Anyone had any experience with these?

In a few weeks i'm going to be buying this one

I don't want a great one - my main reasons for buying it are 1 - i always wanted to try an electric violin. looks cool! 2 - to practise without bothering parents/neighbours. that way i can continue practising once they've asked me to shutup and 3 - to play in our school pop band!

So basically it's just for fun. So i'm wanting to know, for a cheap £100 (well £70 off that website - on offer!) electric violin, is it playable?? I've seen the same violin go for £150 on ebay

Hello ffliwt,

For the same reasons as you, I bought one of these some 2 years ago and am totally satisfied with it (great fun and you don't upset others with the 'noise'). I did find one of the pegs had a tendency to slip, but that was quickly sorted by a local repairer.
Being mainly a wind player, I can't tell you if they are any good as violins. However, at a Summer School I attended in 2006, I lent the Stagg to 'proper' Gr 8 player to try out. Suffice to say the violinist played the Stagg all week (only way to compete with 5 saxophones) and played it at the end of course concert. The violinist thought it was perfectly acceptable. When I told her the price, she offered to buy it from me there and then. So I guess it can't be too bad !! My advice would be to go ahead, I'm sure you won't be dissapointed. As an aside, I've got the black one - are you really going for PINK !!

Feel free to PM me if you want any more info etc, only too happy to share experiences.

Cheers for Now -D-

As a 16 year old girl, yes i really am going for pink Well i'm slightly tempted by the red one but i don't think i can turn down pink

Thanks so much for the info I'll defo be going ahead with it. Can't wait!

I've recently been given an electric violin (sadly black not pink) and while it's fun to play, it certainly isn't silent. I wanted one for that reason, and have been a bit disappointed with the volume even when not amplified. The other problem is that it is very easy to produce a good tone - which doesn't help me improve the sound of my 'real' violin at all! It's a treat to play, but hasn't really been the practice solution I expected.

N

It's not silent? :S
Another main reason i wanted it was cause, this may sound crazy, but so i can play in the common room in my free lessons at school I have so many free lessons as i only take 3 subjects in school (i do the 4th in an evening course) so i spend most of my time in the recording studio practising, however, that's a long way away from the 6th form block and when it's raining/cold/im feeling lazy, i wish i didnt have to walk all the way down there lugging a violin on my back and a flute over my other shoulder with a clarinet in my hand! It'd be lush to just get out my violin there and then and play it
Guitarists often practise in the common room, or blast out their death metal music for all to hear, however i have a feeling that if i was to whip my violin out and start playing i may get a few chairs thrown at me. Silent violin seems the answer - play with headphones

It wouldn't be the violin i use for playing properly and practising - i would only play it for fun or for when i need to practise silently - so the practise side wont be a problem.
But would people be able to hear me even playing if i had headphones on? :S

I don't own an electric fiddle, but have played some in shops hoping as you, ffliwt, for a silent solution for practicing. However, I found that it is about the same sound level as when playing with a practice mute. So, although much quieter than normal, it is still audible - even if you are using headphones.

I tried an electric violin in the shop too and found that it's better to put a mute on a proper violin. I thought the electric violin would be like a keyboard, but even with headphones on and on the lowest volume, it's still audible which is very annoying. I can only practice late in the evenings after work, I have to use a practice mute and bow very lightly, which isn't good for my bowing

That's annoying
So that'd be the difference between an electric violin and a silent violin?
Although this electric violin is also advertised as being silent if wearing headphoness
I'll probably still buy it for the fun element and such But how disappointing I can't afford a silent violin.

I tried a Yamaha Silent Violin which was around £500, I thought it'll be silent but it wasn't! I also tried a cheaper electric violin (can't remember the brand but it was around £150), and that wasn't silent either with the headphones on. It was really fun playing it with the amplifiers though, it was so loud and everyone in the shop looked in the little room I was using to test out the instruments. An electric violin is a lot easier to play than a normal one and I sounded a lot better than normal.

It would be fun to own one! They look cool.

Ive got exactly the same Electric Violin, Stagg, Pink, yep it's the same. Yes they are playable but they need ALOT of tuning, in my experience. I bought mine for some fun and I got it for £100 after alot of persuading from my Mum.

Go for it, it's alot of fun and it does sound rather nice.
D x

One last question - what happens if i don't have an amp? :S

If you don't have an amp it will sound like a violin with a very heavy practice mute on it. To get a better sound for your own feedback you should be able to use earphones. But if you want to play in a band you will need some kind of amp, though of course the band may have one already that you can use.

Yeahh the band have plenty of amps. And our school have plenty of spare amps lying around everywhere for me to practise on in school.
I'll use headphones when at home

I want to try one too!!!!!

They sound awesome!!
The grumpy old codger next door wouldn't be too happy though. Him and his opera music blasting through my bedroom wall at 12:30am
I'll blast an electric violin back through to him, mixed with a good bit of heavy metal - see how he likes that!!!

Im currently using a Guitar Amp!! Only for the time being though

Now I want one too

Me too, but I really want an electric cello and i don't even play the cello! haha.
x

What's the difference between an 'amp' and a 'PA system' and why are there different amps for different instruments (and which do you use for a violin?)??

*clueless* ... but interested

After seeing that awesome electric string quartet on Britain's got talent i want one even more
I'm definately getting one but having to... postpone it
I was going to get it in 2 weeks
However due to the arrival of my amazingly amazing new flute in 2 weeks... i need to buy some new stuff for Finnegan the flute ^___^

And Lottie i'm confused about the whole amp thing too! I thought an amp was well, an amp, and that's it. I was wrong

Yep - me too!!!

Maybe all we 'Grade 4'ites' could get together and form an electric group of our own...

... and call ourselves 'Viva String'

(only I'm middle-aged and ugly so wouldn't be up for teeeeny skirts and stilletos like those lovely girls )

Here's my idea on the difference - A PA (Public Address) system will usually have inputs for microphone, instruments and other sources (eg a CD player) all going into some sort of 'mixer' to balance the sources. This mixed signal is then sent to an amp (amplifier), maybe via an equaliser (to modify the tone) and then onto the loudspeakers. These are usually separate to the amp so that they can be optimally placed within the hall. An 'amp' (in this context) would usually have some of the above 'components' but all contained in one box. Typically, an amp would have one to four inputs and an output of perhaps 10 to 100 Watts.

A typical PA system would have, perhaps, 8 or more inputs and an output which could go up to 1000s of Watts.

Now why have 'different' amps. In general, amps are optimised to the intended instrument they are going to be used with; hence a bass amp for low register instruments (big speakers to move lots of air but relatively slowly). A guitar amp would be designed to to cover the middle to high register effectively and may include some 'effects' that are usually used with guitars (distortion, overdrive etc). Finally, there is the keyboard amp - this, surprise, surprise, has a fair response across all the register. It is usually very 'clean' (not much distortion or noise) and, typically, has an additional mic (microphone) input for soloist to sing along with the player.

So, what to use with a violin - I think the general consensus is to use a keyboard amp (or maybe a bass amp) for this instrument. But, to be honest, it is best to try before you buy - preferably in the intended environment.
For a practice amp or small room, you'll need something with a power output of about 10 Watts, going upto 30 or 50 Watts for a small hall.

Hope that's of some use -

Best Wishes -D-

OK...heres'a first stab, though I'm no expert myself.

'Amp' is short for amplifier (obviously) ... but is aften used to refer to refer to combos - combination amplifier/speakers in a single box. These may be balanced to suit certain instruments - for instance, playing a violin through a bass guitar amp wouldn't sound very nice .... but I would think a guitar or keyboard amp ought to be fine for violin - though you would have to experiment to find out the control settings on instrument and amp that gave you the best sound. best to borrow a few amps from friends to try out (bear in mind that buying a decent combo will probably cost you much more that the £70 violin!)

A 'PA' is a public address system - basically, a bigger amplifier plus multi-channel mixing desk, (usually for smaller set-ups the two are integrated), feeding into a larger speaker system. This will handle inputs from several instruments and microphones, and enable one to balance the sound for an entire band, as well as feeding that sound back to the stage ('foldback' or 'monitoring') so that the musicians can hear themselves and each other.

Unless you're playing very big places, most bands will only put voices and any mic'ed acoustic instruments (e.g. horns, acoustic guitar, maybe some bass drum) through the PA - everyone else will just play through individual combo amps. In bigger places, musicians will usually still use their own combos as personal monitors, and to control their personal sound, but also mic these (or connect them directly - 'DI' or direct input) through the PA for extra volume, and to enable whole-band balancing and monitoring.

Like I say, I'm no expert.

nick

Edit: 'D' just beat me to it - but we seem to be saying about the same thing!

oh help! But thanks.

So what would I use if I just want to play an electric violin in my living room?

A tiny amp or a tiny PA?

I've noticed you can get them for under £100 - would that be any use? I don't know anywhere/anyone that I could try one out and it's just for fiddling around with (pardon the pun ) - I'm not planning to perform anywhere just yet!

A combo amp - but you could consider getting something like a Zoom multi-effects unit (one which includes a small headphone amp) and just playing through headphones. Or even a stereo, if it has suitable inputs (unlikely, and not always good for the stereo speakers!) Ask at a reliable shop, and they will give you some advice. Or risk it on eBay.

A small guitar amp will probably do the trick - why not borrow one from a guitar playing friend/school/college and try it out? Be sure you do try before you buy if possible - and if you do intend to perform at any stage, you might as well get a set up that will enable you to do this.

nick

For home/practice use, I would suggest something 'simple' to get you going. A power of 10 to 20W would be quite sufficient. Have a look at these examples:

YAMAHA GA15
MARSHALL MB15
PEAVEY KB1

These are all stocked by Digital Village (they have real shops dotted around the country) or check their website (www.dv247.com).

Don't forget, you will also need a 'guitar' lead to connect the violin to the amp, have a look at the KONIG Standard Jack to Jack - also with Digital Village.

Hope that's of some use - do come again if any more help required, I'll do my best to answer.

Cheers for Now -D-

hi i have been looking on and off for a way to convince my husband that i should play the violin today he has agreed to buy me a electric one so thank you for starting this thread i wear bright pink doc marten boots when playing flute with my band so i would like a violin to match my boots if not i will settle for purple or blue ( then i could always buy more docs to match the viloin!)

monkey flute soon to be violin monkey x

Thanks for all the info !!!

You can get these ampy things for only £35!!! (Yamaha GA15) Do you think it will be any good at that price or is it like buying a balsa fiddle?

This sounds really exciting. I had promised myself a 'treat' for passing my exam and was looking at designer handbags (but what use are they really ) but I'm beginning to think electric violin might just be edging into the lead. (I sent OH a text today saying 'handbag/violin?' and he phoned me to say he's sadly not quite sure which type of 'junkie' wife he'd prefer )

Thing is - I was going to buy a new bow....

oooh I feel a new thread coming on.....