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