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.
Bridge Aquila violin
Bridge Electric Violins
Originally hand-made in the UK, Bridge has streamlined its production, bringing the cost of their violins down dramatically. Their instruments are among the most elegantly-designed and beautiful electric violins on the market. Crafted from a Kevlar® and carbon-fiber composite, Aquila four-string and Lyra five-string electric violins are as durable as they are attractive. Tone is excellent, partly due to the design of Bridge's proprietary pickup system, and partly due to the acoustic resonance of a hollow body design. Partial upper bouts and a well-shaped neck give these instruments a very natural feel.
Ted Brewer Vivo²
Brewer Electric Violins
Ted Brewer has always 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.
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. This is their first production instrument -- now you can get one from us and not have to wait for a custom order to be completed.
EVL Slimline 5-string
Electric Violin Lutherie
Electric Violin Lutherie makes a solid, well-built instrument designed to be affordable for the average player. One of the best values in the intermediate to professional market, they make some of the most affordable five and six-string electric violins on the market. Their Classic model has a modern shape with all the traditional reference points of an acoustic violin, while the Slimline has a slimmer, more streamlined profile, with only the hint of a shelf on either side of the neck where the upper bout would normally be.
Jordan 4, Marbled Maple Burl
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, and the shoulder pad is permanently attached.
Jordan electric violins usually come with either a Barbera or Ashworth transducer bridge, for a 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.
Lacewood MSI violin
MSI Violins
For years, Dan Maloney was the lead luthier at Zeta Music, where he designed the Modern body, still one of their most popular shapes. Maloney Stringed Instruments has primarily done custom guitar work, but now Dan has started making a few violins, each marked by his meticulous craftsmanship, artistic vision, and attention to detail. We have several of his asymmetrical violins in-stock, in both four and five-string versions. These represent a great bargain for a single-maker instrument with this level of workmanship.
NS Design Electric Violin
NS Design Electric Violins
Founded by instrument designer Ned Steinberger, NS Design applies his innovative 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 realistic and is removable for lightning fast shifts. The 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 tone. Both the four string and the five string NS Violin 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.
Skyinbow violins
Skyinbow Electric Violins
Hand-made in Scotland, the Skyinbow S1 violin is a lightweight, attractive design, constructed of traditional tone woods. The flamed maple is on the top, and the spruce is on the back -- the opposite of a traditional acoustic violin. Its sound is much more brilliant in the upper registers than many other electric violins, yet the lower strings are still wonderfully rich and full. The tone in the treble range is not overly harsh or brittle, even 'though the Skyinbow is a little brighter than some other electrics. Skyinbows are great favorites with traditional players.
Available in four and five-string models, in painted opaque finishes and transparent colors that show off the figure of the maple.
Teal & Black Vector Prodigy
Vector Instruments
Nicolas Tipney hand crafts each of his instruments in Nova Scotia. He uses fine 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
Wood 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 violins
Yamaha Silent & Electric Violins
Yamaha offers a wide range of "silent" and electric violin options for players at differing levels, each designed with a specific purpose in mind. The entry-level (but still quite good!) SV-130 and the new, lightweight SV-150 both offer advantages to players mainly looking for a practice instrument. In particular, the SV-150 is much lighter than most other electrics, and its included controller gives you two dozen digital effects.
For the performing player, Yamaha offers the SV-200 if a natural acoustic tone is required at least part of the time (only available in a four-string model!). If you want a stronger output signal and don't mind a slightly electronic tone, the EV-204/205 offers a great option.
For the SV-130, 150, and 200, Electric Violin Shop's complete complete shop includes shaping the bridge to ensure that it's curvature matches an acoustic violins as much as possible, 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!
For a thorough breakdown of Yamaha's model offerings, check here. For the violinist, we've also down a Yamaha Violins showdown, here, to give you a better idea how each of their instruments stack up again each other.
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.
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.