get one from us and not have to wait for a custom order to be completed.
We're the first in the US to carry the Vivo². Check out all of our Ted Brewer electric violins!
Jordan Five-String "Golden Pearl"
Jordan Electric Violins
The Jordan electric violin is the ultimate in lightweight, ergonomic comfort and sleek modern shape. There is no peghead - smooth geared tuners behind the bridge offer both coarse and fine tuning. The necessary heel shape of the neck is retained so you can find your way when shifting. Shoulder pad is permanently attached. Jordan electric violins usually come with a Barbera or Ashworth bridge, for strong output signal and authentic violin tone.
In addition to the Jordan electric violins we have in stock, we can also order one custom-made for you. View the beautiful wood options that are available, then call us to discuss number of strings, the perfect choice of bridge for your style of playing, and other custom options for your personalized electric violin, such as a detachable upper bout.
NS Design Electric Violin
NS Design Electric Violins
Founded by instrument designer Ned Steinberger, NS Design applies innovative instrument ideas to all the bowed strings.
NS Design electric violins have been the favorite of Laurie Anderson for years. They look futuristic, yet they feel quite normal and are comfortable to play. The shoulder pad is quite adjustable. The upper bout substitute feels much more realistic than the little rods other makers use, and is removable for lightning fast shifts up and down the neck. The gorgeous flamed maple top nods in the direction of the traditional, as does the tone, which is surprisingly authentic.
The flexibility of the Steinberger pickup system allows you to select a pizzicato sound, a warm bowed sound, or a blend of both. The treble and bass controls further modify your sound. Both the four string and the five string NS Violin now have a headphone jack - for "silent" practice!
We stock the entire line of NS Design instruments, including four and five string electric violins; electric violas; four, five, and six string electric cellos; the radical BassCello; and the electric upright basses.
Teal & Black Vector Prodigys
Vector Prodigy Electric Violins
Nicolas Tipney hand crafts each of his electric violins and violas in Nova Scotia. He uses fine solid curly maple and walnut and traditional violin construction methods. The Prodigy's simple, slender shape preserves all the contact points of an acoustic violin.
Amazingly light-weight (just one ounce heavier than an acoustic violin!), the Vector Prodigy electric violin, available in four or five-string models, have a surprisingly warm, natural tone. Priced just above the top-of-the-line Yamahas, you get a handmade instrument for an affordable price.
See our current selection of Vector Prodigy electric violins, or call us to ask about special-ordering a custom model!
Mark Wood Viper
Mark Wood Electric Violins
Not only is the Mark Wood Viper electric violin a wild "flying vee" shape, but you strap it on - talk about liberation from your shoulder pad! His unique chest support system gives the player a freedom of movement never before experienced by a violinist. Great for multi-instrumentalists and players who also sing! It also provides a comfortable solution for violinists that may have curtailed their playing due to neck injuries or other health concerns that limit their range of motion.
His other models are cool shapes too. The Sabre has the classic shape of a traditional electric guitar, scaled down to violin length. It feels surprisingly natural, and the cutaways make shifting into the upper positions easier.
If you're interested in special-ordering your own Wood Violins creation, check out their Gallery of Custom Finishes here, to get an idea of what's available. Then give us a call, and we'll talk about instrument shape, number of strings, and which bridge is right for your playing style.
The Wood Violins we have in stock are here.
Yamaha Electric Violins
The Yamaha SV-120K is a great entry into the world of Electric Violins. Tone is good for an electric violin, and the headphone jack and on-board reverb make practicing more fun! The bridge on the SV-120 "silent violin" as it comes from Yamaha has a non-standard curvature. It will NOT feel like the acoustic violin you now play. Here at Electric Violin Shop we do a complete shop set up so that it will feel right as soon as you open the case. You may find a cheaper price here on the Net, but we guarantee you won't find one that plays better! We recommend buying the Yamaha Silent Violin as an outfit, either with the olive green tweed Yamaha case or a more basic case we like (currently $659 for violin, bow and case).
The sound and construction of the Yamaha SV-200K "silent violin" improves on the SV-120, and allows you to use your own shoulder pad and to switch out the chinrest for comfort. EQ controls can take your tone from warm acoustic-like to more electric-sounding, like the EV Yamahas. The wood bridge also allows matching the curvature and string height of your acoustic violin, so you do not have to change your playing technique between acoustic to electric violins. This is the most acoustic-sounding electric violin in Yamaha's lineup, and it feels quite natural, too! The neck is especially well-shaped, quite similar to that of a good Italian violin.
Yamaha EV 204
We almost always have all of the Yamaha Silent and Electric violins in stock, as well as the Silent Viola and a good selection of Yamaha cellos in-stock.
Trans Green Maple Zeta Jazz Fusion
Zeta Electric Violins
After many years of ups and downs, the Zeta folks finally have a musician running the company. (I've been dealing with them since the mid-1980's and I am grateful for this change!) The whole Zeta line has been improved -- they are now lighter in weight, and the newer Zeta electric violins and violas hold your present shoulder pad more securely.
Solving the Riddle of Zeta Electric Violins
Yes, they make a bewildering array of models, and have changed line names often. Ignore designations like Performer, and first decide what sound you are after. Of their electric violin bridges, the Zeta Strados bridge and the Educator (or E-series) bridge both give you a natural violin tone. The Zeta Jazz bridge transmits less bow change percussiveness, but filters out some frequencies, for a smoother, more fusion-y tone, which made it more reliable for MIDI. Now that the MIDI controller is not available, this is not necessarily an advantage. If you absolutely *need* MIDI, check back with us, as we'll be ordering the Synthony II controllers again as soon as they're back in production. All bridges are height adjustable with a tiny Allen wrench. All Zeta electric violins have a conventional output for runing into an amp.
We typically have a good selection of Zeta electric violins in stock, but we may have sold something since the last time our website was updated, so please call to verify availability.
Also to consider in buying an electric violin:
- Do you need to feel the edge of the violin as you shift up the neck? Some models give you a removable upper bout emulator -- take it off for fast shifting without having to bring your left elbow under the violin. All the electric violins we sell have a neck with a heel -- without it your thumb gets lost above third position.
- Need a headphone jack?
- Want a volume knob on the instrument?
- Will you need strong output for high volume playing?
- Do you want to use your own shoulder pad?
- Traditional friction pegs, or geared tuners?
- Is heavier than an acoustic violin going to be OK?
- Do you want to sound acoustic?
- Will you use your present case and bow, or need new ones?
- Do you need a cable, effect box, or amp?
- How wild do you want to sound with special effects?
Electric Violin Shop General Information
As detailed as our site is, we typically have more instruments available, yet sometimes we are out of stock on a specific item. (We truly are a small shop - we'd rather talk to someone for 30 minutes about e-violins than take digital photos, etc. and add items to our database!) If you place an e-commerce order and there might be a delay in sending it, we'll call you to confirm.
And feel welcome to call us about your needs. If you don't have a nationwide calling plan, use our tollfree number 866-900-8400 and we'll pay for the call. Or visit our much larger Durham location, 10 minutes from RDU Airport and one mile from Interstate 40. Thanks for your interest!
Recording your violin, viola, cello, bass, keyboard or guitar, etc. into your home computer is finally within the reach of most people, technically and economically. Check out our new page for Mac and PC Recording.