Amplification in Rock Violin

Hi! In this lesson, I'm going to talk to you about amplification, a big subject that has troubled me for many years. There's a lot involved in getting a decent sound when you're playing above normal volume, and I'm going to show you some of the ins and outs of that.

My Approach

I have to say from the outset that I'm not a techie kind of guy who knows all of the amps, electric violins, effects, and stuff. I'm just going to share my experience over the years and the tools that I've ended up using.

Can You Play Through a Microphone?

Let's start with a question: Can you play through a microphone when you're playing rock violin?

• The short answer is no.
• A singer will likely use something like an SM58, a microphone designed to project loudly from close up.

Unfortunately, the acoustic violin is simply not loud enough to work in the same environment with an SM58.

Alternative Microphone

If you turn up to a gig expecting to play through one of those, unless it's a very quiet gig, a disaster awaits you.

An alternative to the SM58 is a condenser mic. For instance, the DPA 4099 is a tiny mic that sits on a little gooseneck and hangs over the bridge. Here are some key points about it:

• Used to be fantastic for a close-up, intimate sound in a reasonably quiet environment.
• Great for concert stages without a massive drum kit behind you.

Unfortunately, I broke mine last year, and it's so expensive that I haven't replaced it, but they really are good.

Pickups

Another option is a string amp, which is a mic built into a violin. I've never tried one, but they're supposedly of high quality. However, I believe your best bet for playing amplified is to get some kind of pickup.

• History: Pickups were first invented back in the 30s. Smith, a jazz violinist, was possibly the first to use an electrified violin with a pickup.
• Development: Barkhurst Berry started making them in the 1960s. My first pickup was a Barkhurst Berry, which used Blu Tack to stick onto the bridge; it was pretty good.
• Fishman developed pickups that fit into the notch of the bridge, which I used for years.

Now, I use the LR Baggs pickup, which I believe is fantastic. I'm not sponsored by them, but I tell everyone how great it is.

How It Works

• This is a piezoelectric pickup. Inside, there's a crystal that vibrates with the vibrations of the bridge.
• This translates into an electronic signal that produces the sound.

It has been very consistent and even across all four strings. When I first tried the LR Baggs after using Fishman, it felt like it was amplifying the whole violin instead of just part of it.

Cable and Leads

• The pickup has a wire that connects to a carpenter jack, where you can plug in an ordinary 1-inch guitar lead.
• I always use right-angle leads so that they don't stick out too far.

Recommendation: Don't buy the cheapest leads you can find; invest in the best leads you can afford. Faulty leads can be one of the worst things that can happen during a performance.

Other Components

Now, what does this lead go into?

• It can go straight into an amp, but often it goes into a box first.

Preamp

• I used to have a preamp with Barkhurst Berry and Fishman.
• A preamp boosts the signal so that when it reaches the amp, it's more powerful and comparable to a guitar.

Many preamps nowadays combine with EQ.

EQ Box

• An EQ box or eq pedal can adjust the frequencies: less bass or more bass as needed.
• I use this primarily for volume level rather than EQ.

Example: If you're playing in a loud band, a solo requires a sudden volume boost without playing harder.

DI Box

There's also a DI box, which transforms the signal for PA systems. I use one quite often:

• It makes a louder and clearer signal when going into the PA.

Amplifiers

Moving on to amplifiers: most are designed for guitarists.

• My first amp was a H and H, and it sounded terrible unless you turned all the treble off and the bass full up.
• Instead, I now use an AER, a German-made amp that I've used for about 20 years.

Features:

• It has an XLR out at the back, allowing me to connect to a PA for sound checking. I turn off the master volume during sound checks to ensure I get a good pickup sound.

Electric Violins

Now, I'm not the person to recommend electric violins because I've never owned one and probably never will.

• Advantages: They allow for no feedback, various designs, and multiple strings, such as six or seven, that are only possible with electric options.

Notable Mention

• Electric violins, like those designed by Mark Wood, are very popular among rock violinists. His violins are innovative, even featuring frets that assist with intonation without interfering with sliding.

Your Assignment

1. Listen to "Cause I Love You" by Slade ? it features a violin solo by Jim Lee with what I believe to be one of the worst pickups in history. His raw sound is commendable.

2. Next, listen to some Jean-Luc Ponty circa 1975 to hear the evolution of sound from an electrified violin.

3. Finally, visit a music shop with your electric violin. Spend all day trying out various amps, pedals, and gears. You'll be the first violinist they've seen in a while!

Happy playing!