Any violinists out there? Electric violin - which one?

[AChickenCalledKorma]

Background - I used to play the violin, DD2 is about to start violin lessons. I have always had a soft spot for the sound of an electric violin and am contemplating using her lessons as an excuse to buy myself one. (My acoustic violin is warped beyond repair, so I have the excuse that it would be useful to support her practicing. But really it's just because it would be fun!)

I can see that you can get them for anything from about £80 upwards. But I have no idea how much you need to spend to get one that actually sounds nice. Anyone able to help? Would like a bit of background knowledge before I will pop into the music shop in town ... where he will try and sell me an expensive one

I've not used any of them - but I would think that its essential that YOU like how it sounds and feels.

Its very unusual for a violin to warp - are you sure that a new bridge and a set of new strings wouldn't sort it out?

I have three...

Two are dirt cheap - a Harley Benton and a Stagg. I have cheap strings on both. Of the two, the Stagg (S-shaped) gives the better sound. It also has the advantage of taking a regular guitar lead (two fat ends) whereas the Harley Benton takes a lead with one small end (think headphone sized) and one large one (to go into the amp). They're both quite heavy, though the Stagg is heavier - much heavier than an acoustic violin - so if you're not used to playing for a long time you'll get knackered after a while. I use the Harley Benton quite a lot, because it has zebra stripes and looks cool, but the finish is poor and the sound's not great (but it looks right for the gypsy punk band and we shove loads of reverb on anyway).

The third one is much higher quality. It's a Barcus Berry electro-acoustic and I play a reddish one. Because of the coloured finish it doesn't have a great acoustic sound but once plugged in it gives a really nice tone. The electronics are higher quality. It also takes a 'normal' guitar lead. I use this for electro-acoustic gigs, e.g. Irish songs in pub, where I want a 'proper' violin sound.

The Harley Benton and the Stagg are something like £100 or £150; the Barcus Berry was more like £400 (maybe more - I live in tax haven country so no VAT) but it's a brand used by lots of professional fiddlers in America.

There are some very good instruments out there, but they cost a fortune.

Of the two cheaper ones, the Stagg is probably the better. I'd avoid the Stentor electrics as they take their cheapest Stentors and add cheap electronics.

These are them:

www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbv_900bw_4_4_electric_violin.htm (other designs of course)

www.amazon.co.uk/Stagg-EVN-MBL-Electric-Violin/dp/B000IL4SUY (but red)

www.electricviolinshop.com/violins/barcus-berry.html - okay, so it's £300 to £400 depending on tax, postage and where in the UK you buy it. I think I got mine from the Thomann shop.

Thanks - really helpful info there. I saw the Stagg one and thought it seemed worth a look, on the basis that Stagg is a make I recognise and the price wasn't too scary!

Mistle - warped is probably the wrong word. It lay unused in a damp flat for a while and the neck has pulled out of the body. I've had it fixed once, but the same thing happened again. I might look into having it repaired again, if there is some prospect that I'll start using it again but I'd rather get a cool one with zebra stripes

I have a Skyinbow and have gigged with it with no problems ever. It has a separate pre-amp and it has LOADS of power

But, I bought it about 20 years ago, so have no idea what they are like now.

I'd imagine they're in the same kind of range as my Barcus Berry, but they have a brighter tone and I prefer mellower fiddles. Personal preference.