taking up new instument

[Rudi]

Been wanting to do this for AGES. Over the week end, I was thinking of soprano sax v. violin. I am 85% sure I will now chase down some electric violins.

Anybody know anything about these odd beasts?

[nigel lawry]

Been wanting to do this for AGES. Over the week end, I was thinking of soprano sax v. violin. I am 85% sure I will now chase down some electric violins.

Anybody know anything about these odd beasts?

good for you rudi ,santa is brining me a guitar if i remain a good boy :

[hariossa]

I'm in a hurry now, but you should take a look at the electric violins at www.thomann.de very cheap, and they come with the bow included!

[Rudi]

Hey thanks boys! What a good response.

I will check out Hari's link in the morning. Nigel, I had a look at the Vioelectras. Lovely, but about £750 above what I want to spend (not more than £250 at the mo). The American Jensens & Jordans are even more pricey.

Thanks again. Will keep posting.

[john]

Hey Rudi

I starte playing the violin when I was 6 or 7. I haven't played really for a few years now (I sold my violins when I was broke). I keep threatening to get an electric violin, so I'll do a little research and get back to you if it's any help.

Cheers

John

[Alistair]

Hey Rudi

Is the violin new to you, or just the electric bit?

There's a load of sites on the internet about electricity too!

[Rudi]

Hey Rudi

I starte playing the violin when I was 6 or 7. I haven't played really for a few years now (I sold my violins when I was broke). I keep threatening to get an electric violin, so I'll do a little research and get back to you if it's any help.

Cheers

John

That would be real good. Thanks John

Hey Rudi

Is the violin new to you, or just the electric bit?

There's a load of sites on the internet about electricity too!

New. True, I bought a new one for about £5 when I was 17 (?), but it wouldnt stay in tune (or that was my excuse at least). I didnt keep it very long. So I am a novice.

If I had the money, I might be tempted to go the easy way by buying a Jordan 6 string fretted model & tune it like a guitar, but that is sort of wimping out of the violin experience.

I dont know much about electricity. I think I will need a DC one, turbo-changed hub-dynamo with ABS

[Steve]

I think I will need a DC one, turbo-changed hub-dynamo with ABS

Go for the coupe.

[hariossa]

this is what I was talking about:

Harley Benton HBV400N Electric Violin with solid maplebody, built-in passive pickup system with, 1x Vol., 1xTon, incl. case and bow, colour: natural

only for 129 €!!!

see a 360º zoomable image HERE

[Rudi]

Looks nice. Seems well speced. Found a few retailers for this Harley Benton HBV400N, but no independent review so far. Its in the reckoning pot now though. Thanks for that Hari.

[hariossa]

I bought a 5 string fretless hartley benton bass with active electronics for just a bit more than that, and after changing the roundwound strings for flatwounds and a little setup adjustments it's a GREAT deal for the money...

nothing bad to say about it.

I didn't buy the violin just to avoid upsetting my wife!

[Alistair]

That violin in the picture is bloody broken!

[Rudi]

I bought a 5 string fretless hartley benton bass with active electronics for just a bit more than that, and after changing the roundwound strings for flatwounds and a little setup adjustments it's a GREAT deal for the money...

nothing bad to say about it.

I didn't buy the violin just to avoid upsetting my wife!

I assume the active pickup is boosted (as in a pre-amp). Is this true?

[hariossa]

well... hmmmm... it don't distort at all no matter how high the volume... but it sounds crystal clear, and round, and BIG, and GOOD!!!

[Rudi]

Still no violin, though I did bid for a Yamaha one on ebay, and checked out quite a few more since.

I had decided to go for one of the hartley bentons Hari brought to notice, but they are all out of stock at present. Still checking ebay most days.

[john]

Still no violin, though I did bid for a Yamaha one on ebay, and checked out quite a few more since.

I had decided to go for one of the hartley bentons Hari brought to notice, but they are all out of stock at present. Still checking ebay most days.

Hey Rudi

I found several sites listing Thomanns gear showed thet the Harley Bentons were out of stock, but when I went to Thomanns UK they showed as in stock. I ordered an got one no problem.

No one likes a smug bastard...

[Steve]

You smug bastard...

[Nightwolf]

Beautiful fiddle, is that the one you got John (you smug bastard)

Mark Wood

Put that in yer pipe and smoke it!!

[john]

Is it just me or does he look like an extra from an 80s rock video?

[Rudi]

I never knew those things had jet thrusters on them.

-May have to get one now.

Due to strings/pegs not holding concert tuning, had been playing 1.5 tones low (EBF#C#). Practice for 1st two days was:-

E scales (in lieu of G)

B scale (in lieu of D)

A mixolydian mode (in lieu of C).

Played ‘Groovy Kid Of Love’ because it resembles playing a major scale.

(The tuning issue has been aired elsewhere (no I cant remember, & too lazy to look)

Now have replaced strings & added fine tuners, and managed to raise tuning to FCGD.

Have been doing some bowing exercises and have been playing tunes ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘Jolly Beggar Man’, both in F (in lieu of G).

Enjoying it more than I had even expected. Ready to add another tune I think, in a minor key probably.

Edited February 13, 2006 by Rudi