Old-Time Goes Hi-Tech Via the Yamaha SV130 Silent Violin

Feeling sorry for my family, I decided to give them a break and give myself a present. Their tolerance level for my practice sessions is high, but let’s face it – repeated phrases of anything can drive one bananas after awhile. So, I bought myself a Yamaha SV130 Silent Violin for my birthday. What you might call a win-win situation. lol.

My initial reaction after a few days of playing the SV130 is that it is shaping up to be an excellent practice tool. I'm really quite impressed. The Yamaha SV130 is the entry level silent/electric violin in Yamaha’s lineup. Currently, they offer the following models: the SV130, SV150, SV200, SV204 and the SV205. Both the SV130 and the SV150 were designed as practice rather than performance instruments, but I can see where the SV130 would be quite capable of handling some performance situations.

The following options really drew me to the SV130 as the best choice for me:

➢ A headphone jack (earbud headphones are included) and built-in preamp – I can listen to myself (without first having to plug into an amp), but no one else has to. (The SV130 is not truly ‘silent’ as there is still string noise [at about the same volume as an unplugged electric guitar], but it IS quieter than a muted violin. Someone can watch TV in the same room with you and not be distracted.)

➢ An Aux-In jack w/separate volume control (a nice long aux cable is included as well) – I can play along to my recorded practice pieces on my iPod or laptop and control the volume of that playback so that I can hear both myself and the tune I am trying to follow.

➢ Three reverb settings (Room, Hall 1, and Hall 2) that allow you to get an even fuller more traditional violin sound. Hall 2 has a longer decay time than Hall 1. I liken it to playing in a larger chamber with more echo.

I found the sound itself to be really good, actually better than I expected for what is their entry-level instrument. The A and E strings sound the most like an acoustic violin, with the D and G needing a bit more tweak (from the reverb settings) to get them all the way there. I think that perhaps it is the lack of overtones that you get from an acoustic violin. The sound is just too clean maybe, but like I said, if you add the reverb they sound just fine. You can tell it's not an acoustic, yet the sound is still pleasing to the ear.

The only real concern that I had when I ordered the SV130 is that it has a fixed chinrest (you can’t use your own) and a custom 1/2-3/4 sized Kun shoulder rest that has limited adjustment for height and angle. I like my shoulder rests set quite high (the neck of a swan, I guess… haha), so I wasn’t sure how it would all work out. Thankfully, the chinrest is comfortable and the shoulder rest has adequate height to it – all good.

Of note, Yamaha's violins do NOT come with a case. That you will have to buy separately if you want one. Yamaha has both a hardshell case and a soft gig bag available, but quite honestly I have my doubts about how well the gig bag could protect the violin or any bow that you would carry with the violin as it looks like the compartment for the bow is on the outside of the bag where it would be quite vulnerable. The bag is a bit weird looking too - my daughter was quick to point that out (being a diva of sophisticated teenaged taste) and I have to agree with her. The SV130 will fit into a standard violin case, though so...maybe it's time for another Bobelock?

I also have to give the Electric Violin Shop a plug here as well as they were great about answering all my questions as I compared the NS Design WAV violin to the Yamaha and tried to make up my mind. They also set up the violin for me before they shipped it – set the bridge, tuned it, installed the batteries and gave it a test drive. So when I opened the box all I had to do was install the shoulder rest, turn it on, plug in my headphones and I was good to go. Nice. Not to mention, the handwritten note inside the box, along with my receipt, thanking me for my purchase and letting me know they were available if I had any more questions or concerns about my new purchase. A very nice touch, gentlemen – great customer service.

Oh, and what color Yamaha SV130 did conservative little old me get? Uh….Candy Apple Red, of course.