The best electric violin brands are becoming quite popular among young musicians, and people who want to learn how to play an instrument. Considering the fact, that the traditional violin is one of the most popular instruments to begin learning, young people and mainly teens may see it as too traditional and even stuffy.
The good electric violin gives a musician the opportunity, to play that beautiful instrument with an edge added. The electronic sound output allows for classic music to combine with modern styles and is a way to introduce more kids to this art.
Another advantage of this instrument is that you can control the sound output of the good electric violin. If you are a musician who currently plays a traditional violin but has to find a way to make less noise during your practice sessions, you should consider buying one of the best electric violins. However, if you do want to make some noise, you can rock out by hooking it to an amp.
In this article about the best electric violin models, we will show you the top six choices on the market. The evaluations are based on ease of use, price, durability and, of course, sound quality.
Our Team Chose the Six Best Electric Violins
We begin our review by listing the electric violins we believe are going to be the right choice for you:
Crescent Electric Violin Starter Kit
This is an excellent model for the people who are just starting out and want to buy a reasonable first instrument. This is one of the best electric violins and it comes with a case, bow, cables, rosin and headphones. You can find it in various colours including white, pink, red and even electric blue. There is also a Crescent Digital E-Tuner included in the package.
The bow is crafted from Brazilian wood and genuine horse hair, which makes it strong and durable.
This electric violen offers an amazing value, for its price. If you are just starting out, and need a comfortable and easy to play an instrument, this will be a great choice. It is not a professional violin, so you will have to make some adjustments to make it more playable.
One of the advantages is if you decide to learn how to play on one of the best electric violins and purchase one on a whim, but give up you will not be too concerned with the amount of money you spent on it.
One of the disadvantages is that the bridge in the kit is a little flat. You can buy a new one and have it adjusted for a reasonable cost. However, if you are interested in personalising your instrument, this is not the correct option for you. So check some of the models below.
Violin Smart EV20 Electric Violin
This brand offers an amazing package, which has everything beginners need at a low cost. Not to mention that it looks incredible, in fact, it will impress your children and could even make you look like a rock star.
This is a full sized instrument. It features black pegs, chin rest and tailpiece. It even comes with a high-quality bow made from horse hair, a padded case to protect it while carrying.
You will have to purchase a shoulder rest separately, and you will also have to create notches for the strings.
The battery amp is 9 volt, and it may not produce the best sound in the business, but it is decent. Moreover, it will do the trick for your kids, if they are just starting out. If you decide to make a few upgrades like D’Addario strings, you can create a great sound, for a reasonable price.
You can easily attach headphones if your child is too loud. Alternatively, you can hook it to an amplifier if you want to annoy the neighbours. You can find the model in various colours, including white, blue and red. It is certainly a cool kit that will impress your kid’s friends.
ADM Electric/Silent Violin Outfit
All Days Music is a new brand on the market, which offers both electric and acoustic violins with various shapes, sizes and colours to suit every need.
They have done an extraordinary job with this model, as it has great features for a good price. The design looks nice, with its futuristic look and blue colour. It is also available in black.
The design does add much fun to the experience. However, the most important factor is still the sound. The body is crafted from plywood, and it is finished with a high-gloss spray. It also features an ebony fingerboard. The battery is 9-volt, so you can have a good time while playing this instrument. This good electric violin is a great example of one that the entire family can enjoy. If you want to purchase a more traditional looking violin, you can find the same one in a hollowed out shape with the same specifications.
Merano Ebony Fitted Electric Silent Violin
This brand managed to enter not just the market of the best electric violins, but the entire instrument world with a bang. This model is one of the best in its category.
It is available in various colours, and it comes in a variety of minimalistic shapes and sizes.
The body is crafted from maple wood, which was hand-crafted and the pegs and fittings are created from high-quality ebony wood. All instruments from this brand are offered with a comfortable chin-rest.
The bow is crafted from quality Brazil wood, which gives it strength, genuine horsehair, for that amazing tone we all love and, of course, it is completely mounted with Parisian slide and pearl eye.
This good electric violin is quite suitable for beginners. However, it is also appropriate for intermediate students. As soon as you unpack your instrument, you will be ready to go, because it comes with cables, 9-volt battery, headphones and even an extra set of strings.
Cecilio CEVN Solid Wood Maple Metallic Electric/Silent Violin with Ebony Fittings
This instrument certainly looks amazing, but did the company focus on the style and forget the substance? We do not think so because this model produces one of the best tones and sounds you can get from a good electric violin at this price.
The mother of pearl inlay increases the impressive touch of this already beautiful instrument. The body is crafted from hand-carved high-quality maple, and the fittings are made from ebony. What impressed us, was the bow which is created from Brazilian wood and amazing Mongolian horse hair.
The instrument is offered with a one year warranty and a set which includes absolutely everything you may need to begin your musical journey: headphones, a case, a 9-volt battery, cables and a rosin.
This model is offered in four various styles, and each of them is offered in five different colours.
You should keep in mind, that this instrument may be out of the budget, for beginners that are still not completely sure if they want to continue playing. It is, however, suitable for an upgrade, or an electrical violin to swap in their acoustic one with.
Kinglos Ebony Fitted Solid Wood
This model looks like it sounds dynamic, loud and colourful. It may not be suitable for everyone’s needs. However, children seem to love it, and it is a great choice for beginner players. We decided not to leave this beautiful violin out of our list, as it is a gem of an instrument. However, you should keep in mind that the price tag is a bit larger than the other models in our list.
The company was founded in 2009, and they are a relatively new company, which combines traditional instruments with visual arts.
You can pack your personality in this vibrant violin. Its body is made from solid spruce. The tailpiece, fittings and tuners are all entirely constructed from ebony. This brand offers various electric, acoustic and acoustic-electric models you can choose from.
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Electric Violin
The most important factor when buying an instrument should be the opinion of the player. However, there are many other things you should consider before rushing in to make this important decision.
Budget
If you plan ahead of time within your price range, it will be easier for you to make the correct choice. You should set a specific budget because it will help you narrow down your search and make the whole process easier. For the traditional acoustic models, the price range could be below $100 and could as well be over $100,000. However, the price range for the electrical violins is not nearly that wide.
You can expect to pay approximately $100 for a starter violin and up to $5000 for the finest models.
Under $500
When you decide to buy your first instrument, you should remember to leave room to purchase an amplifier and effects processor. You can spend approximately $250 on a quality model, including the extras you need to enjoy playing in addition to the reliability of a model you can afford to purchase, instead of renting.
Between $500 and $1000
Shopping for violins in this price range allows your options for quality to increase. The instruments in this budget can help you save from the more expensive models. However, they will still offer quality that is good enough for skill performance or practice. The features in this range are still a bit limited, and the wood and paint could be referred to as adequate, but they are still plain.
The violins in this budget are massively produced. However, you can still find a reliable brand, such as Yamaha, which is known for its high-quality standards. Those instruments are quite impressive in their ability to play and even their tone.
Between $1000 and $2000
The violins in this price range will show more attention to details in their appearance, features and build. Some players believe that the instruments in this budget are the best options when considering the cost and the features. This is because these violins are suitable for performance and even professional recording. They are one step above the lower-priced instruments when we consider their design and their ability to produce incredible tones.
Between $2000 and $3000
There is no need to explain that the best electric violins in this price range are of professional quality. Most of these models are hand-crafted and offer advanced features and components. Amazing instruments you can purchase in this budget are the Stratton Skull, the Vector Prodigy Pro, and the NS Design CR.
$3000 and Over
The violins in this range are rarer and have exclusive wood patterns and finishes. In this budget, there is a small difference in the improvement of the build, tonal quality and pickup over the instruments which are from $2000 to $3000 price range. The cost does not concern only the higher tonal and build quality, but also the exceptional visual art and function. These models are quite the conversation starter even when they are not used to perform. We recommend the incredible Wood Violins Vipers, Jordan violins and, of course, the custom finished Fourness and ZETA models.
Needs
Once you determine your budget, you should also think about what you need from the best electric violin for you. Many people only want a model with which they can practice quietly in peace. However, many others plan to use their instrument as a hobby or even to perform professionally.
Some players might want a reliable violin, which they can use for practice for a starter, and afterwards, develop a serious performing instrument.
There are many instruments which are suitable for either one of the purposes, but there are many violins that can serve both of them equally good. Fortunately, you can choose from many styles, which will perfectly suit your needs.
Practice Models
It depends on your environment. However, most of the best electric violins that are used primarily for practice should be used with headphones. This is so that you can show consideration for the people who surround you and also allow you to focus on both the development and sound of your skills.
Many of the models already have headphone jacks built in, so they can be used as practice instruments. The instruments that do not have jacks can still be used with headphones. However, you will need additional equipment such as an amplifier or an effects processor, which have such jacks built in.
Performance Models
Many of the high-end models work very well for both performance and recording. However, you may need a more advanced instrument, depending on how serious you are about your performance and recording goals.
In these cases, it will be a better idea to invest in a fully capable violin, which has an even and strong output. Such use will require a budget of $1000 and above.
The less expensive models can be appropriate in some settings. However, it is always better to go for the most reliable quality in addition to avoiding the requirement for superior amplifiers and other enhancements that improve the sound.
Acoustic-Electric Hybrids
These are different from the electric models because they are acoustic violins which feature permanently mounted pickups.
Acoustic-electric hybrids are quite different when it comes to body, wood quality, tone control, pickups, inputs, and outputs. These instruments are suitable for people who are looking to play an acoustic style with an amp to preserve the richness of the tone. However, they are not appropriate for full band performances since they tend to present issues with the feedback.
Using effects, will most likely also bring the same problems, so it would be better to use an instrument with a solid body, to provide you with a more predictable output at any given volume.
Fretted Violins
The frets on these instruments, provide the player with the opportunity to add guitar techniques like riffs to the style or to master a new method of playing. They also make chord patterns easier for the left hand.
Frets are like a visual guide on the fingerboard as an addition to providing absolute pitch when playing in louder settings, in which maintaining a pitch can be more difficult.
Midi Capability
The best electric violins are midi-capable and can be used to trigger MIDI tones, when you use them with computers, transcribe notations, record MIDI tracks and even control synthesisers. MIDI-capable models can only be used with certain types of equipment depending on their output type.
Tone
This is usually considered as one of the most important factors when choosing an instrument. How a person perceives the tone depends on their personal preferences, however, some models are made to sound more like acoustic instruments, if you compare them to others.
The sound can be altered using effects and an equaliser. However, it would be best if you have an instrument which genuinely has a nice sound, which does not require altering.
The tone is an important aspect of the best electric violin. Unfortunately, the perfect tone could be hard to capture in a model. We recommend that you try out different models and share the sound with another musician (like a professional violin player), who will help you pick the perfect choice for you.
The Barbera bridge will be a good option for if you prefer brighter and more vibrant sounds. It is offered by Vector Prodigy Pro, Jordan, Wood Violins and Stratton Skulls. If you prefer warmer sounds which are also richer in tone we recommend that you give these brands a try Yamaha, Bridge Violins, Vector Prodigy, and Fourness. The ZETA Strados, on the other hand, offers an edgier sound.
If you choose a model from the NS Design CR Series, you will be pleased that they feature knobs on the board for bass and treble modification, which will allow you to control the tones more and also the ability to switch between warmer and darker tones more easily.
Look and Feel
How a violin looks and feels, could be as important as the sound, and for that matter, it is for some people. You will need a model, which makes you feel comfortable when it comes to all of the settings. However, it should also look impressive. You will need an instrument to which you can adapt easily and hold comfortably.
Design
One of the most important aspects some players look for in the best electric violin is the versatility they present in appearance. Many of the models offer outrageous designs, which capture the attention of others. However, some people prefer more a more traditional look when it comes to instruments.
Although some models look more outrageous than others, they will still offer the same performance and measurements of their acoustic counterparts.
Popular models with extraordinary designs are Stingray, Viper and Sabre from the Wood Violins brand, and the Keebler Warhorse and the Vector Prodigy from NS Design. If you are looking for a more traditionally looking instrument, you should check out these brands: Yamaha, MSI and Bridge.
Even among these companies, many finishes and colours are available, which can provide a bolder appearance with even a more traditional build.
Ergonomics
You may wonder what aspects contribute to this factor, well they are the size, weight, shape, chin rest and even the shoulder rest. Most of the eletric violin models allow you to use the shoulder rest of your choice with absolute comfort.
Two incredible models enable you to use a shoulder strap system with which you can play entirely shoulder free and even neck free. These are Wood Violins’ Viper and Keebler’s Warhorse. The NS models all have adjustable shoulder rests, and Yamaha’s SV-130 includes the Kun shoulder rest, which is required.
Weight is also a factor that should not be overlooked, and many of the best electric violins are quite heavier than their acoustic counterparts. Some models may be heavier. However, you can handle their weight easily because the weight is carefully balanced on your shoulder.
Most of the models do weight a little more than the acoustic ones. However, the difference is not that noticeable. If you are, however, looking for a lighter model, you should check out Yamaha’s SV-250 and 255.
Making the Decision
It does not matter what your skill level is or what style, for that matter, you may still need help when upgrading, or purchasing your first violin. That is why you should use the best electric violin reviews that are available here to help you determine the instrument which will best suit your needs.
If you go through all the required information featured on our website, you will be geared up with much more info than you had earlier and much more than the typical instrument shopper.
We hope that our best electric violin reviews have helped you examine the most important factors which distinguish these models and decided what you prefer and need in each factor.
Moreover, after you manage to decide which characteristics are the most important to you, personally, all you will have to do is narrow down the choices which are the models that fit best with the specifications that suit you best.
You should also consider each of the factors on a personal level until you can find the models that meet the most of your preferences. Furthermore, it is crucial that you weight all your options, before doing any more research.
Learning about the models which suit your needs is the beginning, but you will have a much clearer idea of what you want after testing them out.
Spending less time searching for the best electric violin will leave you with more time to practice it, so do not make the process too complicated and purchase the model as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The best electric violins, like any other instrument, are not suitable for everyone. However, most of the violins in this article are reasonably priced. So, you will need to make a small investment if you would like you or your child to try something new and exciting.
The electric violin is an exciting and fun way to get your kids interested in classical music. Moreover, the sounds these instruments produce the effects and loop pedals will definitely capture their attention. Do not change your decision, because of the loud sound they produce because they can be played in silent mode as well. Moreover, if you do want to make some noise, you can just plug the violin into an amplifier.
More About the Electric Violin
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- Bella Electric Strings Star in ‘Violin Femmes’ at Boulton Center (Four Female Violinists Play Classic Rock With a Classical Twist)