By Richard Romando
An electric violin is an amplified violin that sends out a signalthrough an electrical pickup device. There are several different modelsof electric violins. Some are standard acoustic violins with anelectric pickup added to the bridge. Other types of electric violinsare designed differently and only work properly when plugged in.Electric violins are often used to play different types of music thanstandard acoustic violins.
The pickups of electric violins are important. Since electric violinstrings are usually made of metal, either magnetic or piezoelectricpickups are used to transmit the sound to the amplifier. This system issimilar to the way electric guitars work.
Some people add an electric pickup to a standard acoustic violin sothat it’s signal can be transmitted to an amplifier. The problem withputting a pickup on an acoustic violin is that acoustic violins have ahollow wooden body that can create feedback when it is playedelectrically. The resonance of the sound vibrating in the violin’s bodyinterferes with the sound made by the strings and can cause annoying,high-pitched squealing noises to come out of the amplifier.
Most electric violins have a solid body design. The solid body keepsthe instrument from feeding back. Also, any necessary electricalequipment, such as any wiring or batteries, is housed in the body.Since the electric violin is a relatively new invention, it has nostandard body shape or design, and makers are free to experiment andinvent new ways of designing the instrument.
Electric violins are usually used in different situations thanacoustic violins. An electric violin is viewed as an experimentalinstrument and is not found in classical or traditional music, but isoften used in avant-garde music. Guitar effects like reverb, chorus,and distortion can be used to give the electric violin a unique,otherworldly sound.
Electric violins are unique instruments with a sound all their own.Electric violins are perfect for musicians and composers who want tohave their own individual sound.
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