String Division - "Carrie" Aug.28.2007

String Division - Michael Shulman, neo classical shred violin.
"Carrie" is originally by Europe.

A lot of people ask me "What is the violin that you play? It sounds so good!!..." I guess it's normal for people to assume that the sound they hear is directly coming from the instrument. It's not entirely accurate. For example, electric violin sound is a combination of
1) The player
2) A pick-up located on the instrument
3) Series of effects/pre-amp/pedals
4) PA system/amplifier/speaker system etc.
However, the most crucial aspect is how well the fingerboard/neck/nut and the bridge of the violin are crafted. There is no chance on getting the required kind of quality other than by having your instrument hand-made custom to your requirements by a skilled and professional ACCOUSTIC/electric violinmaker.

The electric violin presented in the clip is the worst of it's kind. I bought it for $200 new online. Good example of generic "fake" instrument directed at the popular consumer. In my case, at list it was cheap!
Very heavy, roughly made and assembled in the factory somewhere in Korea with the awful pick-up/bridge construction that changes its volume/tone if only slightly moved side to side/back & forth (I'm talking 1/10 of a millimeter here) making it impossible to have a controlled sound/settings.
If the bridge moves by accident or while tuning - your sound is gone. In that case it usually takes me a lot of time to locate that "sweet sounding spot" again.
The neck is covered by a heavy layer of varnish that makes the hand get stuck while moving up and down the fingerboard. Not very practical for the violinist, huh? That's why it actually does sound better when I play while wearing a pair of winter gloves (yep, I can do that too).
But the worst defect of all is the fact that the distance from the nut to the bridge is 7 millimeters shorter than it should be, hence making it impossible to play in tune (even 1 millimeter makes a big difference for the violin).
In short - here you have a video of me rockin' on the violin that is "off-tune" by design. Otherwise - I've made it work for me.
P.S. My new custom made electric violin "Black Dragon" (which took 10 months to make) is coming soon...

"String Division" info:
http://www.blackviolin.com
http://www.myspace.com/stringdivision

Category:

Music

Tags:

• String
• Division
• Michael
• Shulman
• Electric
• Shred
• Violin
• Neo-Classical
• Pop
• Rock

[StringDivision]

Thanks.

Unfortunately I don't want to expose my set-up at this time. The companies should pay money or give an endorsement deal in order for me to advertise their equipment. That would be fair, seeing as to how there is a potential of other electric violin players who'd want to buy the same equipment I use in order to have similar results.

I use common brands. My effects cost me $100, a Wah pedal - $140 and I use a small PA for my sound. That's all. Sorry not to be of more help.

M

[newzealndAllBlacks]

That was Awesome! Standing ovation for you!

Peace

[StringDivision]

Thanks.

Glad you enjoyed this so much!

M

[StringDivision]

Thank you!

M

[drunkonshadows07]

Oh my god! dude, you're amazing. I wish I could get you in one of my bands for an awesome original sound. Keep rockin mate!!

[pipigura]

u rock..

[henkrik92]

cool i play violin also, wtf at sound??

[msimonse]

Sounds great! What series of effects and pedals are you using?

[dreamchaser0391]

really nice job!!

(o: