Electric Violas
The electric viola liberates the amplified violist from needing a huge body to make a huge sound. Once you let an amplifier handle the task of making your sound loud enough, the shape of the viola body is more up to the whim of the maker.
There are fewer makers who build "off the shelf" solid-body electric violas. This is mostly because there are so many different sizes in acoustic violas, and many of the makers we deal with prefer to custom build their electric violas, so the can match the exact dimensions of the player's acoustic instrument. . If you're interested in acquiring an electric viola by someone you don't see listed here, call us and we'll be happy to work with you and the maker to help you get the instrument of your dreams.
NS Design Electric Violas
The NS Design Electric Viola uses Ned Steinberger's wonderful, ergonomic design. They look futuristic, yet they feel quite normal and are comfortable to play. The shoulder pad is incredibly adjustable -- almost any player will find this viola a comfortable fit. The upper bout substitute feels much more realistic than the little rods other makers use, and is removable for lightning fast shifts up and down the neck.
The gorgeous flamed maple top nods in the direction of the traditional, as does the instrument's wonderful tone, which is surprisingly authentic.
The flexibility of the Steinberger pickup system allows you to select a pizzicato sound, a warm bowed sound, or a blend of both. The treble and bass controls further modify your tone. Body length is approximately 16 inches.
Vector Electric Violas
Nicholas Tipney hand-crafts each Vector instrument at his shop in Nova Scotia. The Vector Prodigy viola is the electric viola boiled down to its barest essentials, just a Schatten piezo-electric transducer bridge mounted on a flat plate of curly maple gently arced across the center line of the instrument. The neck is also of native maple, and the lower bout and center brace are crafted from walnut.
The result is an amazingly natural-sounding electric viola, with a warm, acoustic tone that rivals any solid-body electric on the market. The Vector Prodigy viola is a real bargain in this category, an individually hand-crafted instrument at a production-model price. Check out the five string Prodigy viola. Comes with a low "F", but we can string it up, a fifth higher, if you'd rather have a high "E".
Yamaha Electric Viola
Despite appearances, the Yamaha SVV-200 Silent Electric Viola is made of solid wood -- the use a powder-coat paint over wood on the outline of the viola, to integrate its look with that of the SV-200 Silent Violin. It has a built-in preamp to improve your tone, with a headphone jack for silent practice.
Built to feel like a 16 inch viola, the body has all the familiar reference points of your acoustic instrument -- you can even use your regular shoulder pad. Amplified tone is quite good, very much like an acoustic viola, except a little drier, and lacking the overtones and harmonics the acoustic body produces. For the price, the Yamaha Silent Viola is the easiest way to enter the electric viola world! We almost always have the SV-200 in stock -- it's usually only available in brown, however, we purchased some of the custom pearl white quartets, so we have a few pearl white violas -- call for availability.
As with the Yamaha Silent Violin, it is best to buy the SVV 200 from a specialist like us, who will do the set up necessary to simulate the feel of your present viola. Straight from the box, or a big catalog company, you will find the bridge has a strange curvature.
Electric Viola Points to Consider:
- Do you need to feel the edge of the viola as you shift up the neck? Some models give you a removable upper bout emulator -- take it off for fast shifting without having to bring your left elbow under the viola. All the electric violas we sell have a neck with a heel -- without it your thumb gets lost above third position.
- What length body do you want?
- Need a headphone jack?
- Want a volume knob on the instrument?
- Will you need strong output for high volume playing?
- Do you want to use your own shoulder pad?
- Traditional friction pegs, or geared tuners?
- Is heavier than an acoustic viola going to be OK?
- Do you want to sound acoustic?
- Will you use your present case and bow, or need new ones?
- Do you need a cable, effect box, or amp?
- How wild do you want to sound with special effects?
LESS & MORE: The most popular e-violas are usually in stock. Yet the selection ebbs and flows like the tides - sometimes higher, sometimes lower. We truly are a small shop - so, if you place an e-commerce order and there might be a delay in sending it, we'll call or email to confirm. And feel welcome to call us about your needs. Thanks for your interest!