I'm becoming increasingly interested in playing rock and alternative music and the different sorts of "solid body" electric violins (as my dad calls them) seem fascinating to me  - especially with the distortion you can use on it. I know they're not usually used in fiddling, but does anybody have experience using them and can you tell me how they are to play? Where might they serve better than an acoustic or acoustic/electric violin?

the electric is a lot louder just addjust to what you want plug in to pa or amp. of your oun

A solid body electric (like the Yamaha SV200 series) are perfect for playing rock. You can run them through all sorts of processors and pedals -- add chorus, reverb, distortion... AND, because they are solid body, when you're moving all over the place and really going for it, there's no worry about the feedback you might run into with an acoustic electric.

They are easy to play -- lots of fun (because you can play with headphones -- and run and MP3 player or CD player through the headphones and play along with backing tracks)... all great fun.

They are especially fun because you will always sound better on these than you would normally on an acoustic instrument. The tone is generated by the electronics -- so it's VERY forgiving. Unfortunately, this is a down side for newer players as it doesn't force you to practice generating proper tone through technique... but if that's not an issue, go for it!

I recommend the "200" series but the older "100" series used to have a bit of a buzz in the electronics. The 200s didn't have that...

Here's a good source: http://www.electricviolinshop.com/violins.html?_vsrefdom=evs-adwords&cat=57&gclid=CMqXpOGgi7ICFahAMgodAlcAsw

I've played all kinds of experimental/indie/rock etc stuff on electric. They play pretty much the same but have a totally different tonal quality.

electrics are best for playing with loud bands that would cause any acoustic violin with a pick up (or even near a microphone) to wail with feedback (basically, *every* rock band). You can also drive them with distortion (I use a proco ratt) with out feedback - some other effects I've found work nicely are sub octave generators, tremelo and delays (slapback or big spacey ones for psychedelic stuff)

I use a boss bifet preamp in my setup but I don't think they are still being made, I also used a electro harmonix  lbp-1 a few times and recommend it. And a MXR eq pedal all the time - then the proco rat, a boss octave pedal and the rest is danelectro stuff; tremelo and compression. 

I really would like to try smart harmony generators and looping pedals but haven't yet. 

PS FWIW... I've played zetas, fenders, yamaha's etc and I've played <$100 models that sounded and played just as well. I say it every time this comes up, there's no real difference between the big money models and the $100 cheapies from china on ebay... it's all in your pre-amp and eq set up and most importantly your amp. I think money is better spent on a good amp then on the fiddle.

good luck

I have tested out a number of different brands for electric violins. I currently own a Zeta Strados and recently sold a Bridge. I absolutely love my Zeta! It has the best sound and feel from all of the fiddles I tried. Sadly, Zeta has gone out of business, so I recommend looking at eBay for one.

The Electric Violin Shop (http://www.electricviolinshop.com/) in North Carolina has a ton of great instruments, information and advice. I've called them several times for input and they are extremely friendly and happy to help.

Best of luck!

For about six or seven years I had daily access to a Jordan five-string. One word for it: comfortable. Sometimes it felt like it could play itself. As Mad Baloney said, the advantage of a solid body is its resistance to feedback on a loud stage.

Sounds like you guys are talking about Les Pauls or something.      I know one thing about the solid bodies--they have some really cool shapes! I personally don't like going through the trouble of hooking all that equipment up, I usually play in small groups anyway. But I can see how nice that would be for competing with loud instruments. I know how that is, I play in a concert band, as the only stringed instrument, with about 30 or more horns, three drum sets. I can hardly hear myself sometimes.