What Do You Guys Think?..... Options

[aesir22]

Lol thanks very much for that. No need to defend yourself it sounded good (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I have bit the bullet and bought an electric violin BUT not the one listed above. I bought one that was a little cheaper, but had more than 200 reviews, each one positive, none negative (while the one posted above has reviews on several sites and they are all either voting 1 star or 5 star...confusing!). It was from e-bay, so not ideal, but he has been rated a 'top rating seller' and with not one negative review, and for the cheap and cheerful instrument I wanted, it seems worth it. He has his own workshop, so its not like a production line with dozens of workers, and he 'says' he spends 2 hours setting the violins up, fitting strings and bridges, lots about peg pastes and stuff. He seems very reputable...has his own website. So check it out if you like, just google Paul Michael Stanton.

Anyway, shall shut up now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[river]

What you've bought there is a Sojing - these are very common Chinese electrics that are frequently rebranded and sold on eBay. I've not seen very many good reviews of them, to be honest... although having it set up properly is going to help a bit. It's probably fine for practice, but these things often sell for $50 (£30) or less, and you know what they say about getting what you pay for... ;-)

[aesir22]

Yeah I know lol. I didn't want a good one, especially since I'm only beginning. I'm focusing more on being able to get finger positions right and bowing properly rather than good sound quality. Thats what my semi-decent acoustic is for (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Was it the white one you saw?

[jojo]

My youngest daughter has a pink one of these and a couple of my pupils have them too.
In my opinion they are great little electrics for the money and better balanced than most electrics that cost hundreds more which means even lower grade violinists can swap to then without problem. Also, a Kun or Wolf rest fits easily to it.
When I was testing electrics for myself years ago I found many were too heavy or balanced wrongly which made them difficult to play.
2downsides to the Stagg -
The bridge is AWFUL, and it's easy to hit 2 strings at once. Very easily sorted for a few pounds by a luthier.
Secondly, it's made of that squished together reconstituted wood (which is why it's so light!) so don't drop it! This happened to one of my pupils, it just fell off a chair and the 's' shape broke. My Luthier stuck it back to gether and used nail varnish to match the colour of the violin!
I've got to say they are the best I've tried in the £500 and lower price though.

Hope that helps.

After this, I think I WILL buy one (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) to practice where practice is forbidden (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[ffliwt]

I have this violin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) But in blue haha
It's hardly like amazing but i think considering the PRICE it is amazing. Definately worth the money (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[aesir22]

Well Jojo I have bought an electric, though as you can see by other posts it wasn't the one I originally enquired about. I checked around the web and there were either really good reports or really horrendous ones. Was just too inconsistent.

The one I got gets similar reviews on different sites, but they are all based on mass-produced models, while the one I got is tended to by a violin maker before he sells them - new bridge, pegs fitted, pasted and chalked etc so hopefully the bad won't be too bad. And it was only £59.99 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[jojo]

Well Jojo I have bought an electric, though as you can see by other posts it wasn't the one I originally enquired about. I checked around the web and there were either really good reports or really horrendous ones. Was just too inconsistent.

The one I got gets similar reviews on different sites, but they are all based on mass-produced models, while the one I got is tended to by a violin maker before he sells them - new bridge, pegs fitted, pasted and chalked etc so hopefully the bad won't be too bad. And it was only £59.99 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Fantastic Aesir!
I hope you get lots of fun and 'quite practice times' with your new 'baby' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I have spoken to a few people.....they ALL said that yes, electric violins are NOT silent, BUT they are less noisy than an acoustic with a rubber practice mute on and they sound better than the acoustic WITH the rubber practice mute on.

So, it seems you cannot really go wrong, as your practice will be less noisy to neighbours and you have the option to wear headphones to hear your screeches as loud as you like (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

You have 'spurred me on' with this thread and I have contacted my 'usual music shop' where I originally got hold of a clarinet a couple of months ago, I went into a frenzy back then and got the clarinet thinking I was going to get hooked on it, but it proved that it was just a 'fling', I have not touched it in ages and don't feel the desire to, so I know it is 'not my thing' deep down.

Anyway, called the shop today, explained the above....they are going to take the clarinet back from me and swap it with an electric violin (and I will get a few pounds back too! as the clarinet was quite a good one!).

A week from today I am getting a Yamaha SV200 in blue (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

This is a higher price range electric violin, but I thought I can't really go wrong as the clarinet is gathering dust and the violin is definitely the love of my life, been playing it for 3 years and will play it to my grave! I am highly addicted to it!!

So now I will have a violin to practice on at work if I want to (without disturbing patients in the waiting room and/or ward next to my office) or anywhere else where they don't enjoy 'my playing' (and where would that be?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )
And one day I could buy an AMP and then go out in the street with it at full volume and be my neighbours' joy!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[miffy]

Well Jojo I have bought an electric, though as you can see by other posts it wasn't the one I originally enquired about. I checked around the web and there were either really good reports or really horrendous ones. Was just too inconsistent.

The one I got gets similar reviews on different sites, but they are all based on mass-produced models, while the one I got is tended to by a violin maker before he sells them - new bridge, pegs fitted, pasted and chalked etc so hopefully the bad won't be too bad. And it was only £59.99 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Fantastic Aesir!
I hope you get lots of fun and 'quite practice times' with your new 'baby' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I have spoken to a few people.....they ALL said that yes, electric violins are NOT silent, BUT they are less noisy than an acoustic with a rubber practice mute on and they sound better than the acoustic WITH the rubber practice mute on.

So, it seems you cannot really go wrong, as your practice will be less noisy to neighbours and you have the option to wear headphones to hear your screeches as loud as you like (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

You have 'spurred me on' with this thread and I have contacted my 'usual music shop' where I originally got hold of a clarinet a couple of months ago, I went into a frenzy back then and got the clarinet thinking I was going to get hooked on it, but it proved that it was just a 'fling', I have not touched it in ages and don't feel the desire to, so I know it is 'not my thing' deep down.

Anyway, called the shop today, explained the above....they are going to take the clarinet back from me and swap it with an electric violin (and I will get a few pounds back too! as the clarinet was quite a good one!).

A week from today I am getting a Yamaha SV200 in blue (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

This is a higher price range electric violin, but I thought I can't really go wrong as the clarinet is gathering dust and the violin is definitely the love of my life, been playing it for 3 years and will play it to my grave! I am highly addicted to it!!

So now I will have a violin to practice on at work if I want to (without disturbing patients in the waiting room and/or ward next to my office) or anywhere else where they don't enjoy 'my playing' (and where would that be?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )
And one day I could buy an AMP and then go out in the street with it at full volume and be my neighbours' joy!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Sounds really exciting, both of you!
I have a Skyinbow electric, the flat solid one, not the hollow one, in dark red. Amp-wise, I have a little practise one for headphones which is about the size of a cigarette packet but much slimmer, and it slots onto my belt. My daughter has a little cube shaped amp made by 'Orange' that she carries round with her on a guitar strap! It sounds lovely for violin.
I also have a baby Marshall stack left over from my wild days but daren't plug it in because of the poor neighbours!
Another thing you can have fun with is effects pedals, I have a multi effects board. The digital delay is great as you can create a loop, then build on it and kind of accompany yourself..

[jojo]

Sounds really exciting, both of you!
I have a Skyinbow electric, the flat solid one, not the hollow one, in dark red. Amp-wise, I have a little practise one for headphones which is about the size of a cigarette packet but much slimmer, and it slots onto my belt. My daughter has a little cube shaped amp made by 'Orange' that she carries round with her on a guitar strap! It sounds lovely for violin.
I also have a baby Marshall stack left over from my wild days but daren't plug it in because of the poor neighbours!
Another thing you can have fun with is effects pedals, I have a multi effects board. The digital delay is great as you can create a loop, then build on it and kind of accompany yourself..

hooooooooooooo MIffy!
it sounds like great fun!
I will buy a little amplifier eventually and pedals etc and ask my teacher to join me on the electric violin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[miffy]

Sounds really exciting, both of you!
I have a Skyinbow electric, the flat solid one, not the hollow one, in dark red. Amp-wise, I have a little practise one for headphones which is about the size of a cigarette packet but much slimmer, and it slots onto my belt. My daughter has a little cube shaped amp made by 'Orange' that she carries round with her on a guitar strap! It sounds lovely for violin.
I also have a baby Marshall stack left over from my wild days but daren't plug it in because of the poor neighbours!
Another thing you can have fun with is effects pedals, I have a multi effects board. The digital delay is great as you can create a loop, then build on it and kind of accompany yourself..

hooooooooooooo MIffy!
it sounds like great fun!
I will buy a little amplifier eventually and pedals etc and ask my teacher to join me on the electric violin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Think I will have killed him with Carmen long before then... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif)

[Gorf]

It is an odd looking thing.

[miffy]

It is an odd looking thing.

Which one?!

It's fun to have different colours or shapes for a change. Just important at the same time to check it feels 'normal' enough to do your normal stuff on, especially if you are using it as a practice instrument.
So checking the shape will allow you to have your shoulder rest on if neccessary, that the top end of the body is ok for position changing (some are easier for that, but will then throw you when you play on your regular violin), and that the top end isn't heavier than the bottom end as it makes it unbalanced and tiring to play.

[jojo]

It's fun to have different colours or shapes for a change. Just important at the same time to check it feels 'normal' enough to do your normal stuff on, especially if you are using it as a practice instrument.
So checking the shape will allow you to have your shoulder rest on if neccessary, that the top end of the body is ok for position changing (some are easier for that, but will then throw you when you play on your regular violin), and that the top end isn't heavier than the bottom end as it makes it unbalanced and tiring to play.

YEP, that is why I am happy with the yamaha sv 200, as the shape is the same as an acoustic violin (not just the sv 200, there is some cheap-er ones like the giordano with this shape too), so now that my teacher is making me go to 5th position and higher I won't get 'confused' if I practice on the electric as it is the same shape and size as the acoustic so my hand will be touching the same spots when I am in higher positions!

Tried it last night, it 'feels' the same as my acoustic on my shoulder/under my chin and under my fingers, it obviously sounds different, tried it with headphones, I have to say with the headphones I don't like the sound much, but if its to practice where I need to be quite then it's ok as it is much quiter than the acoustic with practice mute on.

Oh the 'pain' of new strings!!! I had to re-tune every few minutes, plus a couple of the pegs are very slippery, no matter how much I pressed them IN the box as I was tuning they would 'unwind' quite a lot, my D string from D went down to BELOW G in just 2 seconds!!!! it would not stick!! then it did (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) and no, I don't have any peg paste at home nor chalk before you ask! and won't get any until this christmas break is over (so maybe next tuesday I can go to my music shop to buy peg paste, until then I'll put up with slippery pegs).

I am now on stand-by and will buy one of those marshalls 'mini-amps' you mentioned Miffy, they are only 1W but I have read many good reviews of what a fantastic miniature practice amp it is so I think I will get it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) for the fun practice days (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[jojo]

I am now on stand-by and will buy one of those marshalls 'mini-amps' you mentioned Miffy, they are only 1W but I have read many good reviews of what a fantastic miniature practice amp it is so I think I will get it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) for the fun practice days (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I have bought a second hand in great condition Marshall 40watt amp off e-bay for only £15!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif)

I will collect it tomorrow and have a play in the evening, will let you know....

if it's not that good I've only spent £15 on it so no hard loss, it will still be good for practice (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[miffy]

I am now on stand-by and will buy one of those marshalls 'mini-amps' you mentioned Miffy, they are only 1W but I have read many good reviews of what a fantastic miniature practice amp it is so I think I will get it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) for the fun practice days (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I have bought a second hand in great condition Marshall 40watt amp off e-bay for only £15!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif)

I will collect it tomorrow and have a play in the evening, will let you know....

if it's not that good I've only spent £15 on it so no hard loss, it will still be good for practice (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Blimey, hope your windowpanes are securely stuck in!!

Tell you what, if we both open our windows at the same time I might be able to hear you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)