An electric violin is a violin equipped with an electric signal output of its sound, and is generally considered to be a specially constructed instrument which can either be:
an electro-acoustic violin capable of producing both acoustic sound and electric signal
an electric violin capable of producing only electric signal
To be effective as an acoustic violin, electro-acoustic violins retain much of the resonating body of the violin, often looking very much like, sometimes even identical to, an acoustic violin or fiddle. They are often varnished with bright colours and made from alternative materials to wood.
You will find many bands may incorporate the use of an electric violin in all of their songs or just a few of them to provide a more unique sound.
Some people think that the electric violin is a newer type of instrument. However, they have been around for about 85 years. Of course these early models didn't give same quality of sound that you get today. This is a reason why they weren't used very much for performing to large crowds. The feedback from them was an issue that could really annoy the audience as well as hinder the overall sound they were trying to produce.
In order to ensure there isn't any feedback from the use of an electric violin they are designed a bit different from other types. The most significant difference is that the design of the body is solid. You will find the various types of wiring needed for the sound to be produced lives inside of the body of the violin.
The violin has always been a well loved instrument for hundreds of years. It continues to evolve and to keep up with the advances in music technology. With an electric violin model a person is able to get the sound they want from it. Yet they can use it to pay in front of hundreds or thousands of people without any problem.
Most music stores carry several models of electric violins that you can choose from. If you are interested in them go try out some of them. You may have a particular manufacturer of musical instruments that you are loyal to. If that is the case then you should check to see if they make any types of electric violins. They are lovely instruments that will last a very long time.
The first specially built electric violins date back to the late 1930s and were made by Victor Pfeil, Oskar Vierling, George Eisenberg, Benjamin Miessner, George Beauchamp, Hugo Benioff and Fredray Kislingbury. The majority of the first electric violinists were musicians playing jazz and popular music.