Berkeley Wind 5S Electric Violin/ViolaFiddle Review

Berkeley Wind
5S Electric Violin/Viola
submitted 10/18/2007

Submitter

voggy_dog (see all reviews from this person)

Where Purchased

E-Bay

Year Purchased

2007

Price Paid

49 ($US)

Sound

Acoustic: Not very loud. Tone is "muffled", but actually quite pleasant.
Electric: Much better as an electric instrument. Even response on all 5 strings. Running through my computer with a Creative Labs X-fi soundcard (*** need a preamp to do this***). Clean sound... nice acoustic electric for fiddler on a budget

Sound Rating

5

Setup

Violin Came from the factory well set. I took it to a local luthier who gave the soundpost a quick tap or two. Action was good... bridge sits on top of the transducer plate, which is mounted into the violin. No need to trim or shape the feet of the bridge. Pegs fitted well, cheap strings.

Setup Rating

6

Appearance

Construction is plywood top/back/sides.

Use of a tiger-maple laminate on back and sides with a nice figure to it.

Finish was a nice reddish-brown satin. Pleasing to the eye.

Construction was very clean. Lined and blocked (surprisingly)

Purfling was painted on, although the website claimed it was inlayed. For $50, who's complaining?

Appearance Rating

7

Reliability

Fiddle seems to be built soundly. Built in EQ looks on the cheap side...... but so far the electronics seem clean and quiet. Could probably depend on it for a gig. I bought it for a beater but the electric sound is good enough for stage...