The 8 Best Electric Violins In 2023: Reviews And Buyer’s Guide

Are you looking to buy an electric violin? Wondering which brands and models are best and what you need to know before purchasing one? There are so many options when it comes to electric violins and the choice can be overwhelming.

But, to help you narrow down the options, we’ve put together a complete electric violin buyers guide to help you know what to look for. We’ve also reviewed what we think are 8 of the best electric violins currently on the market to help you find the best one for you and your needs. Let’s get started.

Quick Answer: The Top Electric Violins

Best Rated Electric Violin Reviews

1. Yamaha SV-200 Electric Violin

The Yamaha SV-200 is a solid-body electric violin built for performance. There are duel piezo pickups beneath the bridge and an EQ dial to provide a rich, warm tone. It also has a silent practice mode.

The new body design looks and feels like a natural acoustic violin, perfect for musicians who often switch between instruments. The frame of the violin extends past the chin rest allowing the musician to use most standard shoulder or chin rests. Additionally, the position of the line-out jack makes it so that the cable can drape over the musician’s shoulder and be out of the way. 

This electric silent violin comes in various colors, including cardinal red, ocean blue, black, and brown. It also comes in a couple of different finishes meaning that any musician would find the violin that best fits their style.

2. Bunnel Edge Electric Violin

The Bunnel Edge offers an all-in-one solution for musicians who experiment with different tones, sounds, and play styles. The typical electric violin outfit comes with the violin, bow, case, strings, and headphones. The Bunnel Edge electric violin also comes with an amp. The amp comes with controls for volume and tone along with other effects.

 If you don’t want your neighbors to complain, you can use the included headphones to practice silently. However, the amp requires 9-volt batteries with no option to plug it in. 

The Bunnel Edge electric violin comes with a Giuliani bow, made of Brazilwood and Mongolian horsehair. The included strings are D’Addario, a trusted name in the music community. 

The Bunnel Edge electric violin truly offers everything you need to start playing.

The body is reminiscent of an acoustic violin with a large cut out in the upper section for a striking style. It comes in three colors, Rockstar Red, Bombshell Blue, and Jet Black. 

3. Yamaha YEV-105 Electric Violin

The Yamaha YEV-105 is the combination of graceful beauty and quality performance that truly stands out. Stage presence was the goal with the body design, with its elegant curves and three-dimensional accents will stand apart from other electric violins. Despite this, the bottom of the violin maintains the same shape as an acoustic to allow easy switching between instruments and will fit most standard shoulder and chin rests. 

This violin comes in two finishes, natural and black. Both finishes feature five layers of carefully selected mahogany and spruce for a smooth, natural sound. The frame is made from an oil-finished walnut that adds to the instrument’s resonance.

The pickup is located in the bridge and is capable of capturing the sound of the instrument and catching the nuance of the musicians playing style. 

A high-quality instrument comes at a high price point. The Yamaha YEV-105 will do its best to make it worth your purchase.

4. Barcus Berry Vibrato-AE Electric Violin

If you want the look of an acoustic violin with the capability of an electric violin, the Barcus Berry Vibrato-EA may be a good option for you. Handcrafted in Romania, these violins have a carved spruce top and a maple body. The bridge is also made of seasoned maple and contains the piezo pickup. 

This acoustic electric violin comes in four colors: Piano Black, Metallic Green, Passion Pink, and Red-Berry Burst. 

This electric violin is best suited to a wide range of musicians, from beginners to experts, due to its reasonable price and handcrafted detail. When played either acoustically or electronically, the violin has a warm tone. The complete outfit for this violin includes the case, bow, and rosin. 

5. Stagg EVN Electric Violin

The Stagg EVN Electric Violin comes in a unique S shape and is emblazoned with the Stagg logo on the body’s upper portion. A single piece of maple is the main component of the body. A high-quality varnish protects the violin from scratches and minor damage. It comes in a wide variety of colors including, Metallic Red, Metallic Blue, Metallic Black, Transparent Red, Black, White, and Violinburst.

This violin comes as a complete outfit, including the case, bow, rosin, and headphones. The entire outfit combined with the attractive price makes this electric violin the perfect option for entry-level musicians. More seasoned musicians may feel a bit limited by the Stagg EVN’s capabilities. 

The violin offers a silent practice option perfect for not annoying your neighbors or self-conscious beginners. It comes plug and play. However, you will need to install the bridge first or bring it to a luthier to have it installed. 

6. Cecilio CVNAE Electric Violin

For the section acoustic/electric violin on our list, we have the Cecilio CVNAE electric violin. The body is a classic design made from maple. The pegs, chin rest, fingerboard, and tailpiece are all made of ebony. 

When played, the Cecilio CVNAE has a bright, lively tone with warm notes that make it perfect for practice or the stage. 

This violin was designed with beginners in mind and comes in nearly every size, from 1/32 to a full-sized 4/4, so that every student will have a violin that they are comfortable holding and playing. 

It comes in two finishes, Antique Varnish and Metallic Black. The complete kit comes with the case, bow, adjustable foam shoulder rest, bridge, rosin, and AUX cable. It is possible to play this violin silently, but you’ll need to purchase a muter and a headphone jack converter separately. 

This electric violin for beginners knows that new musicians will want to get started right out of the box. For that reason, this violin comes pre-tuned. 

7. Cecilio CEVN-2 Electric Violin

Sticking with Cecilio, the CEVN-2 steps away from the classic style and adopts more what one would think with considering an electric violin. The violin body keeps the traditional violin shape with large cutaways from the top and within the body for a striking look. 

It comes in three finishes, including Metallic Black, Metallic Pearl White, and Metallic Red Mahogany. Each violin is hand carved from a solid piece of maple and contains an ebony fingerboard, pegs, chinrest, and tailpiece. The complete outfit includes a hard case, brazilwood bow, rosin, bridge, aux cable, and headphones. 

This violin is well suited for students up to experienced musicians. It may not be the best violin for absolute beginners as the fingerboard may not fit everyone’s fingers. The included headphones are also relatively low quality. It is, however, a very reasonable price and is an excellent option for someone looking for an electric violin to have fun with. 

8. Vangoa Electric Violin

Finally, we have the Vangoa Electric Violin. The Vangoa is the budget option for this list, but don’t let that fool you. This four-string violin is built with a solid maple body, ebony fingerboard, and mother of pearl tailpiece. The complete outfit comes with a case, headphones, shoulder rest, rosin, extra strings, and cables. 

The Vangoa is the perfect violin for beginner players. The outfit contains everything that a new musician might need to start, right down to the 9-volt battery to power the violin itself. It also comes at a very reasonable entry price and a one-year warranty should anything go wrong. Unlike every other violin on this list, the Vangoa has an accompanying app to help you tune your violin. 

Despite the beginner-level violin, the Vangoa offers an excellent sound projected over an amp or through the headphones. The only downside to this violin is that some users have reported that the silent mode isn’t totally silent.

How to Choose an Electric Violin: A Buyer’s Guide

When it comes to choosing a violin, you’ve got a lot of options, and knowing what to go for can be difficult, especially if it’s your first time.

You may have looked at or even already own a traditional acoustic violin that has been played for centuries, however, with modern advancements in technology, electric violins have quickly risen in popularity and grown in what they have to offer violinists.

Electric violins are currently used by a range of violinists, with many different skill sets, to play various types of music.

From rock bands, like The Dave Matthews Band, to alternative orchestras, like the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, you will see electric violins being used by many musicians across different genres.

A Brief History

Electronic violins were first introduced to the world of music in the early twentieth century.

The first electric violins were set up much like modern acoustic-electric violins, where an acoustic violin was fitted with electronic pickups that projected their sounds through an amplifier.

Over the years, new technologies were tested on and introduced to the electric violin, allowing it to become the range of instruments that we all know now.

The Different Types of Electric Violins

There are a few different types of electric violin so it’s worth talking about the pros and cons of each one to see which will be more suitable for you.

Silent Electric Violins

A silent violin is a type of electric violin that has a solid body.

Silent violins are designed to be used with headphones, which violinists can plug into the violin to hear what they are playing.

The designs of silent violins prevent them from producing sounds outright, making them great tools for practicing in quiet areas.

If desired, however, violinists can plug silent violins into amplifiers and play the violins like normal electric violins.

Silent violins also allow violinists to make adjustments to the sound of the violin from the violin itself.

Electro-Acoustic Violins

Acoustic-electric violins are excellent options for violinists who want the features that electric violins have to offer but need the capabilities of acoustic violins as well.

Acoustic-electric violins are hollow-body acoustic violins that have electronic pickups attached to the bodies of the violins under the violins’ strings.

Acoustic-electric violins can be played like a normal violin, where the deep and warm tone is retained as you play, or can also be played like an electric violin, where you can add effects like reverb and distortion onto the sound that your violin makes.

Fretted Electric Violins

There are electric violins that have frets, just like guitars. 

Fretted electric violins are especially advantageous to beginner violinists who are learning the basics of the violin and the notes of the violin.

With fretted violins, beginners can easily develop the muscle memory that is needed to play the violin proficiently. 

Fretted electric violins are also great for violinists who routinely play in loud venues where it is hard to hear the intonation of their notes.

Which Type is Best?

Each of these electric violin types excels in their own ways and are all great options for a multitude of violinists.

However, the type of electric violin that is the best is the one that works well for your needs specifically.

Some violinists will find that acoustic-electric violins are not great options for them, for example, because acoustic-electric violins cannot be played in quiet areas without the need for extra gear.

Similarly, some violinists may realize that solid-body electric violins aren’t great for them because they need to be able to perform without the use of an amplifier, or they may not want to have to carry around the extra gear that is necessary to play a solid-body electric violin.

Assess what each type of electric violin has to offer to determine which one will be the best for your unique situation. 

Electric vs Acoustic Violins

Another question to ask is do you need an electric violin and might you be better off with an acoustic violin?

Electric violins and acoustic violins differ from one another in numerous ways.

Acoustic violins are the traditional violins that have been played for centuries.

They’re designed with hollow bodies that amplify sound through their hollow design through a soundpost that vibrates to create the sound.

The design of acoustic violins allows them to produce natural tones that are wide in their dynamic ranges.

And because acoustic violins are crafted, many acoustic violins produce sounds that are unique from one another.

Meaning that two violins from the same luthier may sound similar but won’t sound exactly alike.

Electric violins are mainly built with solid bodies.

However, acoustic-electric violins utilize hollow-body designs.

Aside from acoustic-electric violins, electric violins need to be plugged into some form of an amplifier to be heard, as they do not produce natural sounds. 

Electric violins can be played at an extensive range of sound levels and are not limited by the physical characteristics of their bodies.

The sounds of electric violins can also be altered on-demand without the need for complex modifications.

Acoustic violins are great for violinists who want to create natural sounds and have raw playing experiences.

Electric violins are great for players who want to expand what they can create with their violins and explore limitless possibilities.

Both types of violins are great options, but each one has its own usages.

Matching Your Playing Style

Your choice between an acoustic violin and an electric violin should strongly factor in the music that you routinely play and your overall playing style.

If you play in an orchestra and can only choose between an acoustic violin and an electric violin, for example, then the electric violin will not be a good choice for you. In an orchestral setting, you cannot use an amplifier.

However, if you play in a rock band or play in loud venues, then an electric violin may be a great option for you.

Tone

Electric violins can produce an extensive range of tones, from warm and dark to harsh and aggressive.

The tone that an electric violin produces depends on how the violin is set up, the amplifier that the violin is plugged into, and any additional effects that are being used with the violin.

This is a part of what makes electric violins so great. Violinists can change the tones of their instruments in real-time.

If a violinist wants their electric violin to echo more or have a more spacious sound, for example, then effects like reverb can be used on the violin.

Design

One of the coolest aspects of electric violins, aside from all of the effects that you can add to your sound with them, are the numerous unique designs that exist for the violins.

Electric designs are available in many colors and shapes.

As you are shopping for an electric violin, you will find violins that are shaped like small V-shaped guitars, violins that are shaped like axes, and much more.

Size and Weight

Electric violins are slightly more heavy than acoustic violins.

The additional electronic components of electric violins add weight to the violins.

However, electric violins have different weight distributions than traditional acoustic violins, depending on how they are designed.

Skill Level

Electric violins can be played by violinists of every skill level, from beginner to advanced.

Due to the range of electric violins and electric violin accessories that are available, electric violins are actually well-suited for every skill level.

There are some electric violins, for example, that are set up for violinists to move around and do stunts as they are playing.

Best Brands

There are many great electric violin brands.

Yamaha produces several great electric violins that are suitable for many players.

Wood Violins is an electric violin brand that pushes the limits of their electric violins due to the fact that Mark Wood himself regularly performs with his electric violin models.

Price

You can purchase an electric violin on nearly any budget.

There are electric violins that are on the market for as little as $100, helping novices to easily get their first instruments.

On the other hand, some of the best electric violin models can cost as much as $5,000.

However, you will be able to find a variety of unique and high-quality electric violins around the $1,000 price point and we’d recommend spending around this if you’re able.

Additional Accessories

When you purchase your electric violin, you will need to purchase a few things along with the violin. First, you need to determine how you will hear the violin.

This will let you know if you need to purchase headphones that you can plug into your violin, if you need to purchase an amplifier for your violin, or if you need to purchase an amplifier for your electric violin so that you can plug your headphones into the amplifier.

Also, you will need a storage solution for your new electric violin.

There are many storage options that you have available to you for electric violins, from violin cases to wall mounts and violin stands.

If you are committed to learning the electric violin and want to experiment with your new violin, a multi-effects processor will be a great tool for you to have for the violin.

You can choose digital multi-effects processors or analog multi-effects processors.

Digital multi-effects processors use computer software to add effects onto the sound that an electric violin produces.

Analog multi-effects processors are physical devices, usually foot pedals, that electric violinists can use to actively switch their sounds at the click of a button.

Analog multi-effects processors are great due to the unique sounds that they produce and the raw feel that they provide, but they require you to carry additional gear along with you to play.

Digital multi-effects processors are also great due to the extensive variety of sounds that they have to offer and how easily accessible they make everything.

The battle between digital and analog is always ongoing in multiple fields of music, and your decision between either will depend on what your preferences are.\

Conclusion: Which Electric Violin Should you Buy?

Our favorite on this list has definitely been the Yamaha YEV-105 Electric Violin.

This high-end violin is perfect for most players, from student to professional.

The combination of unique design and exquisite sound make it stand apart from other electric violins.

The graceful elegance of the body design will also stand out during any performance while allowing the musician to use their favorite chin or shoulder rests. 

For an absolute beginner, however, we recommend the Vangoa Electric Violin.

Nothing can beat that entry-level price for a quality instrument and a complete outfit.