Barcus Berry
Help! What’s the difference between these violins?
I’m shopping for an electric violin, and I’m seeing so many different violins and totally different prices, one $500.00, a Barcus-Berry Full Size 4/4 European Made Acoustic Electric Violin Outfit – Red Berry Burst Color, and then there’s another violin for $84.00, a Red Electric 4/4 Violin/Fiddle+Gig Bag+Headphones Kit from TMS Wholesale Inc. What’s the difference?
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Red-Electric-Violin-Fiddle%2BGig-Bag%2BHeadphones/dp/B000ZPQNCO/ref=sr_1_42?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1200936776&sr=1-42
http://www.amazon.com/Barcus-Berry-European-Acoustic-Electric-Violin/dp/B000FVOMPI/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1200937190&sr=1-12
Well. there are different kinds of electric violin. The Barcus-Berry that you’re looking at is a traditional acoustic violin with a pickup installed; Barcus-Berry is an extremely respected maker of pickups. The red one is a newer style solid-body (well, in this case, semi-solid).
Now, if I wanted an acoustic violin with a pickup, I’d get a good-playing acoustic violin and contact Gismo — gismobucks@yahoo.com — he manufactures pretty good, easy-to-install piezo pickups (I have his on my cello and my violone) and I’d just use that.
But if I wanted a real electric, I’d go for a Zeta
http://www.zetamusic.com/
which is the preferred brand of Boyd Tinsley, Charlie Daniels, and a slew of less-well-known but highly regarded fiddlers in pop, country, and celtic. They also make acoustic-electrics. New, they’re much more expensive than the Barcus-Berry you’re considering, but you can find used ones on ebay that might fall within your price range.
The added attraction of the Zeta and other models is that you can get them with contemporary geared tuners (which I think are preferable, since you don’t dampen the strings with a fine-tuner near the bridge–having less junk near the bridge enhancs the tone more, I think, than having wood peg tuners) and with a fifth baritone-range string. And even frets if you like.
Brendon Anthony of Pat Green Band Playing His Barcus-Berry Violin
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Barcus Berry – Standard Piano System $19.95 |
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Barcus-Berry 3100 Clamp-On Violin Bridge Pieze Pickup $109.00 |
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Barcus-Berry Vibrato-AE Acoustic-Electric Violin Outfit w/ Case – Red $549.00 |
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Vintage barcus-berry Transducer System for Single Reed Instruments woodwind (R20 $6.99 |
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Barcus-Berry 3100 Clamp on Violin Piezo Pickup w/Jack $111.58 |
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Barcus Berry 3/4 &4/4 Upright Bass Bridge&Pickup 1360B $69.00 |
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Barcus-Berry C5200M Clarinet/Sax Mic Replacement Microphone Pickup, No Preamp $117.59 |
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barcus-berry Model 5081 Electret Microphone Power Supply for HARMONICA $0.99 |
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Barcus Berry Acoustic/Electric Violin BARCUS BERRY BLUE $649.00 |
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Barcus Berry Acoustic/Electric Violin NATURAL FINISH $649.00 |
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Barcus Berry The Maplebar Magnetic Pickup KG $59.99 |
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Barcus-Berry Vibrato-AE Acoustic-Electric Violin Outfit w/ Case – Natural $549.00 |
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Barcus-Berry BAR-AEVB Vibrato-AE Acoustic-Electric Blue Violin $549.00 |
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Barcus-Berry Acoustic Thinline Piezo Transducer $45.99 |
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Barcus-Berry Violin Bridge w/ Built-In Piezo Pickup $99.99 |
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Barcus-Berry 3125-M Replacement Clamp-on Piezo Cello Pickup, Preamp Not Included $88.95 |
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Barcus-Berry Soulmate Clip-On Chromatic/Guitar Tuner $44.95 |
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Barcus Berry Cello Pickup 3125M No Drilling! New! $60.99 |
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Barcus-Berry 6100 Flute Pickup System $169.99 |
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Barcus-Berry Model 3125 Clamp-on Cello Pickup with 3000A Preamp $179.00 |
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Barcus Berry Harmonica Mic With Preamp $279.99 |
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Barcus-Berry 1320 Violin Bridge w/Built-in Piezo Pickup $99.99 |
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Barcus Berry Maplebar Acoustic Guitar Pickup Pick Up $49.95 |
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BARCUS BERRY MODEL 2050 DRUM TRANSDUCER – OLD BUT NEVER USED – NOS $15.00 |
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Barcus-Berry Maplebar Magnetic Soundhole Pickup, New $49.99 |
