Are there Electric Violas? (YES!)

[@sensomatic]

Shoutout to Susie at EVS for replying to my email about this same info last week - I’ve been agonizing about how to choose my first electric instrument, knowing that I’ll want a viola sound out of whatever I choose. This video is incredibly helpful.

[@ElectricViolinShop]

YAY!

[@aubaubs_]

YESS!! Finally I found an electric viola video!! I’ve always wanted one, considering I play the viola so

[@ElectricViolinShop]

Let's GOOO!

[@rossthefiddler5890]

As a violinist/violist I wanted a 5 string violin/viola & so experimented with the tension of violin E strings to see if it could be happily tuned up to F# on a violin so I could use it on a 15" viola. It did, so I modified a 4 string 15" (standard acoustic) viola to 5 string, plugged the peg holes & started again fitting pegs & radiused the fingerboard a little more plus cut a bridge with a smaller curve so individual strings can be played without too much difficulty. At this point I just used a K&K triple point pick up I had (pickup pad under each foot & one in the gap), but had intended to use an L R Baggs bridge on it. Yes, it all works, but obviously tone control is external, although that third pickup pad changes the tonal output depending which side to have it & which side faces up (changing the sound wave phase angle, + or -). The strings I used were Pirastro Universal chrome wound E with Pirastro Obligato viola strings. However, I also set up a 16" viola (Gliga II) with octave strings with an LR Baggs bridge. One little issue was when playing the C string was with the vibrations to the head which gave me an ear ache. Lesson learned & now I don't grip the viola with my jaw while playing it. I've gone back to playing a 16" viola in an orchestra again & no call for playing electric (amplified) instruments at the moment. Yes, violin family of instruments are what I work on & repair for a living, so it is not the sort of work for a DIY person.

[@melmbautista]

Great video, digging the Flying V in the background !

[@chrisbolton5461]

Another superb video with all th options laid out clearly.

[@ElectricViolinShop]

Many thanks!

[@becgedge7609]

Yes awesome video super informative!!! Best channel ever! 😄

[@sdorn]

Thank you! I think I have one of the earlier SVV200s (serial # < 1500), and it’s great to get a little more information about the range of electric instruments. Nice trick to know about EQs! It would be great to have a discussion of bows - because of processing, I tend to go with violin bows but am curious what other people do.

[@ElectricViolinShop]

I'm a violinist, so I play with a violin bow. I think a real violist would tell you that a viola bow will make a big difference in sound - and articulation.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

The bridge Viola is called Cygnus

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

It's never compromised at all cause it plugs into an amp

[@lindasmith6668]

Your viola great!!!

[@enzogray1073]

Awesome! Thank you so much for the video. So informative! Does this mean I could safely replace my E string with a low C string (and move the other strings up a place) without risking hurting my 4-string electric violin? Similarly, would it be possible to replace the E and A with a low C and low F, while still preserving a quality sound?

[@ElectricViolinShop]

Yup.

[@cfrost87]

it makes more sense to make more extended range violins.

[@jgyoung]

I have a YEV-105 and an ME-80. I would like to get a much fuller viola sound. In addition to adjusting EQ, does it make sense to change the brand or type of strings? Or are the G, D, and A strings actually identical for a violin and viola? The character of the C string that came on it seems very different from the other 4 strings.

[@ElectricViolinShop]

Yamaha and "full" don't usually go together. Their entire vibe is usually a thinner, brighter sound. But you could experiment with a hair of distortion - seriously. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXOngo2cfMibr7c

[@newaccount3743]

Are there any electric-acoustic 4-string violas?

[@ElectricViolinShop]

Yup. Glasser makes a really nice one.

[@LowenherzY2J]

Need a bow bass or piccolo.bass set up

[@randomdudethatplaysviolaon1903]

Are there 16 inch 5 string electric violas?

[@ElectricViolinShop]

Yes. I think Zeta violas are 16" instruments.

[@teresaanguiano9904]

Do you have different sizes violas?

[@SnowNova7]

Where can I find Low F string for viola.

[@ElectricViolinShop]

I don't think anyone is making one right now.

[@SnowNova7]

@@ElectricViolinShop oh, where do the F strings on 6 string violas come from?

[@PaulHirsh]

Is that Glasser 5string viola fiberglass?

[@ElectricViolinShop]

Carbon fiber

[@LowenherzY2J]

Yo brother dude