Should I get an electric-acoustic violin? Please Help!!

January 21, 2005 at 03:25 AM · Hello Kendra,

You need to assess what your musical needs are and what kind of sound you're looking for. Are you looking for pure tones to pass through a midi processor, or simply to amplify an acoutic violin, or something in-between? Your choices range from a simple pickup to the 7-string fretted monstrosity that Mark Wood uses with TSO.

Are you looking for something for recording only, or do you need something flashy for performances?

Take a peek here: http://www.fiddlechicks.com/

You'll find alot more answers on this site than I can give you.

January 21, 2005 at 06:19 PM · I play with a rock/ metal/strange music band, and I like my Fender electric violin. It is hollow, with a piezo pickup attached to the soundpost. It is great for silent practice (no sound holes) and also rockin'out. I have also played this violin with jazz groups. It's very versatile. I hook it up to one of 2 of these. I have a Peavy transtube amp for my electric guitar along with an ART effects processor, a Boss flange pedal, a Boss metal zone pedal, and a cry baby wah pedal. The electric guitar amp makes the violin sound spooky, and the different effects can be awesome too! I can make it sound like a race car with the metal zone. I also have a Fender Acoustisonic amp with a variety of effects too. This makes it sound a little warmer and not so "distant" sounding. I really like the delay effect too. I suggest buying an amp that has lots of boost because violins are hard to hear over other plugged in instruments and drums. Fender amps are awesome. I've plugged into a couple different kinds, and they all rocked!

January 22, 2005 at 02:55 PM · you might look into a zeta jazz acoustic pro, they can have a pretty nice sound for pop/rock. If you wanna know how it sounds, try finding something by Quetzal. They have a website, but im not sure what it is, probably Quetzal.com or sumthin'

July 28, 2005 at 02:49 AM · Hey there - I actually use a couple of Zeta violins - my main one being a Jazz Acoustic Pro. I love it. While the Jazz pickup provides a clean, feedback free, and warm electric tone while plugged in, the acoustic body gives that tone a fullness and resonance that you wouldn't have as much of with a solid body violin, like my other Zeta, the 5-string Jazz Fusion (which I still love).

I don't recommend Fenders because if you plug them straight into a DI/preamp, the tone will be uneven and hard for a soundperson to work with, which is why you'd need lots of signal/EQ and effects processing equipment to go w/ the Fender or another instrument like it (Yamaha Silent Violin, Rogue, Rave, Samick).

Zetas are great products.

If you have other questions, my email address is omar@omarlopezmusic.com

-Omar

July 28, 2005 at 03:25 AM · I've been touring 120+ concert each year for about 6 years now and you can't go wrong with a Zeta Strados. I'd agree that guitar effects processors can help with various sounds, volume, etc. Get yourself a good 100+ watt amp (either electric guitar or keyboard amp) and you'll be very happy. They're nice in the studio b/c you can plug direct, and on stage they won't feedback. However, if you're wanting a "real" violin sound for a recording, just use the acoutic in-studio. Let me know if you have any more questions.

-Ross Christopher

www.rosschristopher.com