The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #83919   Message #1545565
Posted By: GUEST,Mooh
19-Aug-05 - 08:38 AM
Thread Name: Electric / acoustic violins
Subject: RE: Electric / acoustic violins
Years ago Jean-Luc Ponty defined electric violin to me, as did Nash The Slash, two widely different approaches to the form. I'm sure Google would turn up something about these two if you're interested.

I regularly play with a violinist/fiddler who once in a while pulls out her Yamaha electric for volume purposes, she sounds much the same as when playing her acoustic violin. Some of the overtones get lost in amplification I think, and maybe some of the "feel" nuances, but she doesn't otherwise change what she does or how she plays. On the amplification end we'll add some reverb, and it might be fun to run it through my digital multi-effects for chorus and distortion, but it would likely just get all processed sounding.

If I were to go electric (God help us all if I do, I'm a lousy fiddler), I'd likely choose a spacier repertoire, jazz/rock, or blues.

For what it's worth.

Peace, Mooh.