Has anyone got an electric violin? If so, are they any good and worth buying?

Ive got one! its really cool. but they are only worth buying if you are every going to play them i think. Its really cool to plug it in with a effects pedal!

I love playing mine!!!!!

I'd recommend getting one if you are above about Grade 5 standard, because the best things to play on them are twiddly Irish folk tunes which sound really flash!!!

I played one at my school's talent contest and got encored - ended up winning the senior section which was quite exciting!!

I'd go for it if I were you - they're great fun!

What's even more fun is getting an electric string quartet together, if you can find another violin, a viola and a cello (electric violas are VERY hard to come by...)

I would LOVE to have an electric viola! havent got the money for one and im still learning but im doing grade 6 stuff one day soon hopefully...
they seem really cool and they look good but is the tone as good as a normal instrument?
jess

I dont think the tone on mine is as good, but they are great for playing in bands, and i play "twiddly Irish folk tunes" on mine in the school ceilidh band! great fun!

the tone is different... it's all a matter of taste...

twiddly irish folk tunes rule!

lol, they do dont they! Any way, get an electric violin, its lots of fun!

I have a Yamaha electric violin. I have to agree that they are fun and are great for playing fiddle tunes. In addition, they are obviously really useful for modern music and being in some sort of group. I would definitely reccomend getting one once you become rather experienced. There are several problems with electric violins. First of all, the sound is very very clear and if you repeatedly play on your electric your tone might deteriorate on your classical violin. The same thing goes for intonation. Also, dynamics are much harder to create on the electric violin, mostly because you can actually adjust the volume. Just consider these things. If you want to buy an electric make sure you have enough experience and that you spend enough time practicing your classical violin.

I have a Zeta 5 string Jazz Fusion violin, solid body, with a Zeta sythesizer. The violin is fantastic, very low action, very fast, and a rather rapid adjustment to adding the low C. I get very spoiled on it.

The synth is OK, but far from perfect and you have to bow differently, say when doing a trumpet, because if you play a series of notes on a single bowstroke, the synth may not pick it up. With a regular amp, the biggest risk is that the tone is "flat" and somewhat electrical. I am going to try an effects machine, e.g. a Pandora or similar to give it some amp effects, and also to allow silent playing.

I've done some church and some band work and it does quite well except of course that you have to lug an amp along. I have a Pignose amp with a battery in it also (for my next career as a street musician) but it really sounds poor. The Zeta amp is vastly better.