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The Stagg EVN 4/4 electric violin is very popular for a reason! For some people it may be the cost savings but that is not the only reason that these electric violins are so popular. We reviewed the Stagg EVN to see what all the chatter was about and we were blown away by what we found.
The first thing that jumps out at you is the price! Not because it is costly but because it is offered at a really nice price that is affordable to most. It gets a lot of positive feedback from users.
Do keep in mind that this is a budget friendly model that is nice for beginners but may not be enough for advanced players.
This is an excellent entry level electric violin option because the kit is complete and ready for you to get started. Of course if you are not happy with the items that come in the kit you can always upgrade to higher quality strings, bridge and other fittings but keep in mind as you read through this review that it is not necessary to upgrade it comes ready to play.
The goal of this review is to give you the information that you need to make an informed decision. We looked at the design of the violin, the quality of the parts and what other people had to say about this violin. It is important to consider all of the areas that make a violin great.
We checked the company that produces the violin. Then we took a look at the specifications and finally we looked at what other people had to say so that we could get a good idea of why we should recommend this violin.
Who is Stagg?
When choosing a musical instrument the first thing that you need to do is to know who you are doing business with. The brand of the instrument does matter.
Stagg is a well-known brand, probably one of the best contemporary violin brands, that has earned their strong reputation for producing excellent instruments by meeting musicians needs.
This Belgium company was established in 1995 with the intention of creating high quality instruments that would meet the needs of a number of musicians and that would always remain affordable. Their instruments are distributed worldwide.
Stagg is especially well known for their electric instruments like the electric violin and they offer a wide range of instruments, accessories and other items that enhance practice and play.
Most importantly Stagg is a company that stands behind their products and is a trusted source for the electric violin.
All Stagg instruments are made under the strictest guidelines. They are so confident in their instruments that they offer a 1 year warranty against any manufacture defects. If your bridge snaps they will replace it for free!
They have a really generous warranty. They are also very helpful if you have any questions or need direction.
The Specifications
The Stagg EVN 4/4 silent electric violin is a uniquely shaped electric violin that will easily meet the needs of any entry level player.
It offers a built in 2 channel equalizer with volume control. The outfit comes complete with a bow. It weighs about 5 pounds overall so it is very lightweight.
The body is solid maple that has been lacquered to give it a really nice finish. It offers 4 fine tuners and an internal preamp. The bow is included as well. There is also a rosin that is included. This is really a COMPLETE outfit.
The chinrest is comfortable which makes practice session and play a much more enjoyable experience. This well designed “silent” violin makes for an excellent choice.
It offers a different look, with its S shaped design that is open, instead of having a solid traditional look. The violin is carved from a solid piece of maple and a high quality varnish is used to prevent chipping, denting and pings.
There is a great deal of attention to detail that is given to this violin especially considering the price range. It is a really sharp looking instrument that has an edgy feel to it.
It would be ideal for anyone that plays jazz, rock or the blues. It is a really sharp looking violin.
What We Loved
We loved the look. We loved the look of the color, the style and the design. We also loved that it came from Stagg because they are well known when it comes to electric violins. The fact that you are getting a complete kit is also a reason to love this violin.
It enables you to practice “silently” which is great especially if you live in an apartment and want to keep the neighbors happy. The headset is included with the outfit.
We love that you literally are ready to plug and play with a minor adjustment to the bridge. The bridge is not installed when it arrives, so that is something you will have to do yourself or have done.
For some people installing the bridge is not a big deal for other people it is a task that they do not feel comfortable doing so they bring it to a luthier to do it for them. The bridge on the Stagg EVN is left off as a preventive measure to keep the violin from being damaged when it is shipped.
What Others Have to Say
We listened to what other musicians had to say about the Stagg EVN electric violin because it is important to see what others experience has been when it comes to owning this instrument.
According to reviews over 90% of the people that have purchased the Stagg EVN violin were happy with what they received.
Some people actually found it to be a lot better than what they expected and commented that it “looked much better in person than it did in the advertising material”. There are a few things that a lot of the musicians mentioned:
- The strings should be upgraded.
- The headphones could be upgraded.
- A larger supply of rosin would be nice.
A lot of the musicians that purchased this instrument made the choice to change out the strings to upgraded strings.
While none actually complained about the strings that were shipped with the instrument they did feel that the upgraded strings worked better for them.
It really depends on your skill level not only in play but your ability to tune the violin. A lot of users blame the strings when it is really their inability to get the violin in tune. As a side note know that this violin is super easy to tune.
The headphones that are shipped with the instrument are good quality but they are not the best quality for some people it was important that they had the best quality headphones to practice with.
It largely comes down to a personal choice as to whether you want to upgrade to better headphones or not.
You should know that most people found the headphones to be fine. No one reported any problems with the headphones.
A few people did complain that the supply of rosin that shipped with the Stagg EVN electric violin was not enough but do keep in mind that the amount of rosin that is shipped with the instrument is more than enough to get started. Of course rosin is something that you will always have to pick up anyway.
A quick tip that was offered by one of the reviewers is to use a little bit of sandpaper on the rosin to rough it up a little bit before you use it the first time. It saves you time and actually can make the rosin last longer. It is a simple step to take that can help your rosin to last longer.
Conclusion
Ultimately whether you choose to change things or upgrade things is entirely up to you and your skill level. If you are a beginner than the outfit will be more than enough.
You will have everything that you need to get started and likely be very happy with what you have. While this is meant for a beginner, even if you are an intermediate player you will very likely be happy with what you get with the outfit.
Advanced players may have the desire to improve upon what they receive with the outfit. In the end even if you make some upgrades and a few changes to tweak the outfit to be more accommodating to your needs it will still be a great value.
This is a great reliable instrument that can easily meet the needs of a host of skill levels and the price is right.
We found that the Stagg EVN silent electric violin is an excellent choice for anyone that wants to try their hand at the electric violin. It is great for practice and performance. It would also be an excellent option for travel, when you would prefer to leave more expensive, top electric violin models behind!
This affordable electric violin is well worth the small investment. If you are in the market for an electric violin this may be the best option.