Acoustic violins are made of wood - usually spruce or maple - and have a hollow body that features F-holes. The violin is played by drawing a bow across the strings, causing them to vibrate.
An Acoustic or Electric Violin?
The main differences between the acoustic violin and the electric violin lie in the construction and the way that sound is produced. An acoustic violin has a hollow body with sound holes to boost and project the vibrations of the strings. Since the strings are caused to vibrate by drawing a bow across them, it's essential that the horsehair of the bow has been treated with resin beforehand to ensure there's enough friction for shaping beautiful sounds. Electric violins, on the other hand, are equipped with a built-in pickup that captures the string vibration and sends to an amplifier or PA system as an electronic signal. Interested in electric violins? Head over to our Electric Violin department.
Amplifying an Acoustic Violin
While acoustic violins are mainly designed to be played acoustically, it's definitely possible to upgrade an existing model so it can be plugged into an acoustic amplifier. If you already have an acoustic violin, it's probably better to upgrade it instead of buying a brand-new electric violin - especially since the latter offers a completely different sound and playing experience. If you don't want to mike it up, getting a preamp system for your acoustic violin is what we'd recommend. These systems usually include a tiny preamp unit that can be secured to the instrument, as well as a piezo pickup or a small microphone you'll need to mount or clamp in place. Once the show's over, the preamp system can be easily removed again. You'll find everything you need in our range of Violin Parts.
Avoiding Violin-Based Injuries
Research has shown that the volume of an acoustic violin easily exceeds the 90 dB mark. As such, it's recommended to wear hearing protection during live performances. To prevent injury to your wrist or neck, good posture is essential, which is where indispensable accessories like a chin rest comes in.
