Every violinist knows that it won't produce any sound if you play an electric violin without an amp. Violin amps should be well made because they can distort the sound of your violin. True sound is clear acoustic sound. So when you are getting a violin amp, make sure it is the best electric violin amp you can get your hands on.
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Which amp is the best for electric Violins?
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What Is An Electric Violin Amp?
A violin amp is an electric amplifier that is used to project the electric violins' sound across a wide area. Keep in mind not all violins are loud enough. However, you can reach a large number of people if your acoustic violin or acoustic instrument is connected to an electric amplifier. Furthermore, a violin amplifier can be connected to a larger speaker system for outdoor activities.
In all-electric bands, classical and orchestral worlds, the electric acoustic violin can be played in all categories. However, the violin requires an acoustic pickup combined with a powerful amp to produce great sound for the sound to reach an audience. Additionally, it would be best to always strive for clean and nuanced violin tones and good sound in general.
Before amplifying your violin, ensure it is what you want to do. Some people regret altering their violins. Before you amplify your violin, ensure that it is a high-quality amp with clean acoustic power. Furthermore, your amplifier should be the right size, depending on where you will be performing. For example, medium-sized venues require a powerful amplifier with enough power for the perfect amp.
With that in mind, let us dive into a top 5 list of some of the best violin amps available on the market today.
1) Monoprice Bass Combo Amplifier
- 8-inch, 4-ohm speaker for deeper low frequencies
- Reproduces frequencies from 70Hz – 10kHz
- 3-band EQ for custom tailoring of musical tones
- Switchable compressor to get more punch out of your sound
This 20-watt amplifier is perfect for an electric violin or an electric guitar. It features a 3-band EQ for good quality sound. It also gives you control over the bass and treble, as well as the DI input. It has a normal frequency range of 70Hz to 10KhZ. This is loud enough for a medium to large-sized room. You can also custom tailor your music sounds with the impedance it's equipped with.
Additionally, the headphone output allows you to comfortably listen to your music without much distraction if you are in the mood for that. You can also have a quiet practice lesson without having to disturb anyone's peace and quiet. The sound is powerful enough for a large room at an only volume setting of 5 (out of 10 volume settings).
The exterior shell is upholstered with some fabric material that looks like car floor mats. It should not be hard to clean dust off of it, as dusting is adequate. It's worth mentioning that it is very important to have a separate volume control for each of the two-line inputs on the amp. This will help with volume adjustment and get you a good tonal quality.
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2) Fender Frontman 10G Electric Guitar Amplifier
- The Fender Frontman 10G Guitar Amplifier features 10 watts, 7.5Hx11.5Wx13.7D inches, 11.7 pounds
- The 6 inch Fender Special Design speaker delivers quality tones and variety of sounds from blues to metal
- Enjoy a breadth of controls, including gain, over-drive select switch, volume, treble, and bass
- The closed-back design packs a heavier bass response
- 2 Year Limited Warranty: Fender amplifiers are designed for players and built with unmatched quality, down to the last screw—Fender warrants this amplifier to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for two (2) years from original purchase
For a beginner violinist with an electric violin, a straightforward and easy-to-use amplifier is an underrated goal. Look no further. This amplifier is one of the best electric violin amp. The Fender Frontman offers eruptive sound with corresponding sound controls. Furthermore, it offers a special design speaker with gain control.
Its closed-back design gives it a heavier bass response that is perfect for full-strength and ultra-saturated distortion. The controls include; gain, over-drive select switch, volume, treble, and bass. Together with the aux input audio jack and media player, you can easily change your playing style from loud to a silent session.
With impeccable sound, it is easy to carry around to and from practice or a gig. You can save money by stocking up on a few of these because they are great. Furthermore, it is also perfect as a practice amp, and the volume can be tailored to fit your needs at all times. It also has very little distortion so that you can enjoy the bass.
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3) Blackstar Electric Guitar Mini Amplifier
- Refer the user manual below for troubleshooting
- Digital 'tape' delay effect; Patented ISF (Infinite Shape Feature)
- MP3/Line In for jamming along or listening to music
If you aim for simplicity with a dash of functionality, this is the amp for you. It is compatible with most acoustic instruments. It combines two channels and variable delay to create the perfect mini amplifier. Furthermore, even at its lowest volumes, it still packs an awesome sound punch despite being small.
This mini amplifier also comes with an MP3 and input jack built-in. This allows you to connect to your MP3 player, mobile phone, laptop computer, tablet or iPad, and other gadgets and enjoy your favorite playlists. The output jack can also be used with headphones for a silent experience if you want to practice without interfering with others.
The replaceable batteries make the Blackstar ready to go at all times. They increase portability by far and enable you to enjoy your music wherever you go. The emulated line out is specifically made for silent practice and still provides great feedback when you flick muted strings.
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4) Danelectro Honeytone Mini Amp
- Great clean and overdrive tones (Best with Polaroid 9V Batteries)
- Leather handle
- Belt clip
- Headphone jack
- Color: Black
This is a tiny amplifier with a great sound output for its size. In addition, it is a super portable amp and produces a great amp, especially with a violin or guitar. Furthermore, if you need to perfect your craft, this is the right fit for you. It is also considered a helpful accessory for practice sessions either outdoors or indoors because it is battery-powered.
The belt clip is attached to help with portability, especially since you need both hands to play most instruments. You can comfortably clip it to your belt as you move around. Even though it is small, it still produces awesome sound quality. The leather handle is fashioned to be strong and durable so that you can easily carry it around.
A headphone jack allows you to connect headphones so you can listen better. You can connect anywhere and practice away. The smooth transition it provides is hard to beat compared to other portable and small amps. Its tone and the gain switch also make it a versatile addition to your music equipment.
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5) Yamaha THR Series Desktop Amp
- Realistic tube-amp tones and feel plus essential effects
- 15 Guitar amps, 3 bass amps, 3 mic models for acoustic-electrics, and flat modes for everything else
- Bluetooth support for audio playback, editing via the remote, and more
- Hi-fi audio playback with extended stereo technology
- Plug-and-play USB connectivity for recording and playback
This Yamaha amp looks good and sounds good. The tube amps tones sound realistic, and this might be the best fit for your acoustic guitar. Hi-Fi audio playback with extended stereo technology is the perfect addition for small gatherings or practice sessions. Furthermore, when turned up to the loudest setting, it sounds great with no distortion.
Who doesn't want a wireless experience? Your amplifier is now equipped with wireless features such as Bluetooth connectivity. You also get an extended sound field due to extended stereo technology. Furthermore, it has increased bass response so that you can turn it up louder and enjoy the music. The rechargeable batteries are also an added advantage.
The amplifier has a component-level amp designed to cater to your needs for a realistic tone and feel. You can also download the remote application on your phone so that you can easily control settings and volume.
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How To Choose A Violin Amp
So you have gotten to the point where you have the courage to shop for an amp for your electric violin. How do you know it's the right one? And can your amp be shared by other instruments like guitars? Either way, we aren't saying that the traditional sound of your instrument is not enough. We are here if you need an electric violin amplifier. Let's get into it.
a) Battery Power
If you are a street performer, then chances are you might need battery power for your amplifier. Batteries add power to your electric violin amplifier. However, they are an added expense, and they are weighty. Amplifiers such as the Fishman loudbox mini are quite useful for street performers. It is a great option because it is rechargeable.
An electric guitar amp that is rechargeable is quite expensive. There are other options, such as smaller battery-powered amplifiers. However, they end up being more expensive because of the number of times you will have to purchase batteries from the store. Either way, it still depends on your personal preference and what you are comfortable using.
As long as your violin amp has great sound quality, then that's all you need. But, you need some form of battery power if you are a freelance violinist or guitarist.
b) Price
Purchasing a guitar amp or a violin amplifier depends on how you use it. If you always get gigs here and there, then an amp for the outdoors is best suited for your needs. On the other hand, if you freelance as a street performer, then a battery-powered amp should do the trick. Furthermore, if you still require practice, then some amplifiers make a great practice amp.
In so far as price is concerned, consider the price of your electric instrument. If you spared no expense to purchase it, then buying a 55$ amp won't do your instrument any justice. Your 1000$ electric violin will still sound like a 55$ amplifier. The thing to understand is that price means quality in this case. The best electric violin amp should be plugged into the best violin.
c) Power
When we talk of power, we mean the wattage. Guitar amps vary in power requirements. So do electric violins. When purchasing an amplifier, you should know what wattage you will need. Headroom determines what percentage of wattage you will require. However, not all amps with higher wattage are better than their counterparts.
Let us explain. Sound distorts sometimes. For example, a 100-watt compact amp isn't twice as loud as a 50-watt amplifier. In fact, you might find a 50-watt amplifier more useful. A loud amplifier doesn't necessarily mean it will be effective. It simply means the people closest to the amplifier will get very loud and irritating sound waves. A small amp, if connected to other sound systems, can still deliver.
That is why during live performances, the spectators at the front get deafening 600 watt sound power, while the people at the back get a nice experience.
d) Input Electrical Resistance
It is not unheard of when musicians use their acoustic guitar amps to connect electric violins. Most amplifiers are made to be dual purpose. Different amps offer different input impedance or electrical resistance. Have you noticed the horrible sound you get when you plug your electric violin into a guitar amp? That's electrical resistance.
How do you rectify this? Unfortunately, if your amp is only for guitar, then you might need to buy a new one. However, if you are shopping for one, insist on a two-band equalizer and modulation effects for sound. This will allow you to tune your amp for good sound quality when you decide to connect it to a guitar or violin.
e) Weight And Size
Guitars have always been heavy and large. Violins, not so much. Violins are smaller with more delicate parts. The same goes for acoustic amplifiers. They used to be very large. However, with how small violins are, amplifiers are also getting smaller, to the point of portability. As we have illustrated above, some amps are very small.
However, for live performances or outdoor gigs, we recommend you go with large acoustic amps. They are powerful and a better fit for outdoor gigs when you need to reach a crowd of people. Furthermore, some amps have DI (Direct Input) output which lets you connect to other audio devices. This lets you control the treble and bass so you can reach more people at once.