Best electric violins 2018 – [Buyer’s Guide]

Best electric violins of 2018

The table below summarizes features, and below you’ll find more detailed reviews of each good. I have taken the initiative to educate you on the top three best electric violins that you can buy this year.

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your comfort, style, or accessibility, we have picks to fit a variety of needs and budgets. The “Total” indicates the overall value of the product.

Test Results and Ratings

Rank	№1	№2	№3
Product
Total	4.8	4.5	4.3
Design	4 points	4 points	4 points
Materials	5 points	5 points	5 points
Construction	5 points	5 points	4 points
Price	5 points	4 points	4 points
Awards

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№1 – Cecilio 4/4 CVNAE-White+SR Ebony Fitted Acoustic/Electric Violin in Pearl White

Pros

4/4 (Full Size) Acoustic & Electric Violin

Hand-carved solid spruce top, solid maple back & sides with volume and tone control

Ebony pegs, chin rest and fingerboard, tailpiece with 4 nickel plated fine tuners

Cons

We’ve been using it for 4 months and didn’t notice any flaws.

Why did this electric violins win the first place?

I don’t know anything about other models from this brand, but I am fully satisfied with this product. I am very happy with the purchase. It is definitely worth its money. The product is top-notch! The product is very strong. Its material is stable and doesn’t crack. The rear part fits perfectly! It is mounted really tight and reliable.

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№2 – Kinglos 4/4 Black Flowers Colored Solid Wood Advanced 3-Band-EQ Electric / Silent Violin Kit with Ebony Fittings Full Size

Pros

With patented coloring technology of locating and docking the networks of pigment and wood, Kinglos makes traditional electric violins more beautiful and individualized

Hand-carved solid spruce body + ABS frame with ebony fingerboard, pegs, chin rest, and alloy tailpiece with 4 detachable fine tuners

Cons

Can be tricky for beginners.

It requires frequent maintenance..

Why did this electric violins come in second place?

The material is pretty strong and easy to wash if needed. I really liked it. It is amazing in every aspect. It did even exceed my expectations for a bit, considering the affordable price. I recommend you to consider buying this model, it definitely worth its money. The design quality is top notch and the color is nice.

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№3 – Cecilio 4/4 CEVN-2BK Solid Wood Electric/Silent Violin with Ebony Fittings in Style 2 – Full Size – Black Metallic

Pros

Size 4/4, style 2 electric / silent violin in black metallic varnish (full size)

Hand-carved solid maple wood body with ebony fingerboard, pegs, chin rest and tailpiece with mother of pearl inlay

Powered by a 9V Alkaline battery (included)

Cons

Not for inexperienced users.

Extremely expensive.

Why did this electric violins take third place?

This price is appropriate since the product is very well built. The material is incredibly nice to the touch. It has a great color, which will suit any wallpapers. I liked the design. We’ve been using it for 2 months and it still looks like brand new. It is inconvenient to use due to the size. I am going to get something different next time.

electric violins Buyer’s Guide

How Electric Violins Are Different

Like the difference between acoustic and electric guitars, the biggest difference between an acoustic and electric violin is how sound is created. Whereas an acoustic violin gets its sound from its resonant wooden body, an electric violin is equipped with pickups, which means you’ll have to amplify the signal through a guitar amplifier or sound system.

Electric violins are typically made from harder materials, have a solid body (or very little body at all), and little or no cavity. Therefore, the “color” of the sound is not dependent on the body of the instrument as it is for acoustic violins.

The drastically different design means that you have to play the instrument differently to get dynamic changes. Putting pressure on the bow will not change the volume or tone the way it does on an acoustic, and therein lies some of the most challenging and fun parts of playing electric. To get volume swells, you’ll need a volume pedal, and to get different timbres, you’ll need effects.

Selecting An Electric Violin

Unlike acoustic violins, whose sound and feel are known to vary widely from instrument to instrument (even when made by the same luthier), electric instruments tend to be more consistent between brand and model. This means that if you try one Yamaha YEV-10and then buy a different one online, they should sound and feel nearly identical.

Yamaha YEV-10Electric Violin

But when it comes to choosing which actual model to go with, there are definitely some things to take into consideration.

Pickup: The pickup on the violin will have a huge impact on the sound quality. Some pickups are imbedded in the bridge, while some rest between the bridge and the face of the instrument. Barbera pickups — which are imbedded in the bridge — are recognized as some of the best available and can also be outfitted in an acoustic violin.

Tuners: Electric violins can come with machine tuners or pegs. If you’re playing on stage and need to retune fast, pegs may not be the best option, since pegs are not always easy to adjust quickly.

Headphone Option: Some violins (such as Yamaha Silent Violins) have a built-in headphone amp, which means you can play without making much noise.

Yamaha SV-200 Silent Electric Violin

Jack and Location: Electric violins will have a ¼-inch jack, where you’ll attach an instrument cable to connect with your amplifier or sound system. Depending on the jack’s location, the cable might be running by your ear or underneath the instrument. Some designs may have a better feel to you than others. If you plan to use a wireless system, look to see where you can clip the transmitter onto the instrument and if that would interfere with your playing.

Chin and Shoulder Rests: If an electric instrument isn’t a “traditional” violin size, it may need a proprietary chin rest or shoulder rest. Make sure the chin and shoulder rests are comfortable, especially if you’ll be playing the instrument for long periods of time.

Aesthetics: Unlike traditional instruments, electric violins can come in bright colors, finishes, and unique body styles.

Number of Strings: It’s not hard to find an electric violin with five strings (normal G, D, A, E plus a low C string, like a viola). Others may have six or even seven strings.

Electric violins, like their acoustic counterparts, can be found at a large range of price points. Below is a breakdown of what you can expect at different levels.

This tier of violins is mostly meant for players just starting out on the electric violin, as the quality and sound of these instruments are going to be less than what you’d get from something above this price point.

But if you’re not yet sure about electric violin and aren’t ready to make a bigger investment, an instrument in this price range might be the perfect fit. Additionally, new instruments in this category often come with a full outfit (a case and a bow), which is also great for beginners. Brands in this range include Carlo Robelli, Stagg, Cremona, and Gewa.

Yamaha has a wide variety of electric violins in an intermediate price range. YEV-10and YEV-10are 4- and 5-string instruments designed for performance and have the feel of acoustic violins.

Instruments in Yamaha’s Silent series include a headphone amp in the body, which is ideal for a practice instrument. It has a stereo piezo pickup underneath the bridge, and the balance between the high and low strings can be adjusted. The Yamaha SV-25has a double pickup (bridge/piezo and body) and a blend control on the back of the instrument.

NS Design, well-known for its professional-level instruments, also makes budget-friendly violins like the WAVand WAVA proprietary Polar Pickup System allows the player to switch the response of the pickup depending on the style of playing (pizzicato or bowed). A patented tuning system also allows for more precise and stable tuning than traditional instruments.

The Zeta Strados is a great option in the intermediate price range if you can find one used. Zeta uses a patented bridge pickup and an active internal preamp (using a 9-volt battery). It comes in 4- or 5-string models.

NS Design’s CR Electric violin (CRand CR5) comes in standard and fretted versions. It has a solid body, piezo pickup, and dual-mode preamp that allows two different tones. This high-end instrument is great for the seasoned violinist or an electric player looking to upgrade. Zeta, Bridge Instruments, and Jordan also make many fine violins for the advanced player.

Playing electric

If you’re new to violin, an electric instrument can be fun, but it shouldn’t be a substitute to learning technique on an acoustic instrument. There’s a lot to learn about tone quality, pitch, and the response to dynamics, which will not be the same as on an acoustic instrument.

Once you learn the basics on an acoustic, your skills will translate to electric playing. Starting with an acoustic foundation will make it easier for you to get into the creative side of playing electric when you do decide to make the jump.

For the advanced player, an electric instrument can be a great way to take something you already know and make it unique or fresh. Add a few pedals to the mix, and the experience will be like nothing you’ve tried before.

If you’re interested in writing music, improvising with yourself, or just seeing your musical world in a new way, electric playing can be a great and exciting way to explore the possibilities of your instrument and your own musicality.

The Electric Violin; the hottest cousin to the most timeless instrument.

The Violin

Whether you rent or buy from Kennedy Violins, you can rest assured that repairs and upgrades are always available. With our rental insurance, 45-day money-back guarantee, and lifetime warranty, you can be confident that no matter what happens to your instrument, repairs and replacement will be there for you throughout your life as long as you have your instrument.

Buying the instrument is often cheaper than renting the instrument for a long-period of time. Even fractional-sized instruments, such as our very affordable student violins, that will only be used for a limited amount of time may be worth purchasing if they’ll be used long enough or handed down to a younger family member.

You want to play on a brand-new instrument rather than a used one. Rental instruments are usually used. While our rental instruments are all cleaned, tuned up, inspected, and even cosmetically touched-up between renters, used instruments may come with scratches, dents, tape marks on the fingerboard, used strings, and already-rosined bows. Also, renters are held accountable for damages to these violins.

You are in need of a full-size instrument. Since you, your child, or your student won’t be growing out of the instrument, you will be able to use this instrument potentially for the rest of your life unless you ever want to trade it in or sell it and upgrade to something new.

You’re giving the instrument as a gift. There’s something very satisfying in giving someone a gift that will belong solely to them. It’s a priceless moment, watching a child tear the wrapping off a violin under the Christmas tree or seeing the smile on the face of a friend or family member who has always wanted to learn how to play. Also,  renting an instrument for someone else can lead to sticky situations, such as if the player damages the instrument but is not responsible for the rental account.

Instruments usually retain their value. Instruments that are well cared for usually retain or even appreciate in value, expecially more expensive, high-end instruments. Violins “open up” as they age, improving in sound quality. This happens as a result of the wood, seams, and glue settling and resonating with more warmth.

Instruments are a good investment. Instruments, especially when they’re insured, can become excellent investments that contribute to your net worth. Most instruments in good condition are easy to sell should you even want to pass them on. It’s a good feeling to own something that has lasting worth and value.

Narrowing Your Search

At Kennedy Violins, we want to keep it simple. Browse through our selection of Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Violins to narrow down your search. Watch live performance videos to both see and hear the features of each instrument. Consider adding accessories such as shoulder rests, music stands, sheet music, and the strings of your choice to meet your performance needs.

In-Home Trials

If you’re worried about not being able to play the instrument before purchasing, we’ve got you covered. Our FREE In-home Trial program allows you to play on any two violins at a time for 1days or more with no obligation to see how you like it. Not only that, but all instrument purchases are under our 45-day Best Violin Guarantee.

Older Violins

While antique violins have a lot of charm and appeal, be careful when buying antique instruments. Just because a string instrument is old doesn’t necessarily mean it’s more valuable or sounds better than something new. Most old violins found at thrift stores, pawn shops, or on the back shelf your great aunt’s closet have problems: warped parts, open seams, cracks, bad pegs, and other damages caused by climate changes and poor upkeep. You may end up spending more to fix the violin than the violin is even worth.

Because it can be hard to tell the difference between a valuable antique violin and another destined for the landfill, consider having older instruments inspected or appraised by a professional luthier before making an investment.

New Violins

New violins can be very smart purchases. With advances in technology, new instruments can now be made with advanced modern techniques and more accessible quality materials such as imported tone woods. Intricately manufactured fittings such as fine tuners, metal tailpieces, strong synthetic tailpiece cords, and machine-wound steel strings give modern violins an edge over violins made even a decade ago.

Blind performance tests have proved that even professional violinists can’t always tell the difference between the sound of an original Stradivari violin and a finely made new violin. The ability to copy Strad designs to the most detailed specs and measurements allows some models to sound just as amazing. Most Kennedy Violin models are made with the the Stradivari design, giving our violins excellent acoustical value.

Professional Instruments

Musicians planning to play professionally should invest in a professional instrument. There is an incredible difference in sound between violins costing a few hundred dollars to those costing thousands of dollars. If you hope to be paid to play now or in your future, you’ll need a great-sounding instrument that will allow you stand out in auditions and stand up to your competition. Consider your instrument a business investment if you plan to gig for pay.

Insuring Your Violin

Once you’ve found the violin of your dreams, you’ll want to add it to your insurance policy, especially if its of higher value. Consider having your instrument appraised every few years as nicer violins often appreciate in value. (Student violins, on the other hand, will be more likely to depreciate over time with wear and cosmetic damage). No matter what kind of violin you own, you’ll want to be able to replace it with one of the same quality should something happen to it (fire, flood, theft, etc.).

Questions?

Equalizer: Low -12db, 70 Hz, Narrow, Mid 0db, High 0db.

Equalizer: Low -12db, 70 Hz, Narrow, Mid 0db, High 0db.

To get it to record I had to set it as both the default input and output device. Since it is the default output, if you want to play accompaniment, you need to hook up speakers or headphones to the RP360. Similarly, if you want to hear what you are playing it is best to plug in headphones or your stereo on the RP360 itself. I found that sending the output of the RP360 to my computer sound card had too much delay.

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The Silver Creek Model 4/Violin Outfit is highly rated for its fine playability and tone making it a great choice for the intermediate advancing violinist.

Ah, the venerable violin. While most often thought of as a delicate and beautiful orchestral instrument and a hallmark of classical music, it can also be a sprightly and familiar folk or bluegrass fiddle, or a sleek and spunky rock and roll instrument. It has been making a place for itself in almost every music genre, and inspiring musicians and audiences for centuries.

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a violin student, we’ll answer these questions and more.

The Basics of Violin Construction

The key factors that determine each violin’s tone and playability are the quality of its tonewoods and the skill with which it is constructed.

Intermediate Violins

Filling the gap between student and professional instruments are violins classified as intermediate. Some stores and brands omit this category, only drawing a distinction between student and professional violins. It is a helpful category, however, for musicians who know they need something better than a beginner instrument, but aren’t ready to invest thousands of dollars in a professional violin. Students who are advancing in their skills are typical intermediate violin buyers.

With its aged tonewoods and hand-applied finish, the Yamaha Standard Model AVis a good match for the advancing student seeking more refined tone and playability.

You can view the Musician’s Friend collection of intermediate violins here.

Professional Violins

Professional or master violins, on the other hand, will be constructed from cold-grown and slow-dried wood, hand built and assembled by a master luthier, and finished with high-quality components such as an ebony fingerboard and wooden tailpiece. The excellent materials and refined artistic skill that go into these instruments drive up their value, and make them appropriate instruments for professional and aspiring, advanced musicians.

The Karl Wilhelm Model 5Violin is hand-crafted in Germany to produce the resonance and balanced response demanded by accomplished violinists.

View the Musician’s Friend collection of professional violins here.

Remember that any category assignment given to an instrument is a generalization. They are useful to get you started in the process of shopping for a violin, but it’s also possible to find a gem that has an underrated categorization. It’s worth exploring all of your options.

Acoustic vs. Electric Violins

The traditional acoustic violin stretches four strings from tuning pegs to a tailpiece, over a bridge made of maple that transfers sound vibrations to the soundboard.

While there are electric pickups that can be fitted to an acoustic violin, a true electric violin has built-in pickups to amplify its sound. To avoid feedback caused by resonance in the violin’s hollow body, electric violins usually have solid bodies, and often have minimalistic designs to reduce weight.

The innovative NS Design CRElectric Violin is capable of producing a huge range of sounds thanks to its on-board Polar piezo pickup system with extensive tonal control.

An acoustic violin produces warm, rounded tone thanks to the natural resonance of its tonewoods. The electronic signal generated by an electric violin can be tweaked and enhanced, but it will generally produce a brighter, more raw sound than its acoustic counterparts. Classical and folk musicians tend to prefer acoustic instruments, while rock and jazz musicians lean more toward electric violins. Thanks to their plug-and-play capability, electric violins are a good choice for musicians who play with amplified bands.

If you’re shopping for a new player, consider the style of music they prefer or will play the most. If your teenager, for example, is learning classical violin, but really likes the look of an electric violin, they will likely be more motivated to actually play an electric one (and he will be able to practice very quietly). Acoustic and electric violins have similar playing dynamics, so transitioning from one to the other is not too difficult.

The Yamaha SV-150 Silent Practice Violin feels like a traditional instrument and includes a host of effects and electronic practice tools including an SD card player for pre-recorded accompaniments.

Browse the entire Musician’s Friend selection of electric violins here.

Violin Care and Maintenance

Case: Don’t assume the violin you choose comes with a case. If you order an “outfit,” you will get a bow, rosin, and a case, but if you’re just buying a violin, you may need to buy a separate case as well.

Humidifier: An acoustic violin should be kept at 45-50% relative humidity to avoid damage to the tonewoods. If you live in a dry area, you will especially want to look into an instrument humidifier.

Cleaning Supplies: A violin needs to be kept free of dirt and dust. You can browse Musician’s Friend’s complete selection of care and cleaning supplies for violins here.

Strings: Depending on how much you play, we recommend changing your strings every six to 1months.

You can view Musician’s Friend’s entire collection of accessories for orchestral string instruments here.

Better Fit

It seems counterintuitive to say that you will find a better instrument shopping online, but it’s true. You can shop around independently, read reviews, gather recommendations, and make an informed choice unaffected by the bias of a salesperson. And the selection at Musician’s Friend is far greater than what you’ll find at the typical music store.

Then, you can take advantage of our 45-Day Satisfaction Guarantee to test it out. That’s a lot more time than you’ll have to try out an instrument in a store! You can bring your instrument to your music instructor (if you have one) and/or a technician who doesn’t have a vested interest in its sale. You can play it solo and with a group, and in a number of different settings, to get an idea of its real playability, projection, tone, and setup. You can also take it your violin teacher for his or her assessment.

You will also have time to let the instrument warm up. Violins are like people. If they sit around sedentary for a while, they can get stiff. A violin that has been hanging in a store or a warehouse shelf for a while needs to be played consistently in order to loosen up and release its real sound.

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Choosing a violin can be tough because there is such a wide range of choices on the market. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the different sizes of violins and to understand what to look for when buying a violin.

There are seven sizes of violins. The largest is known as a 4/or a full-size violin.

Most players who are over nine years old can play a full-size violin although it is recommended for players who have an arm length longer than 23.inches.

There are three common sizes of violins that parents may want to consider. Children who are not big enough to play a one-fourth size violin often do better with other musical activities and transferring to the violin later.

Many children who are nine or ten years old feel better playing a three-quarters size violin. This instrument is specially designed for players who have an arm length between 2and 23.inches.

Acoustic

When people think of a violin, they generally picture an acoustic violin in their mind’s eye. These violins do not have any electrical parts.

These violins can have electric pickups mounted to them after manufacturing to enhance the volume of their sound. These instruments are preferred by folk and classical musicians.

Electric

Advanced players may enjoy playing an electric violin. These violins produce a sharper sound than their acoustic counterparts. These instruments are usually preferred by rock and jazz bands.

Usually, violins are made from a combination of spruce and maple wood. The top of the violin is called the soundboard and produces the violin’s unique sound.

The best spruce wood comes from colder climates because the wood is denser producing a more resonate sound. The longer the wood is allowed to dry, the better the instrument’s quality because it is less likely to crack.

While flaming and figuring do not affect the sound, it can make the instrument much prettier.

Most quality violins have back, sides and necks made of maple. The tighter the grain, the better the instrument will sound.

Ideally, the fingerboard is made of ebony. This is not always practical in student-quality violins because of the high cost of ebony.

Professional

Professional violins are made by luthiers who handcraft each instrument. They are made with the best quality woods and usually have ebony fingerboards. They usually have wooden tailpieces.

These instruments can cost thousands of dollars. If money is a consideration, then consider looking at violins made by apprentice luthiers under the leadership of an expert.

Strings

While strings on violins can be changed, choosing an instrument with the strings that you want is a great place to start.

Gut strings generally take longer to stretch than synthetic strings and are not as prone to changing tones when the weather changes. The smaller the gauge, the brighter the sound.

Some manufacturers of high-quality gut strings include Piastro Oliv, Kaplan Golden Spiral and Damian Dlugolecki.

Synthetic

Synthetic strings usually produce a very stable warm tone. Dominant synthetic strings offer the musician a full rich sound with lots of overtones.

Evah Pirazzi synthetic core strings produce a very powerful sound without the player having to work very hard. However, they tend to wear out quickly.

Violin bows are made of carbon-fiber, Brazilwood or pernambuco. Most players prefer a carbon-fiber bow because they are not as susceptible to warping with changes in weather.

Barcus Berry Acoustic

Legendary violinist John Barry helped design this instrument. Barcus Berry Acoustic Violins are handmade in Romania following very strict specifications.

While the company sells other musical instruments, their violins are the only ones that they make themselves. These violins feature Carpathian Maple sides and backs while the top is spruce.

All fittings are top quality ebony. These violins are beautiful because of their subtle two-tone red color helping players stand out in a crowd.

Each instrument has Super Sensitive Red Label strings that many teachers of beginners prefer on student instruments. The finish is hand-rubbed to a high gloss.

Cremona SV-80

All spruce and maple wood used to make the Cremona SV-80 violin has been aged at least five years helping to ensure that it never warps.

The fingerboard is made of high-grade ebony. This violin features an antique look because of its Hill-style trimmings and hand-rubbed reddish-brown finish.

The inlaid purfling not only helps to protect the instrument but also helps to add to this instrument’s beautiful looks.

Each instrument has a handcrafted maple bridge, and an ebony Stradivari-style chin rest.

Final Word

First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.

Most important, have fun and choose your electric violins wisely! Good luck!

So, TOP3 of electric violins

• №1 — Cecilio 4/4 CVNAE-White+SR Ebony Fitted Acoustic/Electric Violin in Pearl White
• №2 — Kinglos 4/4 Black Flowers Colored Solid Wood Advanced 3-Band-EQ Electric / Silent Violin Kit with Ebony Fittings Full Size
• №3 — Cecilio 4/4 CEVN-2BK Solid Wood Electric/Silent Violin with Ebony Fittings in Style 2 – Full Size – Black Metallic

Questions? Leave a comment below!

Chatting about electric violins is my passion! Leave me a question in the comments, I answer each and every one and would love to get to know you better!