Electric Violin For Beginners

Guide To Buying An Electric Violin For Beginners

Electric violins have nothing to do with acoustic violins. They have different shapes and sounds and are used to play different types of music. That’s why, when you buy it, you should be very clear: an electric violin will always sound like an electric violin. Don’t try to make it sound like a Stradivarius played in a cathedral.

When you want to buy your first electric violin, the first questions about this very specific type of violin appear. An electric violin is still a violin, but how it works can be a real mystery to beginners and novices. This guide on how to buy an electric violin was developed after numerous meetings with professional and student violinists during major international events such as the NAMM Show and the Musikmesse. These meetings led us to discuss with renowned violinists and students from the Juilliard and Berkley schools.

First of all, keep in mind that the important points when choosing a classical violin should also be taken into account when buying an electric violin. However, new parameters such as bridge type (pickup/sensor), number of strings, etc. must also be analyzed and compared.

All these elements have been included in this buying guide, which will guide your choice through 5 key questions. They will guide you in choosing an electric violin:

What’s Your Budget?

This is probably the most important question as you won’t have access to all kinds of electric violins depending on your budget. We get a lot of comparison questions, and in particular questions about low-end electric violins (which cost less than $700).
Let’s be clear, with a budget this small, you won’t have a good entry-level electric violin. But once plugged in, you’ll be disappointed with the sound it makes, the white noise it makes, the chipping paint, etc.

This purchase may be a bad experience for you, and you will probably be very dissatisfied to the point of stopping using the electric. This is a shame because just like with classical violins, the purchase price of an electric violin is an indicator of its quality.

If you don’t have the budget, it is better to be patient and buy a better quality electric violin than to buy something very disappointing. Not to mention the returns made by violinists after buying very low-quality electric violins. One of them even told us that his hands had turned blue after 30 minutes of playing. The poor quality paint had dissolved on his hands

In the case of a first electric violin, keep in mind that you will have to pay between $900 and $1200 to have an electric violin to enjoy playing. Take a look at the features of our Line electric violin. If your budget is higher, you will have dozens of options and the following 4 questions will help you choose.

What Do You Want To Do With Your Electric Violin?

The question may seem simple, but a whole series of parameters must be taken into account. What do you plan to do with your electric violin? What are you looking for? These are some examples that can lead you into the world of electric. These are the main reasons given by electric violinists.

Start Studying Electric Violin For The First Time Or Play Silent At Home

If you want to play quietly at home with headphones because the classical violin mute doesn’t muffle the sound enough, or if you want to invest in a first electric violin to find out if you like it, then we advise you to start with our first range: Line.

However, as with electric guitars, the essence of the electric violin is to transform the sound produced through effects. Therefore, it will be necessary to invest in an effects pedal first. Or buy a mini-amplifier that can be connected to a tablet or phone. These will play the role of an effects pedal.

Using The Electric Violin With Headphones

This is a frequently asked question. Any electric violin can be used with headphones. It is enough to use an intermediate device that allows it, such as an amplifier, a mini-amplifier, or an effects pedal. If your intermediate device has a headphone output, you can play the electric violin with headphones.

Record In Studio, Play And Facilitate My Sound On Stage

If you are already an experienced musician, if playing in public is familiar to you, or if recording in the studio is part of your knowledge, it is because you already have one foot in the professional world. It is up to you to decide which of these elements is the most important when choosing the most suitable electric violin for your needs and desires.

Of course, the higher the quality of the sound sensor, the more powerful the sound produced, so you can record correctly and then touch up in appropriate software, such as Cubase or ProTools.

If you are a professional violinist, look for violins with a powerful sound sensor, with at least one sensor per string. The sound will be even more harmonious, powerful, clear, and sharp, which will facilitate any stage presentation or recording.

The design can also influence if you play on stage. A unique design will make you stand out and will undoubtedly receive many comments at the end of the concert.

Getting Started With Electrical Effects

You want to associate your electric violin with effects like distortion, wah-wah, reverb, or delay. All electric violins can be connected to a multi-effects pedal or an effects pedal. But the cleaner and stronger the signal, the easier it is for you to create your electric violin sounds. A sound engineer will always tell you that it’s best to work on the signal first. The big mistake is thinking that it is easy to rework the entire recording in software. Simplify your task by getting the best possible signal at the end of the sound chain!

Therefore, you will need to pay attention to the sound quality of the electric violin’s sensor. We insist: that one sensor per string is always better than one for all strings.

And if possible, avoid using an internal preamp, which can distort the original sound of your violin. The internal preamplifier is built in to amplify the sound of a sensor that is not powerful enough. Without it, the sound produced cannot be heard. Unfortunately, transforming the sound does not allow you to have control of the entire sound chain. In addition, it is an additional electronic part that adds weight and that will be difficult to replace in case of failure.

Pass A 5 String Violin

In general, you have started with a classical 4-string violin and are tempted by a 5-string violin. Yes, there are 5-string violins; In addition to the traditional 4 strings, we added the C or C string, which is lower and is commonly used on violas.

There are classical 5-string violins, although they are less common than 5-string electric violins. Buying the first electric violin is a good opportunity to start playing a 5-string instrument. A 5th string offers many advantages in terms of sound!

Finding An Electric Violin That Is As Comfortable As A Classical Violin

Like all electric instruments, electric violins come in dozens of different shapes and designs. There are no rules on this subject, and each electric violin will offer a different comfort.

If you want to have an electric violin identical to your classical violin, there is only one solution: order a custom-made electric violin. This is what we offer with the 3Dvarius, which can be a faithful copy of your classic violin. To be able to reproduce your classical violin in electric format, we take appropriate measures. Your 3Dvarius will have the 3Dvarius design with the exact dimensions of your classic violin.

How Would You Like Your Electric Violin To Sound?

An electric violin cannot have the same sound as a classical violin. They are different in their construction and therefore in their sound and timbre. One has a soundboard while the other uses an electric bridge that reproduces the string signal.

Electric violins have a more modern, flatter sound and to nuance it you will have to use a mixer and some nice effects. As they do not need a soundboard, they avoid unnecessary weight (already they weigh much more than acoustic ones) and they usually have very peculiar and diverse shapes. They are designed to play all kinds of modern music where you can play with many effects and sounds such as pop, rock, or electronic.

Its biggest advantage over acoustics is amplification. It won’t take long to get a decent sound without feedback, yeah! You can even bring your own prepared and equalized sound from home with a mixer or effects desk and the sound check won’t take much time.

Its way of producing sound is different and incomparable. It is a mistake to want to compare the sound of an electric violin with that of a classical violin. The tones can be close, but don’t expect to get the same: it’s technically impossible!

All electrical bridges produce a quality different sound ad. All these factors are taken into account in the sound of your electric violin. The last point is not insignificant, each one will perceive the sound played differently: rounder or more electric, aggressive or natural, etc.

Therefore, it is important to rehearse the violins and if this is not possible, listen to videos before deciding Never buy an electric violin without at least listening to its sound on the video! If you don’t find any videos available on the internet, that’s not a good sign!

What Are The Elements That You Consider Essential In A Violin?

The Left-Hand Support: An Unconscious Marker

When playing the violin, unconscious markers are used to locate the position of the hands. In particular, the left-hand bracket is the reference point for finding the highest notes.

Some electric violins do not have it and this can be a problem for the violinist’s adaptation. It is possible to play without it, but you will have to practice a lot to reposition your hand and fingers. This is why we have decided to keep the left-hand rest on all of our electric violins.

The Weight

The weight of electric violins is greater than that of classical violins. A classical violin, being hollow, necessarily has less material and weighs less. On the other hand, an electric violin is made of solid wood and will be heavier. The weight depends on the constitution of each electric violin.

The heavier the violin, the more likely you are to experience pain and strain in your shoulder, arms, hands, and fingers. With regular playing, these stresses can develop into a chronic tendonitis. So it is better to go for a light electric violin.

Weight Distribution

Weight distribution is essential in an electric violin. Being heavier, it is better if the weight of the electric violin is correctly distributed to avoid additional tensions. If the entire mass is at the level of the violin’s head, the weight will be supported by the left arm and hand. You’ll feel the weight after just a few minutes of playing and you’ll have less flexibility.

The Pad

Are you okay with using a pad other than the one on your classical violin? The comfort of your electric violin may depend on this item. Some electric violins impose the manufacturer’s shoulder rest. Therefore, these electric violins are not compatible with classical violin shoulder rests. Perhaps you will feel more comfortable with your classical violin pad. All 3Dvarius electric violins are compatible with classical violin shoulder rests.

Trusted Brand

You must take into account the brand of the violin. Choose a violin that has good references and that generates some confidence both when buying it and for possible repairs that may arise. Having a good technical service will give you a lot of peace of mind because you may need it at any time. Nowadays you have good electric violin brands that you can trust like Yamaha, NS Design, 3Dvarius, Wood, or Stagg.

What Style And Design Do You Have In Mind?

The visual aspect is an element that defines your style. The design possibilities are endless: colors, types of wood, shapes, materials, etc. In electric, there are no rules. You are free to choose what you like best. But always keep comfort in mind! Make sure you feel comfortable playing! An ill-conceived design can make an electric violin uncomfortable.

As for the 3Dvarius, violinists often evoke its completely transparent design that contrasts with what is usually seen. Its body is fully 3D printed with a special transparent resin. For information, this transparency also allows you to reflect the stage lights. The transparency of the 3Dvarius naturally reflects points of light. The rays of light pass through the body of the violin and illuminate it from the inside.

The Best Electric Violins For Beginners

The next step is to choose your violin. Here you have the five best, they have different qualities and each one stands out from the rest for something, I am sure that one is yours.

1. Vangoa 4/4: The Cheapest

It is the cheapest violin on this list and it also comes quite complete, you won’t have to spend much more on buying the accessories. It includes some headphones so you can study at home without the risk of disturbing anyone. The sound it emits without plugging in is much lower than that of an acoustic violin. Your neighbors will love it!

And when you’ve practiced enough and you’re ready you can connect the cable that comes with it to an amplifier and play for your audience, your neighbors. It is made of solid maple and the fretboard and its accessories are plated a very hard and shockproof wood. It comes with the bridge missing, so you’ll have to loosen the strings and put it on very carefully. Another option is to take it to a specialized site to have it placed.

Apart from the shells and the connector for the amplifier, it comes with rosin, some spare strings, a pad, and a bow.

2. Yamaha SV-250: The Electric Violin With The Best Value For Price

The Yamaha Silent is a very quiet violin with incredible sound quality. It is very good value for money and is one of the electric violins that comes closest to the classical sound (this makes it quite popular). The feel of its fingerboard is very similar to the classic, so it is more comfortable for someone who is not used to playing with electric.

It doesn’t weigh too much, only 540g. It has a maple bridge with pickup and spruce and maple woods. The pegs and fingerboard are plated. Includes D’Addario strings, headphone output and volume, treble, and bass controls.

In short: it is a professional violin with many possibilities at a very reasonable price.

3. NS Design CR5: An Electric Violin With Top Quality

The CR series is the best and most expensive of all NS brand violins. The Ns Design CR5 has a very particular and original design, it has nothing to do with a traditional violin and at least it will catch your attention. It has a solid maple neck and body, and the fretboard and curb are plated. The pizzicato mode for playing without a bow and a mode with a bow comes in very handy. It also has a button for two kinds of sound: a softer acoustic type and a more full-bodied one.

It comes with five strings, the last one is the lowest. Let’s say you have violin and viola on the same instrument. It is a very pro instrument to play and have fun with effects and that will allow you to adapt to many styles.

4. Stagg EVN X: For Beginners

If this is going to be your first electric violin and you just want to try it out but don’t feel like spending too much money on it, the Stagg EVN X is a good option. It’s made of solid maple with a metallic blue finish. It’s very quiet and includes headphones so you can play at home without disturbing anyone. It is powered by a 9v battery (included) and has volume and tone controls.

5. Stagg EVN: The Electric Violin With The Most Complete Kit

The Stagg EVN is very cheaply priced and comes with a complete package. Where’s the catch? There isn’t. It is a very basic violin that will serve you just to start, do not expect a spectacular sound. It’s made of solid veneered maple and comes with four tuners on the tailpiece. There is also a volume control and headphone output.

Sharing is Caring