| An electric violin is an amplified violin that sends | | | | by the strings and can cause annoying, |
| out a signal through an electrical pickup device. | | | | high-pitched squealing noises to come out of the |
| There are several different models of electric | | | | amplifier. |
| violins. Some are standard acoustic violins with an | | | | Most electric violins have a solid body design. The |
| electric pickup added to the bridge. Other types | | | | solid body keeps the instrument from feeding |
| of electric violins are designed differently and only | | | | back. Also, any necessary electrical equipment, |
| work properly when plugged in. Electric violins are | | | | such as any wiring or batteries, is housed in the |
| often used to play different types of music than | | | | body. Since the electric violin is a relatively new |
| standard acoustic violins. | | | | invention, it has no standard body shape or |
| The pickups of electric violins are important. Since | | | | design, and makers are free to experiment and |
| electric violin strings are usually made of metal, | | | | invent new ways of designing the instrument. |
| either magnetic or piezoelectric pickups are used | | | | Electric violins are usually used in different |
| to transmit the sound to the amplifier. This | | | | situations than acoustic violins. An electric violin is |
| system is similar to the way electric guitars work. | | | | viewed as an experimental instrument and is not |
| Some people add an electric pickup to a standard | | | | found in classical or traditional music, but is often |
| acoustic violin so that it’s signal can be | | | | used in avant-garde music. Guitar effects like |
| transmitted to an amplifier. The problem with | | | | reverb, chorus, and distortion can be used to give |
| putting a pickup on an acoustic violin is that | | | | the electric violin a unique, otherworldly sound. |
| acoustic violins have a hollow wooden body that | | | | Electric violins are unique instruments with a sound |
| can create feedback when it is played electrically. | | | | all their own. Electric violins are perfect for |
| The resonance of the sound vibrating in the | | | | musicians and composers who want to have their |
| violin’s body interferes with the sound made | | | | own individual sound. |
